Company Officer's Handbook Of The German Army - Command and ...

OFFENSIVE PRINCIPLES: 5
details may be used for this purpose. Small groups may also infiltrate a position at
night and open fire from the rear at dawn as a preliminary to an attack. Thus they
attempt to cause confusion and to create the impression that the defenders are
surrounded.
(f) Tanks tow or carry heavily armed infantry and engineers into combat in
order to organize and hold positions in captured terrain, or to neutralize antitank
defenses. Tanks may also be used to tow antitank guns.
2. INFANTRY AND TANKS
Usually German tanks do not operate independently, but are employed
in combat teams in cooperation with infantry, field and antitank
artillery, and engineers. In the operations of armored divisions,
tank units and panzer grenadiers (armored infantry) are combined
and fight as a unified force. In an infantry-tank attack the Germans
transport the infantry into battle on tanks or in troop-carrying
vehicles in order to protect the infantry and to increase its speed.
The infantry leaves the vehicles at the last possible moment, and
goes into action mainly with light automatic weapons.
Before making a decision on the respective tasks of infantry and
armored units, the commander of a combined force employs reconnaissance
elements which differ from those used by an infantry
commander in that they have greater fire power, speed, and mobility;
he uses more armored cars and motorcycles, and supports
them with a few tanks when necessary.
The Germans usually form combat teams of all arms whenever
rapid deployment for a meeting engagement is expected. An advance
guard consisting of panzer grenadiers, tanks, and antitank
weapons moves ahead as a screen to cover the deployment of a
combat team. If the terrain over which the attack is to be, made
is a natural tank obstacle, or if it is protected by antitank mine
fields and ditches covered by fire, detachments of motorized infantry
and engineers, perhaps with tank support, will clear a path
for the main body of tanks.
In open country the Germans are prone to attack hard and fast
:in order to capture a commanding feature, which, because of its
tactical importance, the enemy cannot afford to lose, thus compelling
the enemy to counterattack at all costs. Once in possession
of the feature, strong supporting artillery (including antitank and