German Squad Tactics in World War 2
German Squad Tactics in World War 2. The German infantry squad was the mainstay of the German Wehrmacht in the Second World War. This video explores the basic organization of a German infantry squad, the concept of fire and movement, the deployment of the MG34 and its relation to the other squad members, as well as regular military tactics. Finally, there is an example of an attack on an enemy position.
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MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE: THE GERMAN SQUAD IN COMBAT
Töpfer, Harry: German Tactical Manual
Bull, Stephen: World War II Infantry Tactics - Squad and Platoon
WWII German Map Symbols by James Byrne
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pace_(unit)
Oberkommando des Heeres: Hinweise für die Ausbildung der Infanterie auf Grund der Erfahrungen des Ostfeldzuges, H. Qu. O.K.H., 1.3.1942
wwii.germandocsinrussia.org/de...
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For late-war German infantry tactics involving the StG44 (MP 44 / MP 43) check out our book: » The Assault Platoon of the Grenadier-Company November 1944 (StG 44) - sturmzug.com If Panzers are more your thing, check out our translation of the a 1941 regulation: » Army Regulation Medium Panzer Company 1941 - www.hdv470-7.com Video on Panzergrenadier Tactics: kzhead.info/sun/d7qGZrWJrIt7ZoU/bejne.html Infographics poster for this video: www.redbubble.com/people/mhvis/works/31141375-german-infantry-squad-1941-die-gruppe?p=poster&finish=semi_gloss&size=medium
Could u make an animation of an actual battle, that way we can see how much the reality and manual differ, cus some things in the manual just dont add upp, moving and firing the mg kinda makes it an easy target, bayonet charge is suicidal and entrenchment was far less used as anticipated in the early stages of the war so im curious what they did instead
du bist deutsch, oder? falls ja, hört man es am akzent ;)
Du bist so deutsch boi wie du Karabiner ausgesprochen hast
Vietsud plz
@@maxhaase1199 ja 😂😂😂
German squad tactics: 1. The machine gun 2. Everyone else
Thats right bitch
Yeah John Done Germany are the Leading the Worldwide Military Tactics than any others Nations around the Worldwide: The Germany Technology isn't Mading Weakest like others Nations around the Worldwide and the Second Nation is Japanese Technology
@Alex The Awesome 1 country in the size of Texas fought the World my friend what do you say about that. And special you Americans who think u won the war no u didn't the red army did..... Youre grandfathers fought VS the rest... Old man an young boys. Half the guys who did fall in Russia would whoop your yankyyy as. off the map
@Eduard Kung that isnt so simple. Germany didnt get any help from japan except some supply. Help from italy, Bułgaria, hungary or slovakia was very weak. Germany had to help italy in greece so italy was mostly a problem for them, not help. Czech wasnt german ally. They just surrendered without any fight. Germany has lost because they was fighting On 3 fronts. East, West and africa. German leaders made some mistakes. Serious mistakes and Hitler was really dumb and crazy. Thats why his officers wanted to kill him in Poland in wilczy szaniec. They saw that he was making tons of stupid decisions and just wasnt normal. But still - german tactics and technology was the Best on the world. They made direct injection engine or first jet on the world. Just giving an example. Sorry for my English.
@Filip Nikolic who do you think helped on the Manhatten project? that's right defected nazi scientists
German accent for extra authenticity.
It sounds more like a Dutch/Holland accent. Trust me, I have a German mom. (Had to go to speech therapy because I talked like her in elementary. I pronounced words with 'th' as a simple 'de' consonant.)
James Robert Found out hes actually austrian
so, your pronounciation of "th" was quite ahead of its time.
+James Robert This sounds nothing like a Dutch accent. He's a German native speaker for sure.
He is a german native speaker, but he's from austria. Austrians speak german with a rather strong accent (bavarian language family) and you can still hear that when he speaks english. Source: I'm a native german speaker in Bavaria. :)
that german accent you have talkin in english makes the vid even better...danke
Schon
What accent?
Thats a really weird thing to say if you think about it...
Does it make it more immersive for you? More credible? How does that say anything about the truth of the information.
I think he meant that it’s great to hear it from a real German... y’all need to chill 😅
i have read hundreds of books on German WW2 battles and tactics, to try and figure out how they beat superior numbers and enemies over and over again. And not one of them explained the basic principles of a German infantry attack so clearly as this. Good job.
DressUpYourPet2 They were lit asf and would be turnt making them more aggressive when fighting. I guess the meth Hitler gave his soldiers proved worthwhile.😂😂😂
redlegagent Totally agree
what the fuck is up with your profile picture.....
yes, hundreds of books on one subject...I'm sure
Robert Goddard. STG 44 was the first assault rifle.
I just select them all and right click on the enemy base.
Duh.
Dude, do you even micro?
damn @@ . Starcraft player or Warcraft player @@
I hit the delete button instead
1-Select units 2-Right Click enemy capital 3-Wait xD
It's 2 am and I'm wondering why am I watching this instead of doing my homework.
