Füsilier Regiment Nr. 73
"Füsilier
Regiment Generalfeldmarschall
Prinz
Albrecht von Preußen (hannoversches) Nr. 73"
3.
Kompagnie
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Part of Fusilier Regiment 73's unit impression is the regiment's minenwerfer formation. Here is what we have found so far in the way of historical reference for these types of formations. . If you have additional information we are interested in seeing it.
X 1916 X
Spring
Order issued for
division pioniere to transfer their 6 Leichte minenwerfer to the infantry
regiments. 8 minenwerfers are
authorized for each infantry battalion. Units
will be equipped as new weapons are manufactured.
A minenwerfer is authorized a 6-man crew.
June
One infantry platoon of 6.kompanie/FR.73 used a Lanz Mortar in a duel with a British 40mm Trench Howitzer.
X 1917 X
During the year
Minenwerfer Abteillung formed in the infantry regiment to provide administrative and training of the 12 minenwerfer crews. During operations the weapons are placed under the control of the infantry battalions. Each minenwerfer crew is designated a trupp.
The company leader guidance
book states to attach one leichte minenwerfer to a Stosstrupp.
The leichte minenwerfer is to briefly hold the point of penetration under
fire before the Stosstrupp makes the penetrating attack. After executing their
task the minenwefer follows the Stosstrupp for further employment against
obstacles to the attack that appear.
May
Because of the
shortage of troops the number of leichte minenwerfer authorized for an infantry
battalion is reduced to 4.
19 August
Rommel Abteilung attack on Mount Cosna, Rumania.
The minenwerfer
company fired on enemy trench to drive the sentries under cover while a scout
squad cut through the wire obstacle. The
scouts were able to continue cutting a gap while mw rounds landed 50 yards away.
When the gap was completed and assault forces in position the
minenwerferen hit the breakthrough point while artillery hit to each side. When
the mw stopped firing the Stosstrupp charged through the gap and into the enemy
trench followed by the reserves.
30 November
Battle of Cambrai
II/109 IR advance held up by three British machineguns. 5/110 IR ordered forward from reserve to take out the British position. The regiment commander ordered machinegun platoons to fire on the flanking British positions and a minenwerfer to fire on the British MGs. German artillery fire was finally available and was directed to hit behind the British MGs. Every time a MW round landed a few 5/110 IR members made a short rush forward to the next cover. 5/110 IR worked into the trench connecting the machineguns and knocked them all out.
X 1918 X
March
The infantry regiment minenwerfer abteilung has been re-designated a company. The company has three zugen of four truppen each. Zug: 2 officers, 40 men
For Operation
MICHAEL the Armee Oberkommando 18 artilleriebefehl, written by Lieutenant
Colonel Georg Bruchmuller, assigned control of assault regiment's minenwerferen
to the division artillery commander for positioning and fire direction.
The leichte minenwerferen were to join the IKA in firing the feuerwalze
(creeping barrage) because their high rate of fire was better at keeping the
enemy's head down as the infantry advanced and the light weight allowed quick
movement forward once the advancing infantry reached the weapons' maximum range.
The artillery commander could detach minenwerfer from the feuerwalze to
engage enemy holding up the advance or to help eliminate bypassed pockets.
August
4.kompanie(minenwerfer)
of the infantry division pioniere battalion disbanded. The eight 17cm and four
25cm minenwerfer with crews are split up among the infantry regiment minenwerfer
companies. Infantry regiment
minenwerfer companies are assigned the number of the regiment.
September
The number of leichte minenwerfers in the infantry regiment minenwerfer company is reduced by half because of the lack of ammunition.
SOURCES
Anleitung fur Kompagniefuhrer, Berlin 1917
Attacks, Erwin Rommel, Atena Press, 1979
German Trench Mortars and Infantry Mortars, Wolfgang Fleischer, Schiffer Publishing Ltd, 1996
Infanteriets
stridsmedel och krigsorganisation under och efter världskriget
(The means of combat and war organization of the Infantry during and after the
World War.), Harald Malmberg, Stockholm, 1921
MAA 394: The German Army in World War I, Nigel Thomas, Osprey
Stormtroop Tactics, Bruce I. Gudmundsson, Praeger, 1989
Steel Wind, David T. Zabecki, Praeger, 1994
The Storm of Steel, Ernst Junger, Howard Fertig, 1996