Talk:German Army order of battle (1914)

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Military history: European / German / World War I

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Mortar Battalions

I am dubious that the german armies were supported by Mortar Battalions in 1914 (especially coastal mortar battalions). I am wondering if this is a mistranslation of the german word 'Mörser', which was actually used for heavy howitzers, eg 21cm calibre weapons and larger [smaller howitzers, such as 10.5cm and 15cm weapons, were referred to by the name 'Haubitzen']. The usual german word for a mortar in WW1 was 'Minenwerfer'; however, 'Granatenwerfer' was used for the lightest types.Glevum (talk) 23:56, 20 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]

My copy of Cron (Herman Cron, Imperial German Army 1914-18: Organisation, Structure, Orders-of-Battle [first published: 1937], Helion & Co, 2002, 1-874622-70-1) says 2nd Army (for example) had, and I quote

II and III Btns Foot Artillery Rgt. 4 (with 4 Minenwerfer Batts.)

I and II Btns Foot Artillery Rgt. 9 (with 4 Minenwerfer Batts.)

II Btn. Reserve Foot Artillery Rgt. 9 (10cm)

1st and 5th Heavy Coastal Minenwerfer Batts. (30.5cm)

That said, I have not got total confidence in this book (or at least its translated version). It has got a number of flaws - dates are in some case obviuosly incorrect, the insistence of translating both Heeresgruppe and Armee-Gruppe as Army Group, etc. Has anyone got the German original, or another source? Hamish59 (talk) 20:15, 21 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I must admit that the distinction between Heavy Howitzers and Heavy Mortars seems less clear the earlier in history you go. With reference to the Heavy Coastal Batteries, these were equipped with the 30,5 cm Küstenmörser - see www.kaisersbunker.com/cc/cc14.htm - and the Küsten (= coastal) seems to have been a deliberate ruse, as was the Marinen (= navy) [and seemingly even the Kanone (= cannon = gun)] in the 42 cm kurze Marinekanone L/16 (which was later more sensibly renamed the 42 cm Gamma Mörser).Glevum (talk) 18:49, 28 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]

The Germans actually had some early mortar units which were intended for siege operations at 4 mortars per battery. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.236.40.162 (talk) 11:00, 13 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]