Stormtroopers ( or Stoßtruppen) were specialist soldiers of the German Army in World War I. In the last years of the war, Stoßtruppen ("shock troops" or "shove troops") were trained to use infiltration tactics – part of the Germans' improved method of attack on enemy trenches. Men trained in these methods were known in Germany as Sturmmann ("storm man", usually translated as "stormtrooper"), formed into companies of Sturmtruppen ("assault troops", or more often and less accurately "storm troops"). In later times, the term "Storm Troops" became associated with Nazi Germany, due to its use for the Nazi Sturmabteilung (SA) militia. However, in the original context of World War I, the term was purely military and carried no political connotations.
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This detailed organization had several advantages, enabling the Ashanti generals to maneuver their forces with flexibility. The scouts performed recon and carried out pursuit operations. The advance guard could serve as initial storm troops or bait troops- getting an enemy to reveal his position and strength. The main body applied the bulk of the army's striking power.
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On the right (southern) flank of the army, the 51st Division was unable to advance further in Bois 4 on 11 October. During the night a counter-attack by German storm- troops and a flame-thrower detachment destroyed a battalion of the 25th Regiment and a French attack on 21 October, began a period of local attacks and counter-attacks which lasted into November.
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During the aftermath of the storm, troops were called in to deliver aid to the victims of the storm. A state of emergency was declared in at least ten states in Mexico following Calvin's passage. Furthermore, Mexican officials implemented emergency measures with assistance of agencies such as the Mexican Army and the local health department in the most of the devastated areas. Civil protection authorities donated food to more than 40,000 people for three days.
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Bloody child's shoe after Palestinian attack on an Israeli shopping mall In the 1930s, the emergence of organized youth cadres was rooted in the desire to form a youth paramilitary. It was believed that armed youth might bring an end to British hegemony in the Middle East. Youth were cajoled into violence by Palestinian political figures and newspapers that glorified violence and death. The Palestinian Arab Party sponsored the development of storm troops consisting solely of children and youth.
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Schmehl has had several cameo roles in Hollywood films. He was hit by a taxicab in the film Ghostbusters, punched out in the film Heart with Brad Davis, and turned down for a date by Molly Ringwald in The Pick-up Artist. He has also performed for the Desert Storm troops at McDill Air Force Base, is listed in Who's Who in Entertainment, and was featured in an article "hot shots" in the New York Daily News.
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During the winter of 1917-18 it was "quiet" on the Western Front—British casualties averaged "only" 3,000 a week. Serious attacks were impossible in the winter because of the deep caramel-thick mud. Quietly the Germans brought in their best soldiers from the eastern front, selected elite storm troops, and trained them all winter in the new tactics. With stopwatch timing, the German artillery would lay down a sudden, fearsome barrage just ahead of its advancing infantry.
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Willy Rohr The first experimental pioneer assault unit of the German army formed in the spring of 1915, founded by Major Calsow and later commanded and refined by Hauptmann Willy Rohr. These methodsHermann Cron: Geschichte des Deutschen Heeres im Welkriege 1914-1918; Berlin 1937, p. 23 further evolved war tactics originally developed by the Prussians, to form the basis of German infiltration tactics. The troops involved were identified as , and the term was translated as "storm troops" in English.
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This process gave the German army an initial advantage in the attack, but meant that the best formations would suffer disproportionately heavy casualties, while the quality of the remaining formations declined as they were stripped of their best personnel to provide the storm troops. The Germans also failed to arm their forces with a mobile exploitation force, such as cavalry, to exploit gains quickly. This tactical error meant the infantry had to keep up an exhausting tempo of advance.Simpson 1995, p. 124.
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Walter Stennes The Stennes Revolt was a revolt within the Nazi Party in 1930-1931 led by Walter Stennes (1895–1983), the Berlin commandant of the Sturmabteilung (SA), the Nazi's "brownshirt" storm troops. The revolt arose from internal tensions and conflicts within the Nazi Party of Germany, particularly between the party organization headquartered in Munich and Adolf Hitler on the one hand, and the SA and its leadership on the other hand.See generally Toland, pp. 248-52; Kershaw, pp. 347-51; Machtan, pp.
