Infantry Hand Signals - who was first?

Discussion in 'General' started by At Home Dad (Returning), Jan 21, 2009.

  1. At Home Dad (Returning)

    At Home Dad (Returning) Well-Known Member

    Hallo all

    I've seen footage of German infantry using hand signals
    during an attack and wondered if the germans 'invented'
    these signals? They appear to be very close to the USA
    military hand signals. Did the USA 'develop' the German
    ones, or invent their own? Were the same signals used in
    WW1 or was this something developed between wars?


    And here are some funnies:
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  3. plant-pilot

    plant-pilot Senior Member

    Troops have had to move about silently since the end of 'rank and file' tactics and volley fire. Hand signals are the obvious way to do it. Even in the dark, passing the signal back from the commander form man to man. Of course once the shooting starts, whistles and shouted orders are more than fit for the job.

    During WW1, it is inconceivable to think of night time patrols in no mans land, where the opposing trenches were sometimes only 20 yards apart, without some form of hand signal to communicate orders and intentions. That's on all sides British, German, French, American etc.
     
  4. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    One hand signal that seemed universal in all units was the signal "start up your engines".

    This was a circular motion made above your head and could be readily recognised even from a distance.

    In my Hussars unit this was always followed by the most spectacular of engine roars, never to be forgotten
     
  5. At Home Dad (Returning)

    At Home Dad (Returning) Well-Known Member

    That's it Ron, and the other one of a clench fist above the head
    and bring it down and up several times. I've seen the Wehrmacht
    do this and the Americans, just wondered who did it first


    Cheers


    One hand signal that seemed universal in all units was the signal "start up your engines".

    This was a circular motion made above your head and could be readily recognised even from a distance.

    In my Hussars unit this was always followed by the most spectacular of engine roars, never to be forgotten
     
  6. Donnie

    Donnie Remembering HHWH

    The american hand signals always seem to be very flamboyant (as are their names for op's ETC).......British Army ones seem to be more sensible.....Example: On Me you w**ker! i mean (ahem) On me Doubletime!....

    Donnie
     
  7. marcus69x

    marcus69x I love WW2 meah!!!

    Just read this answer to a similar question on another site: "

    I think way back to the Ancient civilisations. There are several wall paintings, [COLOR=#D0D060 ! important][COLOR=#D0D060 ! important]illustrations[/COLOR][/COLOR] and 'technical' drawings dotted about the ancient worlkd. In particular, there are [COLOR=#D0D060 ! important][COLOR=#D0D060 ! important]Greek[/COLOR][/COLOR], Roman and Egyptian museums full of the stuff and books such as Sun Tzu's 'Art of Warfare' are liberally illustrated."


    That's all I could find mate. I would presume they've been around for a long time and have just been adopted and adapted by different nations military over time.
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    lol, are you actually being serious?

    I thought you was posting a 'joke' that those hand signals are. Has anyone read them?

    :lol:
     
  9. plant-pilot

    plant-pilot Senior Member

    lol, are you actually being serious?

    I thought you was posting a 'joke' that those hand signals are. Has anyone read them?

    :lol:

    Well he did finish his post before the pictures with:

    And here are some funnies:
    :D
     
  10. Donnie

    Donnie Remembering HHWH

    I did that was why i posted a stupid response?........hmmm....i think we are the only ones who read them Andy...:D

    Edit: for moaning and still being a mong and not reading properly :D

    :D Donnie
     
  11. marcus69x

    marcus69x I love WW2 meah!!!

    'Safety my arse, talk to the hand'. :lol:

    Didn't read them before.
     
  12. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    The definative answer to hand signals regarding where they came from.

    One caveman waving at another to signal "over here". :D

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  13. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    If I remember correctly, a hand resting on the top of one's head meant "Come to me !"

    Does anyone remember that one ?

    Ron
     
  14. Donnie

    Donnie Remembering HHWH

    Yeah "on me"......it is still used Ron.

    Donnie
     
  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Yeah "on me"......it is still used Ron.

    Used that today at work.
    :)
     
  16. At Home Dad (Returning)

    At Home Dad (Returning) Well-Known Member

    OK, let's try another angle.

    Can anyone describe the basic 1939 Wehrmacht combat hand signals?
    I'm speaking of examples such as - "the clenched fist above the head,
    moving up and down, used to indicate 'advance'." etc.

    Perhaps current/recent servicemen and the Veterans can say what the
    five 'basic' commands are, so that I dont reveal too much ignorance?

    'Advance', 'halt', 'aware', 'enemy spotted' etc? I dont know what else,
    but those here who have done it know.

    And then, perhaps, someone knows what the US Military hand signals for the same time period were? As far as I know, 'Advance' in US was left arm extended up with palm facing forward. Then it changed at some point to the German signal.

    I'd like to be corrected in this; it's just something I have noticed when watching the history channel docs etc and they show combat footage of US and German soldiers.

    I can also quite believe that UK had/has it's own 'quirky' hand signals, or perhaps they were just (as Drew said) natural hand signals, as used and developed by 'cavemen'.

    The reason for my interest is simple curiosity about how deep 'German military influence' was absorbed by the US military, post war. Many German tactics or 'processes' were adopted, because they were better and then they were improved.

    Germans, at all levels, continued their military career in the US and elsewhere and
    hand signals is one way to see the possible influence of their experience.

    Just a thought
     
  17. Tomcat

    Tomcat Junior Member

    Pilots in ww1 and ww2 used Hand signals to coordinate there flights.
     

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