ARABS VOLUNTEERS OF THE WEHRMACHT: THE "KODAT"
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By: Carlos Giordano

The KODAT
On January of 1943, was formed in Tunisia the denominated unit "Kommando Deutsch-Arabische Truppen or KODAT". by the middle of February of 1943 the KODAT had two battalions of Arab volunteers of Tunisia, an Algerian battalion and a Moroccan battalion that count a total of 3000 men; with German cadre. The KODAT was part of the Sonderverband 287 denominated "Deutsch-Arabische Lehr Abteilung" or also called "Deutsch-Arabische Truppen."

UNIFORM
The troop used the uniform continental French model 1935 color kaki without badges, with a white armband (in the right arm) with the inscription in black "Im Dienst der Deutschen Wehrmacht" (in service of the german armed forces), equipment of brown leather of French origin and German helmets.
The Officials and Sub Officials used the German regulation uniform with an arm badge in the right arm belonging to the " Orientkorps " (used by the Sonderverband 287 and the Sonderverband 288).

Left: I draw of an infant of the KODAT, he shines the French uniform M1935, color kaki, belt band color kaki, cartridge holders of leather brown color and the helmet German gray color. In the right arm the white arm band is observed with the inscription "Im Dienst der Deutschen Wehrmacht." Center: Oberfeldweber of the Sonderverband 287, on the German cadre of a battalion of the KODAT, he wears the tropical uniform M1940, helmet M1935 and in their right arm it shines the "Orientkorps" arm badge. Right: Up: Two variants of the white arm band with the inscription Im Dienst der Deutschen Wehrmacht" (To the Service of the German Army), used by the KODAT, it was used for other auxiliary units and for personal non combatant the army. Below: "Orientkorps " arm badge, that this made by an machine-woven of a yellow nascent sun; palms, esvastica and palm of laurels in white; on a dark green oval.
		Left: Photo taken in Tunisia in January of 1943, where a formation of a battalion of the KODAT is observed, which dress the French uniform M1935 with the white arm bands in its right arm and the German helmet. The German suboficial dressed the tropical uniform M1940
In this photo we see an Unteroffizier of the Sonderverband 287, with standard German tropical uniform, with the arm badge arm of this unit; drilling native recruits of the KODAT that use uniforms of the French Army M1935 without badges, alone the white bracelet with the inscription in black "Im Dienst der Deutschen Wehrmacht."