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German Hand Signals
| No. | Signal | Execution | Light | Meaning |
| 1 |  | Arm held high a) from the Leader (thereby whistle) b) from secondary leader and vehicle leaders c) while in motion or mounted | White | a) „Achtung!“ (Attention! a preparatory signal) b) „Verstanden!“ (Understood!) or „Fertig!“ (Ready) „Fahrbereit!“ (At standby! or Ready to start!) c) „Stillgesessen!“ (Stay seated! Only for riding, travelling, or motorized units) |
| 2 |  | Arm momentarily thrusts up repeatedly a) when stopped b) in motion | White Green Green | „Aussitzen!“ (Mount up!) a) „Antreten!“ (Line up!) or „Anfahren!“ (Start up!) b) „Nächsthöhere Gangart!“ (Next higher gear!) or „Schneller!“ (Quicker!) |
| 3 |  | Thrust arm repeatedly at shoulder height to one side | Green | „Rechts (links) heran!“ (Right (or left) here!) |
| 4 |  | Several back and forth waves of the raised arm a) from March Formation b) from "At Ease!" c) as answer to a signal | White | a) „Rührt Euch!“ (At Ease!) b) „Marschordung! “ (March formation!) c) „Nicht Verstanden!“ (Not understood!) |
| 5 |  | High raised arm repeatedly sideways slowly lowering | Green | „Nächstniedere Gangar!“ (Next lower gear! or Next lower gait!) or „Langsamer!“ (for motorized) |
| 6 |  | High held arm repeatedly thrust downward a) in motion b) when stopped | Red Red | a) „Halten“ (Stop!) b) „Absitzen!“ (Dismount! for riders, drivers and mounted teams) |
| 7 |  | Semicircle outstretched right and left arm over the horses neck. | __ | „Bedienung absitzen!“ (Operation dismount!) |
| 8 |  | Raise the arm high, repeatedly lower deeply forward | __ | „Hinlegen!“ (Lay down!) |
| 9 |  | Point a direction with the arm (while moving) | Green | „Folgen! Richtung!“ (Follow! Direction!) |
| 10 |  | Swing the hanging arm in front of the body a) when loading Equipment b) when issuing Equipment | __ __ | a) „Freimachen (Abprotzen)“ (Issue Equipment! or Unlimber! for MG, IG, Pak, etc.) or „Fertigmachen zum Bau bzw. Aufbau“ (Construct here!) b) „Gewehr an Ort!“ bzw. „Ausprotzen!“ bzw. „Fertigmachen zum Abbau und Verladen!“ (Equipment on the spot!, Limber! or Make ready for dismantle and loading!) |
| 11 |  | Fist in front of the chest, then thrust arm repeatedly sideways | White | „Fliegerdeckung!“ (Aircraft cover!) |
| 12 |  | Arm above the head, horizontal circles | Green | „Nächsthöhere Form der Gefechtsbereitschaft (Entfaltung oder Entwicklung)„ (Next higher level of Combat Readiness! (Deployment or Development)) |
| 13 |  | Spread both arms at the same time at shoulder height | __ | „Stellung!“ (Position! or Firing position!) |
| 14 |  | Circle the extended arm extended sideways from the shoulder a) in Open Formation and Deployment b) in closed order motorized units only c) in movements (horses, vehicles automobiles) this is followed after number 9, the direction of deployment | __ White __ | a) „Sammeln!“ (Gather together!) b) „Sammeln ohne Fahrzeuge antreten!“ (without vehicles) c) „Aufmarsch nach rechts oder links!“ (Deployment to the right or left!) |
| 15 |  | Arms crossed on the chest | __ | „Gewehre zusammensetzen!“ (Place Rifles together!) or „Gewehre an die Kfz.!“ (Rifles on the motor vehicles!) |
| 16 |  | Twirl extended open hand | __ | „Führer der nächstniederen Untereinheit zu mir!“ (Leader of the next lower unit to me!) |
| 17 |  | Outstretched left arm to shoulder height in front and backward movement | Green | „Erlaubnis zum Überholen!“ (Permission to overtake!) |
| 18 |  | Left arm outstretched horizontally sideways | Red | „Überholen nicht möglich!“ (Overtaking is not possible!) |
| 19 |  | Arm with Zeichenstab horizontally sideways motion. Sign and direction indicator | Green | „Schwenken oder in Seitenweg einbiegen (auf Kfz.)!“ (Swing around or to side-street (on motor vehicles.))! |
| 20 |  | Hold both arms up, at the same time bend both sharply down and raise again. | __ | „Handpferde vor!" (Led horses in front!) „Protzen vor!“ (Limbers in front!) „Gefechtsfahrzeuge vor!“ (Combat Vehicles in front!) |
| No. | Signal | Execution | Meaning |
| 21 |  | Head cover held high | „Hier sind wir!“ (Here we are!) |
| 22 |  | Rifle vertical above the head | „Gelände frei vom Feinde!“ (Area free from enemy!) or „Gelände gangbar!" (Area passable!) |
| 23 |  | Rifle horizontal above the head | „Gelände nicht frei vom Feinde!“ (Area not free from enemy!) or „Gelände ungangbar!“ (Area impassible!) |
| 24 |  | Spade held high a) Given from the front b) Given from the rear | a) „Wir graben uns ein!“ (We entrench ourselves!) b) „Eingraben!“ (Entrench!) |
| 25 |  | Cartidge Can held high | „Munition vor!“ (Munition forward!) |
| 26 |  | Gas Can held high a) by the reconnaissance, security, gas detector or observer b) by the commander | b) „Gaswarnung!“ (Gas warning!) b) „Gasbereitschaft“ (Gas readiness!) |
| 27 |  | Pull the Gas Mask from the Carry Can, hold high and twirl or put on | „Gasmaske aufsetzen!“ (Wear gas mask!) |
| References: |
Reibert: Der Dienst Unterricht im Heere - Ausgabe für den Schützen der Schüzenkompanie - Major Dr. Jur. W. Reibert - Jahrgang 1940 Ausbildungsvorschrift für die Infanterie - Heft 2a Die Schützenkompanie Vom 16.3.1941 - H.Dv. 130/2a 1942 Die Schützenkomanie - ein Handbuch für den Dienstunterricht - Oberleutnent Ludwid Dueckbörner - 1939 |