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Behavior
Toward Superiors
From
Der Rekrut
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Below you
will find an excerpt from Regulations for Garrison
Duty as applicable to enlisted men. This was
taken from an English
translation of the 1935 German Army manual. Thanks to Michael Bollow for
giving us permission to use excerpts of Der Rekrut here
on this site. If you would like to purchase this
manual, please visit his website at: http://members.aol.com/soldaten/rekrut.htm
Even
before joining the Wehrmacht, every soldier has
behaved in a particularly helpful, deferential,
well-mannered way towards other individuals.
Parents, tutors, schoolmasters, etc. demand - &
rightly so - that the young person under their care,
whom they are training & instructing, in short,
whom they want only to help, behave toward them as
traditional good manners require. The
soldierly formalities we observe in interactions with
our leaders have the very same purpose. As the
person who trains & instructs the soldier, a
military superior continues the work begun in the
parents' home. He wants to train the soldier to
be a man ready for combat, to become a full member of
the German nation. To
be specific, the following principles are to be
observed. See also: Salutes
by Individuals & Units
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Act with
Due Modesty & Restraint |
| 1. |
Do
not interrupt superiors who are talking with
someone else or who are busy by speaking to
them. Instead, stand at attention to
indicate that you have something to ask or to
communicate. |
| 2. |
If
the superior with whom you wish to speak is
speaking with someone of even higher rank, the
person of higher rank must be asked for
permission to speak, e.g., "Captain,
request permission to speak to Sergeant
Mueller." |
| 3. |
On
beer nights or other occasions, do not invite a
superior or drink to him first. If a
superior toasts a subordinate, the subordinate
rises & drinks while standing at
attention. Do not follow civilian
beer-drinking customs, such as shouting "Cheers!",
clinking glasses, etc. |
| 4. |
A
subordinate always walks to his superior's
left. When a subordinate accompanies a
superior on horseback, he remains in the rear
until he is told to ride forward. |
| 5. |
When
conversing with a superior, do not interrupt
him. Do not insist that you are right. |
| 6. |
In
all cases, a good soldier will adhere to the
limits prescribed by his tactfulness & good
breeding. Overdone courtesy &
subservience are unsoldierly. Do not try
to curry favor with your superiors.
However, this does not change the old soldier's
rule that any soldier can openly &
trustingly confide in his superior in cases of
personal or service-related difficulty.
His superior desires to help him in every
situation, & can do so. |
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Military
Speech |
| 1. |
Speak
loudly & clearly. Do not use strange,
long sentences, or foreign words when German
words would do. |
| 2. |
Instead
of saying "Yes," say "Yes,
Sir!"
Instead of saying "Excuse me,"
stand at attention.
Instead of saying "Please explain,"
say "Please explain, sergeant."
When called by a superior officer, instead of
saying "Yes?" say (for example)
"Sergeant?" |
| 3. |
Even
when "at ease," do not use hand
movements or other unsoldierly gestures to
emphasize your own words. |
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Behavior
When a Superior Enters or Leaves Quarters |
| 1. |
Shout
"Attention!" or "On
your feet!" Everyone should stand
at attention facing the superior. (see also: Saluting)1 |
| 2. |
The
barracks leader reports, e.g., "Barracks
35 occupied by one Lance Corporal & ten
men." |
| 3. |
All
duty personnel announce themselves, e.g., "Private
Mueller on barracks duty." As
soon as the superior commands "As you
were!" everyone continues his activity
while avoiding any inappropriate noise
(whistling, arguments). |
| 4. |
When
the superior leaves the barracks, "Attention!"