Martynas Berulis did you ever do you hw
This is useful. All tho outdated for modern war how ever if you are stuck not being able to buy modern weapons knowing how to use the old ones is useful, but you must keep in mind that the enemy will likely have proper weapons and you need to adapt to that yourself. To do that understand why things where and are done not just memorise them.
Except it is weird to do homework at 2 am. Watching KZhead make more sense.
Here let me help you get a normal sleep schedule. This is the video that actually got me to finally do it kzhead.info/sun/pbqogdN5mYipn5E/bejne.html
What dyou do now
_Are you a German?_ Yes. _Are you in a German infantry squad?_ Yes. _Are you using an MG34/MG42?_ No. _You are an ammo bearer for the Machine Gunner._ But wait, can't I be a regular rifleman or a sniper- _You are an ammo bearer._ What about a mortar- _You are an ammo bearer._ But I outra- _You are an ammo bearer._ But I- _You are an ammo bearer._
And you only get 1 pistol, with 3 bullets 😅
Plus a rifle with 5 bullets lol goddamn..that’s terrible capacity for a clip
@@jerryonlychild7003 It was standard for the time. The only widespread military bolt actions with more than 5 rounds that I can think of are the enfield and that Swiss rifle with 6 rounds.
Lemne Pietre the Garand with 8 rounds tho
@@Easy-mn6et these are bolts actions only bruh
Helped me beat a Men of War Assault Squad 2 mission on heroic difficulty.
1:04 and 1:54. Proper use of "magazine" and "clip". This makes me happy.
scott5913 most people can get this down nothing to be happy about
Samson Stone (shhh, it makes him feel smarter than liberals)
@@darcgibson5099 I honestly get ticked a bit when I see people confuse the two, and I am technically liberal lol. Just need to be educated on it tbh.
Greystark111 Yeah sure, nothing wrong with that, tho expecting people with no specific knowledge of firearms, at most only from video games, to know that technical difference is probably asking a bit much. Tho, of course, I’d expect anyone making a video or whatever about firearms to know such things. What I’m referring to is the right wing NRA fanatics who lose their minds when a non-gun-educated person makes relatively minor technical mistakes you’d expect any average person to make with their car’s engine. There was some big meme built around them feeling superior to “liberals” because they’d say something like “he had a 30 round clip”. Whatever forget it. I was basing it on the fella’s avatar, seems like the kinda avatar a self-identifying “snowflake destroyer” would have.
@@darcgibson5099 Ohhhh okay, I didn't know what you were meaning lol with it.
Ein großes Kompliment für die überaus akribische und seriöse Recherche und Darstellung! Sie füllen eine Lücke und das auf großartige Weise. Große Ahnung von der Materie ohne ins naive Schwärmen und gedankenloses Reproduzieren von Wehrmachtsmythen zu verfallen, das ist leider sehr selten (vor allem außerhalb der akademischen Welt. Hier auf KZhead ist es wirklich wertvoll ..Vielen Dank!
"in order to be a leader in the field, a superior must display an exemplary bearing before his men in the moment of danger and be willing to die for them." beautifull text!
Girlfriends father: what are your plans with my Daughter Me: 6:27
LMAO just read this before watching the video. nearly pissed myself
lol
Excellent
I thought the exact same thing except it was: How to get a girlfriend...
*attack*
now i just need an army
Squad. These tactics do not ransfer to strategy or even leading a regiment nevermind divisions or larger
@@KaiserHabsburg r/wooosh
Play Airsoft xD
Lars Skogstad I’ll join
Lars Skogstad if we are fighting ZOG sign me up
MHV: Weapons are scaled correctly. Ammo isn't Me: Okay MHV: *Weapons appear onscreen--they are half a head taller than the troops* Me: WHAT
Lmao yeah
He obviously meant in comparison to other weapons and not men
Slavic bUT tHe KAr98k waS nOT an antI tANK gUn!
Clearly the men are ammo, and not weapons.
I can’t believe it’s taken this long for this channel to finally find its way into my feed. A military-/war-history fanatic’s dream channel. 👏👏👍
welcome, be sure to check out my second channel Military History not Visualized as well.
Its amazing how much of this relates to modern combat tactics
Mister Eckhoff they were the ones who created them
Modern combat is based around German ww2 combat because they pretty much perfected it
Ww2 was the first modern war, while ww1 was the last ancient style war
@@MrWolf-xk8sl I wouldn't say that. I'd probably say the American civil war was probably the last ancient as it used the volley tactics and modern weaponry. As trench warfare is still viable in some scenarios of war today.
