Combat strength
The term combat strength comes from the military . It describes the number of soldiers or equipment of a military unit ( company , battalion , etc.) that are intended for combat and the forces assigned to them directly for support.
Delimitation of the term
In addition to the combat strength, there are also the following key figures to describe the strength of a military unit:
- Total strength : This includes all members (or weapons, vehicles, etc.) of a unit, including vacationers, detainees, etc.
- Catering strength : This includes all members of a unit who are currently assigned to it (e.g. observers who are brought up, sick people in the area, etc.)
- Combat strength or trench strength : This includes all members of a unit who are currently deployed.
Application example for strength concepts based on a rifle company
A German rifle company in 1939 consisted of the following parts (figures in brackets: number of officers / NCOs / men):
- Company commander (1/0/0)
- Company squad (0/2/10)
- 3 rifle platoons (1st platoon: 1/5/44, 2nd and 3rd platoon: 0/6/44)
- Anti-tank rifle squad (0/1/6)
- Combat hawser (0/2/12)
- Catering pack I (0/1/2)
- Food supply II (0/1/3)
- Baggage train (0/1/9)
The total strength of a rifle company in 1939 was 199 (2/25/172) men (according to other sources also 201 men). The combat strength, on the other hand, was only 182 men (2/22/158), if one counts the entire war train as support. These figures are target figures in accordance with the structuring rule valid at the time ( evidence of military strength ).
During the Second World War , the divisions of the Wehrmacht had to announce actual values for total, food, combat and trench strength to the OKH in weekly strength reports.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Alex Buchner: Das Handbuch der Deutschen Infanterie 1939-1940 , Podzun-Pallas, page 9, ISBN 3-7909-0301-9 .
- ↑ Alex Buchner: Das Handbuch der Deutschen Infanterie 1939-1940 , Podzun-Pallas, pages 17 to 19, ISBN 3-7909-0301-9 .