Cyclopaedia Bellum Gothicus

The Cyclopaedia Bellum Gothicus is a popular encyclopedia published in Austrasia by the Soldiers Union of the Austrasian Reichswehr since 1949. Though a private publication, the Cyclopaedia attracts considerable interest from academics, serving soldiers and civilian experts. It is commonly considered the authoritative open-source reference work on the contemporary Austrasian military. Owing to its longevity, comprehensiveness and easy availability the Cyclopaedia is a popular didactic tool in the Austrasian Reichswehr, particularly for officer cadets and aspiring non-commissioned officers.

Eighty-Eight
88 commonly refers to the popular name of the ubiquitous 8.8 cm Kanonenhaubitze L/39, a popular lightweight artillery piece which first entered service with the Reichswehr in the 1950s and remains a common sight on artillery training ranges.

Minenwerfer
Minenwerfer though commonly rendered as Mortar refers to a family of rifle-mortars which have, in Austrasian usage, largely displaced the more common smoothbore types used abroad. Employed in calibers ranging from 7.62 cm to 24 cm, the best-known are the 10.5 cm minenwerfers which are the standard battalion level fire support weapons.

Panzer
Panzer in the context of the Austrasian military has three main usages: Firstly as a synonym of "tank", secondly according to its native meaning "armoured" and thirdly in the context of the Panzer Troops; one of the major components of the Austrasian Reichswehr.

Panzer Troops
The Panzer Troops (Panzertruppen) of the Reichswehr refer to the army's armoured combined arms units which characteristically employ balanced formations of heavily armed and armoured tanks and IFVs. They are the main striking force of the Reichswehr.