die Pferdekoepfe-Division
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German Infantry Whistle Commands

   

wwii whistle

 

Whistles were increasingly made of Bakelite as the war progressed. It would be attached with a braided lanyard and could then be placed on the front right uniform pocket, lanyard attached around the breast pocket button. The picture above shows a black Bakelite whistle attached to a Feldgrau lanyard.

In order to maintain some semblance of control over his troops during battle, the German NCO would use a set system of whistle tones as a signal. Commands could then be understood up to a half mile away, even over the sound of gunfire. The table below shows the whistle commands used during the war.

   

BLASTS BLASTS COMMAND
 -------------- Continuous Blast ALARM
-  -  - 3 long ASSEMBLE
- 1 long MOVE OUT or ATTACK
-  - 2 long WITHDRAW (signal was repeated)
-  * 1 long and 1 short RIGHT FLANK PULL IN
*  - 1 short and 1 long LEFT FLANK PULL IN
*  *  - 2 short and 1 long SHIFT LEFT
-  *  * 1 long and 2 short SHIFT RIGHT
*  *  *  * 4 short REGROUP
-  *  - 1 long, 1 short, 1 long ASSEMBLE ON LEADER

 

wwii whistle




 

by Klaus | ©2007