German Infantryman, Sturmbataillon, 1918

Note:
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Like the Italians and the Austrians, the German army formed specialist assault units for raiding and for spearheading attacks. The Sturmbataillon, organized within each Army for operations on its sector of the front, contained not only infantryman but many specialists: assault gunners with light cannon, machine gunners, trench mortar crews, and engineers with Flammenwerfer (flamethrowers). The men carried large "general service" tools rather than merely entrenching tools, enabling them to dig in quickly and consolidate captured enemy positions while awaiting reinforcement by the conventional infantry. The favored weapons included hand-to-hand daggers, clubs, and entrenching spades with their edges sharpened, making them into fearsome and deadly weapons--and lastly, in particular--large numbers of grenades. The formation of this type of unit marked a radical change in tactics--a concentration on exactly-timed, small-scale shock assaults on specific targets rather than the large frontal assaults which had invited such murderous losses. The war was truly becoming a matter for professionals.

Reichskriegsflagge

1. M.1918 Stahlhelm (steel helmet), differing from the M.1916 by the substitution of new, improved chinstrap and attachments. In the last weeks of the war a parallel type appeared, with cutouts in the lower edges at each side to reduce the `echo chamber' effect of the bell-shaped skull.

2. M.1915 "Bluse" the new tunic intended to replace the M.1907/10 and M.1914 (although both continued to be seen alongside it). The Bluse was made in dark field grey cloth with a fall collar faced with a lighter `pea-green' material. The six large front buttons were concealed by a fly; and it had two slanted, flapped side pockets. The shoulder straps were narrower, and detachable; nevertheless, they were often sewn firmly down to the shoulders, to prevent snagging. They were piped, in white for infantry, and bore the regimental number or monogram in red chain-stitched embroidery. The 1915 tunic was of the same design for the whole army, although made in a greener shade for the Light Infantry and Rifle units (Jäger and Schützen).

3. Patronen-Tragegurte, a supplementary cartridge bandolier in drab light grey cloth, its ten pockets holding a total of 14 five-round clips (70 rounds).

4. Two sandbags tied together and slung like "waterwings," holding supplies of hand grenades ready at hand; these were quite popular among assault troops.

5. M.1895 Koppel (belt) in blackened leather, here with an M.1915 grey-painted Prussian belt buckle.

6. M.1915 Stiehlhandgranate (grenade), popularly called a "stick" grenade or the "potato-masher" grenade.

7. M.1822 general service Spaten (shovel), carried in a cloth case reinforced with leather; this was attached at the left rear of the belt, the handle being secured to the tunic shoulder strap by a short strap or thong. These full-size tools allowed shock units to dig in rapidly, installing their machine guns and trench mortars in newly captured positions.

8. M.1917 Lederschutzmaske (gasmask), in waterproof leather with a filter cartridge. Its grey-painted metal canister was slung on a fabric or papercloth strap.

9. Kampfmesser (trench dagger), as carried by most assault troops, who often fought hand-to-hand.

10. Grey cloth bag looped to belt, holding a spare filter cartridge for the gasmask.

11. Mauser Karabiner 98a [Kar98a] (Mauser carbine), in 7.92x57mm caliber, as issued to the assault units; it was often carried slung, to leave the hands free.

12. M.1917 Hosen (trousers) in field grey cloth, reintroducing this color which had been abandoned in 1914. By this stage of the war, the cloth was being woven out of ersatz fibers for economic reasons--even nettle fibers were used--and was of poor quality. The Sturmtruppen also used stocks of the mountain troops' special trousers; and elbows and knees were often reinforced with leather patches.

13. Gamaschen (puttees), now made out of any available cloth, German or Allied, of a wide range of drab shades.

14. M.1901 Schnurschuhe (ankle boots) in brown leather, laced up with eyelets and hooks.


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