Unlike the US Army which only provides reruits with 2 1/2 weeks of Basic training and 3 weeks of 'advanced infantry training', the German Wehrmacht required 8 weeks (two months), of 'basic', and then 4 months of Infantry training, 4 hours of EACH DAY was spent on the rifle range and you would not graduate unless you earned the Markmanship Lanyard. So in a way, the average german rifle man WAS in many ways equal to an American sniper. Also, German soldiers were trained to engage the enemy at long range in order to take into account the EXCELENT accuracy or the Mauser G/K98, and stay out of range of the deadly allied close range weapons.
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"Victory at any Price!"
SS-Panzergrenadier
[This message has been edited by Bürgen (edited July 27, 2001).]