or "On your feet!" is shouted
again. Open the door, but do not block the
way while doing so. |
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Behavior
When You Meet a Superior
(In doorways, on the stairs,
etc.) |
| 1. |
Make
way for your superior! |
| 2. |
If
several soldiers are standing together, one
shouts "Attention!" when a
superior approaches. |
| 3. |
If
a superior is blocking the way, ask for "permission
to pass." For example, "Sergeant,
request permission to pass!" If
several superiors are standing together, ask
permission from the most senior. |
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Behavior
in the Vicinity of a Unit on Duty Under the
Supervision of a Superior |
| 1. |
Avoid
inappropriate noises (whistling, loud speech). |
| 2. |
Pass
the unit at an appropriate distance. |
| 3. |
Never
pass between a superior & his unit or pass
through a unit. |
| 4. |
No
member of the unit may speak without the
leader's permission. Ask the leader, e.g.,
"Sergeant, request permission to collect
the keys to the bomb sight room from Lance
Corporal M." |
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Behavior
When Given an Order by a Superior |
| 1. |
Repeat
the order without being asked. This is the
only way that the superior knows whether his
order has been understood. For example:
"I am to go to the stable & inform
Staff Sergeant M. that there will be a meeting
of NCOs in the orderly room at 11:15." |
| 2. |
Carry
out the intent of the orders (act
independently). |
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Example |
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The
soldier who was sent to the
stable does not find the staff
sergeant there. |
| Wrong: |
Report
to your superior the "Staff
Sergeant M. is not in the
stable." |
| Right: |
Inquire
where Staff Sergeant M. went
& go find him there.
Then report to your
superior. For example: "I
found Staff Sergeant M. at the
smithy. I delivered the
order that an NCO meeting will
take place in the orderly room
at 11:15." |
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| 3. |
Behavior
if a second order is issued while the first is
being carried out. |
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Example
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On
the barracks steps, the
soldier who was sent to
the stable is ordered by
the duty officer to
immediately take the
drill-hall keys to the
sentry.
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| Wrong: |
"I
don't have time because I
have to find
someone." |
| Right: |
"I
report that the Sergeant
ordered me to summon Staff
Sergeant M. to the orderly
room." |
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If
the duty officer orders you to carry out his
order first, then naturally this order must be
obeyed. In principle, the soldier
carries out the last order received.
However, he must then report the reason for
the delay to the superior who gave him the
first order. |
| 4. |
Report
the execution of each order.
| Wrong: |
"Order
obeyed." |
| Right: |
"I
have given the gunnery field manual to
Sergeant B." |
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Assisting
Superiors |
| 1. |
Hold
your superior's coat, offer him a light, pick up
dropped objects, offer him your place in crowded
areas such as public transportation & shops,
carry his luggage. |
| 2. |
Hold
his horse:
| a) |
When
he mounts & dismounts: Stand on the
right side of his horse. Hold the
horse by the cheek strap with the right
hand. The left hand holds the
stirrup leather firmly, so that the
saddle cannot slide to the left. |
| b) |
Holding
the horse: Raise the stirrups.
Lower the snaffle reins. Hold the
horse by the snaffle reins. Do not stand
near teepee-shaped stacks of
rifles. Face the street. |
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Behavior
When Entering or Leaving a Superior's Quarters |
| 1. |
Have
your uniform in order. (Straighten your
jacket before entering the quarters.) |
| 2. |
If
possible, announce yourself & the reason you
are there. |
| 3. |
Remove
your hat. |
| 4. |
Do
not be shy if the superior asks you to sit or
offers a cigarette, etc. |
| 5. |
If
the superior rises, do likewise. |
| 6. |
When
leaving the room, stand at attention again but
do not about-face. Close the door quietly. |
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Special
Circumstances |
| 1. |
When
a superior offers a subordinate his hand (e.g.,
to wish him a happy birthday or to offer a prize
for sports or shooting), the subordinate should
stand at attention. Do not bow. |
| 2. |
Displaying
good manners toward temporary superiors is an
especially comradely duty. |
| 3. |
The
same rules apply for behavior toward a superior
wearing civilian clothes. |
1 In
many units, it is customary for all personnel to step to
their lockers in this case.
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