tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6768259291370607121.post7332980985879683119..comments2023-03-29T23:36:52.482+02:00Comments on The war diaries of Dieter Finzen in both world wars: Houthhulster WaldDieter Finzenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564917834898528473noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6768259291370607121.post-13870046694929833392010-10-22T11:48:43.141+02:002010-10-22T11:48:43.141+02:00In the regiment's chronicles, a good desriptio...In the regiment's chronicles, a good desription of the tactical situation of the regiment is to be found.<br />It was positioned an the right wing of the breach, and consequently was hit less hard by the main attack enabling it to flank the attack. To the right was the 119th division, to the left regiments 31 and 85, further on there was the 208th division. The terrain alongside the front was almost flat, only disturbed by tree trunks and tree groups that were torn to pieces. Before the front, there was grassland, traversed by the Steen creek which was one to two yards deep. The bed of the creek had been totally obscured by shellfire, turning the whole grassland into a swampy, water-filled shell-hole field. On the other hand, the heavy grenades also had blasted crossings into the creek. For attacks, this terrain was rather unsuitable. Tanks were out of question.<br />Behind the grassland of the Steen creek, the companies there positioned, on the right hand side within the shell-hole field, on the left-hand side behind a heavily shelled embankment. Sheltering was not possible here because of the high ground water level. Protection against shelling was only given by a small series of concrete blocks behind the position. They were camouflaged as good as possible to take them out of sight. The regiment was staggered deeply. the front batallion had three companies in front and one in reserve. One kilometer behind the front, the standby battalion was located, staggered in the same manner. The resting battalion was located in Mispelareik. The regiment staff dwelled in a concrete block within the Houthoulst Woods. As with the Ancre, here also the fourth platoons were assigned to be carriers for provions and material. The regiment had to adapt to a completely new type of combat. There were no front or communication trenches. Before the front, there were sentries, double posts and posts of non-commissioned officers. Then the concrete blocks formed the first line of resistance; they were also meant as the cores of resistance nests. But the companies were not tied to them. As can be seen from the map, each company did not only have its line, but its space. Within this space, they were flexible; changing its position according to shell fire, withdrawing into islands with small shellfire.Thomasnoreply@blogger.com