"Defensive"
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| Taken from "Handbook on German Military Forces" - US War Department |
1. General
In German doctrine the object of the defense (Verteidigung, or Abwehr) is to halt the hostile attack, or to gain time pending development of a more favorable situation for the resumption of the offense. Thus German and U.S. doctrine are essentially the same: only the offense leads to decisive successes.
In the last two years German defensive operations have become increasingly passive in nature. The Germans formerly placed the greatest stress on immediate and violent counterattacks as effective means of destroying the attacking enemy. This required great mobility and large reserves. At present more emphasis is placed on construction of defensive positions, and counterattacks are frequently local in character. It is most likely that this passive type of defense is only an expedient due to German shortages of mobile equipment and manpower.
2. Organization for Defense
a. General.
The Germans attempt to break a hostile attack in front of the main line of resistance (Hauptkampflinie), at the forward limit of the battle position (Hauptkampffeld), or to force the enemy to abandon his attack.
As in U.S. practice, the commander usually determines from the map the main battlefield and assigns a general line as guide for the location of the main line of resistance, to ensure continuity of the defensive position. Lower echelon commanders fix the main line of resistance on the ground, since only on the terrain a thorough reconnaissance, can the details of the defense be decided. A recent official German directive states, however, that reconnaissance must not delay the construction of defensive positions.
Organization of the defensive position follows a conventional pattern and includes an advanced position (Vorgeschtsvor Stellung), both of which usually are under immediate command of the area commander. A reserve position may also be provided.
The width and depth of a German defensive area depend on the terrain and proportional strength of friendly and hostile forces. In general, however, the width of a defensive sector assigned to a unit is approximately twice the width of the sector when the same unit attacks. Normal sectors are: Platoon 220 to 550 yards
Company 440 to 1100 yards
regiment 2200 to 3300 yards
division 6600 to 11000 yards.
b. Advanced Position.
The Germans organize the advanced positions 5000 to 7000 yards in front of the main line of resistance, within the range of their medium artillery. A position is selected which will prevent seizure by the enemy of important terrain features, provide good observation points for friendly artillery, and, if possible, deceive the enemy as of location of the main line of resistance. Troops manning these positions attempt to make the enemy deploy his forces prematurely and, if possible, in the wrong direction.
The forces in the advanced position are usually reconnaissance detachments, which include machine-gun, armored-car, and antitank-gun units, the firepower and mobility of which make them suitable for this type of employment. In general they occupy important features, such as railroads, river crossings, crossroads, and commanding ground. Forces in advanced positions are not expected to hold at all costs; in the face of superior enemy fire they retire along predetermined routes under over their medium artillery.
c. Outpost Positions.
Outpost positions are normally established 2000 to 5000 yards in front of the main line of resistance. When the fronts are stabilized, the outpost position is the only position forward of the main line of resistance. The location, which depends on the terrain, is always within range of friendly light artillery.
German outpost positions are occupied in strength varying from platoons o companies, depending upon the mission, terrain, width of the sector, and he number of troops available. Often the are only weakly occupied as long as the advanced positions are in front of them. Ordinarily outposts are established by infantry units drawn from he main battle position, supported by fire of close support weapons, such as mortars and infantry guns. Antitank guns often are attached to these outpost units to repel hostile armored reconnaissance units. The main weapon, however, is the light machinegun which opens fire at ranges of about 1300 yards, while riflemen commence fire at about 850 yards.
Firing positions are selected by the Germans to facilitate unobserved withdrawal of the outposts to the main battle position when hostile pressure becomes to strong. Several alternate positions are prepare for each weapon, and shifts are made by day and night to make if difficult for the opponent to detect and dislodge the outpost troops. Positions normally are selected at the edges of woods, villages, hedgerows, or hills. A good field of fire is considered mandatory, and the organizations of firing positions is simple. Numerous dummy positions are constructed, including knee-deep trenches filled with leaves to simulate depth and occupancy. During the day, positions are manned by guards; at night, advanced listening positions particularly alert at dusk and dawn, warn the troops of the enemies approach. Small, prepared attacks with limited objectives under the protection of the outposts are utilized to interfere with the hostile preparations and secure information
Withdrawal of the outposts is conducted so as not to hinder the fire of the main battle positions. After the outposts are abandoned, they are likely to be covered by careful registered fire of heavy weapons in order to prevent their occupation by the enemy.
Figure 12 - Typical layout of a reinforced squad strongpoint
d. Main Line of Resistance.
The Germans organize their battle positions in depth, with individual strong points connected to form an uninterrupted belt. The storngpoints, constructed for all-around defense, and surrounded by barbed wire obstacles and mine belts, contain one or more heavy weapons supplemented by machine-guns, mortars and riflemen. The smallest strong point is occupied by a reinforced squad. Squad strong points normally are incorporated into platoon strong points and the latter into company strong points, etc.
The Germans make the maximum use of reverse slopes in their defensive positions. Forward-slope positions are usually avoided as they are detected to early by the enemy and are likely to be destroyed by massed fire. Since organization of a position in woods requires much time and labor, and strong occupation is requisite to compensate for poor observation, the Germans also avoid woods when time is short and labor scarce. Battle positions are laid out so that woods are neither in, nor directly in front or in rear of, defense installations. The Germans believe, however, that when it is possible to establish a well prepared position in a woods, a position so located offers the same advantages as a reverse slope.
