The decisive influence on the shaping of the organization and tactics of the German infantry before the outbreak of World War II was, on the one hand, the experience of the previous World War, but also theoretical works created in the 1920s and 1930s, which often emphasized the need to perceive the German infantry as a tool waging an offensive war. This affected both the equipment and the organization of the German infantry division, which during the September campaign of 1939 consisted of 3 infantry regiments, each of which was divided into 3 infantry battalions, an artillery company and an anti-tank company. In addition, there were numerous support units, including: an artillery regiment with 4 artillery squadrons (including one heavy), an anti-tank battalion, a sapper battalion and a communications battalion. In total, the so-called infantry division In the first mobilization wave, there were approximately 17,700 people and had a significant artillery component, but also was abundantly equipped with machine guns. It also had modern and efficient - for those times - means of communication and command. In the course of the war, infantry divisions underwent transformation - in 1943 some of them were transformed into armored grenadier divisions. However, from 1943, the standard division of the "traditional" infantry consisted of approx. 12,500 men (and not approx. 17,700 as in 1939), and its artillery component - especially heavy artillery - was also reduced in it, while its anti-tank defense was significantly improved. It is assumed that during the entire Second World War, about 350 infantry divisions served in the Wehrmacht.
The 3.7 cm PaK 36 (Panzerabwehrkanone 36) is a German 37mm anti-tank gun. It was developed in the 1920s by the Rheinmetall concern, it entered service in 1928. In 1936 it received the designation Pak 35/36. Under the designation of 3.7 cm KwK 36 L45, it was mounted in the Pz.Kpfw III Ausf tanks. AG. At the time of its entry into the German army, it was a very modern weapon. However, over the years, its quality and effectiveness against new tanks decreased. The gun turned out to be weak during the September campaign, and during the "Blitz" in the West in 1940 it was completely useless against many Allied tanks. For this reason, it gained the unflattering nickname "door knocker". However, it survived in the German army until the operation "Barbarossa" and fought against the T-34 and KW-1, showing its utter uselessness. From 1941, it was systematically replaced by the Pak 38. Technical data: range: 7000 m, caliber: 37 mm, combat weight: 328 kg, initial velocity: 762 m / s, rate of fire: 13 spins / min.