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120mm WWI Sturmtruppe - Kirin
- Thread starter RichB
- Start date
Sherman 18
Master at Arms
120mm All Quiet on the Western Front - Verlinden
Now that's thinking.
Now that's thinking.
RichB
Well-known member
120mm All Quiet on the Western Front - Verlinden
Having mounted one expidition into the dark corners of "The Stash", this kit is still eluding me. Hopefully a second expidition tonight will be more successful. If it is not, I did find a Kirin 120mm WWI Sturmtruppen that may become my fall back position and still use the books and info I have dug out.
Cheers,
Rich
Having mounted one expidition into the dark corners of "The Stash", this kit is still eluding me. Hopefully a second expidition tonight will be more successful. If it is not, I did find a Kirin 120mm WWI Sturmtruppen that may become my fall back position and still use the books and info I have dug out.
Cheers,
Rich
RichB
Well-known member
Spent the last week or so digging through the library for my World War I books. Several that I have referenced are the Osprey Men-At-Arms Series "The German Army 1914-18", "The German Army in World War 1 1914-15", "The Germany Army in World War 1 1915-17" and "The German Army in World War 1 1917-18". Others used so far were "War on the Western Front", "The Imperial German Army 1914-18", "German Assault Troops of the First World War" and "Specialized Assault Units of the World War I Western Front".
As Mr. T wrote in his article, it can be fascinating learning the why's and how's a chosen subject arrived at the configuration being modeled. At times it can be difficult not to get to deep "in the weeds" or off on a tangent.
With that, on to the first installment.......
THE IMPERIAL GERMAN ARMY
The Imperial German Army (Deutsches Heer) was formed after German unification in 1871. Much of its traditions, institutions and doctrine were adopted from the Prussian Army, the largest component of the army. It consisted of 25 Army Corps (Armeekorps), each forming a largely independent and self-reliant force. Each Corps Commander was responsible for the recruiting, administration, deployment and training of the units under his control and reported only to the Kaiser. This decentralization was one of the factors that allowed Germany to mobilize so quickly in 1914.
RECRUITING AND TRAINING
As with all European countries, excluding the United Kingdom, Germany required military service by all able bodied men between 17 and 45 years of age. At the start of the war there were 5 classifications of service: Standing Army (Stehendes Heer), Reserve, Ersatz Reserve (Supplementary Reserve), Landwehr (Militia) and Landsturm (Home Guard).
At age17, every young man was inducted into the 1st Bann Landsturm. He received no training at this point and would only be called out in a dire emergency.
At age 20, the annual recruit class (Jahreklasse) would be called up and would report for a series of medical examinations and interviews. If selected, a period of service of up to 3 years (Cavalry and Artillery branches) began in the Standing Army. Upon completion of his active service, he could apply to re-enlist and become a Regular professional (Berufssoldat). As a professional he would serve for 12 years after which he would receive a small pension and, if qualified, be appointed to a civil service job.
During the recruiting interviews some recruits, while fit for active duty, were given exemptions for personal, economic or minor medical reasons. These men were assigned to the Ersatz Reserve where they served for a period of 12 years with up to 3 annual training periods. If all training was completed, at age 32 they would transfer to 2nd Bann Landwehr. If training requirements weren’t met, they would transfer to 2nd Bann Landsturm. Any recruits declared unfit for military duty were given a Mustering-out Certificate (Ausmusterungsschein) and excluded from further consideration.
Having completed his active service, he would transfer to the Reserves. His time in the reserve was determined by a formula of Active Service + Reserve Service = 7 years total service. Reservists could be called up for two 8 week training periods per year.
Now age 27, he would transfer to 1st Bann Landwehr for a period of 5 years, then to the 2nd Bann for an additional 6 years. While in the 1st Bann he could expect one or two periods of training depending upon the branch. The 2nd Bann had no training requirements.
Upon reaching his 38th birthday he would transfer to the 2nd Bann Landsturm where he would serve his final 7 years of service. At age 45, his obligatory service was complete and he was exempt from further military duty.
This system provided a large pool of manpower available for the rapid expansion of the army at the outbreak of hostilities. While this system served Germany well in peace time and low intensity wars it began to crack under the stress of a modern war, fighting opponents that were equally well trained, armed and supplied. The initial rapid expansion of the German Army in July and August 1914 had consumed nearly all the Reserve and Landwehr manpower. Many young men volunteered upon the declaration of war wishing to fight for their country and not miss “the show”.
