Assault troop tactics.... the other side of the hill

[Chris Boonzaier]

I just recieved this french booklet today, published at the beginning of April 1916, so obviously written a little earlier than that....

[Chris Boonzaier]

it is actually quite interesting, we read so much about how the Germans invented everything and how the allies were way behind etc. etc...

This was a fascinating read. The French grenadier system was IMHO not in anyway more backward than the germans....

Whereas the French did not believe in forming special assault units, but rather that every infantry unit should learn assault methods, the germans had of course their Sturmbataillon... but their purpose was also to train the infantry to become assualt troops, so in the end the same result was sought.

The French system in early 1916 was actually more advanced than I thought....

An assault grenade team had Fusiliers, these were picked soldiers who protected the grenadiers and were the point men, then the grenadiers who were not supposed to have to use their rifles (worn on the back) and had to have hands free for grenades. For protection they had pistols and knives, then the supplyers who carried extra grenades and would take over the grenadiers place.

"Elite grenadiers " were specialists who were responsible for training other troops to use grenades, they were also trained in making IEDs, in the different enemy grenades, Trench mortars and rifle grenades,

Operations in the trenches in assault and raids were to be done in silence with a system of hand signals and gestures...

In fact, the whole book makes me see the theme of assault trrops in a different light. Part of the book is devoted to describing a raidcarried out by canadian troops which the French claim is a fantastic example of assault.

Here an example of Trench clearing, the fusilier first, then the grenadier etc. etc...

[Hoss]

Hi Chris

Bought this in the early '90's very good published by praeger (206pgs) and doesn't break the library book fund either.

Best

Eric

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

that was a good book for its time, I have a couple od issues with it, but it is worth having.

[Hoss]

Hi,

that was a good book for its time, I have a couple od issues with it, but it is worth having.

Well honestly

I can't think of the last time I was so insulted, send me yours then and I'll have a look see....

Eric

[The Prussian]

A very intersting post, Chris!

According to the french assault systems, does someone know something about the Mattei system? I ve found a small booklet (unfortunately only on pdf) about that. I´ve looked for that, because a few years ago bought the attached photo of german soldiers, showing the Mattei system.

Please have a look:

[The Prussian]

Can anyone say something to the Mattei? My french ain´t good enough...

[Bernhard H.Holst]

Hello Prussian:

The Mattei system called a snake was meant to create gaps in the barbed wire obstacles. The gap created by a snake of 10 meters length was from 8 - 12 meters wide caused by 90 pounds of explosives. It seemed of clever design and reminded me of snake-like explosive charges projected across a minefield and when exploded would set off adjacent mines thus creating a safe passageway through the minefield.

Employing artillery to flatten or tear barbed wire obstacles apart seemed not to have been effective and engineer placed charges like Bengalore torpedoes may not have been long enough. Based on my readings the barbed wire remained an obstacle to recon with and often times caused the "poor bloody infantry' to complain about the wire having hardly been disturbed when they came upon it.

Bernhard H. Holst

[The Prussian]

Hello Bernhard!

Wonderful! Thank you very much for your explantation!!!!