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After Vimy the 50th Battalion, with the rest of the Canadian Corps, started preparations for the Battle of Hill 70.The 50th Battalion in No Man's Land, Victor Wheeler, Chapter 13 They fought the Germans in the streets of Lens and in the generating plant, which a group of Germans had fortified. After a hard-fought battle there, the Canadians gained a reputation as elite or storm troops. During this battle, they were taken out of the line for a little bit, and put into billets.
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His affairs with several women, including Eleonora Duse and Luisa Casati, received public attention. During the First World War, perception of D'Annunzio in Italy transformed from literary figure into a national war hero. He was associated with the elite Arditi storm troops of the Italian Army and took part in actions such as the Flight over Vienna. As part of an Italian nationalist reaction against the Paris Peace Conference, he set up the short-lived Italian Regency of Carnaro in Fiume with himself as Duce.
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When trench warfare developed to its height in World War I, most such attacks were complete failures. Raiding by small groups of experienced soldiers, using stealth and cover was commonly employed and often successful, but these could not achieve decisive victory. Infiltration tactics developed slowly through World War I and early World War II, partially as a way of turning these harassing tactics into a decisive offensive doctrine. At first, only special units were trained in these tactics, typified by German Stoßtruppen ('storm troops').
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On 8 October 1931 he became acting Interior Minister in the government of Heinrich Brüning and favoured the banning of the Nazi (SA storm troops). As Interior Minister he was asked to outlaw the SA, whilst his goal as Defence Minister was to integrate it into a national, non-partisan paramilitary force. In April 1932, under pressure from several German states, Groener outlawed the SA and (SS). Kurt von Schleicher, his subordinate at the wanted to set up a cooperation with the two groups and worked on Hindenburg, to have Groener dismissed.
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On 1 October, the French raided north of Ville-sur-Tourbe and on 3 October, attacked west of Navarin Farm and at Le Casque. On 7 October, the French repulsed an attack at Navarin Farm, and on 9 October, destroyed several dugouts near the Butte-de-Tahure. After a 36-hour bombardment on the night of German storm-troops, in the Auberive–Souain area, attacked in three places and were eventually driven back. On 17 October, the Germans raided south-east of Juvincourt and on the northern slopes of Mt Cornillet; two days later the French raided north of Le Casque.
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In addition to prosecuting the individual defendants, Dodd demanded in his summation to the Tribunal that all six of the indicted Nazi organizations be convicted of crimes against humanity, on the same grounds of the crimes against humanity ascribed to the individual defendants. These six organizations are the Leadership Corps, the Reich cabinet, the Gestapo, The Storm Troops (SA), the Armed Forces, and the Elite Guard (SS). Dodd said that these organizations should not escape liability on the grounds that they were too large, part of a political party, etc. Dodd was given several awards in recognition of his work at the Nuremberg trials.
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Companies of the support battalions, ( security detachments () to hold the strong-points and storm troops [] to counter-attack towards them), were placed at the back of the , half in the pill-boxes of the , to provide a framework for the re- establishment of defence-in-depth, once the enemy attack had been repulsed. Dispersed in front of the line were divisional sharpshooter () machine-gun nests called the strongpoint line (). Much of the north of the Ypres–Roulers railway, had fallen on 31 July. The (second position) roughly corresponded to the British black line (second objective) of 31 July, much of which had been captured, except on the Gheluvelt Plateau.
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The Germans retook Beck House at and enfiladed the rest of the attackers, who were withdrawn, except on the extreme right. Another German counter-attack at by fresh storm-troops, forced the battalion to retire, except from a small area forward, which was abandoned next day; the division suffered Another night attack by the 61st (2nd South Midland) Division on Hill 35 failed and in the XVIII Corps area, a company of the 51st (Highland) Division made an abortive raid on Pheasant Trench. Two battalions of the 58th (2/1st London) Division conducted raids on 8 September and next day the 24th Division withstood another determined German attack at Inverness Copse.
