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Hörgeräteabnahme
Apr 11 11:11
1 mo ago
61 viewers *
German term

Nachschub

German to English Social Sciences History
Dear colleagues,
I'm translating a history book on the Holocaust in Ukraine from Russian. The text contains Russian translations of German documents, and when something seems off, like here, I try to go to the original source.

This is a letter written by a German soldier to his sister back home:

Die Juden sind nun glücklich ausgewandert. Die ukrainische Bevölkerung hat sich sehr darüber gefreut, denn die Schießerei in der Nacht hat doch nachgelassen. Viel von dem Judenvolk hat natürlich nicht sein zugewiesenes Barackenlager erreicht u. ist schon unterwegs zugrunde gegangen. Diesem Gesindel verdanken wir den ganzen Krieg u. es ist gut, daß sie nun zusammengesperrt werden u. von sich selbst aus zugrunde gehen. Manche Kugel wird gespart u.**** der Nachschub hat leichtere Arbeit***. In diesem Sinne darf man nie ein Erbar- men haben. Ich wünschte Euch nur Ihr hättet diese Gestalten alle gesehen.

I'm specifically having trouble with the phrase between the ****. Your help is much appreciated!
Proposed translations (English)
3 -1 Services of Supply
4 Reinforcements; back-up.
4 follow-on (SS/ Wehrmacht) forces
3 logistics, supplies
1 theater replacement unit / replacement unit / incoming or new contingent / replacement contingent
References
Nachschub

Discussion

tatyana000 (asker) Apr 18:
Thank you, everyone, once again! I went with a very generic-sounding "supply units" since my client confirmed that the text was referring to people, not actual supplies. At least this version, as opposed to something resembling "replenishment," no longer leaves me scratching my head. I really appreciate everyone's input.
Arne Krueger Apr 13:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drobytsky_Yar
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massaker_von_Drobyzkyj_Jar
Please note in particular the wording, "...to save bullets..." in the English text.
Extremely troubling...
Arne Krueger Apr 13:
Then, I think I found the guy we are looking for.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Weiss-Bollandt
But only because he has a B in his name and it makes sense with the dates that you can see for Ukraine.
Also, I found this about the Polizeibattailon mentioned in my link:
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Polizei-Ba...
Supply batallion could make sense...
Arne Krueger Apr 13:
Need to follow up on that one. I found some valuable information that confirm Björn's finding.
https://www.fritz-bauer-institut.de/fileadmin/editorial/publ...
On page 14, it says, "Nachdem die Wehrmacht beispielsweise am
25. Oktober 1941 Charkiw eingenommen hatte, herrschte dort schon
wenige Tage später Hunger, weil die Deutschen die wenigen Lebensmittelvorräte in der Stadt für sich beanspruchten. Das Oberkommando der 6. Armee drängte alsbald darauf, die Juden der Stadt durch den
SD »behandeln« zu lassen. Nachdem dieser Mitte Dezember eingetroffen war, sperrte die Wehrmacht die 12.000 jüdischen Einwohner
bei klirrender Kälte in ungeheizten Baracken außerhalb der Stadt
ein, bevor sie von Angehörigen des Sk 4a und des Polizeibataillons
314 erschossen und in Gaswagen erstickt wurden."
It "seems" as if all major parties involved in such actions were already there, so no need for any (timely) troop movement. Also, in Björn's link, you can read that the person concerned had the rank of a "Wachtmeister", not a soldier. Wachtmeister is part of the police, not the military.
tatyana000 (asker) Apr 12:
Thank you! Thank you, everyone, for this very fruitful discussion. Some very interesting points. I think I'll get back to my client with the possibilities brought up here and see what he thinks. I'll report back in a few days.
Cilian O'Tuama Apr 12:
With Susan I can see what Susan's getting at, and it coincides with what I was thinking.
Björn Vrooman Apr 11:
PS2 I should add the following:
https://www.muenchner-volkstheater.de/sites/default/files/do...

See pp. 37-38 (that is, pp. 16-17 of the PDF). There, it says that they intended to execute the Jewish population after [penning them up for] several weeks or a few months [in a restricted area, I guess], but the guy in Charkow had them all put into camps without something to eat, so they died of hunger or from the cold even before the "Spezialkommandos" arrived.

