Trupp
Trupp (Trp, Ger., from French troupe), in military terminology, the smallest administrative or tactical subunit, consisting of two to eight soldiers. In the German army, Trupp is the equivalent of the British “group” or “party”, and the US “team” or “detail”. The German Schützengruppe rifle section, like its British equivalent, operated in two separate Trupps, the Schützentrupp, cf. rifle group, and LMG-Trupp, cf. Bren group, the tactically more important of which was commanded by the Gruppenführer, and the other by the Truppführer.
The Zugführer platoon leader could decide to concentrate all three LMG-Trupps in an advantages firing position under his command, thereby freeing the three Gruppenführer of his platoon to lead their Schützentrupp rifle groups in the careful approach to, and eventual assault of an identified enemy position.
The following Trupps are worth mentioning:
- ABC-Abwehrtrupp – NBC team
- Examiniertrupp – examination team
- Fernmeldetrupp – signals team
- Feldküchentrupp – field kitchen team
- Fernsprechtrupp – wire communications team
- Fliegerabwehrtrupp – air defense team
- Funktrupp – radio communications team
- Granatwerfertrupp – mortar team
- Kompanietrupp – company HQ party
- Kompaniefeldwebeltrupp – company sergeant major‘s party
- Messtrupp – Artillery Registration Team
- MG-Trupp – machine gun group / machine gun team
- Panzernahkampftrupp – tank close-assault team (Wehrmacht)
- Panzerspähtrupp armoured recce patrol
- Panzervernichtungstrupp – tank destroyer team (Bundeswehr)
- Sanitätstrupp – medical team
- Schützentrupp – rifle group / rifle team
- Spähtrupp (SpTrp) – recce patrol
- Wartungs- und Instandsetzungstrupp – maintenance and repair team
- Zugtrupp – platoon HQ party
The dismounts of the modern German SPz Marder infantry fighting vehicle, collectively known as the Schützentrupp while mounted, subdivide further into the MG-Trupp and Schützentrupp, or MG-Trupp and Panzervernichtungstrupp when dismounted. The key tactical element is lead by the Gruppenführer, in which case the Truppführer stays with the other element, either the Marder, the machine gun team, or the rifle team.
Trupp, a smaller detachment of soldiers. About Nachtrupp rearguard, Vortrupp vanguard, s. Security.
Source: Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon, 6. Auflage 1905–1909