Marksmanship Training – part two
Eight exercises. (Hauptübungen), again in all three aiming positions (prone (some free-handed, some with rifle resting on a sandbag), kneeling, and standing positions) were fired at targets 200 to 400 meters distant followed. Each of the exercises required five rounds each. The Hauptübungen also differed: distance, aiming position, kind of targets, and minimum scores all changed. So during their first training year, soldiers fired at least 58 rounds—not a large quantity, bearing in mind the need for good rifle marksmanship. Since at least some exercises could be repeated, it can be estimated that soldiers fired about 60 to a maximum of 100 rounds during their first year.
After promotion to the first class, they again had to fire four preparatory exercises at 150 to 200 meters with three rounds each and six main exercises at 300 and 400 meters with a budget of five rounds each. This training totaled 42 rounds during the entire second year of service. If they were lucky, soldiers of both classes joined an extended live firing exercise (Gefechtsschießen) allowing them to fire their rifles under war-like conditions with a higher allocation of rounds. Live firing exercises could be designed more freely to meet realistic battle conditions. Gefechtsschießen was not individual fire but rather volley fire, to be carried out on platoon or even company level. However, there was almost no nighttime firing in the German Army prior to 1914, which was a decided weakness. Leaders went through the course twice. Lieutenants, first lieutenants, NCOs, and Kapitulanten(who had twice successfully met the conditions of the first class) were promoted into a special class of marksmanship (besondere Schießklasse) in which exercises comparable to the first class were conducted but with higher requirements.
German infantrymen were trained to adjust the rate of fire according to circumstances; otherwise, a prolonged firefight would rapidly consume ammunition. Slow fire (1.5 to 3 rounds per minute) was indicated for distant targets in poor light and for targets that were difficult to see. A high rate of fire (3-7 rounds per minute) was indicated for engaging advancing enemy march columns. High rate was also used to attain fire superiority and to support friendly troops that were bounding forward. Maximum rates of fire (7-12 rounds per minute) were used just before an assault was launched, against an enemy assault and in sudden close-range combat.
It was expected of officers and NCOs to deliver better marksmanship results than their enlisted men. To encourage better results, numerous prizes were offered by the regional nobility and commanders. For example, the first prize for a regimental officer’s marksmanship’s contest could be an honor sword. Awarded in 10 classes, the shooting lanyard became a very popular marksmanship award particularly for NCOs. Kaiser Wilhelm II introduced a special marksmanship award exclusively for NCOs and enlisted men—the Schützenschnur (shooting lanyard). On 27 January 1894, the Kaiser’s birthday, this award was authorized byAKO.
Another highly sought after marksmanship award was the Kaiserabzeichen, a special award created for the first time by the Kaiser in 1895. It was awarded to only one infantry company per army corps, the best performing Jägercompany of all Jäger and Schützen in the entire army, and the best performing battery of field- or foot artillery. Starting in 1903, the best performing machine-gun formation also had an award. This award was worn with pride on the right arm of the uniform. EM kept their Kaiserabzeichen until they were dismissed from service; NCOs kept it as long as they served with the awarded company. In Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg, similar awards named Königspreiswere given for the best performing infantry company of their army corps.
Cavalry had a similar training system to improve marksmanship with their carbines. In the respective manual for the field artillery the firing rules and exercises for field guns and field-howitzers were laid down. For marksmanship with their carbines the field artillery made use of the cavalry manual. This was similar for the foot-artillery.