This could make the interpretation more likely that Nachschub refers to soldiers who aren't part of a logistics unit. However, it could also mean that because no supplies had to be spent on keeping the prisoners alive until execution, there was more food etc. left for everyone else. Please keep in mind that the supply lines into eastern Europe and beyond were stretched thin, even that early into the invasion.

Still, maybe this helps.
Arne Krueger Apr 11:
Completely agree, Björn. And the biggest idiot of 'em all was not even German... That should tell you something. I'm done here as well. You can read it however you want, I'm afraid. Two options possible, make the best out of it, Tatyana! :)
Björn Vrooman Apr 11:
PS Also, look at the surrounding context. He writes "...nicht sein zugewiesenes Barackenlager erreicht u. ist schon unterwegs zugrunde gegangen..."

If their plan was to put them into concentration camps, more or less, and they were already on their way, how does that make the job of those "follow-up troops" easier? That makes no sense to me.

What does make sense is that, as harsh as it may sound, you don't need supplies for dead people or those who'd guard them so one less (logistical) thing to worry about.

Now I should do something else and wish you all a great evening; I know someone has to translate this disgusting stuff and I don't envy the asker here, so I'm happy someone else is doing it and wish them the best of luck
Björn Vrooman Apr 11:
@Susan Maybe it's because I have some sort of migraine right now, but your explanation is quite difficult to follow, because I'm not sure what you're actually trying to say?

In her comment on Arne's answer, Birgit said "definitely whatever division delivers supplies/resources"; this is how Johanna understood it as well (as did I).

Maybe the remark she posted when it came to Adrian's answer wasn't that clear, but she was not talking about "the supplies themselves such as bullets." I don't know where you got that from?

And if you're talking about the same thing Adrian does ("possibly the histroically [sic] not-so-innocent Wehrmacht following up the work of the Gestapo..."), then I disagree and I have no idea how you arrive at that conclusion based on the snippet we were given. Nachschubtruppe typically refers to some logistics or supply unit, not to those fighting on the front lines.

The entire letter is available at the following link (not the asker's text, so fine to post):
https://briefsammlung.de/feldpost-zweiter-weltkrieg/brief.ht...

Reading it won't help much, though, because this paragraph is basically the only one referring to Nachschub.
Susan Starling Apr 11:
A couple of points... First of all, when they say "der Nachschub hat leichtere Arbeit" they really can only be referring to "Nachschubs*truppen*", not to the supplies themselves such as bullets. Adrian translated this rather nicely in his comment by rewording it as "the follow-up troops will have an easier time of it". This is what I believe is meant. Andrew's "A lot of bullets have therefore been saved, and the reinforcements task has been made much easier." also means basically the same thing (though I personally find "the reinforcements task" a bit awkward, but basically accurate). We certainly would not say that "the bullets" (or whatever other supplies) "will have an easier time of it". However I would not use Adrian's proposed suggestion of "follow-on forces" because this is not a general term but a specific NATO term used in the context of FOFA.

As for "Services of Supply", that's also a highly specific term referring to a division of the US army that only existed between 1942-44 according to Arne's link. That's why it doesn't sound natural, because it's an (obsolete) proper name and not the general term ("supply services," as Andrew notes). But I don't believe that's what they mean here anyway.
Arne Krueger Apr 11:
Aha, I see. But it is a specific term, not my wording. I tried to come up with an equivalent for Tatyana for my version since she seems to be American.
Andrew Bramhall Apr 11:
@Arne It's your " services of supply" which doesn't sound natural; even if this worked here, every English native would say " supply services" instead.
Johanna Timm, PhD Apr 11:
supply batallion? https://www.proz.com/kudoz/german-to-english/military-defens...
Birgit Gläser Apr 11:
with Arne Also think this is in reference to resource management. They had to ship ammunition and other resources from presumably Germany to Ukraine... the troops could likely requisition food etc, but ammo, weapons or machinery were a different issue...
Heck, just googled it... Nachschub is a division of the army... will post a reference and for the life of me, no idea how those guys used to be called in English... logistics is too modern a word...
Arne Krueger Apr 11:
Hmm... Ambiguous. But four other people (including an Austrian) cannot be wrong, I guess. I still think it has to do with the type of division I inserted, not military specialists that "clean" up (mop up) anything or somebody afterwards. For that to be true, the text must have more information. But that's just my opinion. And unfortunately, we cannot ask this dude anymore. He wouldn't tell us anyway, I am dead sure. ;)
tatyana000 (asker) Apr 11:
What is says in Russian @Arne Kreuger,
This is the Russian translation:
Экономятся пули и у пополнения будет легкая работа

Bullets are saved and replenishment will be an easy task.

