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Amona

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Jan 2, 2004
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DEEP IN ENEMY COUNTRY - GERMAN AAR WITH CORE 0.85


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This AAR will report on WWII from the perspective of German High Command, the "Oberkommando der Wehrmacht", henceforth OKW.
Game version: HOI 1.06c, CORE 0.85
setting: normal/normal, basic CORE level
Historically, OKW was in the early years some sort of personal HQ and communication center for Hitler, without any real command or war guiding functions. There was no control of Wehrmachts three branches. Later in the war, OKW controlled various war theatres, like the West, Italy, Finland, the Balcans and acted as General staff. But OKH, the staff of the army, controlled the Eastern front. De facto, only Hitler controlled what was two, not one, general staffs.
Likewise, at no time OKW had control of the air war or the atlantic battle.
So, OKW was by no means a general staff controlling Germanys war efforts. Each branch and OKW, and the economical leaders, Todt, later Speer worked against each other, or parallell to one another at best. Only Hitler knew what was really going on. This principle of "Divide et impera" was Hitlers foremost instrument to hold the absolute power he had gained, but it seriously hampered Germanys war efforts.
In this alternate history, OKW HAS control over Army, Luftwaffe und Kriegsmarine and the war economy as well, like a real high command.
This is not done out of the armchair generals perspective "how I would have run it", but for the sake of the AAR.
The AAR starts in August 1939 with a number of reports on the state of the Wehrmacht, the economic and research situation, political developments since 1936, and so on.
I hope you enjoy it.
 
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OKW report - State of the Wehrmacht, August 9th, 39

OKW/z4/qrz/86-1

STRENGTH, ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT OF THE GREATER GERMAN
WEHRMACHT as of August 1st, 1939

I. HEER (army)

1.) Strength

96 infantry divisions (no brigades attached)
1 cavalry division
15 motorized divisions (1 with artillery brig., 14 with engineer brig.)
12 armored divisions ( 10 with engineer brig., 2 without attachment, czech. equipment)
2 mountain divisions
----
total: 126

forming:
1 mountain division ( ready at August 22)
2 paratrooper divisions ( ready at December 8 and January 28, 40)


2.) Organization

32 Armeekorps a 3 infantrydivisions each, numbered I to XXXII
1 Mountain corps with 2, later 3, mountain divisions
6 Panzerkorps with 2 armored, 1 motorized division each, numbered I to VI.
3 Armeekorps (mot) with 3 motorized divisions each
1 cavalry group with 1 cavalry division

3.) weaponry and equpiment

tanks: All armored divisions equipped with PzKpfw. IIIE (BM 37mm)
assault guns: All motorized divisions equipped with STuG III 75mmCS
artillery: All divisions equipped with FH 10,5cm and FSH 15,3cm (field guns 100mm and 150mm)
anti-tank: Standard weapon is 75mm ATG. Infantry equipped with Panzerfaust I (basic tube launched rocket)
anti-air: Multi-barrelled AA-guns 20mm and 37mm, in fast formations self-propelled.
infantry: 120mm heavy mortar, 81mm mortar, Schmeisser submachinegun (basic), MG 34 (basic GPMG), flamethrowers, magnetic AT mines are standard equipment throughout the Heer.
rivercrossing: portable bridges, crossing equipment, wading equipment standard throughout divisions and Armeekorps.
communication: Improved radio communication of all levels guaranteed.

4.) Doctrines
The following doctrines are in use by the Heer:
Motorized warfare, encirclement-destruction, modern tank warfare, specialist warfare, tactical offensive regimen, army long range recon, motorized HQs, manouvre artillery, combined arms, deep area defence, divisional offensive organization, corps long range recon, signal intelligence.
Organizational levels:
ID: 72
motorized: 75
armored: 82
mountain: 70

5.) Combat value of divisions

Infantry: soft attack 15, hard 7, defence 33.
mountain (+eng.) soft 15, hard 5, defence 32.
armored (+eng.) soft 10, hard 7, defence 17 Speed: 13.
motorized(+eng.) soft 16, hard 8, defence 40 Speed: 12.


panzer3.jpg

PanzerIII was the standard tank of the 12 german armored divisions in August 1939.


firearm_MG34.jpg

MG 34 gave the german infantry immense firepower.
 
