What is the function of the small rectangles mounted on both sides of the cabs on some German vehicles – both military and civilian – during the war? Here we see it attached to the side of the windscreen on a Kubelwagen – the right elbow is adjacent to it:



And here at the rear of the cab of a civilian truck. I gather the triangle on the roof signifies that a trailer is attached:

I'm quite sure they are trafficators (Winkers in German)



On a Kubelwagen :



I guess you're right about the triangle



It's called "Anhängerdreieck" :

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anh%C3%A4ngerdreieck

H.P.

Yep that is exactly what it is. The old timey variant of the turn signal

Alright, I gotta ask - why the triangle for vehicles with trailers? Surely anyone seeing the triangle would already see the trailer? Or is it a case of "if you see my triangle, but no trailer, please stop me and tell me I've lost my load"?...

My guess is not all trailers were as big as the one in the photo. Especially thing like guns when towed behind trucks would not be visable at all from the front and so someone might go to turn in behind the truck and crash into the gun or whatever trailer was stood there.

The warning triangle would indeed serve to notify folks in front of that truck that there is in fact something connected and directly behind it, and thus reduce possible turn-in accidents... From the traffic-director MP perspective (been there, done that!), such a device also gives the cop a head's up as he makes decisions about who goes where when and how fast at the intersection. The (possibly heavy) trailer will also affect how fast the truck can stop and whether it needs more space to make the turn... All in all, pretty useful in that era.

I might also imagine that the trailer could be a factor in crossing some bridges, and again a traffic controller would have info up front as the truck approached...

PS: These types of signals were still in use in Euro trucks for many, many years after the war, suggesting that at least some folks thought them to be helpful. Some of the more-recent additions to the army of happy motorists filling roads today are, alas, much more sure that they actually can see that trailer and not turn into it "to make it through before the next ruck gets to the corner" (been there, seen - and policed up the blood and pieces left - that, too!)!

Bob

Both items fitted to a restored Mercedes L3000 :



Triangle (it's an Austrian variant that should be quite close to the German one) :



H.P.

Those blinker arms lasted on some European cars until well into the 60's (and possibly later).