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German Tactical Doctrine, Military Intelligence Service, Special Series No. 8, December 20, 1942
[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from a WWII U.S. War Department Special Series publication. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

       
Table of Contents

FOREWORD

SECTION I.  POST OF THE COMMANDER

SECTION II.  DUTIES OF THE STAFF

SECTION III.  ESTIMATE OF THE TERRAIN

1. Roads and Routes;  2. Railroads;  3. Terrain for the Attack;  4. Terrain for the Defensive Action;   5. Terrain for the Delaying Action;  6. Terrain for the Bivouac

SECTION IV.  CONCEALMENT

7. Protection Against Ground Reconnaissance;  8. Protection Against Air Reconnaissance;  9. Concealment in Rest Areas;  10. Concealment of Troop Movements;  11. Concealment in Battle

SECTION V.  COMBAT INTELLIGENCE

12. The Preparation of Intelligence Reports;  13. What to Report;  14. Contact and Coordination Between Friendly Units;  15. Transmission of Orders and Reports;  16. Advance Message Centers;  17. Information Through Special Means;  18. Important Principles of Reconnaissance;  19. Strategic Reconnaissance;  20. Tactical Reconnaissance;  21. Reconnaissance Battalions;  22. Motorized Reconnaissance Battalions;  23. Reconnaissance Battalion of the Infantry Division;  24. Battle Reconnaissance; 

SECTION VI.  PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION

25. Operation of Signal Communication Troops;  26. Order of the Division Communication Officer;  27. Communication in the Defense;  28. Various Means of Communication

SECTION VII.  ESTIMATE OF THE SITUATION

29. Guiding Principles;  30. Changing the Mission;  31. Seizing the Initiative

SECTION VIII.  THE DECISION

SECTION IX.  FIELD ORDERS

32. General Rules;  33. Warning Orders (Vorbefehle);  34. Complete Operations Orders (Gesamtbefehle);  35. Separate Orders;  (Einzelbefehle);  36. Special Instructions (Besondere Anordnungen)

SECTION X.  MARCHES

37. Marching in Multiple Columns;  38. Marching in Single Column;  39. Protection Against Air Attacks;  40. Night Marches;  41. Day Marches;  42. Organization for Marching;  43. Connection and Communication;  44. Rates of March;  45. March Rests;  46. March Outposts

SECTION XI.  VARIOUS TYPES OF BATTLE

SECTION XII.  THE ATTACK

47. Forms of Attack;  48. Considerations for an Attack;  49. Mechanics of Attack;  50. Attacking a Position;  51. Artillery Employment;  52. Infantry Position of Readiness (Bereitstellung);  53. Infantry Action Up to the First Assault ;  54. Artillery Support of the Infantry Advance;  55. Intermittent Advance of the Reserves;  56. Breakthrough;  57. Action Recommended for Certain Special Cases;  58. Meeting Engagement;  59. Pursuit

SECTION XIII.  THE DEFENSE

60. Favorable Terrain for Defense;  61. Other Considerations;  62. General Principies of Defense;  63. Organization of Defense Areas;  64. Reserves, Reliefs, and Rear Positions;  65. Actual Operation of the Defense;  66. Artillery in the Defense;  67. Infantry in the Defense;  68. Hostile Penetrations;  69. The Counterattack;  70. Withdrawal to a Rearward Position

SECTION XIV.  THE DELAYING ACTION

SECTION XV.  RETREAT-RETIREMENT

SECTION XVI.  THE EMPLOYMENT OF FIELD ARTILLERY

71. Organization;  72. Location in the Attack;  73. Location in the Defense;  74. Cooperation with Infantry

APPENDIX.  SAMPLE GERMAN ORDERS

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