Contrary to expectations by all nations involved, the war continued long past Christmas 1914 and the strain was becoming apparent on the home front. The initial rush to the colours in 1914 led to the following annual classes to be called out earlier. Transfers between the pre-war classifications were suspended, with exceptions for men no longer fit for active duty due to wounds or sickness and serving troops were no longer released at age 45 Medical standards were lowered and those previously exempted from service as “unfit” were being re-examined. The new recruits were now classed as “fit for active duty”, “fit for garrison duty”, “fit for labour duties” or “unfit for any duty” with fewer and fewer being declared unfit.
More to come.
Cheers,
Rich
As Mr. T wrote in his article, it can be fascinating learning the why's and how's a chosen subject arrived at the configuration being modeled. At times it can be difficult not to get to deep "in the weeds" or off on a tangent.
With that, on to the first installment.......
THE IMPERIAL GERMAN ARMY
The Imperial German Army (Deutsches Heer) was formed after German unification in 1871. Much of its traditions, institutions and doctrine were adopted from the Prussian Army, the largest component of the army. It consisted of 25 Army Corps (Armeekorps), each forming a largely independent and self-reliant force. Each Corps Commander was responsible for the recruiting, administration, deployment and training of the units under his control and reported only to the Kaiser. This decentralization was one of the factors that allowed Germany to mobilize so quickly in 1914.
RECRUITING AND TRAINING
As with all European countries, excluding the United Kingdom, Germany required military service by all able bodied men between 17 and 45 years of age. At the start of the war there were 5 classifications of service: Standing Army (Stehendes Heer), Reserve, Ersatz Reserve (Supplementary Reserve), Landwehr (Militia) and Landsturm (Home Guard).
At age17, every young man was inducted into the 1st Bann Landsturm. He received no training at this point and would only be called out in a dire emergency.
At age 20, the annual recruit class (Jahreklasse) would be called up and would report for a series of medical examinations and interviews. If selected, a period of service of up to 3 years (Cavalry and Artillery branches) began in the Standing Army. Upon completion of his active service, he could apply to re-enlist and become a Regular professional (Berufssoldat). As a professional he would serve for 12 years after which he would receive a small pension and, if qualified, be appointed to a civil service job.
During the recruiting interviews some recruits, while fit for active duty, were given exemptions for personal, economic or minor medical reasons. These men were assigned to the Ersatz Reserve where they served for a period of 12 years with up to 3 annual training periods. If all training was completed, at age 32 they would transfer to 2nd Bann Landwehr. If training requirements weren’t met, they would transfer to 2nd Bann Landsturm. Any recruits declared unfit for military duty were given a Mustering-out Certificate (Ausmusterungsschein) and excluded from further consideration.
Having completed his active service, he would transfer to the Reserves. His time in the reserve was determined by a formula of Active Service + Reserve Service = 7 years total service. Reservists could be called up for two 8 week training periods per year.
Now age 27, he would transfer to 1st Bann Landwehr for a period of 5 years, then to the 2nd Bann for an additional 6 years. While in the 1st Bann he could expect one or two periods of training depending upon the branch. The 2nd Bann had no training requirements.
Upon reaching his 38th birthday he would transfer to the 2nd Bann Landsturm where he would serve his final 7 years of service. At age 45, his obligatory service was complete and he was exempt from further military duty.
This system provided a large pool of manpower available for the rapid expansion of the army at the outbreak of hostilities. While this system served Germany well in peace time and low intensity wars it began to crack under the stress of a modern war, fighting opponents that were equally well trained, armed and supplied. The initial rapid expansion of the German Army in July and August 1914 had consumed nearly all the Reserve and Landwehr manpower. Many young men volunteered upon the declaration of war wishing to fight for their country and not miss “the show”.
Contrary to expectations by all nations involved, the war continued long past Christmas 1914 and the strain was becoming apparent on the home front. The initial rush to the colours in 1914 led to the following annual classes to be called out earlier. Transfers between the pre-war classifications were suspended, with exceptions for men no longer fit for active duty due to wounds or sickness and serving troops were no longer released at age 45 Medical standards were lowered and those previously exempted from service as “unfit” were being re-examined. The new recruits were now classed as “fit for active duty”, “fit for garrison duty”, “fit for labour duties” or “unfit for any duty” with fewer and fewer being declared unfit.
More to come.
Cheers,
Rich
Sherman 18
Master at Arms
Great write up Rich. 
RichB
Well-known member
Continuing to dig....
CREATING AN ELITE
Meeting the demands of fighting on five active fronts forced a change to the very structure of the German army. The drain on manpower and material made maintaining pre-war manning levels difficult. The army-wide change to the size, number and types of combat units and the doctrine and tactics they used on the battlefield provided the window of opportunity for the development and employment of the Sturmtuppen.
