The German Foot Infantry Division.

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The German Foot Infantry Division.
By Lieutenant Colonel Louis S. N. PHILLIPP, Cavalry, Instructor, Command and General Staff School.

In order to discuss the organization of the German Infantry division and to tie this organization in with the tactical employment of its units, let us assume a situation. A German infantry division is advancing in three columns on parallel roads expecting immediate contact with an enemy force. For our purposes let us assume that the division
has all the forces shown on the accompanying chart. (Chart I).

The divisional reconnaissance squadron (abteilung) is preceding the division at the distance of one day's march for motor and mounted units. (This squadron/abteilung was formed from cavalry regiments which were disbanded on general mobilization.) The cavalry troop has some two hundred men armed with rifles and nine light machine guns.

Sources: Military Review Vol XXI Nº 85.
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The German Foot Infantry Division.
By Lieutenant Colonel Louis S. N. PHILLIPP, Cavalry, Instructor, Command and General Staff School.

The bicycle troop has one hundred twenty-six cyclists and twenty motorcycles with side cars and is similarly armed. In support of these two troops is a heavy weapons troop which has a variety of supporting weapons.

There is an armored car platoon with three four-ton vehicles (panzerspähwagen), a machine gun platoon of four heavy machine guns, a medium mortar platoon of three 81-mm mortars, a cavalry howitzer platoon of two 75-mm field howitzers, and an antitank platoon of three 37-mm guns towed behind trucks or light tractors.

Sources: Military Review Vol XXI Nº 85.
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The German Foot Infantry Division.
By Lieutenant Colonel Louis S. N. PHILLIPP, Cavalry, Instructor, Command and General Staff School.

The three scout cars, supported by motorcycles, will be operating well to the front, exploring the road net. Following them will be bicycle and cavalry patrols which can operate over paths, trails, and across country. In case of enemy resistance, the supporting' weapons of the squadron are available to brush aside light enemy forces and enable the reconnaissance squadron to continue its mission.

The antitank platoon is used against any enemy mechanized vehicles which may be encountered. This reconnaissance squadron can be expected to act aggressively under all circumstances. It operates well out in front of the combat teams since each of the latter have a mounted infantry platoon for close-in reconnaissance and protection. It can be readily seen that such a reconnaissance squadron can cover all types of terrain on the division front and that it has fire power and supporting weapons to overcome weak enemy resistance.

Sources: Military Review Vol XXI Nº 85.
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The German Foot Infantry Division.
By Lieutenant Colonel Louis S. N. PHILLIPP, Cavalry, Instructor, Command and General Staff School.

Let us assume that the reconnaissance squadron has met determined enemy resistance and has withdrawn to a flank. The German infantry will begin to appear. (Chart II) Do not expect them to advance in open order "as skirmishers." It is more probable that they will "fan out" from the advance guard in squad columns with the light machine gun team leading the squad.

Each squad will advance independently, taking every advantage of terrain features. As soon as the light machine gun team goes into action, some of the riflemen will start working forward to locate enemy flanks and strength.

Sources: Military Review Vol XXI Nº 85.
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The German Foot Infantry Division.
By Lieutenant Colonel Louis S. N. PHILLIPP, Cavalry, Instructor, Command and General Staff School.

All German soldiers and officers are taught the value of immediate and thorough reconnaissance of the enemy position. As soon as a suitable target has been located the light mortar of the platoon will open fire and under cover of the fire of this weapon and the light machine guns the riflemen will advance close to the enemy position. When they get within striking distance they will hurl hand grenades to immobilize the enemy and then charge with the bayonet. They practice close lateral liaison and often units of one company will maneuver to assist units of another company in overcoming an enemy strong point.

If the enemy force is too strongly situated to be dislodged by the advance guard, the company and battalion weapons are brought into action. There is much decentralized action on the part of German units. Each commander will act aggressively to gain his objective and to assist the advance of the neighboring units. A part or all of the automatic weapons may be concentrated in the holding attack while a maneuvering force operates to outflank the enemy position.

Sources: Military Review Vol XXI Nº 85.
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The German Foot Infantry Division.
By Lieutenant Colonel Louis S. N. PHILLIPP, Cavalry, Instructor, Command and General Staff School.

The company may have been reinforced with heavy machine guns and 81-mm mortars from the battalion machine gun company or even with the 75 mm field howitzers from the 13th company of the regiment. These battalion machine gun companies are composed of three platoons of four heavy machine guns each and one platoon of six 81-mm mortars.

