Professional Documents
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SOUTH
SEAS
CAMPAIGN
1942
-1943
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1. The 1.Century’s
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2. Europe
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3. Towards
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Politics
in Politics
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10. The 10.
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11. The 11.
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12. War12.
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and Occupations
13. Soldiers
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as Victimsas Victims
14. Storm
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15. The 15.
Total
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on theFront
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22. Dissent
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and Its Limits
23. Remobilization
23. Remobilization
in 1916–1917
in 1916–1917
24. Armenian
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into Genocide
25. Strains
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Parisand
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33. Aftershocks—Reds,
33. Aftershocks—Reds,Whites,Whites,
and Nationalists
and Nationalists
34. Monuments,
34. Monuments,
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and Myths and Myths
35. The 35.
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World at War 18 | JUN–JUL 2011
over 9 million
over 9 courses
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have been havesold.
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The Strategy & Tactics
of World War II
#
18 | JUN–JUL 2011
20 30 6
by Joseph Miranda Game Preview Please submit all other questions or comments to our free
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The Hardest Days
20
PUBLISHER
Samurai vs. Bear: 50 Dr. Christopher Cummins
The Battle of Changkufeng Hill, Observation Post
ASSISTANT PUBLISHER
July-August 1938 • Mysteries Revealed Callie Cummins
The Japanese won over Soviet armor in Myths of the Singapore Guns
SENIOR EDITOR
1938, but in so doing they set themselves by Stanley L. Falk Ty Bomba
up for a great defeat the following year. • On the Seas
EDITOR
by Terence Co Hitler’s Titanic: The Wilhelm Gustloff Joseph Miranda
by Edmond N. Gaudelli, Jr. DESIGN
30 • Broader Perspective C.J. Doherty
Hell in a Cold, Small Place: Germany’s Evacuation of the Baltic COPY EDITORS
The Battle of Hatten-Rittershoffen by Carl Otis Schuster Jason Burnett, Dave Kazmierczak, Tim Tow
At the small villages of Hatten and • Historical Perspective Senior Game Developer
Rittershoffen, the Germans’ Operation Nazi Art Theft in World War II Eric Harvey
North Wind offensive was blunted by Annie Laura Smith MAP GRAPHICS
before it even really got started. • I Remember Meridian Mapping
by Allyn Vannoy Charlie Bell’s War Director of Advertising
as told to Andrew Hind Richard Sherman
rsherman@strategyandtacticspress.com
40 (310) 453-0856
The Soviet Air Force in World War II: 65
1941-45 Media Reviews
The Soviet air force proved to be Postmaster
Send address changes to World at War,
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a long flight to get there. NEXT ISSUE (#19) World at War (PE25504) is published bi-
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by Joseph Miranda
S
ince the early decades of the 20th promoted itself into the picture by creat- demilitarized. Effectively, then, the
century, US naval planners had ing an amphibious warfare doctrine Philippines would still be out of sup-
prepared for war in the Pacific. while also establishing its own air arm. port range at the opening of a war.
The objective was to defend the US Initially, Plan Orange projected US In 1937 the Japanese began open
possession of the Philippines. The forces would reach the Philippines in warfare in China. On 1 September 1939
main threat was Japan, though US time to relieve the garrison, but that Nazi Germany unleashed World War II
planners also looked at contingences in estimate was soon revised. Throughout in Europe. Any war in the Pacific would
the event of belligerency with various the 1920s and 1930s, and right up to thereafter inescapably involve European
other powers. Under the Rainbow the eve of war, the USN wargamed Plan colonial powers, as Great Britain, France
War Plans system, each possible Orange. Among other things it found and the Netherlands all had possessions
opponent was given a color name, initial assumptions had been unrealistic. in the Far East. That seemed to have
and the color for Japan was orange. The Navy had begun with the idea turned the balance against Japan, as
War Plan Orange assumed an initial America could mobilize sufficient force it added more Western armed force to
Japanese attack that would involve, to launch a general counteroffensive any future Allied coalition; however,
among other things, an invasion of the within the span of a few weeks. The Germany’s 1940 blitzkrieg victories
Philippines. In that event American wargames showed mobilization might then had even more profound effects
forces stationed there were to defend take many months and, by extension, on the strategic situation in the Pacific.
in place while the US Navy’s (USN) it might then take up to three years Both France and the Netherlands were
Pacific Fleet assembled at Pearl Harbor. for the fleet to reach the Philippines. taken out of the Allied lineup, while
American forces would then launch The planners took seriously that Britain had to concentrate its strength
a counteroffensive across the Pacific recalculation, and revamped the overall in Europe. The subsequent Japanese
in a combined naval, land and air strategy accordingly. One result was the occupation of French Indochina put
effort. USN battleships, supported decision to move the main strength of them in a position to threaten both the
by aircraft carriers, would establish the Pacific Fleet, its battleships, from the Dutch East Indies (still technically neu-
control of critical waters, allowing west coast to the base at Pearl Harbor. tral) and the British base at Singapore.