Not that much different to late ww1 tactics. Nothing is made of whole cloth
Great Video! The majority of principles of Squad tactics haven't changed to this very day(equipment and armament of course has). A modern squad(Gruppe) within the Bundeswehr is up to twelve soldiers strong(the actual number depends on the branch, there are differences between the Jäger, Fallschirmjäger, Gebirgsjäger and Panzergrenadiere). There is of course still a squad leader(an NCO like a Feldwebel or Oberfeldwebel) and a second in command(a junior NCO like a Unteroffizier or a Stabsunteroffizier; or even an experienced enlisted soldier) Additionaly to the MG-Team(which only consists of two men these days) the squad also uses a Panzerfaust-Team and a soldier carrying a DMR(usually a G3ZF or G28). Contrary to the US-squad, the german squad acts as one group and only splits up when it has to. For example during an attack we change the 12-man squad to three 4-man teams which are called Stoßtrupps(and yes, the whole thing is called Stoßtrupptaktik). However there are no designated assault or fireteams right from the start. The steps within the offensive actions(Development, deployment, advancing, attack and penetration) are still the same as in WWII and are teached at the infantry school like back in the days. Source: over 10 years of active service as a squad and platoon leader within the Bundeswehr
It's interesting to hear the minor variations between each nation's squad tactics, even today. The basic Canadian (and British) "Section" is an 8-man unit broken into 4 x 2-man fireteams. Firepower comes from two LMGs placed on each flank when advancing to contact. GPMGs, mortars, and AT weapons are platoon-level assets employed by the weapons detachment (the 4th section in each platoon). This makes the "rifle" section extremely light and mobile, but with enough firepower to be self-sufficient in infantry-engagements as well. What I found a little odd was the division of labor here between the SL and 2IC. We are trained to have the section leader manage all communications between the section, platoon leader, and support when available, while the second-in-command looks after ammunition and supply, casualties, and section command when the SL is on the radio (or incapacitated).
So I take it the Bundeswehr has given up high rpm machine guns (MG3?) if they need only one ammo carrier? Seems like a good idea to me. In the Finnish Defence forces, a Section is lead by an officer (OF1 in NATO) and consists of about 35 men (or women) which consists of two or more "groups" or fireteams (6 to 8 soldiers) that are commanded by an "NCO" or "under officer" or a higher ranking soldier (sub-sergeant, there really isn't a word for it in english (OR2 in NATO). A team can be divided into a patrol unit (of 3 or 4 soldiers) that can be commanded by the lowest actual rank of a corporal (OR-1 if you speak NATO) who are considered yes-men by the other privates. The fireteams are role (training) based, everyone knows how to use the basic assault rifle (even the MG which every fireteam is designed to have) but the role defines the team and their placement. Sections have teams with different training in it. Naturally the AT guys wouldn't get along with the signal men but they fight under the same flag so it's ok in the end. As far as tactics go, they are generally decided within the fireteam on the go depending on the situation at hand and the teams role. They are given an objective and the commanding non-officer decides what to to do, how to do it and where to do it. Source: I was conscripted for 180 days almost 20 years ago, never gained any rank but I read a lot and hate long walks on the beach.
@Strait Raider There are instances where the squad has to split up. To properly use fire and movement with two "half-squads" for example. Or when the squad defends a house with several floors or when you fight inside trenches and the whole squad is spread out. Then the second in command is used to lead the second half of the squad, or the half in the other floor of the house, or just makes sure that noone gets lost inside the trenches while also assisting in the coordination of the squad during the chaos of battle. However all of this only happens when the squad leader sees the necessity to do so. We like to use that method since it is a supportive role and usually only needed in special occasions. So the second in command can learn how to lead by watching the squad leader most of the time but can also prove himself when he is needed. And one day he himself will become a squadleader too. @Pekka Rastas Oh no we still use the MG3 alot. We just don't carry that much ammo around anymore. Everyone in the army is still trained at the MG3 and of course the G36. Of course through Afghanistan the Bundeswehr saw the need for a lighter and more mobile MG. Thats why we have the MG4 which instead of 7,62 uses 5,56mm. But soon we encountered the problem that when the enemy uses proper cover 5,56 just isn't enough. So for a bit more boom we also have the MG5 which again uses 7,62mm, is a bit lighter that the good old MG3 and just comes with more possibilities in regards of sights/scopes. The MG3 is still being used on vehicles when we are in deployment. The problem with the MG4 and MG5 is that pretty much all of them are used in Afghanistan, so it is hard to train people at them who are not going to deploy. So it will still take some years until the MG3 can finally rest.
Just chipping in my few cents: the sub-sergeant is corporal in English ("alikersantti"), and by corporal he means private 1st class ("korpraali"). By section he means platoon ("joukkue" or "jaos"), and groups/fireteams translate to squads or sections ("ryhmä"). Patrol units ("partio") are fire teams. Source: 180 days 2 years ago
The german military currently has a strenght of about 176.000 soldiers. It is intended to raise this number over the next years. Many german chancellors? There is only one at a time. Currently that is Angela Merkel, since 2005. The capabilities are increased. We got new Machineguns, new personal gear and a new APCs over the last couple of years. There is always some kind of world war atonement in germany, thats for sure. I think(and hope) that we just learned from the problems the west caused in the middle east during the last decades and that germany tries to avoid making the same mistakes over and over again.
As a Cold War Marine, I freaking Loved this vid. All the tactics of a USMC fire team in the offensive are burned into my brain from almost 40 yrs ago, but I enjoy learning more about what the common grunt , regardless of the flag they fought for, was expected to do and how they were utilized.