The 13th company of the infantry regiment has three platoons of two 75-mm infantry howitzers each, and one platoon of two 150-mm infantry howitzers, for close support of the rifle companies. The infantry howitzers are employed by the regimental commander as the situation requires. One or more guns may be assigned to support a single rifle company or one or more platoons placed in support of a battalion. They operate well forward to assist the advancing infantry.

Sources: Military Review Vol XXI Nº 85.
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The German Foot Infantry Division.
By Lieutenant Colonel Louis S. N. PHILLIPP, Cavalry, Instructor, Command and General Staff School.

Do not expect the Germans to establish a continuous line along the front. Their system is to occupy strong terrain features with space between units. This spacing is deliberate. since their favorite maneuver is the envelopment. If the enemy seeks to withdraw because he is in danger of being outflanked, the Germans will "leap-frog" with a rear battalion and press vigorously on. Remember, their cardinal principle of leadership is "aggressive action."

Sources: Military Review Vol XXI Nº 85.
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The German Foot Infantry Division.
By Lieutenant Colonel Louis S. N. PHILLIPP, Cavalry, Instructor, Command and General Staff School.

Suppose the enemy has prepared an obstacle in front of his position which will require the services of engineers. In every rifle company of an infantry regiment. there are men trained as engineers (pioneers) who can be quickly assembled for such duty. Besides at regimental level there is an Engineer Platoon available. If the situation requires tools or equipment which they do not have available. the division engineer battalion is called upon.

Engineers are trained to work well forward, at times even in advance of the infantry. The battalion consists of two partly motorized companies. a heavy motorized company. a bridge train. a tools park. and the battalion supply train. Among other equipment carried by this battalion are a number of light boats and other stream crossing equipment. Qualified observers have commented upon the daring and efficiency of German engineer troops.

Sources: Military Review Vol XXI Nº 85.
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The German Foot Infantry Division.
By Lieutenant Colonel Louis S. N. PHILLIPP, Cavalry, Instructor, Command and General Staff School.

If the engagement has become general the combat teams are brought under divisional control. and the signal battalion establishes communications from the division command post to unit headquarters and with the next major unit on the right. This principle of liaison with the next unit on the right is invariable and is practiced by all echelons. The signal battalion has a wire company and a radio company, and both systems of communication are established as soon as practicable.

Sources: Military Review Vol XXI Nº 85.
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The German Foot Infantry Division.
By Lieutenant Colonel Louis S. N. PHILLIPP, Cavalry, Instructor, Command and General Staff School.

The divisional artillery, which may have been engaged in support of one or more combat teams, is likewise brought under division control. Since each infantry regiment has its own accompanying artillery, the division artillery can concéntrate on support missions and interdiction and counterbattery fires. The divisional artillery consists of a headquarters, a regiment of 105-mm gun howitzers, with three battalions of three firing batteries each, and a medium battallion of three batteries of 150-mm gun howitzers.

Thus the division has eighteen 75-mm infantry howitzers in the three Infantry regiments, thirty-six 105-mm gun howitzers in the light artillery regiment, six 150-mm howitzers in the infantry regiments, and twelve 150-mm gun howitzers in the medium battalion. The "four-gun" battery organization is used throughout the German artillery.

Sources: Military Review Vol XXI Nº 85.
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The German Foot Infantry Division.
By Lieutenant Colonel Louis S. N. PHILLIPP, Cavalry, Instructor, Command and General Staff School.

For protection against air attacks, the division is reported to have antiaircraft artillery, caliber 20-mm. This is reported to be a combined AA & AT gun, variously described also as a superheavy machine gun. The battalion has three companies of twelve guns each. There is also a twelve-gun antiaircraft company in the antitank battalion.

Sources: Military Review Vol XXI Nº 85.
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The German Foot Infantry Division.
By Lieutenant Colonel Louis S. N. PHILLIPP, Cavalry, Instructor, Command and General Staff School.

For antitank protection, the Germans have three types of weapons, which may be found in various combinations in the AT battalion. These are a 37-mm gun developed by the Germans and which was the original armament of the companies of ,the battalion, the 47-mm Skoda gun obtained from the Czechs, and a new 50-mm gun which has recently been developed. The AT battalion has three companies of twelve guns each which are completely motorized, and the troops are highly trained in the protection of march columns and in the defense of the division against mechanized threats.

It must be borne in mind that the German infantry división is a powerful, self-contained tactical force capable of operating either as combat teams or as an integrated whole. It is tactically and administratively self-sufficient and above all is very flexible when led by a capable ,and aggressive commander.

Sources: Military Review Vol XXI Nº 85.
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Source: German Company Tactics. Organization Data. Special Series Nº 22. USAMHI.

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Poland - Fall 1939.

Source: http://odkrywca.pl/wrzesien-1939-zdjeci ... 50461.html

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