Germany's Stormtroopers

German Stormtroopers were elite infantry units used by the Germans from 1917-1918. Their symbol was two crossed German grenades above which was a skull. The German high command believed that the use of Stormtroopers would change the tide of the war. The Stormtroopers’ job was to attack the enemy position following an artillery bombardment. They would weaken the enemy for the general infantry that would follow after them. Stormtroopers underwent rigorous training that included the use of live rounds and hours of hand to hand combat. Stormtroopers were carefully selected individuals who were young and possessed the desire for violence and hand to hand combat. The Stormtroopers did their job well, but their success was almost never rewarded with victory. The infantry was unable to keep up with the elite troops. In the time that was wasted while the infantry arrived, the enemy was able to regroup. Stormtroopers were used until war’s end but less frequently towards the very end.

   Stormtroopers advancing