2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jan 26, 2006 2:45:27 GMT -5
German tactics stipulated that bridges be defended in force from the enemy side of the river whenever possible. This was done to deny access to the bridge while leaving control of it to the Germans for future offensive operations.
American doctrine stipulated just the opposite suggesting you use the natural defensive capability of a water obstacle and defend from the far side.
For this reason Americans were often able to force bridgeheads and capture bridges intact while forcing Germans against a river since their backs were to it and their withdrawal was channelized horribly.
The offensive mindedness of the german war machine served them well early in the war but caused problems for them late in the war. In spite of this the German Army which was geared and designed for offensive doctrine proved very capable of defensive engagements.
When they gave up ground they almost always immediately attemted a counter attack hoping to regain territory before the opponent could consolidate, resupply and dig in.
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Post by Gordak on Jan 26, 2006 11:08:44 GMT -5
When Hitler put his troops on the western side of the rhine, it helped shorten the war by a few months (what was it? 500,000 prisoners?) -Gordak
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jan 26, 2006 16:27:55 GMT -5
Late in the war loosing a bridge you were responsible for, was grounds for execution or suicide. They still insisted on the primary defense being on the enemy side even when their offensive capabilities were non existent. The 500,000 were fortunate to have ended up in the hands of the west.
From an offensive perspective the Germans employed clever ruses to capture bridges intact. Otto Skorzeny was a master at deception and clever tactics. In the East he captured key bridges by dressing his commados in Russian engineer uniforms and taking over the "setting up of demolitions".
In the Battle of the Bulge he replicated these efforts at a number of locations much to the surprise of the defenders who expected the bridges to blow as panzers approached only to see them drive right over. The helpful unit of GI engineers that came by the night before to assist with the demolitions or came to inspect to insure all was in place were actually English speaking Krauts who unhooked everything.
He also dressed a lot as American MPs and changed road signs around to confuse reinforcements. The brigade was highly successful given its limited numbers and lack of actual US vehicles. They had ordered all whermacht units to surrender their vehicles to this command in the utmost of secrecy but most units who had captured vehicles (especially transport, were almost completely unwilling to do so) the result was Skorzenys unit was dramatically under strength for the tasks he was asked to complete.
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