Well as interesting as it is I would not deem this as that effective. It relies too heavily on the machinegunner while the potential of the extra riflemen are not really utilized.
That was my understanding. The squad was built around the machine gun. It was used in an offensive capacity and the riflemen were there to support and push up when the machinegun was able to punch a hole. I can't say how effective it was, but it seems to have done them well.
Bad Karma Yes and no. Granted its mostly based on the opinions of people since its hard to prove but they did not utilize their riflemen nearly enough compared to for example the Allies. In that 10 man squad only the machinegunner really did something.
It is a question of equipment. The Germans had REALLY good machineguns and crappy rifles with the 98k. It would have been great in WW1 but a little low on firepower for this kind of warfare. The US with the Garand had a GREAT rifle but poor machineguns. The M1919 Browning had too low of a cyclic rate and the BAR didn't have enough ammo. So tactics was tailored to fit. If the Germans had been able to field the G43 or MP44 sooner or in greater numbers there would have been a bigger difference.
Timothy House That is not even remotely true. To start with the 98k was perfectly fine as rifles goes and also the BAR was if not equal then even better suited then the German MG's for its role. For example the MG's role was fire suppression which was fine since it spit out bullets like it was no ones business however it was not accurate fire. The people they fired at was comparably fine if they went into moderate cover. Then you got to consider the ammo consumption which became a pretty big deal. There is also the issue that you cant fire it in close proximity of your friendly advance because of the risk of friendly fire. The BAR which has a single fire option and fires slowly is more deadly and conserves ammo better. Its also lighter to carry which is never a bad thing. The most important advantage however is that tactically its accurate enough that you can advance next to the suppression fire from a BAR without friendly fire.
It's interesting to me that my combat load is nearly the same as the whole of a WWII German squad. As grenadier, I carry 7 30 round mags, a bandolier of another 210 rounds on stripper clips, 12 40mm grenades (smoke and HE-DP), and whatever else my SL designates (7.62 for MG, 60mm for Mortars, TOW, etc.)
Is this just your ammo or for other soldiers as well? How much does all that weigh?
I was (and still am, I guess) a machinegunner during my service. A lot of methods and formations described in the video are still used, because they are effective. Also, gotta love when your squad bitches about having to carry a belt of ammo, while you're trudging along with that cow around your neck. Also, unrelated, but I read memoirs of a machinegunner in Vietnam, he wrote that they were being told, that average lifespan of a machinegunner after opening fire is 10 seconds. Guns up!
I was a 240B gunner
When I ask them about their peacetime service, most of my older relatives always complain about carrying stuff and wearing bad shoes. US companies at the time had ammo runners I think. A jeep or a few dudes from company can be tasked with getting more ammo out.
sorry for the margins on the top, bottom and side... my main monitor died. Enjoy!
Actually the cinematic effect make the video even better ;)
KomradeTuniska: That is actually a good point. Usually the HUD gets all over the video if you need to pause, not it fits perfect :D Would not have thought about it that way except for the cinematics :p
+bloodlazio Exactly! He found a good solution by coincidence.
you should do some videos about mid to late 19tch century warfare. Wars of German unification and such
No problem. The side bar wasn't even noticeable, once you began the presentation..
I'm Asian but I love zee Germans.. Travelled around Bavaria a few years ago and was so amazed at how clean and efficient it was, even cleaner than Japan (that's really clean) and even though I was getting a lot of looks it was never malicious, just curiosity, which was mutual. Sorry, this has nothing to do with WWII tactics. Just heard the narrators voice and remembered beer halls and friends.
In which City where you that it was clean?
Germany is clean ??? No way, we sunk in trash.. and I don't mean only trash people, but real trash.
@@vornamenachname906 Junge was laberst du für einen Bullshit??? Deutschland ist sauberer als 99% der restlichen Welt also erzähl mal keinen Stuss
@@c_rx_sh Ich stimme dir zu. Deutschland ist im Vergleich zu anderen Ländern sehr sauber. Die, die was anderes behaupten waren noch nie im Ausland außerhalb der Touristengebiete.
@@vornamenachname906 i think the big cities are dirty ofcourse, i just came back from vacation in germany and that town was really clean. Its called Willingen. Germany is a lot cleaner than Holland.
Assistant: awhh I wanted to use the machine gun :( MG gunner: Yeah sure you can Assistant: Really? :D MG gunner: when Im dead...
MG gunner: over my dead body lol
All you have to do, for the mg is a little bit of friendly fire, and it’s yours
@@alohalp4088 "hans... Why the exit wound is on the forehead of the gunner and with a pistol caliber round?..."
"Friendly fire is now enabled"
A-Gunner: *cocks pistol*
funnily enough my grandfather always told me that he was "Schütze 1" and rockin the MG 42, but never that he was the first one. When they were in N. Africa Nepalese Gorkha had approached them, and he told us that he wrecked barrel after barrel shooting em because the commander had told them "if you dont shoot at them, theyre gonna throw their tiny knives and hit your fn artery from 50 meters". so in the middle of the desert, unarmed people came assaulting them, and they had no choice but to load the fn MG42 and shoot.He was 20 years old at that time.