Using specialized assault troops was not a new idea on the European battlefield. They han been used from medieval times to break into large pike formations or to storm breaches in fortifications. To the British they were known as the “Forlorn Hope” and to the French as “Les Enfants Perdus”.
German officers had traditionally been granted great freedom to employ troops and tactics as they saw fit without micro-management by higher command. As the stalemate of trench warfare spread along the front, the freedom to innovate allowed front line units to informally create specialized assault units, often from their Pioneer and Jager battalions, before the Stosstruppen (Shock Troops) were officially created in early 1915. As an all volunteer battalion, recruiting standards were set high. The enlisted ranks were to be under 25, unmarried, physically and mentally tough, athletic, motivated and aggressive Their first task was to develop and test new weapons and tactics which might break the deadlock of trench warfare. They were the first to use the new Stahlhelm, trial body armour, light machine guns, small trench mortars, grenade launchers and light artillery that could support their rapid moving, close quarter tactics. After 3 months of training they were parceled out to several front line units and in a series of minor attacks they incurred over 30% casualties.
As tactics were developed and matured, the Stosstruppe were proving to be a valuable tool in the German arsenal. Soon they were hosting cadres from line infantry units instructing them in the new tactics of fighting as platoons and sections, reading maps and rehearsing attacks on full scale mock-ups. For the first time, NCOs were given the responsibility for making tactical decisions. The newly trained Stosstruppen would return to their regiments to form Sturmkompanies and pass on these new ideas and tactics.
By late 1916, Army Headquarters ordered the formation of a Sturmbataillon in each Army. These were usually an over sized unit to allow them to conduct their training and combat duties. From their creation they were viewed as primarily a training institution that would be stood-down once these new tactics had become the standard throughout the army. Because of this temporary status, the Sturmbataillons did not receive any historical regiment affiliations. With their elite status came some perks. They received extra rations and did not spend time in the front line trenches, remaining at their rear area bases and only coming forward when required for trench raids or local offensives.
By the end of 1917 nearly every division had formed an assault battalion in addition to the 18 “establishment” battalions. Each battalion was nominally composed of 4 assault companies, an infantry gun battery, a trench mortar detachment, a flamethrower detachment, a machine gun company and a HQ company. Battalions at the divisional level were often customized to meet local requirements.
In late 1917 the German High Command began planning Kaiserschlacht (Emperor’s Battle), a “do or die” offensive to be launched in the spring of 1918. German forces were divided into three categories, Mobile Divisions (Mobiledivisionen) that would lead the attack, Attack Divisions (Angriffdivisionen) the would provide reinforcements and Trench Divisions (Stellungdivisionen) that would consolidate the gains.
The 44 Mobile divisions assigned to lead the offensive were brought up to full strength in both men and equipment. Men over 35 were transferred to the Trench divisions and replaced by younger men from their ranks. Early in the new year these divisions were pulled out of the line to begin intensive Sturmtruppe training. Prior to the start of the offensive, the Sturmkompanies from the training battalions and some from Sturmbattalions in quiet sectors, were assigned to regiments within the Mobile divisions.
The 30 Attack divisions also received extensive training but received a lower scale of issue of weapons and equipment. The remaining 100 Trench divisions were stripped to the bone of men and equipment.
The Spring Offensive of 1918 opened on 21 March 1918 with the intent of bringing the Allies to the negotiating table before the newly arrived US forces could be deployed. The assault troops were given no firm objectives, instead were ordered to advance as quickly as possible leaving strong points for the following infantry. Strategic objectives were changed according to the tactical situation.
After a 5 hour barrage of high explosive and gas shells in a 150 square mile area along the British lines the Sturmtruppen began their assault. They quickly broke through the front line and in the first 24 hours had captured 140 square miles with 39,000 casualties. Just 2 years earlier the British had taken 6 months and 500,000 casualties to capture 98 square miles of the same fields.
Between March and June 1918 the Sturmtruppen led a series of assaults their aggressiveness lead to a high number of casualties and as a result the divisions were burnt out. They had achieved an unprecedented number of tactical successes, success that was let down by the lack of an overall strategic plan. Despite the losses in men and material, the Allies were able to quickly regroup and defence stiffened. The German advance had outstripped the army’s ability to provide the necessary supplies or replacements and soon the offensive faltered.
By the end of July the German army was a spent force. Germany no longer had the material or manpower reserves to make good the losses of the last 5 months. Even worse, they had lost most of the cream of the army, the Sturmtruppen that lead the offensive. On 08 August the Allies began the Hundred Days Offensive, a series of combined arms offensives that ended the war on 11 November 1918.