amphibious forces from the US Marine In theory that would put the navy in a At the same time, a previously isola-
Corps (USMC) and Army to seize position far enough forward to begin tionist US Congress was at last motivat-
islands. Those islands would then be operations soon after the opening of any ed to give the navy everything it wanted
used as bases for further advances. war. At the same time, Pearl Harbor was in terms of a massive fleet build up. That
That approach was critical for still considered a secure position owing projected expansion (available for all to
two reasons. One was logistical: the to its distance from Japanese naval read about in detail in the pages of the
new bases would provide facilities for bases. Meanwhile the US also built up Congressional Record) served as a further
refueling, repair and replenishment of the Philippine ground force under the and final signal to the Japanese that they
the fleet. The islands were also needed command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. had to move as soon as possible against
to base aircraft, a recognition of the That would make the islands harder for the Western powers in general and
growing importance of aviation in the the Japanese to take. The US also wanted America in particular. It was clear that,
otherwise, by 1943 – 44 the USN in the
Pacific would be so large as to preclude
all hope of successful Japanese action.
With a major war clearly brewing
in the Far East, then, the US settled
on a final plan, Rainbow 5. It called
for American cooperation with other
Allied powers, as well as combined
USN and US Army operations. (At the
time the air force was part of the army.)
Rainbow 5 assumed an initial American
defensive stance in the event Japan
opened the war, with the Philippines
most likely having to be written off.
That defensive stage would be
followed by American mobilization and
then a counteroffensive. The main thrust
would be across the Central Pacific. The
campaign was to culminate with an
American air-naval siege of Japan that
would force Tokyo to capitulate. The
main constraints were the time needing
to be taken for the US to mobilize its
continued on page 10 »
1942
January – February:
Japanese Seize Rabaul. 18 October: Halsey Takes Command.
Japanese amphibious forces capture the Australian naval Vice Adm. William “Bull” Halsey is placed in command of the South
base at Rabaul and consolidate their hold on New Britain. Pacific Area. He brings a new aggressive policy to operations.
March: Japanese Land on Lae. 26 – 27 October:
This begins their campaign to take New Guinea Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands.
and threaten northeastern Australia. Yamamoto’s carriers engage Halsey’s, resulting in the sinking
March: of the Hornet and damage to the Enterprise; two IJN car-
Establishment of Allied Theater Commands. riers are also damaged. Halsey withdraws, but Yamamoto
Those include the Pacific Ocean Area (Nimitz), the Southwest Pacific fails to follow up with an assault on Guadalcanal.
Area (MacArthur), and Southeast Asia. A Southeast Pacific command is 12 – 15 November:
also established to guard the approaches to the Panama Canal. Those Naval Battles of Guadalcanal.
are combined land-naval-air commands, including forces from all Allied The IJN attempts to support operations on Guadalcanal, committing
powers. The Pacific Ocean Area is further divided into North, Central and two battleships and other fleet units. Halsey responds aggressively.
South commands (the latter initially under Adm. Ghormley, then Halsey). American and Japanese naval and air forces engage each other over
4 – 8 May: Battle of the Coral Sea. a period of several days. Those actions result in the Japanese losing
Japanese and Allied forces clash in the first carrier versus carrier two battleships to a combination of surface and land-based aviation
battle. Japanese transports carrying amphibious forces for assault on attacks. That ends IJN offensive operations in Guadalcanal waters.
Australian-held Port Moresby turn back, but another Japanese amphibi- November 1942 – January 1943: Allied
ous group reaches Tulagi and Guadalcanal and begins building airbases. Counteroffensive on New Guinea.
4 – 7 June: Battle of Midway. US and Australian forces take Buna and Goa in
Yamamoto’s Combined Fleet attacks the American base at Midway; the face of fierce Japanese resistance.
Nimitz orders three USN carriers to the island. They ambush and January – February 1943:
sink four IJN fleet carriers, ending Yamamoto’s offensive. US Ground Offensive on Guadalcanal.
July – September: USMC and Army units push back the Japanese. The Japanese high
Japanese forces cross the Owen Stanley Mountains for an command cancels a planned offensive and instead orders evacuation
attack on Port Moresby; they’re stopped by a desperate Allied of the island. IJN units withdraw land forces by 7 February.
defense. MacArthur sends reinforcements to New Guinea.
August: 1943
American Landings on Guadalcanal & Tulagi.
1st US Marine Division establishes a beachhead and seizes Henderson January – June:
Field. Japanese launch air attacks on American ships, but they’re Continued Allied Offensive on New Guinea.
largely ineffective. An IJN cruiser squadron inflicts serious losses MacArthur builds up US and Australian strength on the island.
on an Allied naval force at Savo Island (9 August). As a result the 1 – 4 March: Battle of the Bismarck Sea.