MARSOC My grandfather told me a story once, they were going on scouting mission to find a new Artillery position when spotted by a Russian plane. As they left, the commander had ordered them to not take rifles, so they spend quite a few time running from one side to the other of several trees at an alley street as the plane circled them, and the gunner was raining hot metal down on them. He said at several occasions the plane was so close he could see the pilot and the gunner inside. No one was hurt that day but the gunners pride in hitting nothing but wood and earth.
@stanly stud so if he were in the american army he would be a hero?
stanly stud For the record, the US left Japanese sailors floating into the water. There was this incident targeting civilians known as Hiroshima and Negasaki. Throughout all of WW2 in its battles between the US and Japan, they targeted military centres. The pearl harbour military base, the Philippines ammunition reserves and airbases. The soldiers may have gotten a bit rowdy in the villages, but they were never directly targeted. There’s this decent anime (yes I know weeb shit,) that actually depicts the life of a Japanese civilian during the war perfectly. It’s on KZhead for free, called “Grave of the Fireflies.” If you wanna open your mind a little, give it a watch.
@stanly stud Take it easy bro. The man was following orders as a soldier. You would have done the same thing.
stanly stud you understand that most Germans followed hitler BECAUSE of the things that he’d done to get into power yeah? You realize that not everybody agreed to what he was doing as the war went on, actually hell they didn’t even know about the concentration camps. Need I also say that the soldiers doing the camps were his most loyal similar minded followers that did his bidding to the T and NOT his regular soldier in the field... his SS guys NOT regular joe.
russian tatics: Squad leader"come on men they have to reload some time!" "charge!"
Wrong! And wrong again!. There were approximately 2 million German soldiers that died on the Russian front and anywhere from 6.5 to 13 million Russian soldiers that died. So the true ratio was anywhere from 1:3 to 1:6. Give your source that proves the ratio was 1 : 1.3. Otherwise, I call bullshit on your statement.
+xkopp375 this was satire...
Tom Tom Well, I missed it. Sorry. One can never be sure on the internet.
+xkopp375 true
He's actually sort of right. Russians did treat soldiers as much more expendable in WW2. Also I saw Enemy at the Gates and I don't recall the movie suggesting this idea.
Holy cow, how did the assistant carry all of those boxes??
well, one ammo box only weighed 11.35 kg ;)
"only"
+Military History Visualized Thanks for replying! Your videos are high caliber, sir! But weight aside, did they have a special pack or something?
I think they had a pack for the 50 round ammo drums, but the ammo boxes I think they carried by hand in combat. Outside of combat: on the cart. (same as the MG).
+Military History Visualized Gotcha. Thanks again for the replies and I'll be subbing to your patron when I get paid at the end of the month! Love your content!
6:41 i can guess what these terms mean: -development: figuring out the situation -deployment: taking positions -advancing: going for enemy -attack: well... attack! -penetration: breaking enemy lines i wonder if i'm right
No penetration means putting it in
If you l know what I mean ;)
This is very cool as a former infantryman, it is pretty awesome to see that the infantry squad tactics have been pulled together from all conflicts and even mimic that of other countries. Thanks for this
You mean to tell me that not all of the squad were issued with spandaus?!?!
I believe almost all German standard infantry (not assault or support ones like mortars for example) had at least one LMG on em (either an MG34 or MG42). The reasons as shown in the video as they organized their squad tactics around the MG in the squad, with the absence of an MG in the squad, what would there be to organize around?
+A. Soldier it's a lindybeige reference, dude.
+John Hazatoth What is this "lindybeige"?
youtuber
John Hazatoth Huh, don't really remember that part of his video lol.
When the STG44 was introduced, this vastly increased German Squad efficiency immensely! Although it was too late to bring any results. The Assault rifle was able to make advancing much easier, especially when all riflemen equipped with the STG44 could maintain a level of suppressive fire.
In the US infantry forces, they have the BAR. Sometimes they describe understrength squads and platoons where half the survivors get their hands on BARs. At some points they debate officially adding a second BAR to each squad.
Thank you for this. Friend of mine recently talked me into being German in our WWII reenactments, and if I'm going to be the bad guys I may as well be using effective, realistic tactics.
There is no good or bad but thinking makes it so. -Shakespeare
lol.
Best series on tactics, doctrine and equipment I've seen (11 years active duty myself). Danke!!🍺
German panzer zug tactics please!
Yes it would be nice!
Yeah, i would love a video on that as well, as it has always seemed strange to me to put that many resources into a weapon that is so limited in it's use.
+Christian Vest Tanks have multiple purposes
Yes tanks have multiple purposes, but we're not talking about tanks, but "Panzer Zug" which is armored /and armed) trains
not trains, battle groups
Thank you for creating such a quality video.
Immediately subscribed, I can't wait to watch more of your videos. This was a great overview of German infantry tactics of World War 2!!!!