I didn't understand how not using bullets to kill Jews would make restocking or replenishing them any easier. Hence my question.
Arne Krueger Apr 11:
@Phil
Not sure what you mean by "doesn't sound natural." I mean, I have highlighted a German and an American text... And again, this has nothing to do with Nachschub (replenishment of bullets, whatever it may be) in my opinion. It has to do with the people behind this service. Because it says "hat leichtere Arbeit." It does not say the replenishment is easy/easier. It says has (hat). That is a striking difference. I think we should wait for a "natural" German to confirm this.
Arne Krueger Apr 11:
@Andrew
We think differently. You think like Justin, that it is essentially just a replenishment. I think "hat leichtere Arbeit" refers to an organization/people. Do you understand? Nachschub is meant to be this Nachschubtruppe, or SOS in American English.
José Patrício Apr 11:
https://www.pauker.at/pauker/DE_DE/PT/wb/?modus=&zufall=2493...
Arne Krueger Apr 11:
Yes, but then it would be like, "...der Nachschub ist leichter." If it says "hat" it probably refers to a person... But that is just my wild speculation. Your version could be right still. Let's wait what Tatyana says.
Justin Verceles Apr 11:
It looks like the meaning is just “replenishment is facilitated” or “the supply chain has a lighter burden,” no? As in, since those Jews died on their own before getting to their assigned barracks, the German military doesn’t have to exhaust their supply of bullets by killing them themselves. If I’m not missing anything.
Arne Krueger Apr 11:
What does it say in Russian? Please explain in English.
Arne Krueger Apr 11:
Maybe it means German military personnel that arrives later?

Proposed translations

-1
56 mins
Selected

Services of Supply

Peer comment(s):
neutral Andrew Bramhall : Doesn't sound natural to me;
3 mins
neutral philgoddard : Nachschub has two meanings, the other being reinforcements, and I think this is probably the right one in the context. But I agree with Andrew that your translation doesn't sound natural.
20 mins
neutral Birgit Gläser : definitely whatever division delivers supplies/resources, but as mentioned above no idea of the actual English term...
3 hrs
disagree Susan Starling : According to the above link SOS was a proper name in use until it was replaced by COM-Z. Also my take is that "Nachschub" refers to people, not supplies (see above discussion comment).
6 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I went with a very generic-sounding "supply units" since my client confirmed that the text was referring to people, not actual supplies."
58 mins

Reinforcements; back-up.

"We've got this scum to "thank" (meant sarcastically) for starting the war in the first place, and it's good they're now rounded/locked up. A lot of bullets have therefore been saved, and the reinforcements task has been made much easier."
Peer comment(s):
disagree Birgit Gläser : see reference - and yes as reinfocements refers to troop and not supplies
3 hrs
So, according to what you say above you have no idea of the correct English term, yet still disagree with my answer?
agree Susan Starling : see reference :)
6 hrs
Thanks, the voice of sanity;
disagree Sakshi Garg : Once again as usual, no reference to backbone your answer.
5 days
"backbone" as a verb? That's a new one on me.
agree Lancashireman : Not sure which of the two disagrees above is the sillier. Probably the one about 'backboning (sic) your answer'.
6 days
Thank you!
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

follow-on (SS/ Wehrmacht) forces

u.**** der Nachschub hat leichtere Arbeit*** : and the follow-up troops (possibly the histroically not-so-innocent Wehrmacht following up the work of the Gestapo and the SS, so standing in to 'finish off the job' and 'clear up') will have an easier time of it.

