German AT Doctrine in WW2

The Germans used their anti-tank units not in a purely defensive role as one would expect, particularly in the early-to-mid war periods. They were used:

• Flexible: where needs must be! If higher echelon assets were needed, they would, if possible, be provided
• Aggressively: where enemy armour was deemed to be present, it would be used offensively in support of any attack
• The nimbly-tactical doctrine was one of the fluid movement of fire position to new fire position
• Efficiently: even AA units were doctrinally allocated to support an AT role in a secondary and even primary mission
• as flanking support: this includes in direct support of armoured units

In spite of the offensive emphasis given to the antitank units of the German Army, their primary mission remains defensive. In performing this defensive mission, however, these units may use some of their offensive tactics with great success.

«… A German tank battalion in tactical formation moves in short rushes, taking advantage of the terrain. Frequently the whole regiment advanced in mass formation with lines of tanks at regular intervals of about 50 yards, advancing in waves. The relatively close formation is more readily controlled than a widely dispersed one.

Field artillery and antitank weapons are kept up close, although their location is not apparent until they go into action, usually on the flanks of the tank column. The Germans have in the past been able to bring effective artillery and antitank fire to bear on the British before the British could effectively fire upon them.

In addition, RAF planes, because of the pilots’ inability to distinguish between their own and German tanks, have not attacked German tank formations in the forward areas.«

Source: U.S. War Department, Military Intelligence Service, Artillery in the Desert (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 25 November 1942), 54–59
 

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