ISIS using 19th century German combat tactic 'Auftragstaktik' to commit terror attacks
Islamic State's method for carrying out terror attacks involves an adaptation of 19th century German tactics used to target the West, a recent issue of its propaganda magazine has stated.
The Dar al-Islam issue, published in French, states that the terror group is using a version of Auftragstaktik, a combat doctrine previously used by the German Army. The tactic involves giving terrorists a target, which they must attack by a given deadline.
The policy allows Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) to carry out attacks with autonomy, leaving little evidence that can link back to commanders, the terror group explained in the article.
The IS article even cited a historical German infantry manual from 1908, which said: “There is nothing more important than educating the soldier to think and act for himself. Autonomy and his sense of honor push himto do his duty even when it is not in front of his superior.”
The publication went on to state that different types of attacks are used to commit jihad in Europe. Those include mass slaughter plots carried out by operatives sent from IS headquarters in the Middle East, to lone-wolf attacks.
The article was almost entirely committed to the November 2015 Paris attacks, which killed 130 people, and threatened that France will suffer more attacks.
