" Panzer course Panther
Major and commander Streit Erlangen october 1943
Excerpt from the lecture
Operation of Panzer units in the counter attack
2)It is the mission of the higher command to conduct the defense with foresight:
a) absolutely hold onto terrain that is decisive for counterattack also with the danger of holes in the front
b) planned falling back to give the counterattack a more effective direction
3) General operational principles:
Uniformly achieve a concentrated attack even when the enemy has broken through on several spots, to achieve success at least at one point and then defeat him at another point.
Isolated use of individual platoons or companies mostly leads to their getting stuck because of flank threats.
The immediate pulling out of Panzer forces for use at another place must be secured by the timely bringing up of Panzergrenadiere or Panzerjäger reserve forces-where applicable from parts of the front that are not attacked(question and concern of the panzer officer: who relieves the Panzer for pulling out of the front?).
The Panzer forces deployed for intervention must be so positioned that they can advance in attack formation in the shortest possible time to stop an enemy attack- be it in defense or counterattack.
The combat readiness of the Panzer unit has to be established as soon as enemy preaparations for immediate attack are properly identified(pushing forward,artillery barrage).
Forward Panzer intervention groups(plattoon to companies),while the rest of the unit is resting further back, is to be rejected, because this results in a fragmented operation of tanks.
The presence and moving up of Panzer units will be difficult to hide from the enemy reconnaissance and intelligence. Therefore, there will mostly not be operational surprise.
The more important is the tactical surprise through time and direction of the counterattack. To achieve a resounding success, it must hit the enemy at a vulnerable spot.
It must always be the aim to:
That the Panzer unit is not driven against a defensive front already established by the enemy or against superior tank attack,but pushes surprisingly into the flank of the enemy breakthrough."'
to be continued
conduct of the armored counterattack
Re: conduct of the armored counterattack
Conduct of the armored counterattack continued
" that the Panzer unit moves to the attack in terrain that is favourable for it. For the correct moving up of the Panzer unit, the recognizing of the weak spot of the enemy for the approach to counterattack is crucial.
4).Approach of the Panzer unit
The Panzer unit that moves up to counterattack must always expect to hit an enemy that is fully combatready be it that it continues its attack with tank forces supported by strong artillery and air effect, be it that it has recognized the coming counterattack and expects it set up for defense with strong anitankdefense and mines and artillery effect.
The precondition for success is the readiness for combat of the entire Panzer unit.
A counterattack, only with part of the Panzer unit forward ,will mostly lead to stalling of the attack and being forced to immediate defense.
If based on the situation, it is to be expected to collide with an enemy attack superior in tanks and artillery, it could be appropriate at first to let the enemy attack run up to the own antitankdefense and firefront of artillery and tanks- the latter if possible in a backslope position. Only after breaking down of the enemy attack, will the own Panzer unit move to counterattack, if possible against an enemy flank.
If the enemy has temporarily stopped his attack, then it is to be expected that the own Panzer counterattack will hit a strong prepared defense.Without reconnaissance and support of other weapons, especially the engineers to identify and remove mines, a Panzer attack rarely leads to success and rather brings unbearable losses in men and material."
to be continued
" that the Panzer unit moves to the attack in terrain that is favourable for it. For the correct moving up of the Panzer unit, the recognizing of the weak spot of the enemy for the approach to counterattack is crucial.
4).Approach of the Panzer unit
The Panzer unit that moves up to counterattack must always expect to hit an enemy that is fully combatready be it that it continues its attack with tank forces supported by strong artillery and air effect, be it that it has recognized the coming counterattack and expects it set up for defense with strong anitankdefense and mines and artillery effect.
The precondition for success is the readiness for combat of the entire Panzer unit.
A counterattack, only with part of the Panzer unit forward ,will mostly lead to stalling of the attack and being forced to immediate defense.
If based on the situation, it is to be expected to collide with an enemy attack superior in tanks and artillery, it could be appropriate at first to let the enemy attack run up to the own antitankdefense and firefront of artillery and tanks- the latter if possible in a backslope position. Only after breaking down of the enemy attack, will the own Panzer unit move to counterattack, if possible against an enemy flank.
If the enemy has temporarily stopped his attack, then it is to be expected that the own Panzer counterattack will hit a strong prepared defense.Without reconnaissance and support of other weapons, especially the engineers to identify and remove mines, a Panzer attack rarely leads to success and rather brings unbearable losses in men and material."
to be continued
Re: conduct of the armored counterattack
Conduct of the armored counterattack continued
" 5) Conduct of the planned counterattack
As a Panzercommander , have yourself given a clear and thorough view of the enemy. Always ask for the enemy distribution of forces and the situation of enemy artillery, tanks and antitank forces. Have yourself given a newly flown air picture of the area of the attack. Have yourself informed about the collaboration of the artillery with the Panzer and if possible speak personally with the artillery commander or the battery chiefs. You also have to know about the artillery preparation.
Do not start your motors before you had had time for reconnaissance, positioning and talking about the attack plan.
Review your full readiness for combat.
If the enemy picture is unclear, the initiation of the counterattack needs to create the basis for the beating down of enemy resistance points, antitank defense and flankings.
Against an opponent whose first line is not known, of whom one does not know whether he attacks further or expects the counterattack , whose antitank defense and artillery positioning is only known sketchily, attacking with Panzergroups or the entire Panzer regiment announced by an artillery attack, does not not promise success. By infantry attackgroups minefields have to be reconnoitered , cleared by engineers and the enemy is to be forced to shows his defenses. Only after the enemy defenses and artillery have been smashed by the own artillery and airforce, the Panzer unit exploits this through fast attack.
A tight and agile command of the artillery and its collaboration with the Panzer is especially essential in this.
From the outset, Panzer in counterattack have to be given along armored engineers.
Is the counterattack successfull, the Panzer unit should not rest on its laurels, but must expect to be immediately given new missions for whose execution it must secure its renewed readiness for combat with foresight.
Streit
Maj. and Regimental commander"
" 5) Conduct of the planned counterattack
As a Panzercommander , have yourself given a clear and thorough view of the enemy. Always ask for the enemy distribution of forces and the situation of enemy artillery, tanks and antitank forces. Have yourself given a newly flown air picture of the area of the attack. Have yourself informed about the collaboration of the artillery with the Panzer and if possible speak personally with the artillery commander or the battery chiefs. You also have to know about the artillery preparation.
Do not start your motors before you had had time for reconnaissance, positioning and talking about the attack plan.
Review your full readiness for combat.
If the enemy picture is unclear, the initiation of the counterattack needs to create the basis for the beating down of enemy resistance points, antitank defense and flankings.
Against an opponent whose first line is not known, of whom one does not know whether he attacks further or expects the counterattack , whose antitank defense and artillery positioning is only known sketchily, attacking with Panzergroups or the entire Panzer regiment announced by an artillery attack, does not not promise success. By infantry attackgroups minefields have to be reconnoitered , cleared by engineers and the enemy is to be forced to shows his defenses. Only after the enemy defenses and artillery have been smashed by the own artillery and airforce, the Panzer unit exploits this through fast attack.
A tight and agile command of the artillery and its collaboration with the Panzer is especially essential in this.
From the outset, Panzer in counterattack have to be given along armored engineers.
Is the counterattack successfull, the Panzer unit should not rest on its laurels, but must expect to be immediately given new missions for whose execution it must secure its renewed readiness for combat with foresight.
Streit
Maj. and Regimental commander"