Infantry Squad

After Hitler came to power, the Reichswehr was renamed the Wehrmacht, and by June 22, 1941, the Wehrmacht's numbers had grown to 7,234,000 troops. 

The basic infantry weapon of the Wehrmacht was the shortened Karabiner 98k rifle. The weapon was celebrated for its fine performance. Automatic weapons were less popular, and possessed significant drawbacks. The MP-38\40 submachine guns, developed by Erma from Volmer's designs, were known for their many faults: heavy weight, low firing rate, poor sighting and a limited effective range. 

The infantry preferred to attack from cover with a line of guns. The German infantryman's training was honed by field practice.