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In July 1917, the 4th Army defence in depth began with a front system of three breastworks , about apart, garrisoned by the four companies of each front battalion, with listening-posts in no-man's-land. About behind was the (second or artillery protective line), the rear boundary of the forward battle zone (). About of the infantry in the supporting battalions were (security detachments) to hold strong-points, the remainder being (storm troops) to counter-attack towards them from the back of the . Dispersed in front of the line were divisional (machine-gun armed sharpshooters) in the (strongpoint line) a line of pillboxes, blockhouses and fortified farms prepared for all-round defence.
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In July 1917, the system of defence in depth of the German 4th Army ( Sixt von Armin) began with a front system of three breastworks , about apart, garrisoned by the four companies of each front battalion, with listening-posts in no-man's-land. About behind was the (the second or artillery protective line), the rear boundary of the forward battle zone (). About of the battalions in support were divided into (security crews) to hold strong- points, the remainder being (storm troops) to counter-attack towards them from the back of the . Dispersed in front of the line were divisional (machine-gun armed marksmen) in the (strongpoint line) a line of machine-gun nests prepared for all-round defence.
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In 1914 Schrader graduated as teacher and enlisted voluntarily in the Prussian Army where he served throughout World War I. Demobilized in 1920 with the rank of Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) he worked as teacher. From 1924 to 1927 he taught History and German at an army technical school in Wolfenbüttel.Oberstleutnant Werner Schrader Axis history Forum At approximately the same time, Schrader became a member of Der Stahlhelm (, a veterans organisation after the First World War. There he rose to the rank of regional leader for Braunschweig. After the Nazi takeover of power in Weimar Germany he vehemently opposed aligning the Stahlhelm with Hitler’s storm troops, eventually losing both his leadership position in the institution and his teaching post.
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The 4th Army operation order for the defensive battle was issued on 27 June. The system of defence in depth began with a front system (first line) with breastworks , about apart, garrisoned by the four companies of each front battalion, with listening-posts in no-man's-land. About behind these works was the forward battle zone () in front of the (second position or artillery protective line []). The support battalions comprised a (security company) to hold strong-points and three (storm troops) to counter-attack from the back of the , half being based in the pillboxes of the to provide a framework for the re-establishment of defence in depth, once an attack had been repulsed.
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Schwerpunkts would hit on either side of the salient's apex to pocket its defenders, the V Corps, as an overwhelming display of German power. Additional troops and skilled commanders, like von Hutier, were shifted from the east, Army Group von Gallwitz was formed in the west on 1 February. One quarter of the western divisions were designated for attack; to counter the elastic defense during the winter each of them attended a four-week course on infiltration tactics. Storm troops would slip through weak points in the front line and slice through the battle zone, bypassing strong points that would be mopped up by the mortars, flamethrowers and manhandled field guns of the next wave.
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Beefsteak Nazi (German: Rindersteak Nazi) was a term used in Nazi Germany to describe Communists and Socialists who joined the Nazi Party. The Munich-born American historian Konrad Heiden was one of the first to document this phenomenon in his 1936 book Hitler: A Biography, remarking that within the Sturmabteilung (Brownshirts, SA) ranks there were "large numbers of Communists and Social Democrats" and that "many of the storm troops were called 'beefsteaks' – brown outside and red within." The switching of political parties was at times so common that SA men would jest that "[i]n our storm troop there are three Nazis, but we shall soon have spewed them out." The term was particularly used for working class members of the SA who were aligned with Strasserism.
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In his 1936 Hitler: A Biography, German historian Konrad Heiden remarked that within the SA ranks, there were "large numbers of Communists and Social Democrats" and that "many of the storm troops were called 'beefsteaks' – brown outside and red within." The influx of non- Nazis into the membership was so prevalent that SA men would joke that "In our storm troop there are three Nazis, but we shall soon have spewed them out." The number of "beefsteaks" was estimated to be large in some cities, especially in northern Germany, where the influence of Gregor Strasser and Strasserism was significant. The head of the Gestapo from 1933 to 1934, Rudolf Diels, reported that "70 percent" of the new SA recruits in the city of Berlin had been communists.
