German here. My great grandfather on the paternal side of my family was one of those, he was "lucky" that he got injured from a gas attack at Verdun and therefor was able to spent the rest of WWI in a Lazarett and later at home. In WWII he was teaching battlefield-related topics most of the time like at the SS-Schule in Bad Tölz and despite being and surviving Verdun and the gas attack, i still got to know him as a little kid. He died at the age of 104 back in 1999 after he fell from his bicycle and the complications that arose from that the following months. Yeah he was a very stubborn guy and wanted to ride his bicycle even at that age knowing full well it's a bad idea at his age, but he always claimed: "I'm only this old because i work in my garden everyday and still ride my bicycle."

"Strike at zero hour with overwhelming fire, they're fueled by the fear in their enemies eyes it's a shock troop infiltration a fast and violent escalateion, out of the trenches the Stormtroopers rise!" -Sabaton

I love how the British were represented as a cup of tea😎

Light Infantry icon "-50% fat" hahaha I love these little jokes in such an otherwise serious documentary lol

Ahhh, the Geballte Ladung (Bundle Grenade), the answer to the age long German question:"Hans, let's see what happens if we strap 6 grenade heads together, ja?".

My two favorite channels did a collab. This pleases me greatly.

You shouldn't quote this Ralf Raths guy, his research is weak and biased.

I realize that the "run into your own artillery fire" doctrine is used in conjunction with a creeping barrage to, theoretically, prevent friendly fire, it sounds positively Orkish at first. "Oi! You gitz kepp runnin' into da dakka! We needz more dakka ova 'dere! WAAAAGH!!!"

15:59 "For instance, the regulation explicitly states that *the infantry should run into own artillery fire* during the initial assault, and that this technique of the assault battalions should become common practice of the whole infantry." Good Lord.

Two Stormtrooper uploads in one day, you're too kind.

So Elite light infantry is basically punchy like heavy infantry but mobile like light infantry - aka less DAKKA and more KAPOM ?

This is awesome. We are still using many of these lessons today! Suppression of the enemy positions from long range indirect fire and then seek to utilize machineguns as we get closer to the enemy positions. Once within (ideally) minimum safe distance of machinegun impacts, the infantry takes over internal suppression as they continue to close. Within hand grenade range, frag grenades are used against hostile infantry within cover. Continue to exploit suppression from direct fire and indirect fire until you finish the enemy in hand to hand.

I know it's not from a world war but could you at some point cover the fireforce tactics used by the Rhodesians during the Rhodesian Bush war?

The work you did on these videos is outstanding

Nice work! I appreciate your efforts to support your narration with references. That's real study.

Stormtrooper tactic: Always miss, so the whole squad can be shot by the main heroes.

INDY!!!

ich liebe deine videos :D großartige arbeit! weiter so!

Always interesting, thank you

I appreciate your well prepared and presented programs. thank you

Here from the Great War channel, thanks for the more in depth look at the development of this (at the time) entirely new concept in modern war.

I love your videos dude. They help me with my projects not just in history, but art. I wanna create some cool stuff and you do an awesome job in providing the right material I need. Thank you again, keep it up!

I really love your work. You manage to present a rather complex topic with easy to follow narrative and balanced comparison between theoretical and practical implementation of tactics. I do hope you`ll find the time to make a few videos about the Balkan front of 1914/15 since it`s not very well covered and is in great part neglected when it comes to ww1. I mention this mostly because this video reminded me of the first Allied victories in ww1 at Cer and Kolubara (present day Serbia). Serbian army used a variant of "assault tactics" that they developed and perfected during the Balkan Wars that preceded ww1. As a matter of fact, it is now generally accepted that the early victories were due to the combined use of machine guns, field guns and especially hand-grenades, or rather the way this weapons were used. Since most fighting occurred in hill terrain speed and movement were of paramount importance. Often, the Serbian artillery (lighter guns such as the french quick firing 75mm field gun M1897) would be moved forward during the engagement to better support the infantry (and keep up with it). Used in direct-fire role it was devastatingly effective against massed infantry that tried to pass narrow hill ravines or was exposed coming down the hill. As a matter of fact, this approach made it possible for Serbia to engage and defeat a far larger and better equipped opponent through hit-and-run attacks that were ideal for the hilly terrain not suited for heavier artillery pieces and large-scale offensives that the Austro-Hungarians were planning to conduct. As I said, it`s a rather interesting but often neglected front that saw less trench warfare (compared to the western front) and more fast-paced engagements.

