Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-19
MEN IN "sH0CK UNITS"
PICKED FOR SURE DEATH
Resemble "Forlorn Hopes" Of Old
Time Wars, Except They Are
Not Volunteers.
PART OF. THE GERMAN SYSTEM
Especially Formed for Difficult Oper-
ntions Which Ordinary Regiments
Are Regarded as Unqualified to
Undertake.

FRENCH FRONT, juno 1S.-Full and
interesting details OF the organzatio ion
of the German formations known as
'strosstruppen." or "shock units" in
dictate that the German army at tho
front is divided into superior and in
fcrior grades OF soldiers. The "shock
units" especially formed for difficult
! operations. which tho ordinary rcgi-
mertS evidently arc regarded as UNI
qualified TO undertake. are formed from
among the young. vigorous men Of
the regular hattalions, They are
nearly all unmarried men. or. il mar
ried. are childlcss. and this rcGula-
ton has been drafted for the reason
that whenever they are sent into ac-
| tion they encounter overwhelming
chances OF losing their lives. They.
| in fact, resemble the "forlorn hopes"
! of old-timc wars except that they are
| not volunteers.
| German prisoners assert that SOL
dicrs who arc inSubordinate or who
| do not take kindly to the discipline
I OF the army are sent into the ranks
OF these special units. destined to sac
riicc themselves in attacks on special
~ important positions or in attempts.
which hitherto have generally proved
vain, 10 rccapturc positions such AS
the Chcnlin -dcs-Dames from the
French.
Until now each German army has
had attached 10 il one or two bat
talions Of these shock units" Hence
forth. according TO the newest regula-
! tions. each German army corps is to
| organize a "shock unit" Of its own.
orders have been issued by the Ger
man high command that in certain
cases each infantry brigade is to have
| q shock unit" composing a company.
and the companies may be united
! should circumstances call for II. into
A battalion TO he at the service of the
| army corps commander.
TYPICAL EXAMPLE
! OF SHOCK BATTALION
| The composition of such a battalion
varies, but that OF the second 'shock
/ battalion" of the Third German Army
may be given as an example. 1t was
commanded by q captain. with lieu
tenant as adjutant. and it consisted
| OF four companies. each mastering 100
/ men. with three officers. There was
| besides company OF machine Eunners
with six pieces. also mixed company
with trench mortars and grenade
( throwers. we'll as company Of
men armed with implements for dis
pensing a LIQUID fire. Added to these
was a shock" battery of small field
/ guns.
J These shock units are never used
for holding 3 sector of the line. They
GO into action only when a difficult
/ operation is TO be executed. The bat
/ TALON is placed directly under orders
Of The officer in command Of the opera
t!on. When possible. the men are all
I provided with bicycles. but usually
they are transferred TO fast motor
cars.
often part Of the men OF such a
! battalion are distributed in small
units among the ordinary battalions
engaged. They are specially instructed
points aimed at in the attack. and
| they act as guides TO their less spe-
| cielized comrades. Their work is to
make breaches in the enemy line, TO
lead the way into the allies trenches
! 20 destroy machine-gun emplaccments
and field fortrcsses with the help of
! the special cannon and other weapons
at their disposal. and eventually to
aid in the reorganization for defense
against countcrattack Of any position
which may be captured
| AS soon S the heaI, fighting is over.
| the men of the "shocl: unit" still re-
naming alive wla.l,.w 10 the rear
and rejoin the rest o. the battalion in
/ readiness TO &c nuir.ed off TO any
other part OF the line WI ere no, work
/ is in progress.