Nachschub: contrary to comments omitting the first meaning of such, the term has three meanings in fact: reinforcement - replenishment and - in modern-day idiom as used by those of us living on-the-spot - a *refill*, such as asked for at an Apotheke or Trafik (Zeitungsgeschäft) in Austria.
Example sentence:

IATE: de Nachschuborganisation Consilium en ordnance supply

Follow-on Forces Group (FFG). The FFG has no pre-determined response time. NATO Readiness Initiative (NRI).

Reference:

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Follow-on-Forces-Attack

Peer comment(s):
disagree Birgit Gläser : see reference... it is actually the third meaning you listed in the narrative
2 hrs
agree Susan Starling : but "follow-up troops" would be better as a more general term
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
10 hrs

logistics, supplies

Just to muddy the waters ...

These days we would say 'logistics', as do the Germans:

Nachschub bezeichnet beim Militär die Beschaffung und die Versorgung mit den Gütern, die die zu versorgende Truppe zur Aufrechterhaltung der Kampfkraft benötigt. Die Nachschubtruppe war lange Zeit eine eigene Truppengattung im Tross des deutschen Heeres, ist jetzt aber im 21. Jahrhundert Teil der Logistiktruppe.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nachschub

Die Nachschubtruppe war eine Truppengattung des Heeres der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS, die gemäß Verfügung des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht vom 14. Oktober 1942 zu den Versorgungstruppen des Heeres zählte und mit Verwaltungs- und Sanitätseinheiten die Rückwärtigen Dienste eines Großverbandes bildete.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nachschubtruppe_von_Wehrmacht_...

„Die Deportation von Juden wurde regelmäßig unterbrochen, um den Nachschub für die Front zu gewährleisten, während nicht eine militärische Aktion jemals aufgeschoben wurde, damit der Transport von Juden in die Gaskammern ohne Unterbrechung weitergehen konnte“
https://www.amazon.de/Endlösung-Schicksal-Juden-1933-1948/dp...


But ... Nachschub was also said of the supply of workers sent to factories, and some of these were Jews, esp. towards the end of the war. I can't help wondering if Barackenlager is a euphemism for 'concentration/death camp' or if it refers to accommodation for industrial workers. Undoubtedly the people in charge of 'resupply' of forced labour had a hard time selecting those fit to work and eliminating those unable to. If the weaker could conveniently die, it made constituting 'resupply' that much simpler. Why take the risk of sending someone to a workplace if they might die before they get there? And there could be repercussions for the person who made the unwise choice.

Die erschöpften und sterbenden Häftlinge sollten durch immer neuen Nachschub ersetzt werden.
https://www.kz-gedenk-mdf.de/hintergründe

Mit dem Einsatz der Häftlinge für die deutsche Rüstungsindustrie stieg der Bedarf an Arbeitskräften. Als Nachschub wurden immer mehr Menschen aus allen Teilen Europas nach Buchenwald verschleppt.
https://www.buchenwald.de/geschichte/chronologie/konzentrati...

Ohne Arbeitsschutz-Vorrichtungen und im ausbeuterischen Schichtsystem mussten die Häftlinge diese auszehrende Tätigkeit ausüben, so dass unter ihnen eine hohe Sterblichkeitsrate herrschte. Dafür wurde umgehend „Nachschub“ aus dem Hauptlager organisiert.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/KZ_Melk

Ab Anfang 1944 sei jedoch der Nachschub an diesen zivilen Zwangsarbeitenden versiegt, und KZ-Häftlinge seien, organisiert vom neu gegründeten „Jägerstab“, zur letzten Reserve der deutschen Industrie geworden
https://translate.google.com/?hl=fr&sl=de&tl=en&text=Ab Anfa...

Peer comment(s):
neutral writeaway : already pointed out by others
47 mins
My point is that it could also refer to the supply of Jews as labour for factories (or even as fresh supplies of 'raw material' for death camps).
neutral Susan Starling : It's not about all the possible various definitions of "Nachschub" but how the word is being used in this particular sentence, where if we're thinking logically it can only refer to people, i.e. troops, and not supplies or logistics, imo.
15 hrs
Yes, but my examples show that people (in a world where they are regarded as less than human) can be 'supplies'.
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

theater replacement unit / replacement unit / incoming or new contingent / replacement contingent

German replacement army (Ersatzheer) April 1944.
Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library
https://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org › ...
30 oct. 2008 — This book contains all known replacement units and lists their affiliations with units of the Field Army. Also includes sections on the ...

