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Ref No SAIC/17
24 vMELY'.45 . '.:.' •
SECRE T
2:Lngeneral, what is our greatest weakness in armor and armored
tics
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- .-Gen -GUDERIAN is of the opinion that the tracks on our tanks are too
narrow, causing them to . get stuck when operating . in snow or mud. Thus
• the American tanks , are "Good .We.,ther. Tanka° (SCHONWETTERTANK). Gen von
GEYR thinks American . arniored:factice yere: good, given American air
sueriority', when difficulties were encountered, air suppbrt:was called
for and the 'matter taken ..eare . of. If called to fight' in enemy with
equal or stronger air power, however, American tank tactics would, have
• tp J)e more daring to be successful. Attacks were not carried . ihioiith to
A A,s.;„?-ast.. pf. leadership (WENDIGKEIT DER . F.Uppyil) was some-
-1#m10; tfefea ,iikelillit:Wheil'Iarge ; tank 'concentrations vere emidOyed.. den
.
DIETRICH' points -OUterrota..in..armer employment,the fact that
employed n sufficient' irtats
:. .Thie*,* .he says, is
tWai24a1"leriOr which' results in lack Of offensive power. in the case
of ArsFeeqiiinicir :foonesntrations; the Germans 'Were . always 'aware-Of them due
tMlackitofqpropersecurity. Gen HAUSSER thought that:a lower -echelon
- * commanadi.:.-i/a4a—Vej better acquainted with these . problems. He stated,
j•::_h0wctit43}1,4:hat,*-the idea of tank concentrations ins tead of ,individual tank
0; e.tap.3.9y,meinti yfae i.correcf_lyrecognized by ; the Americans and. ,carried out in -
.AttoO.M.1-0ir.b,Aftt. 1p§.5iii,N,P.:.0)r.. The t endenc y to frontal
al. • attac .kii fhas proven
. • .
c4;r4 tftuP.SP.Ps11,,:..,
,• . : 3, •. What . are your views on effectively combatting infantry . A/T measures
..
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. . •:,....'' J 1 .351. th'ili',.Us-e t'L-crif.:.!the PANZERFAUS T?
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- ..14%-l• ;AL An COerGUDERIAINT' thinks the PANZERFAU:ST an excellent Weapon ' 'easy to
4*.A4-tr."1 6.ri.aiSO'rt.:.;Y;ChWali'Jand easy to manufacture on a . mass' produc tion 'basis,
. • . gwah'ill'IteKticzeci? liindle in a fokhele. Its disadvatitages, as seen: by Gen
,ihtl. "101.1bEluAn' 'itii e . 'itsshoit range and the jet flame:. •. '"'" .. . * •, ,
y7+1.1: -., n 1, ;.r, t,,ii3Otht.DI:ETRICH' and HAUSSER think, that although invented asa result
• ' of •theA/T gun 'shortage , the PANZERFAUST has proven 'itself tO • ei• point
• wher,e it- owl ; Po, longer be regare id as a pure • "emergency , weapon".. As
Gen' DIE'rfRICHI5Uta - it I even if he could obtain a's many A/T *guns as he
.114.",E,t,want,E.td .,he .otol.q.,d not like to omit the PANZERFAUST . in organizing: A/T
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oi, br041:0P.P.P 'e•s, ..:').!.1...:. ,
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,.-' . • I.; --Gen von., GEYR. regards the PANZERFAUS T as an emergency , weapon par
ex,c, el,l'elic e , . ;His , answer, in full: "Faute de mieux, on: se. Couche avec
,Itt.EN"-JtlIP.V.TtP■ .... ,11
ii-t W iatireYOU".*foUnd .: that the bridging problems for Pz Kw V and Pz -Kw VI
greatly limit their tactical mobility?
. All sources answer thie question in the affirmative, but• all . point
out at the same , time that, in general, the roet of the problem lies in
ki, I 4710.01e)- 46 .6 1 il ä : tyPes . (cif German bridging equipment, and in supply' difficult.
ies. In this connection Gen von GEYR states flatly that, With the
technical quality of American equipment, no difficulties whatsoever
V' T 1,44•1.:L 3h6uld' i be - 'ericOiiiitered; Gen GUDERIAN and Gen HAUSSER point to supply
' fl'' 0 '', pi= 6 bl einii as . thSi'inSin :difficilIty, Gen- DITRICH 'thinks the 1C-type, bridgini
. " E"" V'eciiii pinent an` siiffiCient, but ' the I-bridges very good, except in the case
I 9Of:1;large riverei like the RHINE!
c'i '•'' ,:ft., f1 , , :y. z.-: ..-R ,_- :.• , .
`-1 -S'•)5'..A, Tii t'4hit dO •'you, attribute German tank losses. by percentages? Air, A/T,
nii=ty and 'mechanic4? Which • was most feared by tank crews? • •-
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