WW1 Western Front Tactics Prior to Commencement of Trench Warfare

[Gribb]

Gribb, are you referring to accounts that describe small unit tactics? In English or also in German?

Robert

Yes, that's correct. Both English and German is fine.

[Gribb]

French cavalry vs German infantry October 1914:
"The Captain got us together and warned us we were being sent to the front. The enemy's march had to be delayed at all costs. We then received orders to prepare for dismounted action. Leaving Our horses in a street we set off across the ploughed fields laden with ammunition. Some round clouds, of snowy whiteness, which made them stand out against the crude and washy blue of the background. The fresh, strong wind was intoxicating.

Towards four o' clock the enemy showed himself in sections and in companies, well aligned on the plain beneath us. There was no attempt at concealment. Under cover of some thin brushwood we opened fire on these regular formations. We must have got their range, for we noted through field-glasses a slight confusion in the enemy's ranks, and, instantaneously, the advancing infantry disappeared. They were still there, however, for their bullets, slipping over the ridge where we offered a good target, pitted the turf all around us without wounding anyone. The Germans have a remarkable faculty of making themselves scarce in the twinkling of an eye as soon as they have been seen by an enemy.

Our naval guns ranged by the side of the road fired over the plain. We saw the shell burst in beautiful plumes of dark or light smoke. The enemy's fusillade ceased, much to Our satisfaction. But the German artillery began to reply, and we were soon subjected to such a fire we had to retreat towards the village. Going along the main street we kept close to the walls to avoid shell splinters. Shells of all calibers fell without ceasing. It was just like an earthquake, the whole street was shaken by it. Without losing a second we distributed extra cartridges and returned to Our place between the farms in the grass fields shut in by hedges and barriers. We protected Ourselves with sand-bags, agricultural implements, etc.

Night had hardly come when an infernal fusillade broke out. Thousands of projectiles struck Our fragile barricade or passed whistling over Our heads. We fired straight in front of us into the dark night. We had only perhaps two hundred troopers to check the onslaught of a formidable mass of infantry. Unless the infantry came to Our aid we would be cut up to a man. A part of the village was on fire, a horde of Germans dashed into it yelling 'Hourraa!'. Yells and cries of bestial joy mounted with the thick smoke of the fires. Captain de Tarragon signaled to us that we should retire. We reached a farm on the crest of the ridge. 400 meters of a German company was advancing.

The captain seized a carbine and turned round to fire. I aimed as best as I could but my greatcoat interfered. At last with cartridges being exhausted he decided to retire. Instead of taking the ditch which ran roadside he crossed the field of fire. A moment afterwards Our number was increased by the arrival of an officer of the Hussars. He was young, elegant and good looking. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but before having emitted a sound he fell dead. The Captain who was by my side, stepped forward to put himself, at last, under shelter. Hardly had he taken a step before a bullet hit him, and I uttered a cry of rage seeing him fall in a heap. I also fell, and both of us rolled into a ditch. A hail of bullets passed like a squall above Our heads."

[Gribb]

Here is the German description from the 88th Infantry Regiment's history:

"The attack by 5th and 8th Companies developed as if on the parade ground. Their advance was then partially held up by wire fences around the paddocks. The obstacles were overcome with a variety of implements, including wire cutters, spades, bayonets, and pickaxes. The leading riflemen could hear the incessant soft chirping sound of enemy bullets but they couldn't see their opponents. Captain Zickendraht, the commander of 8th Company / 88th IR, was seriously wounded by small arms fire. His company pushed ahead undeterred, with the 5th Company / 88th IR continuing to be further forward. Suddenly the air was filled with a shrill then eerily hollow whistling noise followed by a loud, metallic cracking sound. The battalion was under hostile artillery fire but this only accelerated the attack. When Major Schmidt detected an enemy position south of Longlier, he pushed the 6th Company to the left of the 8th.

Near the entrance to Longlier, a German cavalry patrol consisting of Jager zu Pferde and hussars was rescued. They had been bravely defending a farmstead against an enemy cyclist detachment after their horses had been shot down. German artillery had set Longlier on fire. The right flank platoon of 5th Company / 88th IR pushed forward as ordered to a wood that was lying half-right on a hill. There it made contact with the (left flank) Company von Hirschfeld (6th Company) from the Brigade Regiment (87th IR, the other regiment in the 41st Brigade of 21st Infantry Division). This meant that 5th Company was able to move left again, taking the two men wounded by artillery fire, and head towards Longlier to join in the battle. The enemy appeared to have machine guns because the automatic rapid rate of fire, which the German machine guns could not achieve, was clearly heard from certain directions above the din of the battle.

Having deployed, the companies now commenced the firefight. The air was rent with the loud German musketry. As the enemy's fire diminished, Oberleutnant Eger strained to get his 6th Company's skirmish line forward. The men at the front refused to get up. The "Fix bayonets!" signal rang out. Then the village was stormed! The leutnants rushed ahead of their platoons with swords drawn. The assault parties cheered as they entered the village. Savage house-to-house fighting broke out wherever the enemy resisted stubbornly. Individual fanatical civilians joined in, to whom no quarter was given. The cyclist battalion, which had defended Longlier, fell back. They pressed between the burning buildings in Longlier, rushing through our men. Enfilade fire then struck our left flank."

Robert

This account is also really interesting. Could You also Please share which book You read this or where to get a book copy containing information about the 88th regiments history? Thank You.

[monk2002uk]

The account is from:

Walter Rogge: Das Königl. Preuß. 2. Nassauische Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 88. Deutsche Tat im Weltkrieg, Band 7, Verlag Bernard & Graefe, Berlin 1936.

Robert

[SteveBurt]

The TooFatLardies rules ‘Through the Mud and the Blood’ are very good on WW1 small unit tactics, and there is also a scenario pack which were used to train officers. One thing the rules capture well are the changes in tactics as the was went on