The Sprung

When advancing in combat, the German soldier was taught to advance using the Sprung (bound or leap). A Sprung can occur on an individual basis or as a whole Gruppe.  A Sprung is ordered with: ‘Stellungswechsel!’ (‘Position-change’) or ‘Sprung – Auf!  Marsch! Marsch!’. It is also recommended that the objective to be reached by the position change should be given as part of the command.
Examples of commands:

1.  Stellungswechsel vorbereiten! Nächster Sprung Hohlweg!’   ‘Prepare to change position!  Next bound to the defile!’

2.  Fertigmachen zum Sprung bis an die Drachtsperre!’  ‘Make ready to leap to the barbed wire!’

3.  Stellungswechsel bis an das zerschossene Haus!’   ‘Position change to the shot-up house!’

4.  Durchrufen! Ganze Gruppe macht einen Sprung bis hinter den Bahndamm!’  ‘Listen up! The entire Gruppe will make a leap to behind the railway embankment!’

5.  Stellungswechsel vorbereiten! Nächste Feuerstellung Kiesgrube! Schütze 2 voraus!’   ‘Prepare to change position!  Next firing position the gravel pit! Schütze 2 move forwards!’

The objective of the German soldier is to gain ground as rapidly as possible and to take the enemy’s position.