German Infantry Doctrine
Special Series No.9: The German Squad in Combat
This is a 1943 U.S. Army translation of the bulk of the WWII Deutcheheer's Infantrie Gruppe Manual (Rifle Squad/Section). Like the PLA Rifle Squad, the Heer's Infanterie Gruppe possessed one heavy automatic weapon (although the Panzergrenadier Gruppe possessed two rather than just one LMG). But unlike either the PLA or most other Armies, the German Army (until very recently) did not divide its Squad into Cells or Fire Teams; nor, unlike Western Armies, did it use Battle Drill. Instead, the tactical judgement and initiative of the Squad Leader was developed and left free so that he could lead and direct his squad in whatever way he saw fit within the limits of the mission the Platoon Commander gave him. The German Squad has never been surpassed for tactical effectiveness and efficiency in modern times. This is a basic, but nevertheless excellent work.
Compare this to present day Infantry Squads/Sections that adopted both the Fire Team and the Battle Drill concepts. Western Squads/Sections are the polar opposite of the German Gruppe, whereas the PLA Rifle Squad sits somewhere in between.
Edit. - a few more quick points:
Note that the Germans advanced/moved-to-contact in single file/squad column with the Suad Leader at the head of the column and the Machine Gunner next in line behind him, ready to lay suppressive fire down on the enemy in reaction to effective enemy fire and to win the firefight. The Assistant Squad Leader bring up the rear. The grenadier and the riflemen take cover and do not engage in the firefight unless order to do so by the SL or the enemy poses an imminent threat. For the assault, the SL takes advantage of any lull in enemy fire to move the entire squad, in extended line, firing on the move all the way, to the enemy position. Very bold and aggressive.
Special Series No.9: The German Squad in Combat
This is a 1943 U.S. Army translation of the bulk of the WWII Deutcheheer's Infantrie Gruppe Manual (Rifle Squad/Section). Like the PLA Rifle Squad, the Heer's Infanterie Gruppe possessed one heavy automatic weapon (although the Panzergrenadier Gruppe possessed two rather than just one LMG). But unlike either the PLA or most other Armies, the German Army (until very recently) did not divide its Squad into Cells or Fire Teams; nor, unlike Western Armies, did it use Battle Drill. Instead, the tactical judgement and initiative of the Squad Leader was developed and left free so that he could lead and direct his squad in whatever way he saw fit within the limits of the mission the Platoon Commander gave him. The German Squad has never been surpassed for tactical effectiveness and efficiency in modern times. This is a basic, but nevertheless excellent work.
Compare this to present day Infantry Squads/Sections that adopted both the Fire Team and the Battle Drill concepts. Western Squads/Sections are the polar opposite of the German Gruppe, whereas the PLA Rifle Squad sits somewhere in between.
Edit. - a few more quick points:
Note that the Germans advanced/moved-to-contact in single file/squad column with the Suad Leader at the head of the column and the Machine Gunner next in line behind him, ready to lay suppressive fire down on the enemy in reaction to effective enemy fire and to win the firefight. The Assistant Squad Leader bring up the rear. The grenadier and the riflemen take cover and do not engage in the firefight unless order to do so by the SL or the enemy poses an imminent threat. For the assault, the SL takes advantage of any lull in enemy fire to move the entire squad, in extended line, firing on the move all the way, to the enemy position. Very bold and aggressive.
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