This is one of the best channels on Y-tube, and love conflict history..Epecially the 2nd war as dad was with the 7th Army 3rd Infantry division, and was overseas for almost all four years of our involvement. He was there when they blew the giant swastika on top of Nuremberg stadium, as well as the raid on eagle's nest and fought alongside Audie Murphy 💪🏼😎

At last someone who knows what he's talking about AND gets the German pronunciation right..

This man is a treasure. Just keeps getting better.

Great video ! Any chance you could examine the Austro-Hungarian "Jägdkommando" in detail? We rarely hear anything about them and I'm very interested in them as a result

Outstanding video and presentation.

WOW! What a great video! Would have liked a sentence (a nod) to the innovative equipment developed for these troops-armored (steel) vests and helmet frontal covers, submachine gun use and of course extra grenades. LOVED IT! Thank you!

I learned some new things here. Good video. Thanks a lot !

1. Always check twice if those are the droids you are looking for 2. If it's THEM, blast'em

The image for "Stosstrup use Surprise, Speed & Small Units" was the pinacle of this amazing video.

Excellent presentation.

There's something weirdly... adorable about when history channels cross over and try to cross promote. Especially when they have wildly different styles. MHV sounds like he's trying to be the co-host on an informerical and I love it. "That's very interesting but what can stosstrupptaktik do to save my family money?"

Great video on one of my favorite topics! Thanks :)

It is also important to notice that the modern Squad system was born on the French Army with their Combat Group (Groupe de Combat), hence the Germans using the name Gruppe. The war started with the infantry from both sides being counted by bayonets with every infantrymen with his rifle and bayonet advancing en masse and charging the enemy under direct support of artillery guns. The final bayonet charge would deliver the 'coup de grace' and put the enemy in flight. The year of 1915 is instrumental for the development of tactics in the new trench covered battlefield. With the men still advancing in line with an ever increasing violence of bombardment but still being unable to destroy the barbed wire. A specially lightened attack order was introduced by the French Army in 1915, and by October the Adrian helmet was standard issue (the first modern steel helmet). The introduction of the Chauchat and the Viven-Bessières (VB) rifle grenade in 1916 prompted something of a rethink, with the infantry becoming a unit of interdependent combined arms (the first modern infantry unit). Each assault now consisted of a number of waves. A first wave formed by the rifle/bomber half-platoons, accompanied by engineers with wire cutters, was followed by a second wave made up of the bomber/VB half-platoons. A third wave followed 30 metters (33 yards) behind, again consisting of bombers and rifleman, with the role of clearing the captured trench. And behind them came the remaining two platoons of the company, with the VBs on the flank and in the centre, acting as a reserve. The role of the first wave was to capture the first line of enemy trenches and then move on, with their main objective to gain ground; the second wave acted as a reserve, and could pass through the first in order to maintain the impetus of the attack. The moppers-up of the third wave (trench cleaners) took possession of the trench, bombing their way along the traverses, and reducing any strongpoints. Formations for the assault were kept flexible. The first two waves might be in extended order, with four or five paces between each man, but the third and fourth could be in columns of squads, to make it easier to maneuver quickly; remembering that the supply of grenades dictate the advance. Yet, all too frequently, the pace and form of attacks were ruled by a rigid timetable that left insufficient discretion to local commanders to exploit success (one of the main advances for the infantry in WWII was the portable communication systems). By 1916, the French Army was moving towards tactical methods that emphasized concentrated firepower and the flexible use of infantry in "fire and maneuver/movement" advances, with infantrymen covering each other by organic fire (rifle and light machine gun fire) as they moved in alternate groups (like we do today). In 1916-17 Nivelle and Pétain refined this method, attacking limited objectives with the heavy artillery concentrations necessary to ensure success. During the battle of Malmaison, in October 1917, General Franchet d'Esperey, the commander of the Sixth Army, successfully introduced specially trained squads of infantry whose role was to accompany the tanks, in advance of the main infantry assault, and direct them towards their targets. Each armored group was associated with an infantry regiment or with a battalion of chasseurs à pied (light infantry, élite, hence the smaller unit).

I really like the nuanced narrative you bring. The zjerman aczzend izz a nise bonoos.

Great job, as usual! I have recently read(again) Mosier's great - and quite controversial - book "The Myth of the Great War." In it he described the growth of stormtrooper tactics a bit differently than you do, and placed their development in the hands of the combat engineers, AKA pioneer troops. I can understand, now, that the stormtrooper tactics were not a sinister ploy developed by a race of hateful misanthropes, or social Darwinists with guns, but the logical and admirable evolution of what we now know to be the most effective military tactics in existance; the way to get the most "bang for the buck." It came about because Germany was fighting a war on two(three, really) fronts and was quite outnumbered. Thanks to your video, I better understand how these innovative methods came to be. I like Indy's cameo, too. Good work!

