World war II
German medics: Sanitäter
World War 2
During the second world war the german army had
a well organized and highly skilled medical service :
the Sanitäter, popularly known as sanies
where always on the frontline with combat troops ready to jump in
to help wounded man
german medics on the battlefield,
stretcher bearers, ambulance car drivers, and surgeons at field
hospitals worked under all source of combat conditions
to save the lifes of their fellow soldiers
recruiting and training their medics at the german medical
service varied according to their skills, medical
orderlies were recruited from the standar infantry troops
after they finished standard infantry training recruits picked
to do medical services had basic medical training
at this training level, they learned to apply first aid
to wounded soldiers so they could survive the transport
to the first dressing station, even
though their medical knowledge was
basic was still very valuable out in battle
as the lives of soldiers depended on the first aid
provided by medical orderlies often
Priests and monks were among those being recruited to serve as medics.
higher medical staff such as surgeons, doctors and
dentist were recruited from the military medical academy.
as well as from medical schools across the entire German Reich
after finishing their studies they were picked for probationary
work in a field unit after which they were commissioned as
Second Lieutenants
as the war was taking its toll, the medical service
started suffering the shortage of skilled medical staff.
for that reason, students were recruited and commissioned
as officers even before they finished medical school.