Good Start

and keep up the good work! :D
 
Mettermrck: My main source for style and content will be the original war diary of OKW, as far as my English is sufficient to translate the crisp german military language.
The theories are not mine. The relationship between Hitler and the German high command is fairly explored in german as well as anglosaxon studies.
For a recent example see: Ian Kershaw, Hitler, 1936 -45 - Nemesis (as I readed the german translation, I dont know the american or uk bibliographical facts)
Well, in the AAR, OKW is fairly in command, but controversies with Hitler and other military and political factors will arise. As I consider my English too poor to write conversations and meetings, I will use reports, news and diary entries to flesh out the story.
By the way, I consider your interest a sort of knighting. Your AARs are simply the best. What a pity that your british one was aborted. Cant wait to see "Advantages without obligations" continued.

Evans, Ghostwriter: Thanks, guys, will try do to my best.
 
State of the Wehrmacht August 39, continued

II. LUFTWAFFE

1.) Strength and flying equipment

note: 1 Geschwader = roughly 100 planes
(a german Geschwader in history had nominal 120 planes at the start of WWII. With organizational changes after 1942 nominal 264 planes. In Blitzkrieg, before the start of operations around 70% percent of planes were mission-ready, in later years far less.)

8 Kampfgeschwader He 111 (basic tac. bomber)
8 Sturzkampfgeschwader Ju 87 (basic dive bomber)
12 Jagdgeschwader Bf 109D (basic interceptor)
4 Jagdgeschwader BF 109E (basic multirole fighter)
4 Zerstörergeschwader BF 110C (basic heavy escort fighter)
_____

total: 36 Geschwader

forming:
2 Transportgeschwader with Ju 52/3m (PW air transport)
(ready at December 16 and February 2, 40, respectively)


2.) Organization

2 Luftflotten with 4 Kampfgeschwader He 111 and 2 Zerstörergeschwader BF110C each.
Lufflotte I - GFM* Kesselring
Luftflotte II - GFM Sperrle

*= Generalfeldmarschall, Field/Air Marshall

2 Nahkampffliegerkorps (close support air corps)
with 4 Sturzkampfgeschwader Ju 87 and 2 Jagdgeschwader Bf 109E each.
VIII.Fliegerkorps - Gen. v.Richthofen
IX.Fliegerkorps - Gen. Loerzer

4 Jagdfliegerdivisionen with 3 Jagdgeschwader BF 109D each.

3.) Equipment

Bomber: Basic radio navigation, dive-drop bomb shells, deep penetration bombs, basic air-to-surface rockets.
Fighter: Basic decimetric airborne interceptor radar.

4.) Doctrines

The following doctrines are in use: Blitz bombing, extended training programme, home chain, sheltered airfields, combat training team, vertical envelopment.
Organizational levels:
Fighters: 66
Tac.bomber: 52
Dive bomber: 76

5.) Combat values

BF 109D interceptor: Air attack 8, tac.bombing 2, air defence 5.
Bf 109E multirole: Air attack 7, tac.bombing 3, air defence 4.
Bf 110C escort: Air attack 6, tac.bombing 2, air defence 6.
He 111 tac.bomber: tac.bombing 6, naval bombing 4, air defence 8.
Ju 87 dive bomber: tac.bombing 8, naval bombing 4, air defence 7.

JU87MAP.jpg

The Ju 87 Stuka was planned to be the main close air support weapon of German blitzkrieg.

5ab.jpg

This unspectacular array was part of the "Knickebein" system to guide german bombers at night or in poor weather to their targets (basic radio navigation air).
 
I have a feeling this is going to be a great story to follow. Keep them updates coming. :)

Btw, for those of you who haven't read Kershaw's books on Hitler: I strongly recommend them! They are brilliant.
 
"As I consider my English too poor to write conversations and meetings, I will use reports, news and diary entries to flesh out the story"

Great! I in general prefer the History textbook style :D That's what drew me to this AAR in the first place, your english is good enough for me to assume it was your first language. I find that with a lot with foreigners speaking writing english.. you're generally better at it than my fellow students that's for sure!

Looking forward to the next installment.
 