The Sturmtruppe had been at the forefront of tactical development. Their training emphasised individual initiative, aggressiveness, physical and mental toughness and developed a strong esprit de corps. The NCOs duties were expanded beyond simply enforcing an officers’ orders to providing leadership. The infantry battalion was no longer dependent solely upon the rifle but was now composed of complementary heavy weapons. They pioneered the tactics of “fire and movement” and fire support from integral heavy weapons and neighbouring units. All this would seem familiar to any modern day infantryman, paratrooper or commando.
Cheers,
Rich
CREATING AN ELITE
Meeting the demands of fighting on five active fronts forced a change to the very structure of the German army. The drain on manpower and material made maintaining pre-war manning levels difficult. The army-wide change to the size, number and types of combat units and the doctrine and tactics they used on the battlefield provided the window of opportunity for the development and employment of the Sturmtuppen.
Using specialized assault troops was not a new idea on the European battlefield. They han been used from medieval times to break into large pike formations or to storm breaches in fortifications. To the British they were known as the “Forlorn Hope” and to the French as “Les Enfants Perdus”.
German officers had traditionally been granted great freedom to employ troops and tactics as they saw fit without micro-management by higher command. As the stalemate of trench warfare spread along the front, the freedom to innovate allowed front line units to informally create specialized assault units, often from their Pioneer and Jager battalions, before the Stosstruppen (Shock Troops) were officially created in early 1915. As an all volunteer battalion, recruiting standards were set high. The enlisted ranks were to be under 25, unmarried, physically and mentally tough, athletic, motivated and aggressive Their first task was to develop and test new weapons and tactics which might break the deadlock of trench warfare. They were the first to use the new Stahlhelm, trial body armour, light machine guns, small trench mortars, grenade launchers and light artillery that could support their rapid moving, close quarter tactics. After 3 months of training they were parceled out to several front line units and in a series of minor attacks they incurred over 30% casualties.
As tactics were developed and matured, the Stosstruppe were proving to be a valuable tool in the German arsenal. Soon they were hosting cadres from line infantry units instructing them in the new tactics of fighting as platoons and sections, reading maps and rehearsing attacks on full scale mock-ups. For the first time, NCOs were given the responsibility for making tactical decisions. The newly trained Stosstruppen would return to their regiments to form Sturmkompanies and pass on these new ideas and tactics.
By late 1916, Army Headquarters ordered the formation of a Sturmbataillon in each Army. These were usually an over sized unit to allow them to conduct their training and combat duties. From their creation they were viewed as primarily a training institution that would be stood-down once these new tactics had become the standard throughout the army. Because of this temporary status, the Sturmbataillons did not receive any historical regiment affiliations. With their elite status came some perks. They received extra rations and did not spend time in the front line trenches, remaining at their rear area bases and only coming forward when required for trench raids or local offensives.
By the end of 1917 nearly every division had formed an assault battalion in addition to the 18 “establishment” battalions. Each battalion was nominally composed of 4 assault companies, an infantry gun battery, a trench mortar detachment, a flamethrower detachment, a machine gun company and a HQ company. Battalions at the divisional level were often customized to meet local requirements.
In late 1917 the German High Command began planning Kaiserschlacht (Emperor’s Battle), a “do or die” offensive to be launched in the spring of 1918. German forces were divided into three categories, Mobile Divisions (Mobiledivisionen) that would lead the attack, Attack Divisions (Angriffdivisionen) the would provide reinforcements and Trench Divisions (Stellungdivisionen) that would consolidate the gains.
The 44 Mobile divisions assigned to lead the offensive were brought up to full strength in both men and equipment. Men over 35 were transferred to the Trench divisions and replaced by younger men from their ranks. Early in the new year these divisions were pulled out of the line to begin intensive Sturmtruppe training. Prior to the start of the offensive, the Sturmkompanies from the training battalions and some from Sturmbattalions in quiet sectors, were assigned to regiments within the Mobile divisions.
The 30 Attack divisions also received extensive training but received a lower scale of issue of weapons and equipment. The remaining 100 Trench divisions were stripped to the bone of men and equipment.
The Spring Offensive of 1918 opened on 21 March 1918 with the intent of bringing the Allies to the negotiating table before the newly arrived US forces could be deployed. The assault troops were given no firm objectives, instead were ordered to advance as quickly as possible leaving strong points for the following infantry. Strategic objectives were changed according to the tactical situation.