When the Germans decide to construct defensive positions on terrain divided by a stream, they organize bridgeheads on the bank on the hostile side where the terrain facilitates crossings. Where the river forms a reentrant bend into enemy held terrain, a second position is constructed at the base of the bend. On narrow rivers and creeks, the entire German main line of resistance is on the hostile side of the river, and the stream becomes the tank obstacle of the position. When the friendly side of the river consists of swampland, it is used as an obstacle, and the hostile bank is not included in the defense system.
The Germans endeavor to provide all parts of their position with strong support from artillery and heavy infantry weapons. A detailed fire plan is prepared in advance by the infantry and coordinated with the artillery plan. Provision is made for fire in front of the forward limit of the battle position, which is partly protected by minefields and other obstacles. Alternate positions are dug so that support weapons may be shifted and fired rapidly. The mass of artillery lays concentrated fire both close to and well in front of the main line of resistance, and is sited to cover the spaces between the effective fire zones of front line units.
Figure 11 - Typical layout of a reinforced battalion strongpoint
The Germans in general adhere to the principle of "effect before cover" in determining priorities for constructing various installations in a defense position. First they build combat trenches; erect infantry obstacles such as barbed wire fences, and construct machine-gun positions, dugouts, foxholes, and antitank positions. They clear fields of fore by careful cutting of underbrush but try to avoid cutting down trees in order to preserve concealment of the position. The underbrush is left in front of the position as far as 1 to 3 yards. They organize observation posts for artillery and heavy infantry weapons, increase the depth f the battle position, dig communication trenches and emplacements for the heavy infantry weapons, and build command posts. Finally, they construct emplacements for artillery, dig antitank ditches within the battle position, ad build dummy positions.
The Germans insist on thorough camouflage. Whenever practicable, trenches and obstacles are placed along natural terrain lines such as rows of brush or edges of fields. Trenches are dug zigzag at obtuse angles, 330 to 660 yards long, depending on the terrain. Machine-guns are emplaced in trenches 1 to 3 yards in length. To avoid silhouettes, the Germans heap more earth behind the trenches then in front. Dugouts for riflemen and machine-gun positions normally provide sufficient protection against enemy artillery and mortar fire. Whenever possible, three layers of logs and earth are used as cover.
e. Reserve Position.
Occasionally a reserved position is organized and troops in he main battle positions retire to it, but only under heavy pressure. This reserve position is constructed far enough to the rear to compel hostile artillery to displace forward in order to bring it under fire. Motorized reserve units normally are kept there for counterattacks which are planed in advance.
f. Antimechanized Defense.
In constructing a defensive position the Germans stress construction of obstacles and antitank defenses. If possible they select tank-proof terrain, and natural tank obstacles, such as steep slopes, are improved. Very steep forward slopes are made atleast 8 yards deep, while uphill slopes are made 2 to 3 yards high. Originally the Germans constructed antitank ditches well forward of the main line of resistance, but experience taught hem that such ditches offered favorable jumping-off positions for hostile infantry and also revealed the location of the main line of resistance. At the present time, therefore, antitank ditches are normally dug in the area between the main line of resistance and the artillery positions. They are built in an uninterrupted line to avoid leaving passages that can be exploited by the enemy.
All crossings essential to assure manuveverability of friendly troops are built so they can be blown up on the shortest notice.
The Germans are aware that obstacles of any kind are effective only when covered by fire from various weapons. Consequently, there usually are trenches behind the antitank ditches which machine-gun and antitank fire can cover the entire length of the tank obstacle.
The Germans learned that dense minefields in front of their positions were inadequate tank obstacle, because the enemy usually neutralized them by massed artillery fire or by concentrated air-bombardment before launching a large scaled attack. Now German minefields normally are laid within the main battle position and only single mines are dispersed in pattern in wide intervals in front of the main line of resistance. Particular stress is placed on the mining of roads. Routes of withdraw which have to be left open are prepared for mining, and, if time does not permit placing of actual mines, dummy mines are installed.
The Germans employ many kinds of tank obstacles. They recently have used static flame-throwers dug into the ground. Usually sighted in pairs and in conjunction with other tank obstacles, they are fired by well concealed personnel as soon as hostile tanks come within range.
German antitank guns are disposed in depth, with some well forward. They are often dug in and carefully concealed to prevent the enemy from discovering the location and strength of the antitank defenses prior to the attack. In emplacing antitank guns, the Germans prefer positions in enflade or on reverse slopes. They normally employ two or three antitank guns in each position, protecting them form infantry attacks with light machine-guns. Ranges at which the Germans open fire upon hostile tanks vary according to the caliber of the gun and its position. Although single antitank guns sometimes engage enemy tanks at ranges up to 1000 yards, main antitank defenses usually hold their fire until the range is reduced to about 150 to 300 yards. The employment of close-combat antitank teams supplements the antitank defense. When the hostile tank attack is repulsed, the antitank guns move to alternate positions.
The Germans emphasis that the use of smoke can be of great assistance in defeating enemy tank attacks. Smoke-shells are fired into the attacking formation about one-third the distance back from the leading echelon. Thus the Germans avoid blinding their own antitank gunners, and leading hostile tanks not only are left without adequate support but are silhouetted against the smoke. The Germans also rely on the smoke being sucked into the tanks and forcing the crews to dismount.
3. Conduct of the Defense