Battles of encirclement.....case studies

[JaegerMeister]

Some people may find this site an interesting one to visit and it may prove useful to scenario/operation creators as it has maps and useful descriptions.

Enjoy !

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/20234/20234.html

[eichenbaum]

Thanks Jaeger ! This is very cool information

[Trommelfeuer]

There's much more cool info there, for example:

(Sorry for being a bit off-topic here...)

United States Army in World War II - Reader's Guide

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

THE ARDENNES: BATTLE OF THE BULGE

(Click on the link above to get to the source!)

ANZIO BEACHHEAD 22 JANUARY - 25 MAY 1944

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

Bastogne: The First Eight Days

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

CROSS-CHANNEL ATTACK

(Click on the link above to get to the source!)

Fifth Army at the Winter Line (15 November 1943-15 January 1944)

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

From the Volturno to the Winter Line (6 October-15 November 1943)

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

Omaha Beachhead (6 June-13 June 1944)

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

The Persian Corridor and Aid to Russia

(Click on the link above to get to the source!)

Salerno: American Operations From the Beaches to the Volturno (9 September-6 October 1943)

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

St-Lo (7 July - 19 July 1944)

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

[ November 01, 2003, 06:31 PM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]

[Trommelfeuer]

To Bizerte With the II Corps (23 April-13 May 1943)

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

Utah Beach to Cherbourg (6-27 June 1944)

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Algeria-French Morocco

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Anzio

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Ardennes-Alsace

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Central Europe

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Egypt-Libya

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Naples-Foggia

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

[Trommelfeuer]

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Normandy

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Northern France

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Po Valley

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Rhineland

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Rome-Arno

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Sicily

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Southern France

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

WWII CAMPAIGNS: Tunisia

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

NOTE:

You'll find more interesting Archival Material on different U.S. WWII campaigns / operations here:

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/online/Bookshelves/WW2-List.htm ....check it out!

Regards, Sven

[Michael Emrys]

Um, say, Trommelfeuer, I can't get those images to load, and when I click on them I get the message that no such site exists. Any ideas?

Michael

[Sardaukar]

No problem here.

Prolly browser issue or something.

Cheers,

M.S.

[Lt Bull]

Thanks Trommelfeuer for the excellent links!! There are some fantastic CM sized maps there for anyone who wants to create a historical based scenario.

eg German positions near St Lo, 1944

Lt Bull

[JaegerMeister]

Great work Trommelfleur, thanks for the other links, looks like between us we found some great sources of information/inspiration for CM batttles both in the west & east!

[Potential Italian Player]

Thanks Trommelfeuer.

Good work.

[Michael Emrys]

Originally posted by Sardaukar:

No problem here.

Prolly browser issue or something.

Cheers,

M.S.

Works fine now. Maybe the site was being overworked earlier.

Michael

[Trommelfeuer]

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

CONTENTS

Chapter 1. The Offensive

I. The Elimination of Russian Forces in a German Rear Area

1. The Blitzkrieg Bogged Down in Mud

2. Desperate Improvisations

3. The Snail Offensive

4. The Scorpion Offensive

5. Cavalry Brigade Model in Operation SEYDLITZ

II. Some Improvisations Used during Operation ZITADELLE

1. The Crossing of Russian Mine Fields

2. A Flak Division Serves as Corps Artillery

Chapter 2. The Defensive

I. Improvised Hedgehog Defenses

II. Defensive Improvisations in Extreme Cold

III. A Moving Pocket Regains the German Lines

IV. Zone Defense Tactics

V. Improvised Fortresses

VI. Defensive Improvisations in East Prussia

Chapter 3. Troop Movements

I. Furlough and Troop Trains under Partisan Attacks

II. The Commitment of Furlough Battalions

Chapter 4. Combat Arms

I. Infantry

II. Artillery

III. Combat Engineers as Infantry

PART THREE. IMPROVISATONS IN THE FIELDS OF SUPPLY AND TRANSPORTATION

Chapter 5. Indispensable Expedients

I. The Panje Column

II. The Corduroy Road

Chapter 6. Other Expedients

I. Improvisations in the Construction of Bridges

II. Improvised Road Maintenance

III. Deceptive Supply Movements

IV. Invasion Barges as Means of Transportation

V. Transportation over Frozen Waterways

VI. Fuel Conservation Expedients

VII. Railroad Tank Cars Towed across the Baltic

Chapter 7. Supply by Airlift and by Aerial Delivery Containers

I. The First German Experiments

II. The Stalingrad Airlift

Chapter 8. Supply and Transportation Problems in the Arctic

PART FOUR. TECHNICAL IMPROVISATIONS

Chapter 9. Clothing and Equipment

Chapter 10. Shelter

Chapter 11. Weapons

Chapter 12. Technical Training for Arctic Conditions

Chapter 13. Improvised Front-Line Propaganda

PART FIVE. ORGANIZATIONAL IMPROVISATIONS

Chapter 14. The Manpower Problem

I. The Situation at the Outbreak of War

II. The Luftwaffe Field Divisions

III. Maintenance of Combat Efficiency

IV. The Employment of Women in the Armed Forces

Chapter 15. The Organization of Special Units

I. Staffs

II. Special Formations

III. Last-Ditch Improvisations

1. The LEUTHEN Project

2. Other Desperate Measures

Chapter 16. Political Measures Introduced by the National Socialist Party

I. Civilian Labor Procurement

II. The Volkssturm

III. Paramilitary Units During the Last Stage of the War

PART SIX. CONCLUSIONS

Chapter 17. Are Improvisations Inevitable?

