German training?

[EvertonRock]

I dont have a book on this part of the German Army, could anyone tell me how well did the German infantry Divisions trained during the pre-world war period from 1938-1939? What were their daily routines and such? And how good was the German rationing then?

Sorry if im asking too much

[Christos]

I can tell you the principle instructor of Infantry for the German Army was none other than ERWIN ROMMEL, who had been asked to lecture on this subject. His "Pour-le-Merite" from 1917 on the Italian Front made him very suitable as a candidate to teach infantry tactics.....and Rommel himself had published a book on this very subject which was widely read throughout the western world, (said to have been Patton's bedside book)......"INFANTERIE GREIFTAN" ("Infantry Attacks") was not only a tactcal manual, but centered it's thesis around tactical 'problems', ten of them, that Rommel presents in the book,, along with solutions, for the use of staff trainers and NCOs in training....The book established Rommel's reputation as an Infantry Officer 'par-excellance'.....It must be noted that the methods for training infantry are divided into two schools of thought....
First is the Geman method , based principally on Rommel's teaching and the themes presented in his book, and were a varition and improvement on the 'Stosstruppen' infiltration style infantry tactics of the First World War....German training emphasised not only limited group solutions to each problem presented, but also that any 'solution' should be implemented as quickly as possible. Operational experiance subsequently showed that every hour allowed to the defence made that defence all that much stronger with each passing hour of undisturbed entrenchment....The Soviets were particularly adept at digging in quickly, and shutting down mobility on that a particular section of the front, until it was restored by the arrival of the more 'mobile' elements. It also meant that sometimes, confusion from quick order chains of command resulted in tactical confusion that cost lives in some cases, to friendly as well as enemy fire...but....the German Army had the fastest method for adapting their tactics and changing their operational orders 'mid-stream', frequently within twenty to thirty minutes of the solution being hit upon....

Contrast this to the British, or 'Sandhurst' method of Infantry instruction, wich emphasises tactical disscussion in the same manner, but also makes sure all the elements of the battle are 'in-place' before orders are given or contravened....Sandhurst solutions to tactical problems were not given time limits, and produce Generals with Montgomery's ideas of a "tidy' battlefield....

Thats it for the theory....the actual methods used will await another thread....

CHRISTOS