Individual Figure Symbols Key
These symbols were used to depict the internal organization of units. The basic symbols with a few examples are depicted here. Others use these basic symbols in combination, possibly enhanced by abbreviations.

Abbreviations used with Individual Figure Symbols

There was no really fixed use of abbreviations, and, as with any abbreviation, it is helpful to observe where it is used and what billet it might represent. If a billet held a certain title, but the symbol was insufficiently clear, an abbreviation was added. In other cases, the symbol itself was unable to depict all characteristics of the position, and the abbreviations were used to define the missing ones. Sometimes simplified symbols were used, omitting both the figure modifications and the abbreviations. Instead, only symbols depicting officers, NCO, and enlisted men were used. In some cases, the designations of the personnel was written next to the symbols.

Adj Apo B Bäck Be Beob Ber Betr Bl Dreh Em EM Erk ErsT F Fe Fhr Fm FM Fs Ft Fu G Gas Gep GewF H H K Kfm Klem Kf Krad KrTr L Ldw Ltr M Ma Malr Mau Meß Mot Mun MW N (Na) Nm Opal o.O.	Adjudant Apotheker Fahnenschmied Bäcker Beamte Beobachtung Berittführer Betriebsstoff Blinker Dreher Elektromechaniker Entfernungsmesser Erkundungs- Erstatzteilverwalter Feuer- (werker) (meister) Fernsprecher Führer Fuhrmeister Flugmelde- Fernschreiber Futter Funk(er) Gerät Gasschutz Gepäck Gewehrfüher Handwerker Hauptfeldwebel Koch Kaufmann Klempner Kraftfahr Kradschützenführer Krankenträger Ladeschütze Landwirt Leiter Melder Maschinist Maler Maurer Messdienst Motorenschlosser Munition Mess- und Wetterdienst Nachrichten Nachrichtenmechaniker Opalograph Kartendrucker Ordennanz Offizier	Adjutant Pharmacist Farrier / Horse Smith Backer Government Service Official Observation Mounted Section Leader P.O.L. (Petrol, Oil, and Lublicants) Flash Signaler (Heliographer) Lathe Operator Electrical Technician Distance Measurer Scout Spare Parts Clerk Exposives Specialist / Technical Sergeant Telephoneman / Wireman Leader Horse-Drawn Transportation Master Sergeant Air Warning Telex Operator Fodder Radio (Man) Equipment Gas Protection Baggage Gun Team Leader Craftsman Company First Sergeant Cook Grocer / Businessman Plumer Motor Leader of the Motorcyclists Stretcher Bearer Loader Farmer Head / Chief Messenger Machine Operator Painter Bricklayer Measurer Motor Mechanic Ammunition Measurement and Weather Service Signal Signal Technician Opalograph map duplicating machine operator Aide (-de-Camp)		Ord Pf Pi Pz PzFu R Rad Rech RK S     (Ch)     (EP)     (F)     (Fz)     (K)     (P)     (R)     (Sch)     (W) S&S Sam San Satt Schl Schlä Schm Schn Schr Schu Schw Stell St Tisch Troß V VB VD Vet W Wach Warn Wet WF Wk Wm W&G Z (Zahl) Zahn Zei Zim	Ordennanz Pferdehalter Pionier Panzerwart Panzerfunkwart Rechnungsführer Rad Rechentrupp Richtkreis Schirrmeister     Chemie     Eisenbahnpionier     Heergerät     Feldzeug     Kraftfahr     Pionier     Rundfunk     Scheinwerfer     Waffen Schmied & Schweisser Techniker für Sammler Sanitäts Sattler Schlosser Schlächter Schmied Schneider Schreiber Schuhster Schweisser Stellmacher Stellung Tischler Führer der Troße Verpflegung Vorgeschobener Beobachter Vermessungsdienst Veterinär Waffen Wach- Warn- und Luftspähdienst Wetterdienst Waffenführer Werkmeister Waffenmeister Waffen & Gerät Zahlmeister Zahnartz Zeichner Zimmermann	Orderly Horseholder Pioneer / Engineer Armored Vehicle Mechanic Armored Vehicle Radio Mechanic Accounts Clerk Bicycle (Also: mounted on a bicycle) Calculation Section Direction Finder Technical (Master) Sergeant for    Chemical Warfare [i.e., Smoke] Equipment    Railroad Engineer Equipment    Riding and Horse-Drawn Equipment    Army Ordnance Equipment    Motor Vehicle Equipment    Engineer Equipment    Radio Equipment    Searchlight Equipment    Arms and Weapons Smith & Welder Battery Mechanic Medical Saddle Maker Mechanic Butcher Smith Tailor Clerk Cobbler Welder Wheelwright Ranging Carpenter Leader of the Trains Commissary / Rations Forward Observer Measuring Service Veterinary Armorer Guard Air Warning and Spotting Meteorology Service Weapon Commander Workshop Foreman Master Armorer Weapons and Equipment Paymaster Dentist Draughtsman Carpenter
The symbols were used to define billets (positions / slots). Not ranks. For details, see also: Military Personnel Billet Groups, Functions, and Ranks Discussed Military Personnel Job Descriptions