[Lone Sentry: German Motorized Infantry Regiment, WW2 U.S. War Department, Military Intelligence Service]
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TOC
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App. 1
App. 2
App. 3
App. 4
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The German Motorized Infantry Regiment
Military Intelligence Service, Special Series No. 4, October 17, 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.]

Section I. NATURE AND TASKS OF MOTORIZED INFANTRY

1. Motorized infantry units form the offensive infantry element in the armored division. Their strength lies in their speed and cross-country performance, together with the possession of numerous automatic weapons and protective armor.

2. The possession of armored personnel carriers enables motorized infantry units to overcome comparatively weak opposition without dismounting. They can follow up tank attacks on the field of battle without dismounting.

3. Motorized infantry is characterized by ability to alternate rapidly between fighting from carriers and fighting on foot, and also to combine these two methods of combat.

4. Mobility and the possession of numerous automatic weapons enable motorized infantry units to defend even a broad front against comparatively strong enemy forces.

5. Motorized infantry on wheeled vehicles moves faster than motorized infantry on armored personnel carriers, although in difficult country movements on wheeled vehicles are restricted. Owing to lack of sufficient armor, motorized infantry cannot fight from their trucks.

6. The chief task of motorized infantry is close cooperation with tanks. By following up closely they can quickly exploit the tanks' success.

7. Motorized infantry units also prepare the ground for the employment of tanks by clearing a way through country difficult or impossible for tanks. They will then bear the brunt of the fighting. In this their main tasks will be the following:

(a) Attack over tankproof sectors and rivers;

(b) Attack on an enemy in or behind tankproof country;

(c) Attack on a fixed position;

(d) Fighting in villages and woods.

8. Their greater speed compared with tanks enables them at an early stage to take possession of important points and sectors, to carry out wide and deep enveloping movements, or to pursue the enemy rapidly.

9. Motorized infantry units are organized into brigades. In the accomplishment of their tasks they are frequently reinforced by other arms—primarily antitank guns and artillery. Tank units may be attached to motorized infantry brigades.
 

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