During World War Two, military forces from various nations used a vast array of abbreviations and acronyms to streamline communication, classify equipment, and organize operations. These abbreviations covered everything from defensive constructions, unit designations and weaponry to logistical terms and tactical commands. Understanding these terms provides valuable insight into wartime documents, reports, and historical records.
This page serves as a comprehensive reference, listing and explaining the most commonly used terms, acronyms and abbreviations by the Allied and Axis powers during the conflict. Whether you’re a historian, researcher, or enthusiast, this guide will help decode the shorthand language of World War Two.
Please use the Table of Contents to navigate to a specific item.
France
Explanation of terms, acronyms and abbreviations of the French Army and the Maginot Line during World War Two.
FM
Fusil-mitrailleur (Eng: Rifle Machine Gun)
French Light Machine Gun adapted for mounting in casemates or cloche (bell) embrasures.
GFM
Guetteur et Fusil-Mitrailleur (Eng: lookout and rifle-machine-gunner)
Typically a cloche (bell) that was a fixed and non-retractable made of a thick iron casting which shielded its occupant. Type A had a rectangular mount fixed in the embrasure to pivot the gun. Type B had an airtight ball-mount.
Source: Kaufmann, Kaufmann, Jankovič-Potočnik and Lang – The Maginot Line History and Guide – P 289.
GO
Gros-Ouvrage (Eng: Large Work)
Classification of a work of the Maginot Line. An example is GO Restefond.
PA
Pointe d’Appui (Eng: Forward Post)
A forward position or strongpoint in the Maginot Line. An example is PA Col-des-Fourches.
PO
Petit-Ouvrage (Eng: Small Work)
Classification of a work of the Maginot Line. An example is PO des Granges-Communes.
Germany
Explanation of terms, acronyms and abbreviations of the Wehrmacht, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe during World War Two.
Ausf.
Ausführung (Eng: Make)
Also similar to “Version” or “Variant”. As in Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. B.
Battr.
Batterie (Eng: Battery)
An artillery position with multiple guns either combined or in separated bunker structures.
BFK
Baufortschrittskarte (Eng: Construction Status Report)
Status reports and maps administered by army fortress engineers documenting the construction progress of a position or fortification, listing bunker types to be constructed and their construction status.
More information about Baufortschrittskarte.
Fa
Feldmäßiger Ausbau (Eng: Constructed in the Field)
Non standardised (bunker) construction using locally available workforce and materials at the deployment site.
F.d.S.
Führer der Schnellboote (Eng: Fast Attack Craft Command)
Kriegsmarine (Navy) command position or complex, responsible for overseeing operations involving Schnellboote (S-boats or E-boats) used for coastal raids, convoy attacks, and reconnaissance missions.
Festung Pioniere
Fortress Engineers
Festung Pionier Stäbe
Fortress Engineer Staff or Department
Army Fortress Engineers were divided into different “Festung Pionier Stäbe” (Eng: Staff). The German Army had a strict divide between its Wehrmacht, Navy and Air Force fortress engineer units. For the German Navy these would be called Marine Festung Pionier Stab for instance.
FlaK
Flugabwehrkanone or Fliegerabwehrkanone (Eng: Anti-Aircraft Gun)
German military designation for anti-aircraft (AA) guns, like the FlaK 38 (20 mm), FlaK 36 (37 mm), and the famous 8.8 cm FlaK 18/36/37.
FuMO
Funkmess-Ortung (Eng: Radio-direction finder)
Kriegsmarine search radar, also suitable for ships. Earlier designations are FMG or FuMG, acronym for Funkmessungsgerät.
Grw
Granatwerfer (Eng: Mortars)
HKB
Heeres Küstenbatterie (Eng: Army Coastal Battery)
Coastal artillery positions controlled by the Wehrmacht (Army), as part of the Atlantic Wall and other coastal defenses, equipped with heavy artillery, anti-ship guns, and defensive fortifications to protect against enemy naval and amphibious assaults.
Jägerstand
A casemate design by Rudolf Jäger of the Heereswaffenamt (Eng: Army Ordnance Office) in between the transition from the Regelbau 500- and early 600-series of the Atlantic Wall in 1942.
