Existing comment:
Another Way To Get Across a Trench:
Tanks weren't the only way to get across a trench in World War I. Many different ways were attempted, some successfully and others not. Gas had proven ineffective. The rolling or creeping artillery barrage proved successful in crossing trenches. A rolling or creeping barrage was an artillery bombardment that moved forward slowly, keeping pace with the infantry. The infantry would walk 50 yards behind the bombardment.
Infiltration tactics were another way to successfully cross a trench. Used by the French, Russian, and German armies the attack concentrated on the destination of enemy forces rather than capturing a piece of ground. Using speed and surprise, a mixed team with many different weapons would bypass enemy strongholds. Instead, they would attack isolated rear areas. Their targets were communication and command posts, as well as artillery positions. The success of these mixed teams, the German "Strosstruppen," led to the creation of "Storm" units and battalions.
After World War I, Germany rebuilt its Army. They combined "Strosstruppen" tactics with the speed and the maneuverability of tanks. By the end of the 1930s, Germany was ready to unleash this new form of tank warfare on the world. |