USN withdraws its carrier task force covering the landings. US land-based aircraft ambush and destroy a Japanese
August – February 1943: Cactus Air Force. USMC aircraft troop convoy heading for New Guinea. Information for
begin operations from Henderson Field, followed by Army, Navy the attack was provided by ULTRA intelligence.
and Allied air units. The Japanese counter with air raids from April: Operation I-Go &
bases on Rabaul and Bougainville. In the following months the Allies the Japanese Aerial Counteroffensive.
gain local air parity, and then superiority, over the Solomons. Yamamoto orders IJN carrier air groups transferred to land
22 – 25 August: bases as part of an attempt to gain air superiority over the
Battle of the Eastern Solomons. Solomons and New Guinea. Those operations gain little while
Japanese carrier group supporting operations on Guadalcanal costing the Japanese many pilots and planes. Yamamoto is killed
is attacked by US carriers. The IJN loses one light car- in an ULTRA-assisted aerial ambush by US fighters on 18 April.
rier while the USS Enterprise is damaged. That’s part of a larger June: Operation Cartwheel Begins.
Japanese effort to reinforce their troops on the island. MacArthur begins the counteroffensive that will isolate
August – September: Rabaul and consolidate Allied control of the South Pacific.
Japanese Submarine Successes. July – December: the Solomons.
An IJN submarine torpedoes the carrier Saratoga, forc- Allied forces take the islands of New Georgia and
ing it to return to base for repair. Other subs sink the Bougainville along with their critical airbases.
Wasp and damage the battleship North Carolina. September: Allies Take Lae & Salamaua.
August – October: The New Guinea Force, now under Australian Gen. Thomas
IJA Counterattacks on Guadalcanal. Blamey, is in position to assault New Britain.
The Japanese have two divisions and a brigade on Guadalcanal. November:
The Americans commit reinforcements from several more USN Carrier Strikes on Rabaul.
divisions. Japanese counterattacks tend are fragmented and They’re part of the American strategy of isolating and
poorly supported owing to their logistical difficulties. The Japanese neutralizing Japanese bases via aero-naval power.
attempt to maintain supply for their forces on the island via December:
what they refer to as “Rat Transport” (destroyer transports plus US Forces Land on New Britain.
submarines and barges, “rat” being a symbol of hoarding for the The Allies isolate Rabaul. That effectively ends
Japanese); it’s known as the “Tokyo Express” to the Americans. Japanese operations in the South Pacific. ★
T
he South Seas Campaign (SSC) occur by playing particular operation night fighting. As a result they get an
is a wargame of the Allied markers that temporarily grant more attack bonus at sea in 1942. The Allies
versus Japanese across the actions per turn. That means the get a special ULTRA mission, which gives
South and Southwest Pacific Theaters Japanese will have surges of activity them enhanced intelligence operations.
of Operation in 1942 and 43. That in which a lot can be accomplished. (There are many intelligence operations
campaign involved both sides’ navies, In the long run, though, the Allies in the game other than those specifically
armies and air forces, as well as have a more methodical buildup of called for by the action menu, but they’re
massive logistical and intelligence operational capability. That represents simply factored into studying enemy
support. It spanned the Pacific from the greater coordination and logistical units on the map. What the intelligence
Australia to Fiji and Rabaul, and it support enjoyed by those forces, as actions deal with are those deeper and
saw major battles such as Coral Sea, opposed to the occasional flashes of extraordinary factors that can give you a
Guadalcanal and New Guinea. brilliance and extraordinary effort strategic advantage when used properly.)
Designing SSC was a tall order, given demonstrated by the Japanese. Similarly, The units are rated for their combat
both the geographic and military scope. certain Japanese operations markers values against air, ground, surface and
I found myself going over ground (and allow them to utilize either Navy or Army submarine targets. I added movement
water) I’d trod (or sailed) in my design units but not both, which represents and range factors due to the great
of Solomons Campaign for World at the historic division between those two differences in the abilities of the various
War number two, which covered the services. The Allies also have an edge formations depicted here to deploy and
fighting on and around Guadalcanal. there insofar as they were much better operate at range. I also gave aircraft
The approach I took with Solomons at what is today called “joint warfare.” carriers a depleted side, representing
Campaign was “systems intensive.” That Understanding those things is important the tendency of World War II carriers,
is, there were many rules to model the for optimum play, as each player needs even in otherwise successful battles,
specifics of naval, air and land opera- to utilize his own side’s advantages while to lose much of their air group and
tions as well as logistics. I considered exploiting his opponent’s weaknesses. thus suffer a reduction in strength.
using a similar approach for SSC, but The game has many types of actions. There are also engineers, which
then decided to adapt the Charles I grouped them together according to players will find useful for building up
S. Roberts Award-winning system the American military staff system: G-1 that critical base structure mentioned
created by Ty Bomba for Red Dragon (Administrative), G-2 (Intelligence), above. You have to look at “power
Rising (RDR). RDR uses one major G-3 (Operations), and G-4 (Logistics). projection” in the game as a function of
subsystem to model many different That’s realistic, since it models how far forward you can get your bases.