After a 5 hour barrage of high explosive and gas shells in a 150 square mile area along the British lines the Sturmtruppen began their assault. They quickly broke through the front line and in the first 24 hours had captured 140 square miles with 39,000 casualties. Just 2 years earlier the British had taken 6 months and 500,000 casualties to capture 98 square miles of the same fields.
Between March and June 1918 the Sturmtruppen led a series of assaults their aggressiveness lead to a high number of casualties and as a result the divisions were burnt out. They had achieved an unprecedented number of tactical successes, success that was let down by the lack of an overall strategic plan. Despite the losses in men and material, the Allies were able to quickly regroup and defence stiffened. The German advance had outstripped the army’s ability to provide the necessary supplies or replacements and soon the offensive faltered.
By the end of July the German army was a spent force. Germany no longer had the material or manpower reserves to make good the losses of the last 5 months. Even worse, they had lost most of the cream of the army, the Sturmtruppen that lead the offensive. On 08 August the Allies began the Hundred Days Offensive, a series of combined arms offensives that ended the war on 11 November 1918.
The Sturmtruppe had been at the forefront of tactical development. Their training emphasised individual initiative, aggressiveness, physical and mental toughness and developed a strong esprit de corps. The NCOs duties were expanded beyond simply enforcing an officers’ orders to providing leadership. The infantry battalion was no longer dependent solely upon the rifle but was now composed of complementary heavy weapons. They pioneered the tactics of “fire and movement” and fire support from integral heavy weapons and neighbouring units. All this would seem familiar to any modern day infantryman, paratrooper or commando.
Cheers,
Rich
Fascinating read Rich. Surely get an A+ for your homework.
RichB
Well-known member
The last bit of research completed .
UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT
In 1907 a new Feldgrau field uniform was introduced in the German Army, known as the M1907/10, and was the standard throughout the army by 1910. It retained many of the styling details of the M1895 Dunkelblau. (Dunkleblau referred not only to the colour “Dark Blue”, but also to the style of uniform regardless of the colour.)
The new uniform was made from a heavy wool material dyed grey-green. The tunic was piped in regiment or branch colours around the collar, cuffs, front fly and rear skirt details. The buttons were either dulled brass or silver. The shoulder boards matched the uniform colour and piped with the Armee Korps colour (with exceptions for senior regiments) and the regimental number or cypher embroidered in red. The trousers were made of the same material with matching piping on the outside seam. Different dye batches and the harder wear on the trousers meant there were a variety of feldgrau shades, spoiling the uniform look of the army. In 1914 the new Steingrau (Stone Grey) trousers were introduced.
In 1913 a Landsturm tunic (often called the M1913) was introduced with some simplified details for manufacture. Most of these details were on the inside of the tunic making them nearly indistinguishable from the M1907/10. With the outbreak of war, this became the standard issue tunic of the German Army after September 1914.
As pressure increased on German industry to clothe the increasing number of troops more modifications were introduced in 1915. The M1910 Vereinfachte (Simplified) tunic introduced the simpler turn back cuff and could be seen with or without piping depending upon supplier. Shoulder boards were also produced without piping. These could be attached by button or sewn directly to the tunic depending upon the manufacturer.
Late 1915 saw the introduction of the M1915/16 Bluse. This was a completely new pattern with a much looser fit that allowed better movement and comfort. It utilized the turn back cuff (favoured by troops to carry ID and travel papers) and simplified skirt of the M1910 and was void of all piping. The collar was made of an apple green cloth (grey for Bavarian troops). The front fly covered 6 buttons made of bone. There were two lower pockets on the front of the tunic. Shoulder boards were now produced with specific colours and piping for each branch (with exceptions for senior regiments). Buttons on the pockets and shoulder boards were a grey painted metal.
In 1917 trousers were again being made in feldgrau as dealers could not supply the large quantities of grey wool. They could be seen with or without piping. In 1916 private purchase items began to supplement government issue clothing. In some units this practice was discouraged for junior ranks, limiting it to officers and some senior NCOs. Corduroy trousers, popular with mountain climbers, were a popular item in the trenches for their warmth and durability. They were seen in two styles, straight leg or breeches, and in brown, grey or black.
Although each new style of tunic was intended to become the standard and replace the previous issues, all 4 styles remained in use from their introduction until the last day of the war. Uniforms from casualties brought to field hospitals that were “lightly worn” were cleaned, repaired and re-issued.
One of the most iconic items of the Germany army also became one of its first casualties, the Pickelhaube. It was quickly found to be unsuitable for modern warfare. The spike provided no practical purpose other than betraying a soldier’s position and providing an aiming point as he peered over the edge of the trench. The pressed leather (later pressed felt and paper or tin) provided no protection against shrapnel.
