The Art Of Tank Warfare - Chris Keeling

German Attack Order
and Fire Plan
[Used by the commander to
organize his offensive plan]
1. Estimate of the situation
(disposition of friendly and
enemy troops).
2. Mission.
3. Assembly areas for the forward
companies; objectives; sector
boundaries; orders for the
continuation of combat
reconnaissance.
4. Instructions for the preparation
of the heavy-weapons fire
support, especially for
massed fire.
5. Orders to the artillery for fire
preparation and coordination.
6. Assembly areas for the reserves.
7. Time of attack.
8. Instructions for rear services
(medical services and supply).
9. Location of command posts.
10. Miscellaneous.
[The Fire Plan is used to pre-plot
artillery and heavy weapons]
1. Assignment of combat missions.
2. Distribution of observation
sectors and fields of fire for the
infantry and the artillery.
3. An estimate of capabilities of the
artillery for effective execution of
the combat mission.
4. Orders for the commencement of
fire and fire schedules.
5. Orders for the preparation of
massed fires.
6. Instructions for
ammunition supply.
40
GERMAN TACTICS
German military tradition has always emphasised the need for
aggression and surprise in all operations. Defensive operations were
felt to be akin to retreat! The use of armor in large formations
combined with bold leadership and initiative at all levels
characterised the German Wehrmacht as a flexible fighting
machine. Although air and artillery support of the advancing
troops had been advocated and used efficiently early in the war, the
supremacy of Allied airpower later in the war negated this
advantage and forced German ground forces to rely more heavily
on locally available artillery assets. In preparation for each
operation, detailed and systematic reconnaissance of the area under
attack was made, which maintained a high state of situational
awareness for the unit commanders. As the attack preparations
were completed, the bulk of forces available were massed at the
Schwerpunkt, the main point of the attack, and all efforts were
made to support the primary attack. Once the commander has
selected his tactics, whether to envelop, penetrate, encircle, or
attack on the flanks or front of the enemy, he issues an Attack
Order and a Fire Plan. Individual platoons then meet in the
assembly areas, adopt one of the basic formations, and then begin
to attack in waves. Panzer Grenadiers, the armored infantry of the
Wehrmacht, follow the tanks into action. Tanks often advanced
rapidly and waited for the infantry to catch up, rather than moving
at the speed of the infantry. Special battlegroups were formed of
tanks and infantry teams, often supported by assault guns, to mop
up defensive pockets or eliminate fortifications. Once enemy lines
were penetrated, units were assigned tasks to complete
the objective.
When German units meet enemy units by accident, they are always
told to attack immediately, and to pursue and annihilate the
retreating enemy forces. On the defensive, aggressive and violent
counterattacks are called for whenever possible. Static defensive
postures were adopted only when sufficient reserves were not
available to allow for a swift, decisive counterattack. Advance
outposts were established to provide intelligence and to call for and
observe artillery fire. Strongpoints were created in difficult terrain
and established to take the maximum advantage of cover and
concealment. Finally, retreat is always the last choice, but it is
carefully conducted so that the smallest unit possible is sacrificed in
order to cover the retreat of the main force.