The U.S. World War II Troop Replacement Policy
https://www.defensemedianetwork.com › ...
21 abr. 2012 — Rather than pulling battle depleted units off the line and replacing them in combat with a fresh, rested unit, Army Chief of Staff George ...

Tongans handover to new contingent in Camp Bastion
https://www.gov.uk › news › ton...
19 dic. 2011 — A traditional challenge called a Sipi Tau was issued to the replacement contingent by the Tongan soldiers who had just completed a six-month ...

New commander and contingent of UN Guard Unit soldiers ...
UNSOM
https://unsom.unmissions.org › ne...
26 jul. 2017 — Mogadishu - The UN Guard Unit (UNGU) in Somalia conducted a change of command ceremony today with an incoming contingent of soldiers.

Chapter 16 REPLACEMENT BATTALION AND COMPANY
https://www.globalsecurity.org › a...
The theater replacement battalion manages the process of moving replacements within the theater of operations. The replacement company is the basic replacement ...

New French Military Contingent Arrives Central African ...
https://humanglemedia.com › ne...
19 mar. 2022 — New French Military Contingent Arrives Central African Republic Capital Bangui. The replacement of the troops comes four months after the MISLOG ...

Personnel Doctrine - Chptr 4 Replacement Management
https://www.globalsecurity.org › a...
DOCTRINAL REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS OF SUPPORT. Replacement operations begin with moving individual soldiers from the point of origin to deployed units.

First Czech Military Police Unit of the MSU KFOR was ...

Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí
https://mzv.gov.cz › pristina › firs...
9 ene. 2024 — Zdeněk Koreczki and Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Kosovo Bohumil Mazánek. The departing soldiers were replaced by another thirty personnel ...

What is a replacement unit in the army?
https://www.quora.com › What-is-a-replacement-unit-in...
21 oct. 2019 — Basically it is a centralized point for all new soldiers into a post or a division. there is no chain of command or anything like that. However, .

Transfer of command of 9th rotation of Polish Military ...
https://www.gov.pl › romania › t...
13 ago. 2021 — On August 13, 2021, a ceremonial transfer of duties between the 8th and 9th rotation of the Polish Military Contingent took place in the ...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 14 hrs (2024-04-13 01:30:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

troop rotation / rotational deployment

NATO eFP Battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania rotate troops ...
https://shape.nato.int › latest-news
7 feb. 2023 — NATO eFP Battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania rotate troops as part of deterrence and defence mission ... Simultaneously, NATO eFP Battlegroup ...

Rotational Deployments vs. Forward Stationing - USAWC Press
https://press.armywarcollege.edu › ...
JR Deni · 2017 · — The Army's force posture is out of balance, with a greater percentage of troops stationed in the United States than at any time since the ...
Peer comment(s):
disagree Birgit Gläser : see reference
1 hr
neutral Susan Starling : a bit technical for this context but at least this is referring to people and not supplies.
4 hrs
agree Lancashireman : Someone went on a rampage.
23 hrs
Thanks for your comment.
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

4 hrs
Reference:

Nachschub

Nachschub bezeichnet beim Militär die Beschaffung und die Versorgung mit den Gütern, die die zu versorgende Truppe zur Aufrechterhaltung der Kampfkraft benötigt. Die Nachschubtruppe war lange Zeit eine eigene Truppengattung im Tross des deutschen Heeres, ist jetzt aber im 21. Jahrhundert Teil der Logistiktruppe.
Reference:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nachschub

Peer comments on this reference comment:
agree Susan Starling : Yes, "Nachschub" can certainly mean that, although it can also (informally) refer to the troops and not the supplies, which is what appears to be meant here. But the above definition is obviously correct.
2 hrs
agree Björn Vrooman : The Wiki article does refer to people (see second sentence above); still, the letter itself provides few clues as to the actual meaning of the word in this context, so other interpretations are, of course, possible even if unlikely.
5 hrs
agree writeaway
5 hrs
disagree Lancashireman : Instead of Nachschubtruppe, try googling Truppennachschub.
1 day 7 hrs
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