German rifle platoon command

wounded. His first aid talents help wounded men of the pla-
toon. This can increase the fighting capabilities of the soldiers
of the German Rifle Platoon who know medical aid is close
by! Two Messengers (Meldern) round out the German Rifle
Platoon Command. These Meldern are responsible for hand
delivering messages and orders to the platoon’s squads on the
battlefield. This is a deadly job, one that requires speed and
guts. Failure could spell disaster for the entire platoon!

1944-45 German Rifle Platoon

Platoon
Command

MG-42 MMG
Team

German
About
platoon
This Unit
command Rifle Squad Rifle Squad Rifle Squad

The German Rifle Platoon Command unit leads

German Rifle Squads into combat with backbone, guts, and
calm leadership. Through thick or thin, the German Rifle Pla-
toon Command can be trusted to fight and lead its fellow Rifle
Platoon comrades in the defense of the Fatherland!
German Rifle Squads (Gruppe) are formed into a
Rifle Platoon (Zug). A Late War German Rifle Platoon consists
of one Rifle Platoon Command unit and three Rifle Squads.
A Late War German Rifle Platoon may also have other teams
or units attached to it on the battlefield (like MG-42 MMG
Teams for example).
Five men comprise a German Rifle Platoon Com-
mand: Platoon Leader, a Platoon Veteran, a Medic, and two
Messengers. Each member of this team executes his particular
assignment to ensure the Rifle Platoon is properly led and in
good communication during combat. The Platoon Leader or
Zugfuhrer is the Leader of the Rifle Platoon. Usually a Lieu-
tenant (Leutnant), the Platoon Leader’s main responsibility is
to lead the Rifle Squads under his command into battle and German Platoon Command Costs
to keep them fighting. This leadership in combat is best exe- Wpn
cuted by being close to the platoon’s squads in combat and Type Morale Points Class
by delivering orders to the squads through the Rifle Platoon Green 8 115 B
Command’s messengers. The Platoon Leader has the best
Morale of any member in the German Rifle Platoon and there- Regular 10 155 B
fore should take advantage of this attribute in the course of Veteran 12 170 C
combat.
The Platoon Veteran or Erfahren is simply the old Elite 14 200 C
timer of the platoon that assists the Platoon Leader in keeping
the platoon members in line. Officially a messenger on paper, Each Platoon Command comes with the following:
1 Platoon Leader with MP-44 AR
the Platoon Veteran is typically a Sergeant (Feldwebel) and
1 Platoon Veteran with MP-40 SMG
a well-seasoned veteran leader. This valuable member of the 1 Medic with Aid Bag
German Rifle Platoon may act as a third messenger, serve as 2 Runners each with Kar 98k Rifle
a Squad Leader, or may take command of the German Rifle All German infantry are armed with two Offensive Stiel-
Platoon should the Platoon Leader fall in battle. handgranate 39 Stick Grenades except Medic
A Medic (Sanitater) is attached to the German Rifle
Platoon Command to help with any of the platoon’s battle

Battleground World War II®

 german rifle platoon command
Naturally, the German Rifle Platoon Command unit
forms the leadership of the German Rifle Platoon. It possesses
two “extra” leaders that can be allocated on the battlefield to
help the platoon’s individual squads in case of trouble. The
unit also possesses the key assets of messengers and a medic.
The Messengers deliver orders and keep the platoon’s squads
in communication since German squads lacked radios. This
is especially fun when playing multi-player scenarios. Use
the Messengers to communicate with the platoon’s individual
squads! The medic can patch up Light Wounded figures and
keep them fighting effectively.
Overall, the German Rifle Platoon Command is the
glue that keeps the German Rifle Platoon together. The chal-
lenge for any German Rifle Platoon Leader is to be close
enough to positively effect the combat of the platoon’s squad’s
without suffering combat losses. A German Rifle Platoon with-
out leadership can fall apart quickly at the seams!
Medic (Sanitater) The Medic or Sanitater of the
German Rifle Platoon Command moves around the battlefield
tending to the platoon’s wounded. Special rules detail the tal-
ents of the Sanitater on the battlefield.
First Aid A Sanitater in base-to-base contact with a
Light Wounded soldier may spend two actions applying First
Aid. Doing so will eliminate the +5 Lightly Wounded modi-
fier for the wounded soldier’s action each turn for the remain-
der of the scenario being played. Note however that the Light
Wounded soldier is still limited to one action instead of the
normal two because of the wound.
Aid Radius A Sanitater has a 15” Aid Radius. Any
Lightly Wounded German soldiers within the Sanitater’s 15”
Aid Radius and LOS are not subject to the +5 Lightly Wounded
modifier to a Morale Check that is the result of a LW result on
the Effects Chart.
Self-Rally German Rifle Platoon Command team
members often crossed “no man’s land” in order to stay in
communication with the squads of the platoon. Because of
this all German Rifle Platoon Command team members are
able to Self-Rally using their normal Morale as opposed to
using 1/2 Morale.

German Rifle Platoon Command Options

Special Rules Radio Operators (Funkmann) The standard Late War
Platoon Leader (Zugfuhrer) The Platoon German Rifle Platoon was not generally issued a field radio.
Leader’s strengths are in helping to Rally any Platoon members Radios were more commonly found at the Rifle Company and
and directing crewed weapon fire. All Leader rules are in upwards in the German command structure. On rare occasions
effect. a German Rifle Platoon would utilize a field radio operated by
Platoon Veteran (Erfahren) The Platoon Veteran or two radiomen (Funkmann). For more on Radio rules see Easy
Erfahren may assume command of the Rifle Platoon in the Eight’s Fury On The Fatherland Scenario Pack.
event of the Rifle Platoon Leader’s absence or loss in combat.
The Veteran may also take command of a Rifle Squad or
another team if necessary. All Leader rules are in effect. platoon command composition
Messengers (Meldern) The three Messengers’ (Meldern)
mission is to relay tactical instructions and messages from the
Rifle Platoon Leader to the platoon’s Squad Leaders and vice
versa. A Rifle Platoon’s Meldern therefore must fear nothing
and move with lightning speed. Below are special abilities/
rules for Meldern. Note that Meldern only get the below spe-
cial abilities when executing a messenger mission outside of
the Command Ranges of both Rifle Platoon Command Lead-
Platoon Platoon Platoon
ers; otherwise they are treated as normal but may still Self-
Leader Veteran Medic
Rally (see below).
Higher Morale The mission of the Meldern depends upon
individuals brave in heart and in deeds. All Meldern Morale is
one point higher than normal per Troop Quality type. Exam-
ple: Veteran Meldern have a Morale (ML) of 13.
Moving Meldern are the fastest men in the Rifle Pla-
toon; their speed not only can save their own lives, but that of
the entire Rifle Platoon as well! Meldern receive an additional
inch of movement per action, giving them 6” as opposed to the
Runner runner
normal 5” per action.

Battleground World War II®