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Hi Osterhase,just one more word about the logistics situation for AGC.On july15th,the quartermaster of AGC issued a report on the logistical ability of AGC at that date.In it he stated that from MINSK,AGC could support an armoured drive to MOSCOW with a force of 4 panzer divisions,3motorised divisio...

Hi Osterhase,this is a great discussion!And I have found a point of general agreement between us!! The forces directly in front of AGC july-aug were indeed around 500,000.You mentioned 'other reserves' as well,and yes the reserves you are referring to was the stavka strategic reserve of 28 well arme...

France hands down!Not only defeated a powerful enemy,but also drove Britain from the continent.Around 45,000 casualties.

Hi Osterhase,I hope your active duty went well.Now as regards your last mail.From my research,the Red army strength in front of AGC at the time of Smolensk falling[July 16th],was around 500,000.These were not fully cohesive or combat ready either as many of the units were recent escapees from the Ya...

Bock and Hoth wanted to leave covering forces only east of minsk and continue on towards the smolensk land-bridge.Bock complained that the armour was 2 days late in moving out of the minsk area,when they should have been fullspeed towards smolensk.The conservative Halder held them back.Bock actually...

Well I have to do it again and say that Von Noobie is right.The allies knew from before barbarossa what was happening to the Jews in Poland,and then all about the Einsatzgruppen activities in russia.Blechley Park was picking up all the radio traffic of enigma and they knew exactly what was going on ...

Congrats Paul J,absolutely spot on about the L F D.Manstein gave the very same analysis in 'Lost Victories'.He decried the waste of such valuable personnel when they would have made first class soldiers when integrated into existing,veteran formations.Another typical example of Hitler wasting soldie...

Hi captain sensible.I have heard the same about the luftwaffe 'almost' winning the battle of britain.However,I tend to think that they went very close.Fighter command was almost on its last legs when the germans changed from bombing airfields,radar stations,and aircraft factories etc to attacking lo...

Correction;south-east coastal areas

As far as my readings go,Sealion was a well advanced plan.There were several french harbours and shipyards being used to modify barges into landing craft,all the divisions required had been earmarked,and landing sites allocated to the army groups.The only requirement for the conduct of the invasion ...

Hi Liuanru.A very interesting topic for discussion.I read Manstein recently,and he gave his observations on the fighting qualities of the SS divisions.From what I recall,he esteemed them very highly because of their bravery,determination and high morale etc.The weakness that they suffered from[accor...

Hi von Noobie.If my memory serves me correctly,it was the russians who had built the bridge across the volga,and just as it was finished they had to destroy it due to the german armoured breakthrough around the northern suburbs at Rynok.I think you are right about it being the 16 th panzer division ...

Hi domitian.Yes June 22 was late in the year for such an ambitious campaign.From what I have heard though,it seems that the germans did not have much of a choice.Apart from the Balkan campaigns and the resultant unreadiness of part of the transport services,the rains of the spring in Belarus had lef...

Correction;should have read 'most of the communist world'.

Maybe Von Noobie means that tanks have far less value in street fighting than they do in the field. IE tanks were not intended for,but were adaptable to,urban actions.That argument is clearly sustainable.The same goes for infantry.As for Stalingrad,the 6th army lost most of its tactical advantages i...