Wehrmacht Dentists!

[Hans]

I'm curious. In all the thousands of documents I have read etc. I have naturally come across hundreds of Unterärzte,Ärzte, Oberärzte, Stabsärzte etc. etc., and the same goes for Vetenarians. However nowhere have I come across a single dentist in the Wehrmacht. The only reference to dentists I have come across is an order to unit commanders to exercise greater care when referring recruits to dentists at Whrmacht expense, where the problem may have existed prior to their being drafted.

It's not an earth shattering topic. I'm just curious.

- Hans

PS. - Happy New Year!

[phylo_roadking]

to exercise greater care when referring recruits to dentists at Whrmacht expense

Well...that to me would hint at them simply sending people to civilian dentists and paying for the treatment, rather than having their own military ones...?

[Hans]

Hi Phylo,

Thought of that, but that was in peace time. I would assume that war time would bring other dental problems which would necessitate treatment a little closer to the action, particularly as Germans tend to be a bit precious about their teeth.

- Hans

[Leo Niehorster]

Can't speak about the Luftwaffe or the Navy, only for the Army...

The divisional medical company was initially authorized one dentist with the rank of lieutenant or captain and later increased to two dental officers. In case the division had two medical companies, only one of these would have dentists. They were assisted by enlisted medics.

Each field hospital also had a dentist officer, sided by an enlisted medic specifically trained as a dental assistant.

The headquarters of a military hospital battalion had a dozen officer dentists. Further to the rear in both military and civilian hospitals there were surgeons specialized in dental surgery, jaw surgery, and other disciplines, in all cases assisted by enlisted medics and dental assistants.

The Waffen-SS was similar, although having their own medical company organization later on in the war.

Cheers
Leo

[Fahrdienstleiter]

Does anyone remember the remarkable Kriegsmarine dentist in Buchheim's Die Festung?

[Klaus_Arzt]

hey, i found this one today, rather eerie i have to admit aahhhH!!

a wehrmacht dentist

dentist.jpeg (18.23 KiB) Viewed 4269 times

[sebastian]

auch indeed

[ghp95134]

...The Waffen-SS was similar, although having their own medical company organization later on in the war.

It's been a while since last I cracked it open, but if I recall correctly, there's a photo of a field dentist in action in Wenn Alle Brüder Schweigen. Again, perhaps my memory is faulty and there's no photo .... I suppose I'll have to check this weekend!

Cheers!
--Guy