I. Avoidable Improvisations

II. Unavoidable Improvisations and their Minimization

III. Improvisations in Extreme Emergency 1

Chapter 18. The Relative Value of Improvisations

MAPS

1. 6th Panzer Division (22 June 1941-20 January 1942).

2. The Snail Offensive (End of January to Beginning of April 1942).

3. Operation SEYDLITZ (Situation on 3 July 1942, the Second Day of the Attack).

4. Improvisations in East Prussia.

5. Corduroy Roads in the Leningrad Area.

6. The Withdrawal Across the Dnepr.

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 2. PRINCIPLES OF NIGHT COMBAT

I. General

II. Physical and Psychological Factors

III. Exercise of Command

IV. Orientation

V. Reconnaissance

VI. Security

VII. Movements

VIII. Assembly

IX. Attack

X. Pursuit

XI. Defense

XII. Retrograde Movements

XIII. Position Warfare

CHAPTER 3. RUSSIAN NIGHT COMBAT METHODS

I. Characteristics and Training of the Russian Soldier

II. Movements

III. Reconnaissance

IV. Infiltration

V. Offensive Operations

VI. Defensive Operations

VII. Retrograde Movements

VIII. Partisan Warfare

CHAPTER 4. GERMAN NIGHT COMBAT METHODS

I. Movements

II. Reconnaissance

III. Offensive Operations

IV. Defensive Operations

V. Retrograde Movements

CHAPTER 5. TRAINING

I. General

II. Individual Training

III. Weapons Training

IV. Unit Training

APPENDICES Training Schedules

I. Eight Week Night Training Schedule for Tank Company

II. Twelve Week Night Training Schedule for Armored Infantry Troops

III. Eight Week Night Training Schedule for Antitank Elements

IV. Ten Week Training Schedule for Close Combat at Night

V. Eight Week Night Training Schedule for Organic Engineer Elements Within the Tank or Self-propeled Antitank Gun Battalion

VI. Eight Week Training Schedule for Organic Engineer Elements Within the Armored Infantry Regiment

VII. Eight Week Night Training for the Engineer Platoon of an Armored Reconnaissance Battalion

MAPS

1. General Reference Map

2. The Region around Shala

3. Russian Infiltration by Night (17-21 August 1943)

4. German Preparations for a Night Attack (30 September-2 October 1941)

5. German Surprise Attack by Night (21 January 1944)

6. German Night Withdrawal (25-27 September 1943)

WWII AIRBORNE OPERATIONS-historical study

(Click on the image above to get to the source!)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1. GERMAN AIRBORNE OPERATIONS IN WORLD WAR II

Section I. Principles of Employment...................................

II. Airborne Tactics..........................................

III. Parachute Troops..........................................

IV. Air-Transported Troops....................................

V. Troop-Carrier Units.......................................

VI. Reasons for Success and Failure...........................

VII. German Air Landings after Crete...........................

CHAPTER 2. ALLIED AIRBORNE OPERATIONS IN WORLD WAR II

Section I. Passive Defense Measures..................................

II. The German Warning System.................................

III. Counterattack in the Air..................................

IV. Antiaircraft Defense Fire.................................

V. Counterattack on the Ground...............................

VI. Counterlanding into the Enemy Airhead.....................

VII. An Appraisal of Allied Air Landings.......................

VIII. Reflections on the Absence of Russian Air Landings........

CHAPTER 3. CONCLUSIONS

Section I. Evaluation of Past Airborne Experience....................

II. Limitations of Airborne Operations........................

III. Advantages of Airborne Operations.........................

IV. Requirements for Success..................................

V. Antiairborne Defense......................................

VI. Future Possibilities......................................

APPENDIX. NOTES ON GERMAN AIRBORNE OPERATIONS

Section I. Equipment of German Parachute Troops......................

II. German Employment of Troop-Carrier Units..................

III. Technique and Tactics of Airborne Operations..............

These books are in the out of print section and they are avaiable FOR FREE on the web, just check it out / print it, it's a good way to learn more about this stuff / get background information / get ideas for your CMBB / CMBO / CMAK missions...

Greetings, Sven

P.S. I stumbled across these great sources when I saw a link on Tom's Combat mission HQ a while ago, unfortunately the site is down...

[ November 02, 2003, 02:23 PM: Message edited by: Trommelfeuer ]