question on belgian army doctrine

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daveh
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Location: uk

question on belgian army doctrine

#1

Post by daveh » 10 May 2014, 11:07

On
http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/?p=1890
re Belgian Army 1940 it notes that the Belgians have
a great emphasis on marksmanship in the defence and speedy, remorseless fire and movement in the advance
can anyone confirm this from Belgian army manuals of the period

Carl Schwamberger
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Re: question on belgian army doctrine

#2

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 08 Jun 2014, 04:46

Sounds like boilerplate infantry manual text to me.


JBbelgium
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Re: question on belgian army doctrine

#3

Post by JBbelgium » 02 Sep 2014, 17:38

You can download a Belgian infantry manuel from 1932 here: http://www.abbl1940.be/ABBL1940files/AB ... ameset.htm
It is in Dutch however. I have read it. It looks pretty standard for a West-European country. There is a lot aboout marksmanship but it also says that the most powerful weapon of the infantry (groupe) squad is the LMG.

There is a big piece about fire and movement, using cover in the advance, covering fire etc. Digging in and building obstacles and fortifications is another important chapter, with a picture. There is a text about working together with the mobile cavalry and bicycle troops, the artillery, engineers and the Renault FT17 tanks (no longer used in 1940).

One thing that i noticed is that there is almost nothing about fighting in villages or cities.

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