before they could be used. Verband – formation (from a battalion to a brigade). Verbindungsoffizier – liaison officer verdächtige Elemente/Personen – suspicious elements/persons. Verfügungstruppen – "[Special] Disposal Troops"; SS combat units, became the Waffen-SS in 1940. Vergeltungsmaßnahmen – reprisals; retaliatory punitive measures. Vernichtungskrieg – (1) "war of annihilation" against USSR civilians; (2) dogmatic offensive. Vernichtungslager – extermination camp. Verpflegung – food supplies Verräter – traitor. "Verstanden" – procedure word; "understood", "roger". Verstärkung – reinforcement. Versuchs – experimental. Hence the "V" designation for any military aircraft prototype for the World War II era Luftwaffe. Originated by the Fokker Flugzeugbau in 1916, solely for its own experimental designs. Versuchskonstruktion – prototype. Verwendung – duty position Veterinäroffizier – veterinarian officer Vichy France – French regime set up in the city of Vichy under Marshal Philippe Petain in collaboration with the Germans following the fall of France in 1940. It governed the southern half of France until its dissolution in 1944. Vierling – German for "quadruple", referring to any weapons mount that used four machine guns or autocannon of the same make and model, in a single traversable and elevatible mount, used as part of the name for the Flakvierling quadmount 20mm anti-aircraft cannon system, and the experimental HL 131V (Hecklafette 131-Vierling) tail turret, mounting four MG 131 12.7mm machine guns in an enclosed, powered defensive position for advanced German late-war bomber aircraft designs. Vizeadmiral – naval rank of vice admiral völkisch – popular, in the sense of "of the (German) populace." An adjective derived from "Volk" meaning "people," coming from the racist, nationalist ideology that divided people into "pure" Aryans and inferior Untermenschen. Volksdeutsche – ethnic Germans. Volksgemeinschaft – national community or civilian population; public support (see Kameradschaft). Volksgrenadier – "People's Infantryman", a morale-building honorific given to low-grade infantry divisions raised or reconstituted in the last months of the war. Volkskrieg – "People's War". Volkssturm – people's semi-military defense force, made up mostly of boys and older men. Volkstumskampf – ethnic struggle. Vorausabteilung – advance detachment Vorgeschobener Beobachter – forward observer Vorpostenboote (VP-boot) – coastal escort vessels and motor launches with anti-submarine and minesweeping gear. Also called Küstenfischkutter (KFK), as they were patrol vessels constructed to a fishing-vessel design. W Wasserbombe (WaBo) —depth charge. Wach- – guard (in conjunction). Wachsamkeit – vigilance. Wachtmeister – senior NCO (equivalent to Feldwebel) in cavalry and artillery units. Waffe (plural: Waffen) – "weapon", or can be an