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Depleted Company Rank Concept for Reenacting in the
11.Panzer Unit of the NWHA
Throughout the Second World War, German Army Divisions, Regiments, Battalions, and Companies all found themselves severely depleted in troop numbers through battlefield attritions from death, wounds, transfers, leave, training and development. Combined with the murderous nature of combat, especially on the Russian front, and the lack of rotation of units out of the line for any length of time, front line combat units were often seriously under strength. Replacements were new and few, coming from centralized Army level depots. Survivors of combat were generally the more experienced, and skillful, members of the units. Most wounded soldiers strived to return to their original units with their friends and comrades rather than be placed in a replacement pool to end up who knows where. The reality of all this was that combat units of Company size could at times be depleted to a handful of men who on Battalion, Regimental and even Divisional maps and Tables of Organization would still be expected to fulfill the role of a Company in the line. Perhaps it was provenance that lead the unit founders select a specific company in a specific regiment, in our case the Second Company of the 110th Panzergrenadier Regiment. The use of a company as the basic unit for the purpose of forming and maintaining a reenacting unit presents many interesting and useful potentialities. The rank and advancement limitations are greatly reduced, especially when compared to a squad, or even platoon. It is conceivable to have several senior NCOs as well as numerous junior NCOs, and even the need for an officer, or officers, becomes a possibility. The potential roles any given reenactor may pursue within the unit becomes much more numerous. Messengers, Weapons NCO, Vehicle NCO, Medics, Signals, Pioneer, Cook, Supply and Security personnel, plus Platoon NCO, Company NCO, Platoon Leaders, and even Company commander all become potential, and even necessary, roles within the context of a Company. Carrying the concept further, many of these roles are possible in a reenacting group as small as ten or twelve. The Cadre for rebuilding combat depleted units was almost always from within the unit itself. From its inception as a German Army (Heer) reenacting unit, the guiding concept for the organization, command and control, and rank structure of the 11th Panzer Division unit of the Northwest Historical Association was the basic infantry unit, the squad. Rank, promotions, awards, organization and command were all built upon this basic unit. Four to eleven members would constitute one squad, depending upon unit membership totals and event attendance. On occasion the unit would have sufficient numbers in attendance to field two squads of seven to ten, with the Senior NCO assuming a Platoon commander’s role. Each squad was commanded by a Gefreiter, Obergefreiter, or Unterofficer. Two squads would be commanded by a Senior NCO rank; Unterfeldwebel, Feldwebel, or Oberfeldwebel. Rank was strictly governed by membership numbers in the unit, with only the minimum of the higher enlisted ranks being awarded to fill the command and control needs of the unit . This created situations where long-serving members of the unit could languish as an Obergefreiter for years and years, without hope of advancement until a higher ranking member of the unit stepped down, quit, or the numbers of the 11th Panzer unit increased. The use of the squad as the basis for a reenacting unit severely constrains the potential roles any reenactor in that reenacting unit may play. For a German Army Panzergrenadier squad the possible roles are: Squad Leader, Assistant Squad Leader, Machine Gunner, Assistant Machine Gunner, Ammo Bearer, Scout, and Rifleman. And without a crew served MG-34 or MG-42, three of these possible roles do not exist. The situation presents numerous hindrances to create meaningful roles for the unit members, leading to lack of enthusiasm and, eventually, interest. Combined with the strict limits on rank and potential for advancement, members could, and did, loose interest and even hope, due to structural limitations from using the squad as the basis for a reenacting group. The time has come to effect a change in the way we think about our reenacting unit. The first step in this change was the adoption of new guidelines for promotions and awards for the 11th Panzer unit. In consideration of the future growth and development of the 11th Panzer as a reenacting unit in the Northwest Historical Association, the decision has been made to develop and implement the concept of a depleted company as the basic unit of organization for our unit. Given that WW II reenacting is a hobby with various and fluid levels of interest and membership, it has been determined that a new method of recognizing and rewarding members who are consistent in attendance and commitment was needed. While every member of our unit is a volunteer with differing reasons for joining and attending events, it is still a hobby, a highly addictive one, but a hobby none the less. Once the newness and level of excitement starts to wane, and the rank, awards and decorations become harder to obtain; members in the past have lost interest, and level of commitment, in not only the unit, but in the hobby overall. Any involvement in the running of the unit or club as a whole add to the negative impact of the hobby, as political and personal issues become part of attending events. The change to a depleted company structure is an attempt to offset these negative factors by presenting new potential roles to undertake, promotions to be earned, and decorations and awards for hard effort and commitment both on and off the field. New recruits will still be required to obtain the basic kit for a Panzergrenadier impression, and all promotions, decorations, and awards will be subordinate to this basic kit requirement. However, knowing that dedication to the unit presents possibilities for upward advancement and recognition through both rank and decorations will help retain and invigorate our members. The structural limitations on rank and advancement are now removed, and new potential roles for keeping and building member interest are presented. The end goal is to maintain and build membership in the unit by making the hobby more rewarding and interesting for our members. The combined results of this will be increased membership numbers through newly recruited members and retention of current members. Eventually, the depleted part of the depleted company concept will no longer be needed as membership grows and participation increases. Pride in membership formed from bonds of comradeship both in the field and in the barracks will follow and grow. Increased membership will present more potential and possibilities as well as increased enjoyment from being a tactically developed and successful unit with the necessary numbers to accomplish the tasks given or presented by the situation. Realistically, I never expect for the 2. Kompanie/110. Panzergrenadier Regiment to field 140 members for a tactical event. But I do believe that membership totaling 30 to 45 is obtainable, with 30 plus Soldaten in the field for a tactical or display event a real possibility. As commander of this unit, I believe that the adoption of a depleted company as the basis for our reenacting unit is a must to effect the changes needed to achieve these goals. The newly adopted rank and awards structure is an integral part of these changes as well. The aim is to create a new method of approaching the hobby with the goal of increasing membership and enjoyment of that membership at any and all of our events. We will achieve this through recognition of effort, dedication, attendance, and participation using promotions and decorations while at the same time removing limitations on advancement and awards combined with increased roles for our members to adopt and aspire to within the concept of the “depleted” company. |