Great work! Thank you.

I think there's also a lot of 18th-19th century flank company tactics in these, like the light infantry's mobile style of fighting and firing by files (which are in a way proto-fireteams) and grenadiers' shock trooper role.

I personally think the most revolutionary aspect of the Stormtrooper tactic is at 15:10. When the squads were ordered just to push on. Basically this meant the higher commands staffs transferred the whole development of the offense to the lower echelons. While before war in Europe was the ideas always was about the commander keeping in control of his troops and thus the flow of the battle. Most famously demonstrated early in the Great War by the English still attacking in a walking line so the commanders could oversee everything.In 1918 these small squads were basically unleashed which make them nearly impossible to track higher up the chain of command let alone control. Other countries experimented with squad based assault units. But only the Germans let them loose in a grant offensive. A precursor to the WOII Blitzkrieg when after the breakthrough the tank squad commanders were allowed free decision of action once broken through to accomplish maximum advancement . Of course then the wireless radio helped out, but the distance increased also.

When you mention the effect authors ascribe to the flamethrower it reminds me of the game Day of Infamy. Each class there has a different advantage. Engineers can carry more weight, assault units move faster, etcetera. Of course different units also have different loadout options (such as your average infantryman not having access to the engineer's 'splody stuff :/ ). What is the advantage of flamethrower units? "+ has flamethrower".

Yes my 2 fave youtubers love the video already thanks

This is probably one of the best videos on youtube. Google should give you a medal.

I think there is a huge dearth of content about historical infantry tactics on youtube and you fill that niche so perfectly in this video without even trying. I really need to learn German, seems like so many the best personal accounts from the world wars are German.

I saved a bunch of videos on storm trooper tactics and uniform and equipment because I was doing it for Airsoft with my squad. Trying to learn all of the movement and use of equipment. And so I was watching Andy’s (the Great War) videos and your tactical videos. So when I was watching this one I was super sleepy and when Andy showed up I was so confused. I was like “did a new video play? Did I accidentally press another video?” And then It took a moment for me to realize that he was in your video! I was quite surprised but yes I watched his videos on the stormtroopers.

Apparently, the Stormtrooper in this thumbnail was Saddam Hussein. So sorry.

Very good stuff here. Thank you.

Great video, Really really enjoyed it Sehr Gut :)

im a huge history person and thinking of making videos like these but in another way i love your channel so im planning to make my own history series

Hi MHV. Could you do a video on how effective bomber defensive gunners were? For example, the practicality and hit-rate of the gunners on an American B-17 bomber or British Lancaster. Was having gunners worth putting more crew at risk?

you make amazing stuff

i love the pictographs for each country, pickelhaube, Barrett and a cup of tea!

Another great video

There you go: a Master Work, only a true German would be able to come up with. Excellent!

Great video

I absolutely love the thumbnail of this video

Great video!

Having carried a M-16/203 for overr two years as a Sr. EM/Jr. NCO back in the late 70s early 80s; I was struck even then how there was NO doctrine per se for it's tactical use. This was no NG or reserve unit, but the 82nd Abn. Even range time was extremely limited, which I guess was related to cost per round. Considering how lightly ABN forces typically are, it's more than puzzling that squad and platoon tactics were basically silent on it's formal employment, Think about the fact there were 6 per platoon with an area range of 300 meters and RPMs of 10-15 per gunner depending on experince and circumstance. On two different occasions at the range I brought up the idea of practicing concentrated area fire by the entire platoon's complement... I even proposed designating and shifting targets using the 40mm colored smoke grenades at hand. ABSOLUTELY ZERO INTEREST. I've always thought that the "203" is incredibly under-utilized. If anyone has experience with them, or thoughts on the subject... Feel Free.

We still use many of the tactics (referring manly about the ‘art’ aspect of conducting warfare) today. The concept of mass (at a decisive point), speed, and surprise are universal tenants that are always sought after during offensive based operations.

That slick überleitung at 1:50

2 of my favorite tubers

Thank you

Mein Gott, Deine Literaturliste ist beeindruckend. Ich kenne das von Ralf Raths, habe ich beim Praktikum beim MGFA bekommen, aber die anderen Bücher... wie kommt man an soviel Spezialliteratur?

