Bayonet fencing in the Imperial German Army 1900-1918 – Even the cavalry?

In this article, we look at bayonet fencing and the associated service regulations from 1901, which can be downloaded from the download area. Firstly, we will take a look at why and how the cavalry actually trained with the bayonet and what the sources say about it. Then we’ll take a closer look at the service regulations. I have already explained everything you need to know about service regulations in the article on gymnastics in the imperial army. The exercises in motion can be seen in the following video.

 

The cavalry and bayonet fencing

Did the cavalry actually practise bayonet fencing? Well, yes and no, both are correct. It depended a lot on the time, the regiment and what weapons the regiment had at the time. I’ve already mentioned it in various videos, but again: it’s very difficult to say when which of the regiments used the cavalry sword and when the bayonet. Basically, the more missions in the trenches, the more the bayonet was used.

Knigge mentioned bayonet fencing in his letters to his parents. On 16 July 1916, he was tested in riding, service on foot, lance fencing and bayonet fencing. In a further letter dated 26 October 1916, he wrote: ‘Bayonet fencing teaches you brutality, where the aim is to hit or stab your opponent so hard on the head, chest or stomach that he is incapacitated. But this is all good preparation for war.’

Later, on 31 October, he described a major training session with the bayonets: ‘Today was a big bayonet practice in front of the major. I incapacitated my opponent so badly that he had to go straight back to the parade ground. Unfortunately, that can’t be avoided.’ In another letter, Knigge writes that he had some training battles with the bayonets against infantrymen, who were of course much better trained in this style than he was.

Apparently, the cavalry were also trained in bayonet fighting during their recruitment, along with training with the lance, shooting and the sabre. The training was therefore very varied, although the question remains as to how intensive the training itself was.

 

The service regulations for bayonet fencing

For the manuals in general, see the article on gymnastics in the Prussian army.

The service manual on bayonet fencing is relatively thin, it starts with the justification of bayonet fencing, why it should be practised and what the aim is. It should improve the courage of the soldiers and give them experience for combat.

It then explains the categorisation of the exercises, which were divided into school fencing and free fencing. School fencing is just a simple exercise to get routine in the movements, while free fencing takes place against an opponent.

The parries were extremely important and should be taught in the most efficient way, any movement that was too fancy or too complicated was forbidden. As with gymnastics, a good teacher who was an officer or non-commissioned officer was important. They were required to attend special courses to learn how to teach properly, and they had to master the art of bayoneting in order to help the recruits put it into practice. Officers and NCOs were required to attend these courses every year.

Subsequently, it is described that they had to wear special equipment for fencing and especially free fencing, such as training bayonets, a mask, a protective suit and leather gloves. Here too, as in gymnastics, the recruits were divided into two classes: the first class were the experienced and free fencers, the second class consisted of recruits who had not yet mastered school fencing. In the last part of the service regulations, before the next chapter on school fencing begins, the terms of fencing are defined in more detail.

 

Exercises with and without bayonets

The main aim of the exercises without a weapon was to automatise the movements in the muscle memory of the recruits before using the weapon, before the rifle and bayonet were added in the second step in order to further anchor the movements in the muscle memory.

The following is a selection of exercises:

 

Lunge without a rifle:

The commands are: Advance! – Back!

This is practised in such a way that you lunge without a rifle. The right hand is clenched into a fist and held at chest height with the knuckles pointing upwards. The back leg is energetically stretched, the front knee is bent and the right arm is jerked forwards. The back and the stretched leg should be in the same plane. The shoulder line is perpendicular to the battle line with the right arm stretched forwards.
On the command to return, the body is brought back into the fencing position by vigorously pushing back with the front leg and simultaneously bending the back knee, whereby pulling the arm back facilitates the movement.

 

Step forwards/backwards:

Command: Step forwards (backwards) – march!

In this exercise, the left foot is placed in front at about the length of the foot without any noticeable elevation, while the right foot is placed behind. The right foot starts the backward movement. This movement is particularly important in order to widen or shorten the scale or fencing distance. If the rifle is carried during this exercise, the rifle must be ready to fire. In addition, the position of the rifle must not be changed.

 

Gunstock rolls:

Command: Gunstock rolls!

In order to make the right upper arm mobile, the butt roll should be continued. The left hand should remain as steady as possible while the right hand grasps the neck of the butt firmly and describes large circles to the right or left.

 

 

Once the movements had been internalised by the body, the recruits were allowed to move on to free fencing, in which they simply competed against someone else. To do this, they wore their protective equipment.

 

Conclusion

The following facts about bayonet fencing are clear from the sources:

Firstly, that bayonet practice was important to teach soldiers discipline and obedience to their officers. Another point was to train muscle memory and get recruits used to this type of movement. As we have seen, the training gradually became more intensive. Firstly, training without a rifle, then with a rifle and bayonet, before finally moving on to free combat in order to gain combat experience and develop strategies for the upcoming deployment at the front so that the soldier could defeat as many of his enemies as possible.

Overall, it was very important to acquire knowledge of hand-to-hand combat, as it was a necessity to teach the recruits obedience, otherwise the army system would not have worked.

 

Sources

Heinrich Graf von Reichenbach (Ed.): Als Husar im I. Weltkrieg. Briefe, Tagebuchauszüge und Fotographien des Freihern Albrecht von Knigge, Berlin 2014.

D.V.E. Bajonettirvorschrift für die Infantrie, Berlin 1901.