types of operations. Each operation is actual practice, while it also makes There are counters representing
conducted as a discrete “action” and, the actions more readily accessible to extraordinary situations, such as
by carrying out those actions, players the players, who can select them by the Tokyo Express and build-
execute their overall strategy. It also consulting the general categories. ing the Kokoda Trail. They add
makes for a much faster playing game. All actions are critical to developing historical color to the game without
I modified the RDR system to allow a winning strategy, and players have adding a lot of special rules.
multiple operations to be conducted to think hard about their choices. The game is generally won by
sequentially, reflecting situations of For example, you have to build up accumulating victory points, which
superior command-control by one your basing structure on the map in covers the attritional aspect of the long
side over the other. Both sides have order to project power; so logistical campaign; however, there’s also the
markers that allow them to do that. operations can be just as important as chance for a “sudden death victory”
For the Allies it’s structured as one those dealing directly with combat. if you can seize your opponent’s key
additional action per major commander Both sides in the game have their his- strategic bases or clear his major
(such as MacArthur) for the remainder toric advantages. The Japanese start with fleet units from the map. That gives
of the game after his appearance. an advantage in weapons (Long Lance you a reason to take bold actions
For the Japanese, it will generally torpedoes) and training, especially in in pursuit of a big victory. ✪
Editor’s Note: Soviet units are shown in and Noguchi Hills at its center. which meant there was little cover.
plaintext; Japanese units are in italics. The Tumen River, which runs Changkufeng Hill was the most
through the area north to south, further militarily significant terrain feature in
C
hangkufeng Hill is a twin-peaked demarcated the border. The local the area because it had a commanding
promontory that sits at the terrain was mainly forest and swamp view (elevation 550 yards), and it also
confluence of the Russian-Korean interspersed with small hills and lay at the center of the larger chain of
border sandwiched between Lake streams. In the battle area the Tumen hills. Whoever controlled Changkufeng
Khasan to the east and Korea to the west. was a muddy 500 to 700 yards wide and Hill tactically controlled the entire area.
Changkufeng Hill was named by the three to five yards deep, which made After the signing of the Russo-
Korean natives of the area, as its shape crossing problematic. The Soviet roads Chinese Hunchun Border Pact of 1886,
reminded them of the changgo, a type on the eastern bank were good; even which had officially delineated the
of snare drum constricted in the center heavy vehicles could move easily along Russo-Chinese (Manchurian) Korean
and played by tapping on both ends. The them. On the Korean (west) side, the border, the Changkufeng Hill area
Soviets at first called it Zaozernaya (Hill roads were poor at best and became had remained obscure and remote.
Behind the Lake); however, among the impassable during the rainy season. Even with the Japanese conquest
Soviet troops who fought there it became The tops of the hills were rocky of Manchuria and Korea, the area
known as Sugar Loaf Hill, again due to its peaks many sharp angles that, while continued to remain militarily
shape. What was to become the overall still allowing tanks to move, restricted overlooked. Once strong Soviet sup-
battle area ran about four miles, north to their speed. The same was true of port for the Nationalist Chinese
south, from Shachaofeng Hill (elevation the marshy terrain around the hills. government began, in the aftermath
450 feet) to Hill 52, along the western The area immediately around the of the Japanese invasion of China
bank of Lake Khasan, with Changkufeng hills was treeless and generally sandy, proper on 7 July 1937, that changed.
pg. 21
pg. 22
Divisional Histories
Soviet 32nd Rifle Division. Activated in 1934 in Vladivostok as part of 39th Rifle
Corps. During the Germans’ Operation Typhoon (October — December 1941), the division
fought as part of 5th Army in the Mozhaisk Defense Line in front of Moscow. As part of
that campaign, from 13 – 18 October 1941, the division fought a bruising battle against
the 10th Panzer and 2nd SS “Das Reich” Motorized Infantry Divisions. While mauled, the
32nd also inflicted heavy losses on its attackers and delayed their advance. The division
was subsequently reformed into 29th Guards Rifle Division. In 1944 – 45 it served in the
Ukraine and then ended the war as part of 10th Guards Army on the Baltic coast.
Soviet 40th Rifle Division. Formed in 1919 as the Expeditionary Division, dur-
ing the Russian Civil War it fought in the Ukraine. In 1920 it was redesignated 40th
Rifle Division. The division remained stationed in the Soviet Far East through 1945,
and it participated in the invasion of Manchuria that August. ★
4 – 5 August
8 & 9 August
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relieve Tobruk, attempt to
Operation Battl
new, surprise eaxe, but a
Crusader
Allied offensive
1941, Operation in November
Crusader, woul
into one of the d evolve
most chaotic
battles of the and
entire North Afric near- run
an campaign.
Crusader utilize
s the new Fire
combat syste & Movement
m that’s desig
players can augm ned so
ent their units
“support fire”
durin
battle. From mort g the course of the
with
Battle for Tobr
can receive supp
enemy positions
ars to tanks,
ort assets to
units
engage
uk
and formation
combat to deve s, allowing
lop at all levels
recon battalion, . A single
for example —
supported by perhaps
air cover — could
to assault a lone be
enemy infantry tasked
defending a key regiment
hilltop. As that
underway, the attack gets
recon battalion
itself under the may find
guns of enem
So more supp y artillery.
ort fire will be
to take the hill, necessary
but assets are
limited.
