z. b. V. (also z.b.V., ZBV, ZbV, and zbV) is an
abbreviation
An abbreviation () is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method including shortening (linguistics), shortening, contraction (grammar), contraction, initialism (which includes acronym), or crasis. An abbreviation may be a shortened for ...
for the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany, the country of the Germans and German things
**Germania (Roman era)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
phrase ''zur besonderen Verwendung'', or alternatively the synonymous phrase ''zur besonderen Verfügung''.
Translation
Translations for the phrases ''zur besonderen Verwendung'' and ''zur besonderen Verfügung'' include:
* 'for special deployment'.
* 'for special duties'.
Uses
Economy
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, some German state-controlled businesses in the civilian and military economy received the ''z. b. V.'' designation.
Wehrmacht
In the
Wehrmacht
The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...
, the German armed forces during World War II, officer staffs designated ''z. b. V.'' had no subordinate combat troops. Those staffs stood by in general reserves or in the reserves of particular armies or army groups and waited to be activated as the staffs of new combat units. The German air force had similar ''z. b. V.'' staffs for regional air defense purposes, the ''Luftgaustäbe''.
Next to officer staffs, singular officers could also be designated ''z. b. V.'', such as ''Gen. z.b.V.b. ObdH'', ''General zur besonderen Verfügung beim Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres'', 'general attached to the commander-in-chief of the army'.
In 1941, Wehrmacht
probationary and punishment units started also to receive the z.b.V. designation. Such units were made up of men that were convicted of minor and disciplinary offenses and had a specific criteria for joining. However, as the war progressed, the criteria would soon be limited only to fitness for combat and mental health. By the war's end, almost all of the requirements were dropped, and the units were filled with men completely unfit for combat, which made them lose any effectiveness.
See also
*
GmbH
(; ) is a type of Juridical person, legal entity in German-speaking countries. It is equivalent to a (Sàrl) in the Romandy, French-speaking region of Switzerland and to a (Sagl) in the Ticino, Italian-speaking region of Switzerland.
It is a ...
References
German words and phrases
Business in Germany
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