In early 1915 a study of head wounds was undertaken and the design of a suitable steel helmet began. Testing began on a design broadly based on the 15th century sallet in November 1915. An order for 30,000 M1916 Stahlhems was placed in the New Year with the first issue to troops in February 1916. There was a dramatic drop in head wounds (up to 70%) following its introduction. Initially supply could not keep up to demand and helmets were made “trench stores” handed over by troops leaving the trenches to those relieving them. Incremental improvements were incorporated in the M1917 and M1918 Stalhelms.
From the factory, the helmets were painted with a semi-gloss feldgrau. Troops in the field used mud, foliage, cloth covers and paint for better concealment. An official order was issued in July 1918 that all helmets be painted in a seasonally appropriate 3 colour scheme with each colour separated by a finger width black line. New production helmets followed the ordered paint scheme while those repainted in the field had a much broader interpretation of the order.
The field uniform was worn with the high shaft M1866 Marschstiefels (Marching Boot) in natural or dark tan leather. The soles were studded with hob nails and a heel rim to provide traction. The troops found the marching boot to clumsy for trench warfare and saw the ankle boot and puttees (Schnurschuhe und Gamaschen) being worn in early 1915. There were two main styles of ankle boot, side or front laced, both in brown or black leather. Puttees were produced in many shades of field grey and stone grey with some seen in black or brown. They were worn wrapped upwards from ankle to knee with a hook to secure them to the boot and either hooks or ties to secure them at the knee.
An infantryman’s field equipment consisted of a waist belt and backpack support straps, 6 ammunition pouches (3 on the front of each hip) and support strap, bayonet with frog and knot strapped to the entrenching tool carried on the left hip, bread bag and water flask carried on the right hip and backpack, great coat, shelter quarter and mess kit on the upper back. In “assault order” the back pack and straps were removed with the mess kit rolled into the great coat and shelter quarter carried in a horseshoe over the left shoulder.
At the start of the war all leather equipment was natural brown colour with brass fittings. To reduce the shine troops began painting the brass. In 1915 fittings were changed to blackened or painted steel and leather was ordered blackened including boots. In the field, the blackening orders were not always followed so, as with the uniform, a mixture of brown and black leather could be seen throughout the war.
As the war progressed, an indispensable piece of equipment was added to the soldiers’ burden, the gas mask. The German army issued their first mask in mid-1915. When not in use it was stowed in a canvas pouch, by regulation carried on the belt below the right side ammunition pouches. In practice, it was often carried on the rear of the belt. During the war three main variants were issued with multiple versions as a result of lessons learned in the field. The M1916 gas mask was issued with a circular metal carrying can with a leather or canvas shoulder strap. Throughout the war Germany lagged behind the Allies in gas mask technology due in large part to the naval blockade that forced the use of inferior materials.
WEAPONS
In 1914 line infantry regiments were uniformly equipped with the 1898 pattern Mauser Gewehr 98. It was chambered for a 7.92 mm cartridge fed from a 5 round internal magazine loaded via stripper clip. It was a robust and accurate rifle well suited to the open warfare of 1914 but not trench warfare. The bolt was susceptible to dirt and did not tolerate poor quality ammunition and it held half the ammunition of the British SMLE. ( The SMLE is often referred to as the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield inferring that the magazine is shorter when in fact it is the rifle that is shorter. The correct nomenclature is Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield.)
A shorter and lighter version of the Gewehr 98, the Karabiner Model 1898AZ (K98AZ), was issued to Cavalry, Mountain and Support units.
Officers and NCOs were issued either a P08 Luger or Mauser C96 (Broomhandle) pistol chambered for either 7.65mm or 9mm cartridges. Both of these pistols could be configured with a removable stock improving their range and accuracy. A 32 round “snail” magazine was developed for the Luger making it much more practical weapon in the confines of a trench than a 5 round bolt action rifle.
In 1918 Germany introduced the world’s first practical submachine gun, the MP18. It was chambered for either 7.65mm or 9mm cartridges and could fire 500 rpm. It quickly proved its superiority over the infantry rifle in trench fighting, gaining the nickname “Trench Broom” from the Allies. The MP18 was one of the weapons banned from further development or manufacture in Germany by the Treaty of Versailles.
At the beginning of the war the Hand Grenade was employed solely by the Pioneers. Their success led to the design of the M1915 Stielhandgrenate (Potato Masher) of which every infantryman carried 8. It was composed of a hollow cylinder 4 inches long and 3 inched in diameter filled with explosives. The hollow wooden handle was 9 inches long with the arming cord projecting from the end. The cord could be easily snagged and led to distrust among the infantry who often left them in the trenches during an assault. A screw off cap added to reduce the risk of snagging. In 1916 the Eierhandgranate (Egg Grenade) was introduced.
