That's why I think that these aren't barrier troops. They just the second line. They were in such a panic as they heard the russians coming, they shoot everything what moves.
I might think so too, but there are several points that work against it:
first trench at most only 30 meters or so away with a clear line of sight
the attacking squad doesn't try to repel them as they approach
in fact, they hide themselves until the retreating soldiers are in their own trench
they try to kill a lone guy running full-speed away from them
You have to ask yourself, in principle, how would this differ from an ambush? Because as an ambush, it was hella effective. They could show it for infantry training on that basis.
That's why I think that these aren't barrier troops. They just the second line. They were in such a panic as they heard the russians coming, they shoot everything what moves.
I might think so too, but there are several points that work against it:
You have to ask yourself, in principle, how would this differ from an ambush? Because as an ambush, it was hella effective. They could show it for infantry training on that basis.