In Crusader, the
attritional desig
new Combat n of the
Results Table
true nature of simu
battles in North lates the
are typically two- Africa. Units
sided formation
can incur casu
alties, accurately s that
the realities of replicating
combat and the
losses sustained high
by both sides
actual fighting during the
around Tobru
the battle is thus k. Winn
a matter of mane ing
firepower and
asset manageme uver,
nt.
Game Conten
ts:
• 17 x 22” (43 x 56
cm) terrain map
• 100 die-cut coun
ters
• One Standard
Rules booklet
• One Exclusive for this series
Rules booklet
for this title
Crusader
PLAYERS
2
P.O. Box 21598 | Bakersfield, CA 93390-1598 | (661) 587-9633 phone | (661) 587-5031 fax | decisiongames.com
Hell in a Cold, Small Place:
The Battle of Hatten-Rittershoffen
by Allyn Vannoy
Editor’s Note: Allied units are in fire from American artillery. By the valley limited visibility to 100 yards.
plaintext; German units are in italics. afternoon the Americans had been On 8 January the German high
driven back, but the Germans still command issued new orders. Two days
North Wind hadn’t penetrated the Maginot Line. earlier a separate attack had forced a
The assault continued during the bridgehead over the Rhine near the town
T
he plan for Hitler’s winter night of 6/7 January and into the next of Gambsheim, north of Strasbourg.
offensive into Alsace-Lorraine, day, as thick mist across the Rhine From that crossing a westward thrust
Fall Nordwind (Operation North
Wind), called for breaking through
American positions along the old
Maginot Line near Wissembourg with
a panzer kampfgruppe (battlegroup),
and then advancing along the fringe
of the Vosges Mountains in an effort to
link up with the German 19th Army’s
bridgehead on the Rhine to the south
at Colmar, France. At the same time,
five divisions of infantry were to push
through the Vosges directly into the
Rhine valley. One of the units assigned
to exploit any breakthrough was 21st
Panzer Division. After taking heavy
losses in Normandy that division had
received replacements; its armored
strength had been brought up to a
total of 74 Panthers and Mark IVs.
Nordwind made little initial progress
in the snow-covered Vosges; so a pg. 33
new plan was quickly conceived. The
21st Panzer and 25th Panzergrenadier
Divisions, under the commands of Lt.
Gen. Edgar Feuchtinger and Col. Arnold
Burmeister, respectively, were directed
to move east of Wissembourg, break
through the Allied front there, trap the
Americans in that area around the town
of Haguenau, close the outlets across the
Vosges, and thus effectively set the stage
for the German recapture of Strasbourg.
Before that larger move could take place,
however, the German effort was fatally
delayed, in an 11-day close-in fight
of unparalleled savagery and bloody
mayhem, for two otherwise obscure
villages: Hatten and Rittershoffen.
5 – 8 January
11 – 12 January
18 – 20 January
Monster
the moans of wounded soldiers. parties of the 47th Volksgrenadier
Immediately after the German Division arrived to relieve the German
artillery lifted, a Panther, supported units in and around the two villages,
by some infantry, began to move west allowing the reduced elements of 25th
on the main street of Hatten. At the Panzergrenadier Division to pull out. The
same time another Panther prepared to
flank the American position from the
next day passed relatively quietly, with
little action on the part of either party. deluxe
southeast. The American outposts were
at first pushed back, but those troops Conclusion
then held as Staff Sgt. David Mathias,
Company B, 47th Tank, brought forward On the morning of 21 January a
his Sherman, firing at the advancing strange calm lay over the remains of the
Germans and preventing them from two villages. The Germans soon learned
moving farther along the main street. the Americans had evacuated during the
The Panther to the south of town night: 14th Armored Division had been
worked its way into an orchard and then ordered to pull south of the Moder River.
toward a barn where some American For 11 days the German 21st Panzer
infantry were hold up. Using its main and 25th Panzergrenadier Divisions and
gun, it fired directly into the barn. The the GIs of the US 14th Armored Division,
Americans inside scattered. The Panther, along with elements of the 79th and 42nd
by then only 35 yards from the barn, Infantry Divisions, had been locked in a
fired another round that set the building struggle for two villages neither side had
on fire. When artillery began to fall been willing to abandon. The American
again, however, the Panther withdrew. infantry and tankers had held up two
As night fell, 19th Armored Infantry German mechanized divisions, units
was nearing the end of its strength. that had been intended to swiftly break
Not only had casualties been heavy, through the Allied line. Those spearhead
the men were exhausted. Ammunition units were heavily worn down while US
was also running critically low. Even 7th Army reorganized and formed a new
so, bloody, chaotic and back-and- line to the south. The time bought during
forth fighting continued with no the fighting at Hatten-Rittershoffen Experience the vastness of
significant gains by either side. was crucial to bringing on the eventual Russia in this broad sweeping
CCA, meanwhile, had been continu- overall defeat of Fall Nordwind. treatment of the War in Russia.
ing to fight inside Rittershoffen. There From 13 through 20 January, the 14th
the 68th launched an attack employing Armored Division’s losses amounted This is a redesigned and
tank-infantry teams supported by to 104 killed, 899 wounded and 112 developed edition of the original
artillery, assault guns and mortars. missing. Material losses totaled 39
Proud Monster and Death and
In house-to-house fighting the unit tanks, five halftracks, an armored car, six
met stubborn resistance. The 68th 57mm guns and two 105mm howitzers.
