The columns of men and machines of the German Army were required to adhere to strict codes of conduct
For the benefit of both officers and men in the United States Army, issue No 24 of Tactical and Technical Trends, dated May 6, 1943, included a section on the German Army entitled Notes on March Discipline of Motorized Troops.
Before a German Army motorised column even turned a wheel, there was work to be done. Reconnaissance of the route was undertaken, with careful note being made of such as road conditions, width and strength of bridges, and available cover if attack from the air was at all likely. This preliminary reconnaissance ensured that the column would not be halted mid-way, for example, by a bridge too narrow to allow lorries to pass. It was also necessary to consider the weather when undertaking the reconnaissance. To give an obvious example: heavy rain would cause rapid deterioration of the surface of an unmade road, increasing fuel and engine oil consumption as well as journey time.
The route having been decided upon, orders were written specifying the initial assembly point and the time of arrival at it, the order of march, the route, halts and rests en route, security measures if appro…