3:35 The swedes did this back in the thirty years war. The lghter infantry formations had their own "regimental" pieces, which they used to tear Tillys heavy formations at Breitenfeld to shreds

Indy brought me here!

You know it's funny, at this point whenever something WW1 comes up I expect Indy to show up. Nice to see you Indy.

Soon I will publish my Bulgarian collection of manuals, from 1915 for stormgroups to 1943-1944 for so called shocktroops, or .....maybe punch or hit groups- in time already, developed to different infantry parts- hit company, hit platoon, hit section. Maybe with my collection of Cold Trench arms from period , not only bayonets,or their variations made by every Regimental workshop. And of course the shovels & other pioneer instrumens which everyone must keep'em ready even in a Gas Attack. With Respects to all your hard work and keep on!)

My greatgrandfather was in the Sturmabtaillon Nr.5 Rohr in the 4th Sturmkompanie he fought in Verdun and captured the Fort Duamont.I am glad he kept his documents and photos from these timeframe!

Great video! Came here from the great war channel.

Just came here after I watched The Great War's coverage on the Allied Defenses in spring 1918. By the way,is it possible for you to make a video on the opinions of the crewmen who operated captured enemy tanks? Or even tanks supplied by your Allies,like the Lend-Lease Program.

Erwin Rommel's book "Infantry Attacks" was covering this material topic

Studied this a good bit and taught some people in a ww1 game using these tactics, won every time lol

thanks!

Would you consider to make a video about differences and relations between strategic, tactical and operational level? :)

Top 10 anime crossovers

Please MORE small group size, tactics videos! I even watched the German Squad tactics vid. For good old times sake!!!

This video made me realize that (atleast) all modern offensive infantry tactics can be traced back to this principle

I love how you use the British teacup to symbolize the British forces 🙏 ...quite historically accurate . For the militarily conservative British, that's about all they used the water cooled machine gun for in special tactics...."trench tea"😎 . It was to make hot tea at the front ... literally . A "special " tactic the British used ...until it was formally banned...by the British Vickers machine gun was to make Trench Tea ....a bloke rattled off half a belt ( 50 rds) of 0.303 in. MG Ammo and collect the boiled water for 4pm tea time from the condenser can ...instant hot tea for up to 6 men ! So much ammunition was wasted and positions compromised of the teetotalers 4 p.m. antics that the British military formally outlawed the practice as a court-martial offence to stop its widespread use .

i need that "surprise" icon on a shirt please!!

Seeing Indy pop in was pretty trippy.

I love using this stuff and seeing how I can screw around with the Arma 3 editor with it. That's the closest I'm ever getting to being a soldier, unfortunately.

Interesting thumbnail. It's like, "Look! I got the beer! Come and get some!"

You should have gotten some icons displayed on The Great War episode. It would have been really cool if they just floated above Indy's desk.

I like the added visual elements. Weird that you do this now that Bismarck is doing more stuff too. I haven't ever seen the two of you in the same room.

I think the difference between the blast grenade and the fragmentation grenade can be stated very simply: A blast grenade can be thrown farther than its lethal/wounding radius, while the fragmentation grenade can’t. Thus, I’ve also seen the blast grenade labelled as an ‘offensive’ hand grenade while the fragmentation grenade was labelled ‘defensive’.

0:02 “Sorry I’m driving through a tunnel”

"war is a team effort" = "it takes two to tango"

The thing your missing here is the German word(Not Deutsch). Stossen means to 'bump'. These troops were not meant to annihilate the enemy. They were to bump the defending troops to an defense that the regular infantry could deal with. These troops found weak spots in the line where demoralized troops were ready to surrender or fall back/side. Thus leaving brave fighting troops to be surrounded, isolated and destroyed later.

listening to this vid in background and genuinely thought he was saying head grenades and thought he was talking about the crazy helmet cannons someone designed for ww1

Interesting watching this after having just read Ernst Jünger's "In Stahlgewittern."

We need a video about partroopers! (Fallschrimjäger-101 Airbone division)

must have been friendly fire hell clearing a trench in multiple locations simultaneously.

WOW, two fantastic content creators supporting one another, what has UKposts come to!

Watching this to get better at Verdun

No heavy metal music at the end?? Thanks for another great video.

Man, how interesting! This is the sort of stuff that makese want to sit down and write a book... or go and threaten Dice at gunpoint to make a Battlefield game about it xP

please do a special on how you create the icons. always blows me away (or takes me by storm, to put it that way)

In the future will be a video about italian assault troops, the arditi?

It would be nice to see the evolution of Canadian forces over the course of the war