Destruction, originally published
did manage to clear a small patch Gen. Jacob Devers, commander of the in Command Magazine.
of woods just outside the village. Allied 6th Army Group, declared after the
During the night a German patrol, action: “At Hatten and Rittershoffen the Both games have been
clad in American uniforms, penetrated to 14th Armored Division fought one of the retooled to work seamlessly
a cellar occupied by Lt. Charles F. Bailey greatest defensive battles of the war.” as one monster game.
and part of his platoon. The Germans In a few weeks the Allies regained all
Coming
killed the guard on duty and then called the lost ground and prepared to launch
into the cellar, inquiring as to whether their final drive into Germany. ✪
SpRing 2011
there were any Americans inside. That
query was almost immediately followed Sources
by a hail of German submachinegun Burke, Col. Martin J. Memoirs of a Liberator:
fire and grenades. Bailey was wounded, Anecdotes of the 14 Armored Division.
th
The Macedonians
Alexander in Persia, 334−331 BC
In the Spring of 334 B.C., young king
Alexander of Macedon with an army
40,000 strong, set out to fulfill the The Conquerors is a double game
centuries old dream of his countrymen that covers both of these theatres of
by launching the invasion of the Persian conquest at a grand strategic level.
Empire, the largest and most powerful Each game in this Twin-Pack has its
empire in the Mediterranean world. own counters, rules and game map.
However, the rules of both games are
The Romans based upon the same system so that
Mediterranean Expansion, 200−189 BC having played one it is quite simple
A century and a half later, the Roman to play the other. Also introduced is
Republic was just emerging from its 2nd an optional Tactical Battle System. Battle for Stalingrad
and most debilitating conflict with the
Mediterranean trading power — Carthage. Game components include: In the autumn of 1942, 14 German
Philip V was on the throne of Macedon, Two large rules books; two large divisions of the Sixth Army and Fourth
and his interventions in Greek politics playing maps, 1,200 die-cut counters; Panzer Army were poised to attack
would soon draw Rome’s response plus numerous player aids. the vital city of Stalingrad. Facing the
and eventual advance to become an German forces were dozens of divi-
Eastern Mediterranean power. sions and brigades of the Soviet 62nd
army. For seven weeks the Germans
Even after several years of conflict with would hammer at the city in a seesaw
Philip, Rome would not rest. Rome found conflict for control of the Volga River.
herself again involved in an immense con-
flict — this time in Asia. The great Seleucid Battle for Stalingrad simulates the cam-
King, Antiochus, threatened the very exis- paign that would halt the German drive to
tence of Rome’s two key allies — Rhodes the east in the Soviet Union. The playing
and Pergamum — and threatened to map represents the terrain in and around
march into Europe itself on a mission of Stalingrad, and the colorful cardboard
conquest. Thus began the Syrian War. playing pieces reflect the sizes and
strengths of the opposing military units.
Coming in 2011
available from:
Decision Games
(661) 587-9633 | (661) 587-5031 fax
P.O. Box 21598 | Bakersfield CA 93390
decisiongames.com
The Soviet Air Force in World War II:
1941-45
by Joseph Miranda
O
n 22 June 1941 Nazi Germany ern Russia and the Ukraine, the Soviets Just as critically, the VVS was fighting
invaded the Soviet Union. were gearing up production complexes only a single kind of air war, one in
The Soviet Air Force (Voyenno on both sides of the Ural Mountains. support of its nation’s ground force.
Vozdushnye Sily or VVS) was unprepared. Moreover, much factory equipment Unlike the British and American Air
While it had almost 10,000 aircraft, was evacuated from the west to be Forces, there was no need to create
many were obsolete. Further, the VVS reestablished in factories in the east. separate tactical, strategic and naval
command system was disorganized, Another advantage the Soviets had branches. Production and training
its logistics inadequate, and its was in POL (petroleum, oil, lubricants). could remain concentrated.
