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ILLUSTRATED
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No.3
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German Infantry
:'1nd its,equipment
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ALMARK
PUBLICATIONS;'
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GERMAN INFANTRY, 1939-45
Peter Chamberlain
and
Chris Ellis
Drawings by Kenneth M. Jones
-- - - - - - - . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ,
First Published -
January 1972
1: Organisation
and Tactics
be seen that infantry regiments and their battalions were virtually selfcontained as far as immediate artillery support was concerned.
Table I shows the basic organisation and composition of an ordinary
infantry regiment in the 1943 period. The three battalions of infantry
were frequently reduced to two later in the war. The ordinary infantry
division throughout the war relied extensively on horse-drawn transport,
supplemented to a small extent by trucks and other wheeled vehicles
when available.
A motorised infantry regiment (Grenadier-Regiment [mot.]) was
organised as in Table I except that the mounted infantry platoon (horses
or bicycles) was replaced by a motor-cycle platoon and this was amalgamated with the engineer and signal platoons to form a single regimental
HQ company. In a motorised regiment all transport was by truck.
(continued on page 8)
Ir....-========================~=-------
Services
....- - _.....-~--------------.-----,---.'----,-.-.-"-
INFANTRY REGIMEN'.r
Infantry Howitzer
COlllpallY
Light Infantry
Howitzer Platoon
] [eiulqu<ll'lcl'S
Battalion
Battalioll
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Engineer Platoon
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7U-LUIII Howitzer
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Antitank Platoon
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Sectioll
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Alltitank Platoon
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37-mlll Antitank
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pz Gren Regt
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MC Rifle
PI
A Tk PI
EngCoy
12 DIG.
18 M.. me-
II
HQ
AA Coy
Hb
Coy
Twelve 2-cm
Si~
PI
PI
PI
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(~eCoy
(Arrnd)
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HyCoy
(Armd)
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Rt"pair
HQ
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ren pz Gren
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Gun Coy
Bn
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4 LMGs
RiAe Coy
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1
~Q
1
Rifle PI
1
RiAe PI
Rille PI
HQ
One 3'7-c01 A lk gun
1 armd tp carrier
11'-----;''----,
Sec
Sf'C
Sec
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Each 1 annd lp carrier 3 L:VIGs.
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Al
Coy
HY~OY
RiBe Coy
RiBe Coy
RiBle PI
HyPI
HQ
Rifle PI
1
1
Rifle PI
Sec
Sec
Sec
Four 12 em mort:tts
Three 8,8 cm A lk guns
I
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1
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Coy
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Each t WQ 15 em in.! guIlS
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Three 88 em
A (I-. ~llUS
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HQ
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pz Gren
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pz Gron Regt
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HQ Coy
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carrie'f
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1 LillG
1 LMG, 2 ilDIGs
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1 LMG,one I:i-cmmortar
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Div HQ
Coy
~ecce I
Armd
Unit
I
Div tgnalS
pz.bren
Brigade
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Div A nti .
Tank Bn
I.
Services
Div Artly
Regt
HQ
Signals
Bn
Armd
Reccd
Unit
I
I
Assault
Gun
Bn
Artillery
Reg!
Motorised
Infantry
Regt 1
Motorised
Infantry
Regt 2
Engineer
Bn
Anti
Tank
Bn
I.
Services
--------~-----------
LEFT:
Taking
a
lightly held village.
Artillery support fire
precedes
a
direct
by
frontal
assault
panzer - grenadiers.
Meanwhile the tank
companies go round
the flanks to cut-ofJ
and destroy the fleeing
enemy. RIGHT: The
second wave of a
major tank assault.
The tanks push forward to attack antitank positions and
strong points while
the panzer-grenadiers
de-bus to take on
isolated i n fan try
pockets and attack any
positions which h a v e
been by-passed by the
tanks.
Panzer-Grenadier Tactics
Within the Panzer Division the task of the armoured battalion of panzergrenadiers was to follow closely on the heels of the attacking tanks,
co-operating with them as required by the situation in hand. The German
method of tank attack was to concentrate first on any enemy artillery with
the first wave of tanks. The second wave of tanks was usually accompanied
by the panzer-grenadiers in their half-tracks and the task of this wave was
to engage enemy infantry and anti-tank guns. SP weapons were also
employed at this stage. A third wave of tanks and panzer-grenadiers would
concentrate on 'mopping up' or engaging any remaining pockets of resistance.
The motorised infantry battalions at this stage relieved the armoured
battalion. In defence the Panzer Division was most often used to make
counter-attacks. One tactic here was for the panzer-grenadiers to engage
the enemy frontally while tanks attempted a flanking movement. These
illiistrations from the wartime German magazine 'Signal' show typical
panzer-grenadier tactics.
..
..
2: Weapons and
Equipment
HQ Coy
MC Rifle PI
[,
3 LMGs
Sigs
PI
II Bn
IBn
Six IS-em
hy in! guns
SP
MCDR A Tk PI
PI
I
Three 7'S-em
A Tk guns
I
HQ
2 LMGs
I
I
Lt PI
Sec
Sigs PI
Lt PI
1 Rifle
Lt PI
Sec
Lt In!