Cthulhu: Thanks for your encouragement. I like your "Imperial France" very much, cant decide which parts suit me more, the military/political one or the lovecraftian.
Evans: Thanks for your compliments. I think if I write something in English its fairly ok, but to come up with it is not always easy. My limited active vocabulary sometimes hinder me to write what I really want to say. Anyway, will do my best.
 
State of the Wehrmacht, August 39, continued

III. Kriegsmarine (navy)

1.) Vessels and flottilas in service

BCs Scharnhorst and Gneisenau
2 pre-dreadnoughts Deutschland-class
3 CA Lützow-class
1 CA Admiral Hipper class
5 CA Königsberg class
1 CA Emden class
2 sloops Brmese-class
1 DD-flottila Raubvogel class
1 DD-flottila T-37 class
3 DD-flottilas Type34/A class
2 sub-flottilas Type IA class
1 sub flottila Type VIIA class
4 sub flottilas Type IXA class
9 transport flottilas

under construction:
4 sub-flottilas Type IXA, ready at October 1.
4 transport flottilas, ready at December 1.

2.) Organization

Kriegsmarine - Gr.Adm. Raeder (Lübeck)
2 BC, 1 CA Admiral Hipper, 2 CA Königsberg, 1 CA Emden, 3 DD-flottilas.

Marinegruppe West - Gr.Adm. Boehm (Hamburg)
3 CA Königsberg, 1 DD-flottila.

Marinegruppe Ost - Gr.Adm. Albrecht (Rostock)
2 pre-dreadnoughts, 2 sloops, 1 DD-flottila.

6 transportflottilas without formation

U-Bootflotte Heimat - Adm. Guse (Kiel)
3 short range sub-flottilas

I.UBootflotte - Adm. Dönitz (Kiel)
4 long range sub-flottilas

Mittelmeergeschwader - Adm.Lütjens (Napoli, Italy)*
3 Lützow CA, 3 transport flottilas

*= We have Military Access to Italy, see political report for details.

3.) Equipment

Naval technology, latest developments: Large torpedo warheads, large destroyers, basice marine electronics, basic decimetric air search radar, improved MF/HF radios, VHF tactical radios, heavy shipboard torpedoes.

Submarine technology: basic long range sub (Type IXA), improved sub pressure hull, improved battery systems, improved battery charging systems, basic air scrubbers.

4.) Doctrines

The following doctrines are in use: Offensive destroyer, large destroyer, commerce raider cruiser, battleship protection superiority, submarine operational, battleline, auxiliary cruisers, convoy organizaton, close blockade, unrestricted submarine warfare, submarine anti-commerce.

Organizational levels:
BB 74, CA 75, DD 55, TP 33, SS 21.

5.) Combat values
(examples only)

BC Scharnhorst class: Sea attack 17, Air Attack 9, Sea Defence 18, Air defence 10.

Type IXA sub: Sea Attack 7, Range 6.000.


gneisen.jpg

Battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau with their nine 283mm guns were the biggest ships of Kriegsmarine in August 39, as construction of Bismarck-class BBs had be cancelled in 1937/38.


donitz.jpg

Admiral Karl Dönitz, Führer der UBoote (leader of submarine forces) in 1939. He was a strong proponent of unrestricted submarine warfare and developed the wolfpack doctrine.
 
Glad you like my AAR Amona. :) I noticed that you have military access to Italy and based on this I draw the conclusion that you are playing the Grand Campaign. Am I correct or is it the 1939 scenario?
 
Amona said:
Anyway, will do my best.
you are doing quite well. this is an excellent start.
 
Rommel22: The cartoon is a british one out of Winter 41/42, when the Soviet counteroffensive at Moscow was at its peek.

Cthulhu: Its the 1936 CORE game. I didnt want to flesh out the years 36 - 39, so I decided to play up to 39 and give a summary of situation in August 39, starting the AAR at that point.

Stuyvesant: Thanks! Regarding the game, beware, I am playing a patch called CORE, not vanilla HOI. More events, different tech trees, vast improved AI performance, altered AI force build up etc.

