Rangers and gamekeepers are the best sources of German snipers. In addition, due to the Hitler Youth League's increased military training for its members before the outbreak of the war, the sniper school recruited a large number of experienced Hitler Youth League members and soldiers with excellent shooting skills. If they have two years of combat experience, they can also receive comprehensive and systematic sniper training. Himmler, the leader of the SS, was also interested in sniper feel, and set up a sniper training program in the SS a long time ago. ?
He has served as a teaching task in the sniper school and has not participated in actual combat. Among them, Zep Allen Berger, who taught at Tupu Certal Aipu Sniper School (the main sniper training base of the German army), shot and killed 257 people from 1942 to the end of the war (according to official records), ranking second in the records of the German Defence Force. ?
The main courses of sniper school include shooting, hiding, camouflage, target interpretation, field survival and so on. For enthusiastic young students, it is not difficult to hit the target 600 meters or even 1000 meters away. The most difficult thing is to hide in the shelter for hours or even days. Usually, a sniper will enter the battle position at dawn and stay here until sunset. Sometimes, they won't get any supplies for 2-3 days in a row. The instructor told these boys that they must learn to survive in cruel battlefield conditions and bear great psychological pressure. ?
Sniper schools teach a lot, but for future snipers, the most important things are nothing more than the following: you must be energetic when fighting: calm down and choose your target, don't shoot blindly, and fast shooting often doesn't work: for a sniper, enemy snipers are the biggest threat: move your position immediately after shooting, otherwise you will expose yourself: use trenches for cover; Practice how to measure distance; Become an expert in camouflage and terrain utilization; Practice shooting skills persistently, whether in front or behind; Always hold on to your sniper rifle: 10 camouflage+1 shooting technique = leave the battlefield alive. ?
1944, the German army filmed the military educational film "Invisible Weapons" about the blocking war, which was widely broadcast in the army. ?
Matthias Heizennor, a German ace sniper with the highest sniper record in World War II (killing 345 people), believes that snipers can only perform specific sniper tasks and cannot fight like infantry. Zep Arenberger, the second sniper in Germany, believes that calmness, self-confidence and courage are the necessary qualities of an excellent sniper: a sniper needs constant training and experience accumulation to accurately measure and correct the trajectory of a gun and master the most suitable shooting opportunity. ?
After systematic training, ruthless killers were quickly sent to the front, equipped with sniper teams at company, battalion or higher levels. They usually do not act alone, but carry out combat missions as a sniper team with two people (one as a shooter and one as an observer). If necessary, they can also fight alone or form multi-person sniper teams. In addition to professional snipers, some soldiers in German companies and platoons are also distributed with sniper rifles, which can accurately hit targets 400 meters away. However, because these soldiers have not received comprehensive and systematic sniper training and have to perform ordinary combat tasks with the troops, their role in the battlefield is limited. ?
The basic task of German snipers is to destroy enemy heavy weapon observers, commanders, anti-tank fighters, machine gunners and other valuable targets. Compared with ordinary infantry, snipers have more freedom and can kill every target at will within the company's position. In battle, officers are often the most valuable targets. When one side attacks, if the commander is hit, the pressure on the defensive side will be greatly reduced. ?
Zep Allen Berger believes that it is easier to identify allied commanders on the battlefield because their equipment and rank marks are different from those of soldiers. When it is impossible to distinguish the officers and men of the Allied Command from their clothes and equipment, it can be distinguished from whether the soldiers salute someone. According to the confession of a captured German sniper, his method of judging allied officers is very simple: shooting at soldiers with moustaches. Experience tells the Germans that although the Allies learned their lesson and removed any rank marks from the uniforms and helmets of officers and senior noncommissioned officers and used rifles like ordinary soldiers, their neatly trimmed moustaches clearly told snipers: Hey, shoot! ?
At first, the only thing that could fight against German snipers was Soviet snipers. However, due to the backward combat mode of the Soviet Union, only the sniper tactics of directly supporting small units within 600 meters were paid attention to, and the scope used was only four times, so it was impossible to effectively annihilate important targets from a long distance. On the contrary, German snipers are good at shooting long-range targets over 600 meters. ?
Usually, German snipers can accurately hit the target's head within 400 meters and hit the target's chest within 600 meters. Although it is extremely difficult to shoot a soldier standing at 1 100 meters away, some German snipers have not given up this attempt. They just want the enemy to know that even standing at this distance is not safe. In most cases, if the targets are far apart, snipers will wait until the prey comes within the effective range, just like hunting deer in their hometown. This makes it easier to hit and confirm the record. ?
German snipers active in the front line caused great losses to the allied forces. However, the measure of a sniper's success is not how many people he shot, but how much his actions have affected the enemy's actions. If the officer in charge of the attack is killed, the action of the troops will certainly stagnate. According to Matthias Hazenor, one day, the US military launched eight offensives in a row, and all the commanders were shot by him. As a result, the US military never dared to attack again that day. ?
To the dismay of German snipers, according to the regulations, only enemies killed in defense can be counted in the sniper record, and the results achieved in other cases cannot be counted. Naturally, if the allied forces launch many offensives in one day, German snipers lurking in defensive positions can obtain quite high shooting records. When defending the position, an officer or two soldiers of the sniper's unit will observe the results to confirm the sniper's record. Snipers report observation results, ammunition use and shooting records every day. ?
German sniper's standard weapon is 7.92mm. Mao Se Karl is equipped with an optical sight. 98k sniper rifle. Just to be clear, Kar? The full name of 98K is Karabiner? 98? Courths, which means 98 short carbine. Mao Se Carr? 98K is the main rifle of the German army in World War II. It uses a built-in magazine and can carry five 7.92mm Mao Se rifles at a time. As a short carbine 98 rifle, Mao Se Karl? 98K is 6 inches shorter than the standard 98. ?
Mao Se Carr used it as a sniper rifle? 98K is equipped with 4x sight and 6x sight made in Czech Republic. For experienced snipers, Mao Se Carr with 4 times sight? 98K sniper rifle can shoot 400 targets, and if you choose 6 times sight, you can shoot 1000m targets. ?
During the war, there were 129468 Mao Se Karl? 98K sniper rifle equips troops. This kind of gun is very popular with German snipers because of its long range and high precision. But what about Mao Se Carr? There is also a big disadvantage of 98K, that is, after firing, it is necessary to pull the bolt to complete the shell throwing and loading. When there is silence around, the "click" sound when pulling the bolt often makes German snipers expose their targets and become targets of Soviet troops. ?
Due to the tense war, all Mao Se rifles produced after 1944 have become "shrunk versions", and the quality has gone from bad to worse. For example, the bottom of the stock is changed into a cup-shaped stamping part, the front hoop is changed from a cutting part to a spot welding part, and the bottom of the magazine and the bow are also changed into steel stamping parts. And some kars produced on the eve of the collapse of the third Reich? The 98K rifle even omits the bayonet seat. ?
Except the classic Mao Se Karl? In addition to the 98K sniper rifle, German snipers also widely used the 7.92mm G43 semi-automatic sniper rifle mainly used by snipers. Compared with the ordinary G43, the G43 sniper type has an additional sight fixing groove outside the reentry box, and can be equipped with a standard sight with a fixed seat. ?
Among the German snipers who fought with G43, some people think that this gun is not good, because its effective range is only 400 meters, its accuracy is not high, and it is too heavy. Some snipers think G43 is good, because its performance is reliable and its shooting sense is similar to that of Kar in Mao Se? 98K is about the same. The most important thing is that the G43 semi-automatic rifle issued by 10 is faster than the manual Mao Se Kar? 98K is much faster, which is suitable for the enemy to attack. When some German snipers were moving behind the Allied forces, they loaded tracer bullets on G43 and fired at the Allied fuel trucks continuously from a distance until the target turned into flames. ?
Although Germans have different views on G43, one thing is certain: the G43 of 8mm Mao Se rifle is too powerful! Although we don't know how powerful it is, it is enough to show that American federal law still prohibits the production or import of G43 rifles since the war. Interestingly, the bolt of the G43 rifle is located on the left side of the bolt, which seems to be designed for left-handed shooters. ?
Besides Mao Se rifles and other weapons made in Germany, German snipers also use sniper rifles made in the Soviet Union. After the outbreak of the Soviet-German war, in order to make up for the shortage of sniper rifles, the Germans also equipped some captured Soviet-made Mosinnagan M 189 1/30 sniper rifles. Mosinnagan sniper rifle was put into production in 193 1 30 Mosinnagan rifle in1931year. The bolt is lengthened and changed into an arc, so that the sight can be installed on the left side of the gun. In the mid-1930s, the Soviet Union changed the hexagonal shell of the basic gun into a circle, which made the extended sight base more solid. ?
Because Mosinnagan's sniper rifle uses 7.62×54 mm rifle bullets, which is better than Mao Se Karl? 98k is more lethal. In order to facilitate long-distance sniper, the Germans changed the gun with 6 times sight into 3 times or 4 times sight. ?
Sometimes, in order to destroy allied gunners hiding behind gun shields, the Germans also use anti-tank guns with sights. However, because the accuracy of anti-tank guns is not very high, and they are extremely heavy, even the best shooter can only hit the target within 300 meters. German snipers generally believe that it is foolish to destroy the enemy with powerful but low-precision anti-tank guns. Matthias Heizennor, the ace sniper mentioned above, never used anti-tank guns to shoot soft targets. ?
Since 194 1, German snipers active in the battlefields in Europe and North Africa have been making trouble for the Allies. But for the allied forces, it was only in 1944 that they really realized the terror of snipers. 1944 After the Allied forces landed in Normandy in June, they immediately met with tenacious resistance from the Germans. The German combat troops who adhered to the western front performed well, and the role of snipers was particularly prominent. From the tall and dense bushes in Normandy to the rugged mountains in Apennine Peninsula, the ghostly shadows of German snipers are shaking everywhere. They hid in every corner and shot and killed allied officers, non-commissioned officers, artillery observers, signal soldiers, gunners, messengers, vehicle dispatchers and other important targets. ?
Shortly after the Normandy landing, the "Royal Ulster" Battalion of the 9th Infantry Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division of Britain was attacked by German snipers. The battalion was ordered to occupy a small highland near the landing site. However, the battalion was repeatedly hit by sniper fire, and its marching speed was slower than that of snails. When they finished their task, they captured 17 German soldiers, including as many as 7 snipers. ?
When the German coat troops withdrew from Normandy, many German snipers stayed and continued fighting. In Normandy, Roman-era shrub fences can be seen everywhere. The dense vegetation covered on the fence or the nearby flowers and plants provide a good camouflage for snipers. Interestingly, because the pattern of M 1942 camouflage uniforms distributed by the US Army is similar to that of Type 44 camouflage uniforms of the Waffen-SS, there have been many accidental injuries. German snipers who fought deep in the allied front often gave up their weapons and surrendered after running out of ammunition and food. ?
In the bloody Normandy battlefield, the tactics of some German snipers have also changed. At first, they kept shifting their positions, but later some young snipers seemed crazy and even shot at the same position in succession! You know, this is a big taboo for snipers. The stupid behavior of these guys often leads to more intense fire suppression by the allies. These snipers are young, and they are all Nazi "little Robb heads", but their fanatical fighting spirit really scares the Allies. ?
The report of American journalist Ernie Pell described the scene on the battlefield in Normandy: "There are German snipers everywhere. They lie in ambush in trees, houses, ruins or haystacks. However, most snipers are hiding in tall and dense shrub fences on both sides of the battlefield and roads. " ?
In fact, those German snipers with gray-blue eyes and fierce eyes not only hid in bushes and bushes, but also ambushed near intersections and shot important targets such as Allied traffic posts and officers. Bridges are also ideal places for destruction. As long as the sniper fires a few shots, it can cause great panic and the destruction effect is excellent. Snipers sometimes fight in ruins, and it is easy to change positions frequently. Farmland is also a favorite hiding place for German snipers, because tall crops can cover them tightly. In addition, water towers, windmills, churches and other commanding heights are also ideal hiding places for snipers. But the price of doing so is that there is almost no escape after shooting, and finally it becomes a living target of the Allies. ?
When the Allies crossed the famous "fence" area in Normandy, France, a German sniper equipped with a G43 rifle could even suppress an infantry platoon. When he shoots the first bullet, the allied marching column will stop immediately, and the sniper can take the opportunity to change his position and continue shooting until the whole team is disrupted. A platoon leader of the Ninth Infantry Division of the US Army recalled: "The most common fatal mistake made by recruits is that when the enemy hits a sniper's shot, he immediately lies down in the same place. Once, I ordered one of my classes to transfer. On the way, a soldier was shot by a German sniper, and the whole team immediately fell to the ground. In the end, all the soldiers in this class were killed by the same sniper. " ?
On June 26th, 1944, Puzman of the 4th company of Waffen SS 12 engineering battalion quietly ambushed under a small tree. He dug a hole first, then covered the tank with an armor plate and covered it with some grass, leaving only a gap to observe the enemy. Through that narrow gap, Puzman killed a large number of British troops with his Mao Se rifle, and was killed by the British army until the ammunition was exhausted. Later, it was found that there were about 30 British bodies lying near Puzman's ambush point! ?
On the western front, these stubborn German snipers caused great casualties to the Allies. Allied officers and men naturally showed no mercy to these snipers, leaving almost no survivors. ?
With the development of the war, Germany also developed equipment for night sniper. One of the infrared night vision goggles code-named "Vampire" can be equipped on the StG44 assault rifle. At the beginning of 1945, "vampire" infrared night vision goggles were put into practical use for the first time. As a result, in less than one class, the Germans used StG44 with vampire night vision goggles to wipe out half of the British platoon in the Black Forest area.
In the later period of the war, the Germans often give snipers special rewards to boost their morale. In 1944, snipers with 50 shooting records in the Waffen-SS establishment can get a watch, snipers with 100 shooting records can get a shotgun, and snipers with 150 shooting records are invited to hunt deer with Himmler himself. In order to encourage snipers, Germany began to issue sniper armbands on August 20th, 1944. The armband is divided into three levels: the first level represents at least 60 shooting records; The secondary representative has at least 40 shooting records; The third-class representative has 20 shooting records.
Although the Allies constantly adopt new tactics to reduce the losses caused by snipers, these invisible demons still stubbornly harass the Allies. It was not until 1945 that Hitler's Third Reich collapsed that the ghost of German snipers completely disappeared from the European continent and became history forever.