KwK
Kampfwagenkanone (Eng: Assault Vehicle Gun)
Derived from Kampfwagen (Assault Vehicle) and Kanone (cannon or gun), meaning a gun mounted in an armoured assault vehicle or infantry assault vehicle.
LAG
Lande Abwehr Geschütz (Eng: Anti Landing Gun)
Classification based on the use of outmoded field guns that could not penetrate 100mm armor instead of 7.5 or 8.8cm anti-tank guns and the condition to give enfilade fire in Atlantic Wall bunkers.
Source: Rudi Rolf – Atlantikwall Batteries and Bunkers – P. 427
MKB
Marine Küstenbatterie (Eng: Navy Coastal Battery)
Coastal artillery positions controlled by the Kriegsmarine (Navy), as part of the Atlantic Wall and other coastal defenses, equipped with heavy artillery, anti-ship guns, and defensive fortifications to protect against enemy naval and amphibious assaults.
OKH
Oberkommando des Heeres (Eng: Army High Command)
The supreme military command responsible for overseeing operations, strategy, and organization of the Wehrmacht’s land forces.
More information about the OKH headquarters in Germany and Poland.
PaK
Panzerabwehrkanone (Eng: Anti-Tank Gun)
German military designation for anti-tank (AT) guns, like the PaK 40.
Sd.Kfz.
Sonderkraftfahrzeug (Eng: Special Purpose Vehicle)
German military designation system for a wide range of armored and unarmored military vehicles used during World War Two, including half-tracks, armored cars, self-propelled guns, and transport trucks. Each vehicle type was assigned a unique Sd.Kfz. number, such as the Sd.Kfz. 251 (armored half-track) or the Sd.Kfz. 234/4 (armored reconnaissance vehicle).
Stz.P
Stützpunkt (Eng: Strongpoint)
Fortified defensive position as part of larger defensive networks, such as the Atlantic Wall, and typically included bunkers, trenches, anti-tank obstacles, and artillery emplacements. Stützpunkte were designed to resist enemy attacks and support nearby defensive positions.
Tobruk
Ringstand fur Maschinengewehr (Eng: Machine gun Embrasure)
Round, often partly subterranean, open-top fighting position for a machine gun or small-caliber weapon to provide 360-degree fire coverage. The term “Tobruk” was used by the German military to describe a small, circular defensive bunker based on fortifications found in Tobruk, Libya, during the North African Campaign.
UGruKo
Untergruppenkommando(stand) (Eng: Subgroup Command (Center))
Refers to a secondary command post within the German military’s coastal defense and fortification networks, such as the Atlantic Wall. These command centers coordinated local defensive operations, managing multiple strongpoints (Stützpunkte) and ensuring effective communication and troop deployment in their designated sectors.
WaKoFest
Waffenprüfungskommission Festungen (Eng: Weapons Testing Commission Fortifications)
A casemate design commissioned by the Waffenprüfungskommission Festungen.
Source: Rudi Rolf – Atlantikwall Batteries and Bunkers – P. 427
Wn.
Widerstandsnest (Eng: Resistance Nest)
Small fortified defensive position, typically part of a larger network of coastal or battlefield fortifications which could include machine gun emplacements, anti-tank weapons, trenches, and bunkers, designed to slow down or repel enemy advances.
United Kingdom
Explanation of terms, acronyms and abbreviations of the British or Commonwealth Forces during World War Two.
CWGC
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
War Graves Commission that works on behalf of the Governments of Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Mk.
Mark
Similar to “Version”. As in Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIC.
RAF
Royal Air Force
United States
Explanation of terms, acronyms and abbreviations of the American Forces during World War Two.
HVSS
Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension
Springing a dual set of road wheels on one bogie against each other with a horizontal volute spring.
For more information see this Sherman tank with HVSS.
PIR
Parachute Infantry Regiment
A regiment of the United States Airborne Forces.
USAF
United States Air Force
VVSS
Volute Spring System Suspension
Suspension system using volute springs to compensate for surface irregularities mainly fitted on US and Italian tanks and armored fighting vehicles from the 1930s up until after the end of WW2 in 1945.
For more information see this Sherman tank with VVSS.
Note
This document is a work in progress. Landmarkscout will add more terms, acronyms and abbreviations to this document over time.