Creation of defensive positions.

Latviešu strēlnieki Nāves salā pie Vācijas armijas karavīriem atņemtā ložmetēja. 1916. Latvijas Kara muzejs

The description looks at the battlefield fortification in general. It is based on the experience of the First World War and the situation when it is necessary to organize extensive work on the fortifications.

"(..) During this time of war, a soldier must be able to handle a shovel in the same way as a rifle. If a soldier is successful, it is necessary to immediately harden with a shovel, despite the fatigue. In the field war, each part of the army must be able to build excavations on its own, why it is necessary to know the principles of fortification and excavation, as well as the organization of work. (..) ”

“(..) All foreign armies in each infantry regiment have sapper or pioneer teams or ornaments. To distinguish infantry sappers from technical troop sappers, some countries refer to infantry sappers as pioneers, as we will call them. The task of the pioneers in the infantry is to perform tasks that the infantry is not able to do for some reason, such as mining the fields, doing simple blasting, building earthworks, reinforcing basements, preparing camouflage nets and paints, etc. regiment and battalion, give their assessment and present a construction plan and work plan to the regiment or battalion commander. Pioneer officers can also be assigned to supervise fortifications and reprimands, distribute tools and materials to be carried. Pioneer officers, however, must not interfere with or interfere with infantry. Disputes are always resolved by the commander of the regiment or battalion. In all major countries, there is a sapper or engineering battalion at each division, consisting of 2-3 sapper jewelry and an engineering park. In the smaller countries, which are not so rich and cannot afford to buy a lot of technical equipment, each division has a sapper company and an engineering park. Sapiers are divided into various specialties, such as bombers, carpenters, miners, pontoons, camouflage, etc. Sapiers must support infantry in battle for fortified positions, intelligence, overcoming obstacles and strikes. Sapper receives orders from infantry superiors. Sapiers agree with the most difficult technical works that infantry cannot perform, such as: construction of column roads in difficult areas, construction and maintenance of bridges, construction of minefields, blasting, mining of galleries, etc. In richer countries, metal demountable bridges are being prepared in peacetime, which can be installed in a short time and overloaded with heavy loads. (..) ”

Storyteller: K. Rocens
Used sources and references:

Description of equipment. No.3. 1927. Fortification of the battlefield.

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