Marksmanship Training – part one
Marksmanship training took a major role in military training. First, soldiers had to be drilled in weapons handling followed by theoretical lessons about ballistics, bullet trajectory, and the impact of fire on different distances. During their first drills on local training grounds (Standortübungsplätze), soldiers were trained to correctly judge distances by estimation methods. Soldiers who could deliver precise estimation results were assigned to their platoon commanders to act as range estimators. This skill would enable their commanders to gauge the effective range as accurately and as quickly as possible.
Prior to the war, German infantrymen were trained to maximize the impact of massed rifle fire, both at squad and platoon level. Aimed fire was of limited value against individual soldiers at distances beyond 400 meters. Squads and platoons were taught to lay down a beaten zone (Garbe) upon enemy formations. Using the beaten zone, soldiers shot at an area rather than individual targets (see Picture).
Then marksmanship training was divided into two major sections: marksmanship training drill (Schulschießen) and actual firing at ranges (Standortschießanlagen). Marksmanship training drill was carried out by going through a sequence of marksmanship exercises at the local rifle or firing ranges (Standortschießanlagen). This Schulschießen prepared soldiers for the live firing exercises (Gefechtsschießen). This live fire was done either in the open terrain of local training centers (Standortübungsplätze) or corps training centers (Truppenübungsplätze).
Schulschießen drilled soldiers to fire their weapons precisely and accurately in all three major aiming positions—lying, kneeling, and standing. This training would prepare them for later live firing. The marksmanship training year started on 1 October and ended on 30 September. In addition to the enlisted men, all NCOs and lieutenants had to participate in marksmanship training.
The Schulschießen consisted of two different classes. The second class was the beginners’ class for all new soldiers in their first year of training and theoretically started 1 October. But, in fact, Schulschießen would only begin after a minimum of weapons drill was successfully completed. After that the soldiers had to first go through a sequence of preparatory firing exercises (Vorübungen) and marksmanship exercises (Hauptübungen). After successfully completing these exercises, soldiers were promoted into the first training class for their second year of service. Soldiers showing poor marksmanship had to go through the second class again. In general, soldiers completed their exercises by using their personal weapons in order to learn about individual aiming errors of their weapons. To successfully complete the second class, six Vorübungen targets between 150 to 200 meters distance were engaged in each of the three firing positions. In each position, three rounds had to be fired. These exercises were all different from each other by changing distance, aiming position, targets, and scoring requirements.