Dude that was great. Very much enjoyed it. Gonna watch a bunch more of your stuff.
thank you!
try to use RED ORCHESTRA 2 as game to see this mechanics. its a perfect game
@@MilitaryHistoryVisualized PENETRATION
Informative and with great presentation. Good job.
This video is GREAT!! I am asked constantly if I can make one of these, but it is an area of knowledge I am still working on. Well done.
Well done and thank you for informative videos like this.
Rate of fire definitely changes the battlefield compared to modern times. Very interesting. This is good squad leader tactics for 'Post Scriptum' - a military sim game based on WWII. I had a go of the public test, which took place in recreated maps of Oosterbeek and Driel (1944). Only difference is when playing the Wehrmacht in game, the MG 34 and MG42 doesn't need assistant squad members. Still has the standard 1x squad leader (with a K98k or MP40) and 9x squad members all get the standard K98k, but each squad can replace standard units with some specialist kits such as a Medic or a LAT using the Panzerfäust 60.
I would like to see another video highlighting the major difference between German and Soviet & American squad tactics.
MarvinRunyon And British
Soviet tactics were like that: 1. Conscription of anyone able to carry a rifle. 2. Giving them a few rifles 3. Telling the unlucky ones to get themselves a weapon in combat 4. Sending everyone onto german machineguns.
Basing your knowledge of Soviet tactics on Enemy at the Gates is a mistake.
BIGGESTblade that is a misconception and was not widespread. That would make no logical sense.
Sicne when russians care about logical sense? I live right next to them and I fail to see any
6:27 it’s good and all but I still prefer the Dennis system
#SquadGoals
LMAO
Looool
This was excellent. Even, understandable, concise, and informative. Your delivery was also excellent. Subscribed.
Excellent work. Well don. Look forward to more.
This is amazing. Can you do similar for Panzers?
yeah, I think so :)
Your work has completely changed my outlook on ground tactic priorities.
you can't trick me klaus.. when is the new season of American dad starting.
Aye lol
Lol Klaus is that you
Ja Ja sounds like klaus
Great presentation, thanks for putting forth the time and effort.
thank you.
u gotta respect the German understanding of tactics and weopons superb vid
I highly dislike this squad setup. It is too centred around the machinegunner and the Riflemen become more or less glorified ammunition carriers and legmen.
What the hell are you talking about. You think that because you have zero formal training. You lack any knowledge and experience to even give an opinion. Stick to your video games.
John White My voice is echoed in amongst other peoples the Allies themselves who analysed the Germans fighting and found it lacking.
***** You first comment was ignorant, your second is even worse. By all means please provided your sources to all the other peoples, and the allies that provided you with such ignorant thinking. And as I said, you have no training, no experience, absolutely no creditability to even give an opinion. To help you out, I spent many, many years as an infantrymen in Army. The machinegun (M240B) is the most important weapon system in the squad. Other soldiers indeed carry extra ammo for that particular weapon system. It is the most casualty producing weapon in the squad. Now I could break it down for you, and tell that most squads will only have a SAW gunner (M249), and the 240's are typically in 4th squad otherwise known as your heavy weapons squad. But again you have no clue, no idea of anything related to the military, and especially the infantry and how we operate. No idea how to assault a fixed position, couldn't tell me without looking it up the difference between direct and indirect fire. No clue what role you would have being the third man in a 4 man stack. No clue about small things like company SOP's on tying down you equipment. You don't even know what we tie are equipment with, or what is even tied down. You have no understanding on using a range card, or why we even use them. You know nothing. Stick to your video games.
***** I don't care if you're 16, I don't care that you're an American citizen. I don't care that you used a video game (World of Tanks) to find a few names of German tanks. I also don't care if name calling offends you.
Very informative and well put together!
Aahh, this is my first time viewing a video from this channel, and I can already tell I'm going to be in love
FINALLY! Someone who can explain sizes of army terms like platoons and squads :)
Platoon About 50 men, Squat About 8-10 men
6:27 how my dates usually go
lol 😂 😂 😂 😂
all for that "penetration" goal ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
😂😂😂
Vampire Count lool
***** are you a doctor or a sextor
Some things never change. Nicely done!
Hey man, great channel and explaining of the information you provide, cheers brother!!
*Video starts* "Time to look at german squad tactics in WWII." *me looks at watch* "yeah, he's right, nearly missed this time."
Great video again. The clarity and professionalism with all the sources makes it a real pleasure to watch. Are you planning on doing a video like this on panzer tactics any time soon because that would be amazing?
yeah, I guess I will make in 2016, but I first need to take a look at the material.
Panzer tactics would help me alot! I love history, and this is a great video.
loved video! keep doing exactly what you did here.
Wow dude, this video was awesome, I really enjoyed it, also love the animations, keep up the good work!
Sehr schön erklärt. Hast' mein Abo. :)
When I was an artilleryman in the IDF, the only infantry tactics we were taught was to split into two fire teams and immediately advance on the enemy position with one fire team covering and another moving in 3-second bursts, then switching, until both teams are close enough to charge together and overwhelm the position. Infantry guys do get trained on more varied tactical options, including a lot of urban combat. We have probably the world's biggest urban combat training arena out in the desert.
