Krankenpanzerwagen

Sd.Kfz.251/8 Ausf.A WWII German Ambulance with Military Medical Personnel

The platoons, companies, and battalions of the Wehrmacht included combat doctors who provided direct medical assistance to the wounded. Infantry companies also had individual non-commissioned officers of the medical service, and at the battalion level, a military doctor (Assistenzarzt or Oberarzt) was responsible for centralized medical care. Wehrmacht combat doctors were also responsible for evacuating the wounded to first aid points or collection points. Armored transporters could be used for evacuation, one of which was a special medical armored personnel carrier designated as the Sd.Kfz.251/8 or ‘Krankenpanzerwagen.’ This armored personnel carrier could carry various numbers of wounded, for which it had special stretchers and seats inside. Additionally, semicircular rails were installed on top of the hull for an awning to protect from the weather. Armored medical transporters were part of the headquarters company (Stabskompanie). For visual differentiation from standard vehicles, these transporters had large signs with a red medical cross.