CoIn
Sec
2 Rifle
Coy
I
I
4 HyCoy
3 Rifle
Coy
I
I
Hy PI
HQ
'---------y------'
Each 2 LMGs
I
I
Sub-sec
\~
1\
Sub-sec
-,~--------J
ABOVE: Nearly 15,000 Sd Kfz 251 series vehicles were built and this type,
a Hanomag design, was the standard troop carrier for panzer-grenadier
armoured battalions. The Ausf A and B models had multi-faceted hull
armour plates and separate external side storage bins. In most battalions
platoon commanders were issued with the Sd Kfz 251/10 variant which
mounted a Pak 36/37 3'7 em gun as shown here. This grey-painted vehicle
sports white corners to its mudguards, a common 'blackout' precaution.
N ate the rear pintle mounting for an AA machine gun (Chamberlain
Collection).
13
ABOVE: There were four basic production models of the Sd Kfz 251. The
last, the Ausf D, had a very much simplified body shape with the number
of separate plates reduced to facilitate production. The side storage lockers
were now integral with the hull side. Detachable hoops provided a support
for a wet weather canvas cover. Instead of the earlier type of gun mount,
a skate rail was provided for the vehicle's machine gun. This example was
captured by the British in 1944. BELOW: The Flak (anti-aircraft) company
of panzer-grenadier battalions was equipped with the Sd Kfz 10/4 or 10/5
(armoured cab) 2cm AA vehicle. Based on the standard 1 ton half-track
chassis, this vehicle could keep pace with the battalion's armoured halftracks. The gun was used when necessary to give ground support fire as well
as for air defence. This example is at Sebastopol on December 3, 1941, the
the crew wearing winter clothing (IWM-MH1171O).
i'
14
15
Outer end of
stock omitted
-detail as for MP38
Magazine omitted
MP 40
.,.~o"OQO~O
Magazine fitted
Stock shown
. folded
MP 38
19
20
21
3: Uniforms and
Clothing
t~~.,.~
t~~
ABOVE: Though there was a regulation way of wearing personal equipment (see drawing, page 8), there was considerable variation in the actual
manner of wearing it as shown in this view of grenadiers seeking out snipers
in a railway yard. Nearest man has full equipment (except large pack), the
second has his small pack, respirator case, and entrenching tool all attached
to his belt. RIGHT: Panzer-Grenadier Division 'Grossdeutschland was an
elite formation, one of the few Army units to wear a divisional cuff-title. This
unteroffizier is a rifle section commander and has a MP 40 sub-machine gun,
and the special Schmeisser pouches. He wears the Iron Cross 2nd class and
the infantry assault badge. Picture comes from a German wartime magazine
(IWM-STT2203 ).
22
23
Oberleutnant
wearing
reed-green
denim summer uniform and Einheitsmiitze. He is the holder of the iron
Cross 2nd Class and the infantry
assault badge.
25
;/
26
ABOVE: The simplest item of snow camouflage clothing was a white cape
which came nearly to the ankles. It was worn over normal uniform. This
MG 34 team is firing tracer at night. BELOW: Specially designed for the
bitter conditions of the East front was the two-piece quilted winter combat
suit. This was reversible-white one side and field grey the other. The
helmet was white painted as necessary.
Panzer-Grenadier Headwear
(A) 1916 pattern steel helmet with national insignia as still worn by some
units in 1939. (B) 1935 pattern steel helmet worn with standard camouflage
helmet cover. The stitched in loops were for affixing foliage for camouflaRe
purposes. (C) Feldmiitze (field cap) with panzer-grenadier Waffenfarbe
(arm of service colour). (D) Officers' 1943 pattern Einheitsmiitze (silver
piping). (E) Other ranks' 1943 pattern Einheitsmiitze.
(A) National emblem worn on right breast of tunic and on caps. (B) Other
ranks' belt plate. (C) Obergefreiter (corporal) rank chevrons, worn on left
arm of service tunic. (D) Grenadier's epaulette with panzer-grenadier
Waffenfarbe (arm of service colour piping-apple green). (E) Oberleutnaut's
epaulette. (F) Grenadier's collar patch with Waffenfarbe. (G) Panzerkampfabzeichen (tank assault badge), bronze class, awarded for taking part
in three tank assaults on three different days. Worn on left breast pocket
of service tunic. (H) Das Infanteriesturnabzeichen (infantry assault badge).
Silver class-infantry; bronze class-panzer-grenadiers or motorised infantry. Awarded for three first-wave assaults on three different days. Worn
on left breast pocket of service tunic. (1) Sonderabzeichen Fur Das
Niederkampfen von Panzerkampfwagen Durch einzelkiimpfer (tank
destruction badge). Silver class. Awarded for the single handed destruction
of an armoured vehicle using infantry weapons only. Introduced early
1942. Maximum award of five, after which a 'gold' class badge was
awarded. Worn on the right sleeve below the shoulder.
28
s pee i a I
31
, -..
".
WEHRMACHT
ILLUSTRATED
German
infantry
Front Cover
by
Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis
ISBN 0855240563
Unterfeldwebel (sergeant) wearing
1936 pattern helmet and camouflage
shelter quarter (poncho).
32
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