crews not trained for the type of war That came from their oilfields, In 1941, however, all that still lay in
being fought. Even so, just two years notably in the Caucasus, as well as the future. To deal with the situation
later, Soviet airpower was able to seize from the reserves controlled by their as it was then, the VVS implemented
control of the skies over Russia and new allies, the British in the Middle emergency reforms. One was to disperse
lead the way in the drive on Berlin. East and the US in North America. In aircraft to as many fields as possible
The Germans drove east all during contrast, Germany and its partners and then camouflage them. Maskirova
the summer and autumn of 1941, with were operating on a slender reserve (deception) measures became a major
the Luftwaffe ruling the skies overhead. of petroleum production, one that part of passive ground defense in
The VVS adapted to that reality of later in the war proved inadequate order to avoid a repeat of the disaster
German air supremacy by looking to to fully support their armed forces. that had taken place at the opening
its own strengths. One of them was in The Soviet Union also had a strategic of Operation Barbarossa, when the
its reserves. There were 10,000 trained advantage in that it was fighting a single Luftwaffe caught the VVS on the
Soviet pilots. While they weren’t trained front war. Its airpower could therefore ground and destroyed its aircraft by the
to Luftwaffe standards, they were be concentrated against the Germans. thousands. An air warning system was
nevertheless a large and functioning The Luftwaffe was fighting not only on set up to alert interceptor squadrons
cadre around which a potent air force the eastern front; it was also conduct- and get them in the air before attackers
could eventually be built. There was ing campaigns in the Mediterranean struck. Air regiments were reduced to
also a Soviet civil air fleet that provided and over the Atlantic. Further, as the holding a smaller number of aircraft,
additional aircrew and aircraft, the Anglo-American strategic bombing making such units easier to manage.
latter for transport and training. campaign began in earnest in 1943, The VVS was thus prepared for
Behind all that was the immense another aerial front, that one in the a minor comeback as the Germans
Soviet industrial system. While Axis skies above Germany itself, also drew launched their final lunge toward
armies were overrunning much of west- away Luftwaffe strength from the east. Moscow in late 1941. By the first
Enter Novikov
continued on page 47 »
As the table below indicates, Soviet aircraft production exceeded that of the Germans throughout the war. Making matters worse for the
Luftwaffe was the fact its production also had to provide planes to fight against Allied forces in Western Europe and the Mediterranean.
Many German shortcomings went back to decisions made prior to the war. For example, Luftwaffe planners had expected a short war, and they
therefore failed to have industry gear up for longer-term production. The production of models nearing obsolesce was often continued because it
was believed, by the time assembly lines were changed to make newer types, the war would be over. Later, aircraft approaching obsolescence
were still produced because the time to change over production lines would’ve cut deliveries to front line units. For example, the Luftwaffe
continued building Ju-87 Stukas instead of the much better Hs-129 because the ground forces desperately needed combat support aircraft now.
Another decision that undermined the Luftwaffe in the mid- and late-war periods was its pre-war emphasize on bombers. The Luftwaffe
had originally been intended as an offensive force, and its fast medium bombers were at first able to operate in the face of enemy intercep-
tors. There was the defeat in the Battle of Britain, but that was seen as an anomaly at the time. By 1943, however, the Luftwaffe was
facing both growing Allied air strength around the periphery of Europe and Allied bombers over the cities of Germany itself. Fighters
were therefore needed everywhere, but there weren’t enough to go around. So they were pulled from Russia and the Mediterranean
to be used as interceptors at home, thereby surrendering any chance of contesting Allied airpower over the front lines.
It wasn’t until the German defeat at Stalingrad in February 1943 that planners gave consideration to fighting a total war, and even then it
would take another year to fully achieve mass production. By that time it was too late. Aside from the growing Allied air armadas, the Luftwaffe
also had to face fuel shortages that grounded aircraft and paralyzed training. Much of the 1944 – 45 production simply couldn’t be utilized.
On the Soviet side, mass production allowed not only for greater front line aircraft strength, but also the buildup
of aerial reserves. Individual aircraft losses could be replaced and STAVKA could also maintain air divisions and corps
for major operations. All of that demonstrates an air force can’t rise far from its industrial base. ★
Notes: The figures include not only new aircraft built, but also damaged aircraft repaired and returned to service. Additionally, the Soviets
received the following aircraft from the US and UK via Lend-Lease: 11,594 fighters and ground attack craft; 3,770 medium bombers.
? = number not known.
On to Berlin
T
he Famous Divisions series, featur- defense strengths of units as effected by All HQ activation chits are placed in a
ing Gross Deutschland Panzer terrain; rather, it’s modified by random cup, and each is drawn one at a time to
(GDP) in this installment, is the chit draws of over 140 possible “events” initiate the activation (movement and
first in a new evolution in design that that introduce the elements of chaos combat) of a particular headquarters
brings tactical elements to an otherwise and unpredictability to combat resolu- and its associated companies. ✪
operational simulation. Recreating four tion. Event Chits can be nullified by
battles of the GDP from the eastern front other Event Chits; so players never
in 1943 and 1944, this first game of the know how an attack may be resolved WaW Upcoming
series includes: Lutchessa Valley, Kursk, based solely on odds ratios and terrain. Features
Akhtyrka and Mischurin Rog (each The number of chits a given side may
played on its own detailed and histori- hold and draw also serves as an easy #
19: Hardest Days
cally accurate map). It was designed by measure of its elite (or non-elite) status. #
20: Gross Deutschland Panzer
John Schettler and has been thoroughly Each hex represents approximately #
21: Rhineland ‘36
developed by Eric Harvey and Ty Bomba. 500 meters from side to opposite side. #
22: Minsk 1944
The Famous Divisions Series offers Each game turn represents approximately
a new concept: play is governed by six hours; however, the game turns aren’t
#
23: Guadalcanal
the drawing of “Event Chits” during divided into separate friendly and enemy Visit STRATEGYandTACTICSpress.com
combat. Combat is not simply resolved player turns. Rather, each is made up of for previews of these issues.
by comparing the attack strengths and numerous individual HQ activations.
