Sicherheit vs. Sicherung:

[Joe AVENT]

I've seen both used as adjectives, which is correct? Does it have to do with the der/die/das case? Any assistance will be highly appreciated.

Good hunting

[derGespenst]

They can probably best be translated this way:

Sicherung = secure or security
Sicherheit = safety

[Joe AVENT]

I've discovered on an English/German on-line dictionary that sicherungs
stands for backup whilst sicherheits means security.

For years I've read that Heer Sicherungsdivisions were security divisions & that Sicherheitspolizei stood for security police. I imagine that it was a convenient translation concerning the word sicherung. Differing opinions are sought after.

Good hunting

[Grunt]

"Sicherung" is a standing term in military German. It describes a kind of middle between "guarding" and "defending". Let me try to explain:

Three kinds of action:

"Bewachung": guarding an object, mostly peace-time action, no enemy attacks considered to take place

"Sicherung": secure an object, mostly in wartimes, but backward areas or so, enemy attacks are expected to be possible, but not in any case.

"Verteidigung": defending an object, enemy attack is taking place or is expected to take place in the direct future.

Note: in the case of an enemy attack, the status automatically will change from "Sicherung" to "Verteidigung"


On the other Hand, the term "Sicherheit" can be directly translated as "Security" and covers military security (military police, military guarding service, intelligence) as well as "civilian" security (police, secret service and so on).

Troops guarding objects are called "Sicherungstruppen" (translated as security troops) or "Wacheinheiten" (guard units), in this case the "guard" has no meaning of "elite" but only "watching and patroulling".

Often there is a mistranslation naming something "Sicherheitstruppen" instead of "Sicherungstruppen". To my best knowledge this is wrong, as I don´t know any "Sicherheitstruppen" in german military language.

[Joe AVENT]

Thanks for the reply "Grunt".

I'm sure that you are aware of the WW II useage of Sicherheitspolizei,(
general term for the combined Gestapo & Kripo 'agency'; the Sicherheits-
dienst when combined with the Sipo made up the Reichsicherheitshauptamt, (RSHA).

I realize that the above mentioned are not combat troops but they were assigned to the rear areas of Army Groups N., M. & Sued for partisan
pacification, etc, etc.

Good hunting

[Grunt]

Sure, from this point of view there could be "Sicherheitseinheiten". As far as I know police units never were referred to as "Truppen" which is a military term only. So I may correct my last statement:

Sicherheitstruppen - no, should be called Sicherungstruppen

Sicherheitseinheiten - yes, truly possible