Ghostwriter: Blushes! :rolleyes:

Mettermrck: Colour pictures and movies make WWII so much more real, dont you think? It gives one a creepy feeling in the spine... :)
 
The REichs economy and the Research situation, August 1939

REPORT OF WEHRWIRTSCHAFTSAMT* OKW (Gen. Thomas), August 1, 1939

*= economics department

Our industrial capacity is 514 units (IC).

Coal reserves: 72.951 Coal production: 1750,5 units.
Steel reserves: 80.022 Steel production: 242,5.
Rubber reserves: 242 Rubber production: 0.
Oil reserves: 140 Oil production: 15.

Trade on world market (will stop once we are at war):

300 coal for 300 steel.
280 coal for 140 rubber.

Industrial multipliers:
Oil to rubber: 0,5
Coal to oil: 0,5
We currently need 4 coal to get 1 rubber.

Once we are at war, we need 257 rubber units daily = 1.028 coal units.
Our surplus in coal once trading stops will be 722 coal daily.
We will loose around 700 coal daily from our reserves.
Conclusion: We have coal reserves for roughly 100 days of war.
Steel reserves will take us through roughly 300 days of war.

Because of the coal situation, which in turn is based on our complete lack of home produced oil and rubber, we need to capture foreign reserves, and that as soon as possible.
Otherwise our war industry will come to a screeching halt after a mere 100 days of war.
If we assume September 1st as start of military operations, until the beginning of December we MUST have gained large amounts of resource reserves. If Poland alone can meet our needs is very much in doubt.


REPORT OF I QUARTIERMEISTER* OKW, August 1, 1939

*= logistics department

supply reserves: 7.467 units
current supply production daily: 254,05
Daily need of Wehrmacht: 257,23
Daily oil use of Wehrmacht: 34,95




REPORT OF FORSCHUNGSAMT* OKW, August 5, 1939

*= research&development department

I. Industrial research
1.) We have rigged our economy for total war.
2.) Research into synthethic materials
Complete: Polyutherane, hydroforming, improved synthethic oil plants.
under way: catalytic polymerisation.
possible: Nylon.

II. Electronics
Complete: Frequency modulation, Magnetic drum data storage, improved electromechanical computers.
possible: Resonance magnetron.

III. Nuclear
possible: Isotope separation process.
(No investment since January 1936)

IV. Rockets
possible: Improved rocket design.
(no investment since January 1936)

V. Wehrmacht projects

1.) Infantry
under way: Improved signal command system of all levels, improved logistics.
possible: Basic signal and interception jamming units, corps LR recon battalion, improved tube launched rocket.

2.) Armour
under way: Improved tanks.
possible: Light tank destroyer 37mm, flame tank, medium assault gun (75mmMedium), basic heavy tank prototype test, infantry support tank, basic amphibious tank.

3.) Artillery
under way: tank gun 50mm.
possible: Improved 406mm naval gun, 460 mm naval gun, improved ordinance and equipment.

4.) Heavy aircraft
under way: Improved ordinance and equipment.
possible: Artillery spotter aircraft, basic heavy bomber airframe, improved light and medium bomber projects, airborne glider training, incendiary bombs, 2000+kg free fall bombs, multiple gun turrets, armor plating.

5.) Light aircraft
under way: -
possible: - Basic LR, Air superiority and 2engind ground attack fighters; improved fighter projects of all levels, basic decimetric AAA and interceptor radars, early improvements.

6.) Naval
under way: -
possible: Basic decimetric surface search radar, basic sonar/ASDIC, diesel fire pump, improved steam plant, refined marine technology.

7.) Submarines
under way: early sub experience
possible: improved short and medium range subs.

VI. Doctrines

1.) Heer
possible: unconventional warfare, elite unit, winter war experience, motorized logistics, mechanized HQs, late experience analysis.

2.) Luftwaffe
underway: Early combat testing.
possible: Carrier air groups, airborne assault, point AA defence, carpet bombing.

3.) Kriegsmarine
under way: underway replenishment, early naval experience.
possible: carrier operations, mobile fleet defence or coastal fortification, commerce raider, night fighting.

VII. Spending
Total allocated IC units: 99,6.

sig4105_5.jpg

In 1939, german arms production was put on a higher footing.
 
Mettermrck said:
This is solid and mechanical, really gives you an idea of what you're doing in the game. :)

very true. more! :cool: