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WC2020 — German Stormtrooper, WW1

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Published: 2024-01-28 18:23:09 +0000 UTC; Views: 276; Favourites: 0; Downloads: 0
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Description Sergeant, Stormtrooper
German Army, Western Front, 1918
World War I

While this man may look like a medieval knight at first glance, he is anything but. World War I may have been the first war with modern equipment like tanks and aircraft, but there were also many throwbacks to the wars of medieval times. Some helmet designs were based on medieval iron helmets, early grenade launchers resembled catapults and crossbows, and chainmail and plate armor were used for protection like that of knights.

The typical German strategy at the start of the war involved sending waves of riflemen to charge the enemy, but this proved to be extremely costly due to entrenched machine gun positions. Due to this, officers decided to experiment with assault tactics which would lead to the creation of the Sturmtruppen (Storm Troopers). The purpose of Stormtroopers was to punch a hole in the enemy trenchline and make way for the regular infantry. The units consisted of well-trained and battle hardened veterans, and were trained for close combat and trench raiding. Stormtroopers had various weapons, like carbine rifles, grenades, knives and sharpened spades, light machine guns, and even flamethrowers. They were also armed with the MP-18 submachine gun, the first submachine ever to see combat. Stormtroopers proved to be successful as they broke through the lines and moved far ahead of the regular infantry. However they were entered too late into the war to achieve an overall victory for Germany.

The soldier seen here is wearing metal body armor, a mail headdress and a non-standard steel helmet with chainmail. While well protected, he lacks mobility so to compensate he lacks his kit and gear. He is armed with a Mauser Model 1914 pistol, two hand grenades, and a sharped spade.
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