Company Officer's Handbook Of The German Army - All Gauge Page

6 COMPANQ OAdICER'S HANDBOOK
antiaircraft-antitank weapons) occupies forward positions, and the
tanks withdraw to the rear of the artillery. Enemy armored vehicles
and troops which may counterattack are then confronted at once
by a strong artillery screen.
The Germans generally avoid tank-versus-tank actions, and
adhere to the principle that the task of the tanks is to break through
and help to destroy infantry, not necessarily to seek out and destroy
enemy tanks. Destruction of tanks is a mission assigned mainly to
antitank units.
The Germans stress the need for the concentrated employment
of the whole available tank force, except necessary reserves, at the
decisive place and time. The tank force will try to penetrate to the
enemy's lines of communication, and the infantry will mop up. The
attack normally proceeds in three waves. The first wave thrusts to
the enemy's artillery positions. The second wave provides covering
fire for the first wave, and then attacks the enemy's infantry
position, preceded, accompanied, or followed by part of the panzer
Figure 4.-Panzer grenadiers going Into oombat direct from armored penonnel carriers.
(The near half-track vehicle mounts a iigmt machine gun; the far one, a 37-mm antitank gun.)