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In 1933 Charles Bean, the Australian official historian, wrote that 23 infantry battalions and attached storm troops, amounting to 16,000 men, had attacked 4,000 Australian troops, reached the objective in only one place and had soon been forced back, with about double the casualties that they had inflicted. Bean wrote that in his war diary (volume II, p.143 et seq.), Rupprecht had concluded that apart from the destruction of 22 guns had been something of a failure and cost about nine per cent of the attacking force. Rupprecht made no comment about the claim made by Moser that the attack had compelled the Australians to reinforce the area and OHL apparently did not believe that reduced the pressure at Arras.
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In 1914, German strategic thinking derived from the writings of Carl von Clausewitz (1 June 1780 – 16 November 1831), Helmuth von Moltke the Elder (26 October 1800 – 24 April 1891) and Alfred von Schlieffen (28 February 1833 – 4 January 1913), who advocated manoeuvre, mass and envelopment to create the conditions for a decisive battle (). During the war, officers such as Willy Rohr developed tactics to restore manoeuvre on the battlefield. Specialist light infantry (Stosstruppen, "storm troops") were to exploit weak spots to make gaps for larger infantry units to advance with heavier weapons and exploit the success, leaving isolated strong points to troops following up. Infiltration tactics were combined with short hurricane artillery bombardments using massed artillery, devised by Colonel Georg Bruchmüller.
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12th Gloucesters was in reserve to the Canadian Corps for the Battle of Vimy Ridge on 9 April. Then on the night of 4/5 May, as the Arras Offensive continued, 95th Brigade relieved a Canadian Brigade that had captured Fresnoy. Because of casualties, 12th Gloucesters was reduced to three companies, so it had two companies of 1st Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI) under its command in order to hold the wood north of the town. During 7 May the British trenches were heavily bombarded, then that night two successive attacks came in. 12th Gloucesters repulsed the first at 03.45 (which may have been an unplanned clash as the German storm troops moved into position) but the battalion was overwhelmed by the second attack at 05.45, which completely broke through the British lines and recaptured Fresnoy.
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The commander of III Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment 104 was cut off, until a counter-attack by the regimental storm-troops reached the headquarters, while some of the British held out until before surrendering when their ammunition ran out. Part of the regiment also counter-attacked towards Waterlot Farm and was stopped by British machine-gun fire. A detached regiment of the 8th Bavarian Reserve Division, was returned from Barleux on the south bank, to relieve exhausted battalions of the rest of the division. The northern flank of the British attack, penetrated the junction of I Battalion, Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment 22 and Saxon Reserve Infantry Regiment 107, before being forced back by A local counter-attack on the north- east of Guillemont at the same time, was repulsed and when the fog lifted at four companies of Saxon Reserve Infantry Regiment 107 advanced from Ginchy with part of Reserve Regiment 13, as three companies of Reserve Infantry Regiment 104 attacked from the east, eventually overwhelming the British party in the village during the afternoon.
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The defendants at the Nuremberg War Crime Trial in Nuremberg, GermanyOn October 18, 1945, the chief prosecutors lodged an indictment with the tribunal charging 24 individuals with a variety of crimes and atrocities, including the deliberate instigation of aggressive wars, extermination of racial and religious groups, murder and mistreatment of prisoners of war, and the murder, mistreatment, and deportation of hundreds of thousands of inhabitants of countries occupied by Germany during the war. Among the accused were the Nationalist Socialist leaders Hermann Göring and Rudolf Hess, the diplomat Joachim von Ribbentrop, the munitions maker Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach, Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, Grand Admiral Erich Raeder and 18 other military leaders and civilian officials. Seven organizations that formed part of the basic structure of the Nazi government were also charged as criminal. These organizations included the SS (Schutzstaffel, Defense Corps), the Gestapo (Geheime Staatspolizei, Secret State Police), and the SA (Sturmabteilung, Storm Troops), as well as the General Staff and High Command of the German armed forces.
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