Sturmtruppen
Assault-Infantrymen
Shock-Troops / Storm-Troops
STOSSTRUPPEN / STURMTRUPPEN
With the onset of trench warfare the troops were forced to dig in, and movement forward became near impossible due to the efficiency of defensive positional warfare. Almost immediately the armies began to find ways to overcome this stalemate. Beginning with small patrols, which became ever more aggressive as troops competed to control no-man’s-land, tactics and strategies began to develop that enabled soldiers to begin to capture ground and slowly move the trench lines forward. Eventually these tactics developed into strategies that encouraged Germany to give one last attempt on the Western Front to win the war in the spring of 1918. Of course similar tactics and strategies as developed by the Commonwealth and French troops helped the allies win the war in November 1918. Furthermore, Stosstrupp tactics and strategies would be the basis for infantry tactics used during the Second World War.
Assault-Infantrymen Sturmtruppen were trained at special camps set up behind the lines. Hand grenades were the principle weapon of the assault infantryman. Many men in a Sturmtruppe were tasked as hand grenade throwers to clear lines of trenches, and were thus equipped with two ordinary sand bags filled with grenades, strung over the neck and carried under the arms.
STOSSTRUPPEN / STURMTRUPPEN
With the onset of trench warfare the troops were forced to dig in, and movement forward became near impossible due to the efficiency of defensive positional warfare. Almost immediately the armies began to find ways to overcome this stalemate. Beginning with small patrols, which became ever more aggressive as troops competed to control no-man’s-land, tactics and strategies began to develop that enabled soldiers to begin to capture ground and slowly move the trench lines forward. Eventually these tactics developed into strategies that encouraged Germany to give one last attempt on the Western Front to win the war in the spring of 1918. Of course similar tactics and strategies as developed by the Commonwealth and French troops helped the allies win the war in November 1918. Furthermore, Stosstrupp tactics and strategies would be the basis for infantry tactics used during the Second World War.
Assault-Infantrymen Sturmtruppen were trained at special camps set up behind the lines. Hand grenades were the principle weapon of the assault infantryman. Many men in a Sturmtruppe were tasked as hand grenade throwers to clear lines of trenches, and were thus equipped with two ordinary sand bags filled with grenades, strung over the neck and carried under the arms.
Sturmtrupp soldiers in training areas learning the new techniques.
Above: A training troop of 11 NCOs poses with 3 officers, unfortunately the postcard is unmarked/dated. This is very likely a group of men on course who would thereafter return to their original regiments where they would become instructors to teach, and to lead their own Sturmtrupp units.
Above: A training troop of 11 NCOs poses with 3 officers, unfortunately the postcard is unmarked/dated. This is very likely a group of men on course who would thereafter return to their original regiments where they would become instructors to teach, and to lead their own Sturmtrupp units.
Sturmtrupp soldiers back with Regiment, teaching the new techniques.
Above: A postcard sent home by Otto Priese on 3.VIII.1917 - IR 188. This is possibly a group of enlisted men being trained by NCOs like Otto Preise, who had previously attended an official Stosstrupp course. Otto Preise is the NCO instructor standing in the centre with a cigarette. Note all men wear ankle boots and putties, and have leather reinforcing on the knees of their trousers.
Below: Another postcard sent by Otto Priese on 27.X.1917. He can be seen standing to the officer‘s left. The photo may have been taken while running another Sturmtrupp training course back at his regiment.
Above: A postcard sent home by Otto Priese on 3.VIII.1917 - IR 188. This is possibly a group of enlisted men being trained by NCOs like Otto Preise, who had previously attended an official Stosstrupp course. Otto Preise is the NCO instructor standing in the centre with a cigarette. Note all men wear ankle boots and putties, and have leather reinforcing on the knees of their trousers.
Below: Another postcard sent by Otto Priese on 27.X.1917. He can be seen standing to the officer‘s left. The photo may have been taken while running another Sturmtrupp training course back at his regiment.
ASSAULT EQUIPMENT
Sturmtruppe Ausrüstung
The bulky leather 3-pocket ammunition pouches were often replaced simply with the cloth bandoleer that ammunition is issued in. Usually extra ammunition was carried in the pockets while over his shoulders an assault infantryman carried two sandbags filled with Hand grenades. As per Ernst Jünger's memoirs, four grenades in each sandbag.
Instead of the standard short entrenching tool, a long handled Pionier, or Engineer's spade is carried for quick use in attack and afterwards for the restructuring of conquered enemy trench lines to face the new direction. (Please note * Unfortunately, the leather carrier shown here is a aged reproduction.)
The Tornister is left in baggage; instead a reduced set of essentials: the shelter canvas wrapped around the greatcoat, the roll strapped around the mess kit, and held together with three leather equipment straps. The bread bag strap serves as the shoulder straps.
The bread bag is sometimes seen later in the war to carry an additional canteen.
Most often the jackboots would be replaced with ankle boots and putties.
Sturmtruppe Ausrüstung
The bulky leather 3-pocket ammunition pouches were often replaced simply with the cloth bandoleer that ammunition is issued in. Usually extra ammunition was carried in the pockets while over his shoulders an assault infantryman carried two sandbags filled with Hand grenades. As per Ernst Jünger's memoirs, four grenades in each sandbag.
Instead of the standard short entrenching tool, a long handled Pionier, or Engineer's spade is carried for quick use in attack and afterwards for the restructuring of conquered enemy trench lines to face the new direction. (Please note * Unfortunately, the leather carrier shown here is a aged reproduction.)
The Tornister is left in baggage; instead a reduced set of essentials: the shelter canvas wrapped around the greatcoat, the roll strapped around the mess kit, and held together with three leather equipment straps. The bread bag strap serves as the shoulder straps.
The bread bag is sometimes seen later in the war to carry an additional canteen.
Most often the jackboots would be replaced with ankle boots and putties.