Both types were concussion grenades relying on blast effect rather than fragmentation. As a result they were much more effective within a trench than the open field. An experienced thrower could throw a stick grenade approximately 40 yds and the small egg grenade up to 55 yds.
The infantry also had a rifle grenade attachment for the Gewehr 98 that could provide direct and indirect fire support between 55 and 380 yds.
Next up, see how the figure stacks up against all this information and what, if any, fixes or tweaks are needed.
Cheers,
Rich
UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT
In 1907 a new Feldgrau field uniform was introduced in the German Army, known as the M1907/10, and was the standard throughout the army by 1910. It retained many of the styling details of the M1895 Dunkelblau. (Dunkleblau referred not only to the colour “Dark Blue”, but also to the style of uniform regardless of the colour.)
The new uniform was made from a heavy wool material dyed grey-green. The tunic was piped in regiment or branch colours around the collar, cuffs, front fly and rear skirt details. The buttons were either dulled brass or silver. The shoulder boards matched the uniform colour and piped with the Armee Korps colour (with exceptions for senior regiments) and the regimental number or cypher embroidered in red. The trousers were made of the same material with matching piping on the outside seam. Different dye batches and the harder wear on the trousers meant there were a variety of feldgrau shades, spoiling the uniform look of the army. In 1914 the new Steingrau (Stone Grey) trousers were introduced.
In 1913 a Landsturm tunic (often called the M1913) was introduced with some simplified details for manufacture. Most of these details were on the inside of the tunic making them nearly indistinguishable from the M1907/10. With the outbreak of war, this became the standard issue tunic of the German Army after September 1914.
As pressure increased on German industry to clothe the increasing number of troops more modifications were introduced in 1915. The M1910 Vereinfachte (Simplified) tunic introduced the simpler turn back cuff and could be seen with or without piping depending upon supplier. Shoulder boards were also produced without piping. These could be attached by button or sewn directly to the tunic depending upon the manufacturer.
Late 1915 saw the introduction of the M1915/16 Bluse. This was a completely new pattern with a much looser fit that allowed better movement and comfort. It utilized the turn back cuff (favoured by troops to carry ID and travel papers) and simplified skirt of the M1910 and was void of all piping. The collar was made of an apple green cloth (grey for Bavarian troops). The front fly covered 6 buttons made of bone. There were two lower pockets on the front of the tunic. Shoulder boards were now produced with specific colours and piping for each branch (with exceptions for senior regiments). Buttons on the pockets and shoulder boards were a grey painted metal.
In 1917 trousers were again being made in feldgrau as dealers could not supply the large quantities of grey wool. They could be seen with or without piping. In 1916 private purchase items began to supplement government issue clothing. In some units this practice was discouraged for junior ranks, limiting it to officers and some senior NCOs. Corduroy trousers, popular with mountain climbers, were a popular item in the trenches for their warmth and durability. They were seen in two styles, straight leg or breeches, and in brown, grey or black.
Although each new style of tunic was intended to become the standard and replace the previous issues, all 4 styles remained in use from their introduction until the last day of the war. Uniforms from casualties brought to field hospitals that were “lightly worn” were cleaned, repaired and re-issued.
One of the most iconic items of the Germany army also became one of its first casualties, the Pickelhaube. It was quickly found to be unsuitable for modern warfare. The spike provided no practical purpose other than betraying a soldier’s position and providing an aiming point as he peered over the edge of the trench. The pressed leather (later pressed felt and paper or tin) provided no protection against shrapnel.
In early 1915 a study of head wounds was undertaken and the design of a suitable steel helmet began. Testing began on a design broadly based on the 15th century sallet in November 1915. An order for 30,000 M1916 Stahlhems was placed in the New Year with the first issue to troops in February 1916. There was a dramatic drop in head wounds (up to 70%) following its introduction. Initially supply could not keep up to demand and helmets were made “trench stores” handed over by troops leaving the trenches to those relieving them. Incremental improvements were incorporated in the M1917 and M1918 Stalhelms.
From the factory, the helmets were painted with a semi-gloss feldgrau. Troops in the field used mud, foliage, cloth covers and paint for better concealment. An official order was issued in July 1918 that all helmets be painted in a seasonally appropriate 3 colour scheme with each colour separated by a finger width black line. New production helmets followed the ordered paint scheme while those repainted in the field had a much broader interpretation of the order.
