The German Army equipped themselves with the first modern mortars in 1910. They were introduced as fortification artillery. Following the start of war in 1914 and the commencement of trench warfare they were moved up to the front where they could destroy a whole section of trench and were quite deadly.

By 1916 the idea had set in that these mortars were no longer a pioneering tool to smash fortifications, but a weapon intended to support the infantry. During the artillery preparation before a battle their mission was to clear barbed wire, smash enemy trenches or (shallow) dugouts and machine gun positions. When the moment of attack came, they followed the infantry closely to take out any strong points.