German Report Series

This publication was prepared by a number of German officers after the end of World War II. There were a number of these publications, many of which are in publication in the German Report Series by Naval and Military Press. They are all of significant importance in understanding the way in which the war was fought, particularly on the eastern front.Combat in forests and swamps requires firm, farsighted, energetic leadership by commanders who are able to cope with the peculiarities of this type of warfare and avoid unnecessary crises and reverses. During initial engagements uncertainty about the enemy and terrain is far greater than in the open. Unpleasant surprises may occur at any moment - in dense forests because of lack of observation and in swampy areas because of the difficulty in obtaining an accurate terrain estimate. In such situations, ignorance on the part of the staffs, defective organization, or lack of advance planning will have an immediate effect on the physical condition and the morale of the troops and may cause a loss of lives which could have been avoided.