The field uniform was worn with the high shaft M1866 Marschstiefels (Marching Boot) in natural or dark tan leather. The soles were studded with hob nails and a heel rim to provide traction. The troops found the marching boot to clumsy for trench warfare and saw the ankle boot and puttees (Schnurschuhe und Gamaschen) being worn in early 1915. There were two main styles of ankle boot, side or front laced, both in brown or black leather. Puttees were produced in many shades of field grey and stone grey with some seen in black or brown. They were worn wrapped upwards from ankle to knee with a hook to secure them to the boot and either hooks or ties to secure them at the knee.
An infantryman’s field equipment consisted of a waist belt and backpack support straps, 6 ammunition pouches (3 on the front of each hip) and support strap, bayonet with frog and knot strapped to the entrenching tool carried on the left hip, bread bag and water flask carried on the right hip and backpack, great coat, shelter quarter and mess kit on the upper back. In “assault order” the back pack and straps were removed with the mess kit rolled into the great coat and shelter quarter carried in a horseshoe over the left shoulder.
At the start of the war all leather equipment was natural brown colour with brass fittings. To reduce the shine troops began painting the brass. In 1915 fittings were changed to blackened or painted steel and leather was ordered blackened including boots. In the field, the blackening orders were not always followed so, as with the uniform, a mixture of brown and black leather could be seen throughout the war.
As the war progressed, an indispensable piece of equipment was added to the soldiers’ burden, the gas mask. The German army issued their first mask in mid-1915. When not in use it was stowed in a canvas pouch, by regulation carried on the belt below the right side ammunition pouches. In practice, it was often carried on the rear of the belt. During the war three main variants were issued with multiple versions as a result of lessons learned in the field. The M1916 gas mask was issued with a circular metal carrying can with a leather or canvas shoulder strap. Throughout the war Germany lagged behind the Allies in gas mask technology due in large part to the naval blockade that forced the use of inferior materials.
WEAPONS
In 1914 line infantry regiments were uniformly equipped with the 1898 pattern Mauser Gewehr 98. It was chambered for a 7.92 mm cartridge fed from a 5 round internal magazine loaded via stripper clip. It was a robust and accurate rifle well suited to the open warfare of 1914 but not trench warfare. The bolt was susceptible to dirt and did not tolerate poor quality ammunition and it held half the ammunition of the British SMLE. ( The SMLE is often referred to as the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield inferring that the magazine is shorter when in fact it is the rifle that is shorter. The correct nomenclature is Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield.)
A shorter and lighter version of the Gewehr 98, the Karabiner Model 1898AZ (K98AZ), was issued to Cavalry, Mountain and Support units.
Officers and NCOs were issued either a P08 Luger or Mauser C96 (Broomhandle) pistol chambered for either 7.65mm or 9mm cartridges. Both of these pistols could be configured with a removable stock improving their range and accuracy. A 32 round “snail” magazine was developed for the Luger making it much more practical weapon in the confines of a trench than a 5 round bolt action rifle.
In 1918 Germany introduced the world’s first practical submachine gun, the MP18. It was chambered for either 7.65mm or 9mm cartridges and could fire 500 rpm. It quickly proved its superiority over the infantry rifle in trench fighting, gaining the nickname “Trench Broom” from the Allies. The MP18 was one of the weapons banned from further development or manufacture in Germany by the Treaty of Versailles.
At the beginning of the war the Hand Grenade was employed solely by the Pioneers. Their success led to the design of the M1915 Stielhandgrenate (Potato Masher) of which every infantryman carried 8. It was composed of a hollow cylinder 4 inches long and 3 inched in diameter filled with explosives. The hollow wooden handle was 9 inches long with the arming cord projecting from the end. The cord could be easily snagged and led to distrust among the infantry who often left them in the trenches during an assault. A screw off cap added to reduce the risk of snagging. In 1916 the Eierhandgranate (Egg Grenade) was introduced.
Both types were concussion grenades relying on blast effect rather than fragmentation. As a result they were much more effective within a trench than the open field. An experienced thrower could throw a stick grenade approximately 40 yds and the small egg grenade up to 55 yds.
The infantry also had a rifle grenade attachment for the Gewehr 98 that could provide direct and indirect fire support between 55 and 380 yds.
Next up, see how the figure stacks up against all this information and what, if any, fixes or tweaks are needed.
Cheers,
Rich
Heavens Eagle
Well-known member
Excellent history and info write up Rich! I found it quite facenating! Looking forward to the figure build!
Very thorough, you're going to be well armed Rich.