Regarding urban training in the desert. Did they set up an urban type town ( buildings, alleys, schools, vehicles, a few street people mix into the scene )to replicate as near as possible. Just curious. Thx
@@dans4553 yes, it's called The Occupied Territories
@@jake4101 visit said "occupied territories" You'll find the frontier.
Fascinating ! Love your work !
This is such excellent, clear content. Thanks so much for making it. I also like the way there is no bullshit - you just explain and illustrate what you said you would.
A good explanation with good visualizations. As an added bonus, I think that these tactics might have been the progenitor for the squad tactics used by Imperial Guard platoons in Warhammer 40k tabletop. The dividation of 10 infantrymen where one is the squad leader, two operate the heavy bolter, autocannon or lascannon, one is the second in command with a radio set and six riflemen to form the meat of the unit, acting in platoon form with direct or indirect fire support. Time to see if you've made any videos covering German armoured tactics. That's something I still wish to see.
Excellent content. You are easily one of the best Ww2 KZhead channels. Pls don't stop :)
This is very fascinating, deserved my like and subscription That metal outro is awesome
will be interesting to see how this evolves, especially when taking into account Fallschirmjager, grenadier, sturmpioniere/infanterie and a greater preponderence of automatic and semiautomatic weapons.
I think what is being talked about here is the Standard Grenadier squad from 1941 to 1943 since after 1943 they had shortages on manpower and thus less Grenadier divisions and I think less people in squads, so instead of 10 they had 9, as well as all other squad formations like Panzergrenadiers for example, that is also why Volksgrenadier divisions started showing up, less men, more firepower in the form of use of the StG 44. Altho Volksgrenadier zugs (platoons) still used this squad layout altho in 9 man format like I already said, with at least one Sturm gruppe of 9 guys all armed with StG 44s.
***** Mmm, a salient point with regards to the Volksturm, although am not sure if the material used as referenced in the video involved purely straight leg standard Wehrmacht infantry or Grenadiere or Panzergrenadiere, since as MHV pointed out this was taken from an American intelligence document.
Karelwolfpup Volksgrenadiers, not Volkssturm, there is a difference between the 2. Volksgrenadiers were under manned units equipped with more automatic firepower than standard units while Volkssturm were basically civilians with arm bands armed with whatever random weapons they could find, not a proper regular military unit of any sort. But yeah I do agree with you as well that he didn't point it out but still, Panzergrenadiers being motorized (most of the time, either by truck or half-track) should have had more men in their squad, of course, if you count their vehicle's driver(s) like it's stated here: forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?130209-Historical-Squad-sizes-and-Equipment
***** nice link, although, that does prompt me to ask why German Gebirgsjager, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe infantry (non Fallschirmjager) as well as Pioniere/SturmPioniere and SturmGrenadiere formations aren't included there.
Karelwolfpup Because it's a guide for a game?
6:25 - Team up - Sneak up - Assume position - Overwhelm - Penetrate yeah... 😂
Informative, good work
Good and informative video. Fascinating, most books on military history show the bigger picture and not the nitty gritty that makes war so compelling.
This video made me to go to play Red Orchestra 2 :D Nice vid, thanks for it :
Americans be like: thanks I can use this at *S C H O O L*
FUNNY thing. The source of this video ‘Gruppe im Gefecht’ by Friedrich Kühlwein is described in the Reibert books for ‘teachers and students’. Same goes for the Reibert books themselves. They were schoolbooks.
Ahh yes, making a sick joke about school violence. 😑
@Helal Vodka wtf? So violence and shootings arent the same?🤔
@Panzer VII Löwe damn must be the best day huh
"Haha funny gun joke murica guns xD 🤣. So original and funny haha guns"
I just love these videos, these are so useful as reference information and really interesting for my history buff nature. Just rediscovered your channel and I'm probably going to binge
well done. all parts very well, but especially, great design of the icons...
Very informative. A must for any military buff or re enactors and RPG players
Nicholos Caudillo Actually if you can read german a Reibert or a Cold War Bundeswehr ZDv 3/11 (very close to the Wehrmacht Manual)
I'm thankful that you bother to do these in English. Wonderful stuff.
I actually prefer English, it is usually more fun and also I reach more people.
More people for sure. I feel your content is also very unbiased and non-political when it comes to the German perspective.
thank you. I am a bit of "contrarian" and since usually a lot of is really biased and political about it, it is closer to my "nature". Also most of my sources are academic and my background as engineer/computer scientist gives me a strong direction to stick to what is known, unknown, likely, unlikely, etc. Another aspect is of course that I think that "preaching morals"/condemning/etc. usually doesn't work, the guy from Slayer put it pretty well: "nothing I put in the lyrics that says necessarily he (Josef Mengele) was a bad man, because to me - well, isn't that obvious? I shouldn't have to tell you that."
it happen alot that people bias it very much, like a lot of Americans. no offence though
Brilliant analysis., Subbed
Thanks ! Interesting, clear explanations and well illustrated.
