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

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Section V. COMBAT TEAMS 27. GENERAL A high degree of flexibility is a characteristic of German organization, and it is best exemplified in the fluid composition of combat teams, or "battle groups" (Kampfgruppen). Consequently, German tables of organization, though useful for a basic understanding of unit strength, are of little practical value for operational purposes. A German division, whether it is on the offensive or the defensive, is organized into one or more combat teams. While 'it is important to establish the order of battle of each German division as it is engaged, it is even more important to determine its disposition by teams. In the German conception, an infantry combat team may vary in size from a reinforced rifle company to a reinforced regiment. Normally, however, a team consists of a regiment of infantry, a battalion of artillery, an engineer unit, and an antitank-antiaircraft detachment. Divisions that include tanks will attach tanks by companies or battalions to combat teams. Sometimes troops of different divisions are mingled in forming a team, units from one team may be fransferred to another, or a team may be dissolved and its components assigned to the remaining teams in the division. The flexible character of a German combat team is further emphasized by the fact that it is normally identified by the name of its commanding officer (see fig. 58, p. 73) rather than by the designation of its principal unit. Although the components of a team may change considerably within a short time, its designation does not change until its commanding officer is relieved or reassigned, or until the team is dissolved. It cannot be assumed, therefore, that the strength and fire power of a German combat team remains constant over a period of days merely because its designation remains unchanged. The flexibility typical of the infantry combat team is applied in forming combat teams with the infantry (panzer-grenadier) and tank components of the German armored divisions. In the armored division the team is likely to consist approximately of one infantry 70
COMBAT TEAMS 71 regiment, two tank battalions, two light-artillery batteries, two batteries of 88-mm antiaircraft guns, one engineer company, and two antitank com)panies. As in the infantry divisions, the Germans do not hesitate to mingle, if necessary, the troops of more than one division in organizing an infantry-tank team. Despite differences in composition, most German combat teams have three elements in common: assault, support, and holding elements. However, teams formed for purely defensive missions may lack the assault element. When the situation allows adequate time for forming teams, they are likely to be strong, well-balanced organizations. Teams formed to meet sudden emergencies are improvised with less discrimination and may lack self-sufficiency; in battle the quality of their performance may reflect difficulties due to dispersion, attrition, and inability to bring up adequate reinforcements or replacements. 28. COMBAT TEAMS IN SICILY During the Sicilian Campaign the combat teams of the Hermann G6ring Panzer Division included troops from the 15th Panzer- Grenadier Division, the 1st Parachute Division, march battalions, 1 and Italian units. Sometimes two combat teams, though retaining their separate identities, are grouped under a single commander. The table in figure 58, page 73, shows the organization of the combat teams of the Hermann Giiring Division on 16 July 1943. The changes that occurred within 5 days are shown in figure 59, page 74, which is a German chart dated 21 July 1943. The German method of forming and reorganizing these teams is demonstrated in the following excerpt from an order dated 16 July 1943: Regrouping. The following will be brought up and employed as whole battalions: 923d Fortress Battalion to Combat Team Ohring, Oria Panzer-Grenadier Battalion to Combat Team Hahm, Reggio Battalion to Combat Team Rebholz. Combat. Team Fihrmann will be dissolved as soon as a second company of Oria Battalion arrives at Combat Team Hahlm. 1 A march battalion (Marschbataillon) is a temporary organization used for transferring replacements to a combat zone, but in emergencies the Germans have sent march battalions into combat as units.
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