Many of the branches mentioned in this article have excessively long names. For the sake of readability, the English translations has been used throughout, and some of the titles have been abbreviated.

Befehlshaber des Ersatzheer (B d E), later Der Chef der Heeresrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheer (Chef H Rüst u B d E)
Translation: Commander of the Replacement Army, later The Chief of Army Armament and Commander of the Replacement Army
Title used: Chief of Armament
Der Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen (Gen Insp d Pz Tr)
Translation: Inspector General of the Armored Forces
Title used: Inspector General
Heeres-Waffenamt (Wa A)
Army Weapons Branch
Allgemeines Heeresamt (A H A)
General Army Office
Waffen-Inspekteure
Weapons inspektors
Oberkommando des Heeres
Army High Command
Reichminister für Bewaffnung und Munition
Translation: Reich Minister of Weapons and Munitions
Title used: Reich Minister

Organization of the Weapon Branches

Because it was designed as front-line mobile artillery for infantry divisions, the assault gun branch was organized under the artillery. (Jentz, 1999)

At the time, this was of little political consequence for the development of the arm. The Cheif of Armament was in charge of both the Army Weapons Branch, the General Army Office, and the weapons inspectors, managing the development, testing, production, and organization of all weapons. (Oberkommando des Heeres, 1939a & 1939b)

Later, while the Chief of Armament maintained control of tank development, testing, and production planning, the tank inspector office was re-named to that of the Inspector General under the command of Heinz Guderian. In the position of Inspector General, Guderian answered directly to Hitler, and controlled not only distribution and organization or the armored forces, but also the armored parts of the replacement army. (Organizationsabteilung, 1943)

Evolution of the Assault Gun

Despite not being designed for this role, the Sturmgeschütz III had proven very effective against Soviet tanks. To follow up on this success, Vomag was tasked to design a new assault gun based on the Pz Kpfw IV chassis. This assault gun, designated Sturmgeschütz neuer Art (new model of assault gun), would feature a lower silhouette and sloped armor, making it better suited to fight tanks. (Jentz, 2012)

Being designated an assault gun, the vehicle would be under the control of the artillery. The Sturmgeschütz neuer Art was not the only assault gun being planned at the time, though. In the January 1943 Adolf Hitler Panzerprogramm, two future assault guns are the Sturmgeschütz Ferdinand and the 8,8 cm Sturmgeschütz 42 auf Panther-Fahrgestell (later Jagdpanther). There were no vehicles referred to as Panzerjäger or Jagdpanzer; all self-propelled anti-tank guns were simply referred to as Selbtsfahrlafette (literally self-propelled carriage). (Adolf Hitler Panzerprogramm, 1943) Later in 1943, similarly, what would become the Jagdtiger was also designated an assault gun. (Jentz, 1997)

The effort by Guderian to re-name assault guns as tank destroyers was initially rejected by Hitler, as can be told from this letter sent 21 August 1943 from the Army High Command to Albert Speer as Reich Minister, with copies sent to the Inspector General and to the Chief of Armament.

1.) The Führer has decided that the Sturmgeschütz 12,8 cm Kanone auf Fahrgestell Tiger is to keep the designation of "Sturmgeschütz" and not self-propelled anti-tank gun.

2.) The assault gun on the Panzer IV chassis, referred to by the General Inspector as Panzer-Jäger, is likewise to be called "Sturmgeschütz" and not Panzer-Jäger.

3.) Aside from fundamental Führer decisions on the designation of army weapons as implemented through the Chief of the Army General Staff, at the discretion of the Führer, the current structure [of naming equipment] stands:

The designation of all weapons, vehicles, and miscellaneous devices is determined by the Chief of Armament according to the requirements of the Army General Staff.

Sources

  1. Heft 3: Gliederungen, Dienstansweisungen und Dienstpläne für Befehlshaber des Ersatzheer (B d E) Allgemeines Heeresamt (A H A) Inspekteure (Insp). Berlin, 1939. 37 p.
  2. Heft 4: Gliederungen und Dienstanweisungen für Heeres-Waffenamt (Wa A). Berlin, 1939. 7 p.
  3. Adolf Hitler Panzerprogramm - Band 1: Pz.-Kpfw., Stu.-Gesch. u. Sfl.. Düsseldorf, 1943. 41 p. NARA T78 R619.
  4. Stellung des Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres in der Spitzengliederung der Wehrmacht und Gliederung des Generalstabes des Heeres. Berlin : Organisationsabteilung, 1943. 11 p. Organisationsabteilung Nr. II/128772/43 g.Kdos.. NARA T78 R527.
  5. JENTZ, Thomas L. & DOYLE, Hilary Louis. Panzer Tracts No. 9 - Jagdpanzer : Jagdpanzer 38 to Jagdtiger. Darlington, MD : Darlington Productions, 1997. 60 p. ISBN 0-9648793-3-6.
  6. JENTZ, Thomas L. & DOYLE, Hilary Louis. Panzer Tracts No. 8 - Sturmgeschuetz : s.Pak to Sturmmoerser. Darlington, MD : Darlington Productions, 1999. 60 p. ISBN 1-892448-04-X.
  7. JENTZ, Thomas L. & DOYLE, Hilary Louis. Panzer Tracts No. 9-2 - Jagdpanzer : Jagdpanzer IV, Panzer IV/70 (V) and Panzer IV/70(A) development and production from 1943 to 1945. Boyds, MD : Panzer Tracts, 2012. 76 p.
  8. JENTZ, Thomas L., DOYLE, Hilary Louis & BADROCKE, Mike. New Vanguard 36 - Jagdpanzer 38 "Hetzer" 1944-1945. Oxford : Osprey Publishing, 2001.