From the battlesim site
www.battlesim.com/battlesim/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5049In German doctrine the object of the defense was to halt the hostile attack, or to gain time pending development of a more favorable situation for resumption of the offensive, only the offensive leads to decisive success.
The Germans placed the greatest stress on immediate and violent counterattacks as the most effective means of destroying the attacking enemy. This required great mobility and large reserves.
During the last two years of the war, because of an increasing shortage of mobile equipment and manpower, the German defensive operations became increasingly passive in nature.
This was especially true during the Italian campaign.
The German High Command sent just the minimum of forces and supplies to Italy to delay the Allied advance, counterattacks were so frequently local in character and more emphasis was placed on the construction of defensive lines.
The defense was based upon the careful arrangement of all weapons for meticulously coordinated fire. The essential thing was not that the position be occupied without gaps (many parts of the terrain might be left unoccupied) but rather that the defender, by a carefully thought-out fire plan, should be able to lay down before his position, particularly at night, a curtain of fire that would have no gaps in it.
The smallest strong point was occupied by a reinforced squad with a frontage of 30/40 yards in order to allow the squad leader control over his unit in combat. Squad strong points were normally incorporated into platoons strong points, and the latter into company strong points, etc.
The Germans made the maximum use of reverse slopes in their defensive positions as forward-slope positions were likely to be detected too early by the enemy and destroyed by massed fire.
Fire from machine guns on the main line of resistance were supplemented and reinforced by the heavy machine guns of the reserves disposed to the rear in depth.
Isolated silent machine guns set up in the main defensive position out of sight of the enemy did not participate initially in the combat, but they overwhelmed the enemy at close range with surprise fire just before the enemy penetrated the position, or after he had already broken into it. In defense, the light and heavy mortars operated chiefly against those targets which the machine guns, the infantry cannon and the artillery could not reach such as enemy troops at very close range or under cover. The mortars likewise took part in barrage fires.
Tanks and SP guns were held initially in reserve and then employed to support counterattacks.
All parts of the position were provided with strong support from artillery and heavy infantry weapons. A detailed fire plan was prepared in advance by the infantry and coordinated with the artillery plan. The mass of the artillery lay concentrated fire both close and well in front of the main line of resistance in order to cover the spaces between the effective fire of front-line units.
Fields of fire were cleared by careful cutting of underbrush; the cutting of trees was avoided to preserve concealment of the position from air observation. German antiaicraft defense, which was unable to give adequate protection everywhere due to Allied air superiority, was concentrated at important points, their main mission was to protect the road network.
In constructing a defensive position the Germans stressed construction of obstacles and antitank defenses. If possible they selected tank-proof terrain and natural tank obstacles, such as steep slopes, were improved. Antitank ditches were constructed well forward of the main line of resistance, covered by machine-guns and antitank guns emplacements and protected by wire entanglements and minefields. Antitank guns were disposed in depth , with some well forward in enfilade or reverse slope positions. There were normally two or three dug in and well concealed guns employed in each position and protected from enemy infantry by machine guns.
The employment of close-combat antitank teams supplemented the antitank defenses.
The Germans emphasized that the use of smoke could be of great assistance in defeating enemy tank attacks. Smoke shells were fired into the attacking formation about one-third the distance back from the leading echelon thus the defending antitank gunners weren't blinded and the leading hostile tanks were left without adequate support and silhouetted against the smoke.
Outpost positions, occupied in strength varying from platoons to companies and supported by heavy infantry and antitank weapons were established 1000 to 5000 yards in front of the main line of resistance always within range of the friendly light artillery. Their firing positions were carefully selected to facilitate the unobserved withdrawal of the outpost to the main battle position when hostile pressure became too strong. Withdrawals were conducted so as not to hinder the fire of the main line and once the outposts were evacuated, they were to be covered by heavy artillery registered fire in order to prevent their occupation by the enemy.
Artillery observation posts were installed simultaneously in the outposts, in the main line of resistance and in the vicinity of the guns, thus keeping the hostile force under constant observation and fire even when he achieved a penetration.
When a part of the battle position was lost, the area was taken under artillery fire to annihilate enemy forces which have broken through. The Germans also constantly renewed barrage fire beyond the points of enemy penetration in order to make difficult for him to bring up additional troops and supplies. Immediate local counterthrusts by infantry reserve elements and support weapons, closely following the artillery fire, endeavored to hurl back the enemy by hitting preferably his flanks before he had the opportunity to establish himself. For the counterattack the defender had the advantage of a coordinated and complete observation and communication system. In addition he brought his sheltered reserves into action in fresh condition, without the casualties that were suffered when they had to pass through artillery fire, and without the loss of time entailed in bringing reserves up from the rear. The most favourable time for a large scale counterattack was the moment when the enemy artillery and antitank weapons were advancing to new positions.
German soldiers were taught that defensive positions on the main line of battle must be held against all attacks even when all weapons were out of action through lack of ammunition or reduction of the position
The perseverance of the garrison, even without active fighting, impeded the enemy's advance and facilitated the counterattack. Individual bunkers might be taken by a determined attacker but, because of their large number and dispersion, organized resistance by the remaining works could continue until mobile troops were brought up to eject the enemy.