When making contact with an unknown unit fire one round over their heads, if you receive a large volume of well aim rifle fire they're British, If they come out with a white flag they're French or Italian, if you get a shit storm of machine gun fire they're German, if nothing happens for five minutes and then you receive large amounts of accurate artillery fire they're American.
Dennis Jones If they become your friends they're Italian
@Dennis Jones GOD BLESS AMERICA!
this is just a badly written version of a higher comment
am i ready to take warzaw now?
Leafycynicalfkrz Boi You are! Forward!
A citizen could take warsaw. Lol
Hey Vsauce Robbery Here Switcherz thozez lunzette fhor Zunsglazzes. The sun is the real enemy when invadin poland
John Rafael Enriquez Yes, exactly. Idiot.
Hey Vsauce Robbery Here no
I really loved this video, really interesting and compared to many other channels your graphichs are amazing!
EXACTLY the type of explanation I'd been looking for! Until now, I never got how a well-fortified defensive position could be taken without attackers suffering unavoidably high casualties (excepting assaults that permitted easy flanking or encirclement). Although aware of all the individual features of such an attack, particularly helpful for me was sequencing these actions with situational variations. Thanks so much.
As a writer, this helps me on many levels.
Hallo, ich bin Alex und bin ein "schütze 1" für das amerikanische Militär (USMC). Dieses Video war sehr lehrreich und es war ein Vergnügen es anzugucken. Ich bin sehr erfreut ein neuer Subscriber zu sein. Deine Visuelle Präsentation ist einfach hervorragend. Ich nehme an du bist ein Lehrer? würde mich sehr freuen wenn du auf dieses Kommentar reagierst, und antwortest.
Hallo, danke. Nein, ich bin kein Lehrer. KZhead ist mein Job.
as usual very thorough and easily understood ..
Thank you. I'm enjoying your channel very much.
pioneer spam
This man gets it, COH best game.
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when you click ONCE on a video with a guy firing a AR and your whole recommendation page gets replaced with videos about gun use and military tactics.
This video is so helpful and interesting, I used it for my 8th grade social studies project. Keep up the good work!
I love your videos. It helps me understand how to use my units effectively playing Close Combat The Bloody First.
Not terribly different from squad tactics of today. US. Army acts in two different teams. Assault and fire team. Our formation, by doctrine, has us in a staggered column. A straight column is only used on road marches. Light and heavy mgs are designated for the fire team to maintain fire superiority while the assault team takes position. Fire is shifted and the assault comes in from the flank. Battle drill 1 alpha. Every soldier knows it by heart.
A lot of US and other nations' combat doctrines are based on those used by WW2-era Germany such as combined arms attacks
+Fr0st1989 not really. The german military in world war had innovative tank tactics that's about it. Their military in general was just better prepared for war than anyone else was that's why they were so successful. The US didn't adopt anything from their military other than some scientists.
+Fr0st1989 not only that, but our technology as well. Even our helmets come from their design. It's not to say that things haven't changed, but much of the basic structure exists today.
+Legend Length well yeah it works much the same way, except in games you don't have to worry about shifting your fire. You also try to hit the enemy, not just shoot over their head, but yeah you do shoot to keep their heads down and eyes off the assault team. In short yes. Pin em and stick him is the name of the game. Although it doesn't really work that way today for the most part.
The biggest revolution with Wehrmacht tactics was to make the belt fed machine gun organic to the squad. Most other armies of the time kept the MG as part of a weapons squad/section under control of the company commander who would assign the weapon to platoons and squads as needed. This gave the German squad A LOT of firepower when compared to other armies, particularly when the bolt action rifle was still the standard issue infantry weapon.
Sehr gut, junger Mann. Gruß von einem PzGren.Reserveoffizier.
danke!
The Infantry!The Queen of Battles!!!
---- witze aus meiner einheit ---- Wie heißt die Zahl unter 1? - ROA nein spaß, hut ab und schöne grüße:)
very very very very cool video, thanks for creating and sharing.
Thank you! This will be very important for my game! So much thanks :D
7:28 Please Lindybeige told us that Spandau's are way too inaccurate to safely do that. (Sarcasm) Looks at comments section, wow the Lindy roasting is real. *Laughs*
I am still waiting for the day, when the Bren gets its own official meme on "know your meme" or how it is called.
Hehe, I remember that vid. Lindy's pretty knowledgeable about melee weapons, but he's lackluster when it comes to guns. General rule of thumb: Anyone with a British accent usually doesn't know shit about guns.
Would be nice to see what the withdrawal/evade phase looked like according to book. I know from personal experience that walking into ambush should be avoided at all costs; however, once it happens its the squad/platoon leader that must get his men out of there and with minimal injuries or the fewest casualties.
7:38 - Achieve temporary fire superiority and employ "Fire & Movement which means that one part of the squad fires to cover the movement of the other the part of the squad." Eventho he shows the troops advancing, it can actually be used to advance or to retreat.
nice video men, very informative
A most enlightening video. Thank you. Very interesting.