CO
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ON 16 December 1944 the “ghost front” of the First US Army in the Ardennes suddenly erupted as 20 German divisions embarked on Hitler’s
le
dg
ON
last attack in the west. The objective was Antwerp, which provided Allied supply for the drive into Germany. Most Americans believed the
ei
nf
war against Germany would be over by Christmas; yet Hitler was convinced it could still be decided in his favor. The German armies destroyed
or
m
in France were reorganized. A massive surprise against the weakly held Ardennes sector of the American front was prepared.
at
! io
n.
WACHT am Rhein is a grand-tactical simulation of that enormous battle. The more than 2,380 counters represent every formation, at company and battalion
levels, which fought there, including US, German, British, French, Canadian and Belgian units. Infantry, armor, anti-tank, reconnaissance, engineer, assault
gun, howitzer, rocket, parachute, ranger, glider and headquarters units are all fully represented. The four maps are an accurate representation of the region.
Compiled from 1944 German staff maps and 1943-44 1:50,000 US Army maps, they shows all roads, trails and other types of terrain, along with all the towns
and villages that became bastions of the American defense, as well as every creek and river that couldn’t be crossed by wheeled vehicles without a bridge.
PLAYERS may use single maps for six smaller scenarios. There is also a campaign game that utilizes all four sections and portrays three
weeks (50 game turns). In that one the Germans race for the Meuse, the last hurdle before the open country leading to Antwerp, in the face
of increasing concentrations of Allied infantry, armor and air power. Extensive supply, weather and air power rules are included.
THIS edition of Wacht am Rhein presents modifications to the combat, artillery and supply systems of the first edition in order to better
depict tactical and operational warfare. For example, an “exploitation mode” has been added in order to allow mechanized units to take
advantage of breakthroughs in the enemy line. Exploitation is interleaved with the opposing player’s movement, recreating the fluid situation
that existed in the first week. Other changes include the addition of “vantage points,” which function as high ground, enabling units to spot
more effectively for artillery, as well as “constricted terrain,” which represents the channeling caused by steep gullies and ravines.
THE orders of battle have also been redone to provide an accurate depiction of the armies of both sides. Units are now in the organizations
within which they fought, not the administrative formations that were discarded due to the requirements of combat.
GAME COMPONENTS
• 4 22x34” Four Color Mapsheets
• 2,380 Die-Cut Playing Pieces
• One Rule Booklet
• One Scenario Booklet
• Assorted Player Aid Charts
• Two 10-sided Dice
• Storage Bags
GAME SCALE
• Map: 1 mile per hex
• Time: 3 Game Turns per day
• Units: Infantry and Artillery units are battalions.
Armor is depicted at the company level.
• Each strength step is equal to a company.
P.O. Box 21598 | Bakersfield, CA 93390-1598 | (661) 587-9633 phone | (661) 587-5031 fax | decisiongames.com
Observation Post
Mysteries Nevertheless, there were still major for the batteries capable of hitting
Revealed problems involved in fighting off an Singapore Island. So, in the final days
attack from the mainland. For one, of the fighting, when the 15-inch and
Myths of the Singapore Guns while the Fixed Defences (as the totality 9.2-inch guns did fire on the mainland
of the batteries were then termed) had and on northern Singapore Island,
O
n the eve of World War II, the been provided with armor-piercing they had no appreciable effect.
great Singapore Naval Base at shells for use against warships, only Further, as weapons designed to
the southern end of the Malay some of the smaller guns had even shoot over water, Singapore’s naval
Peninsula was widely believed to be just a few of the high-explosive rounds rifles fired their rounds on relatively
an impregnable fortress. Its powerful necessary for use against troops flat trajectories, ones inappropriate
heavy coast defense batteries — “more and other ground targets. Even then for counter-battery missions or for
guns than plums in a Christmas the topography and jungle cover in striking dug-in or defiladed troops.
pudding,” wrote one Australian southern Malaya precluded easy There was discussion, once the fight-
journalist at the time — protected the observation of Japanese activity on ing had begun, of firing rounds with
island bastion from attack. It was, the mainland; so Singapore’s gunners reduced charges in order to produce
claimed the British, invincible against would have no clear idea of exactly higher trajectories, but nothing came
any foe. That it was hardly so was what they were targeting or where of it. In the absence of high-explosive
quickly demonstrated by the Japanese their shells were landing. Nor had any ammunition and adequate observation
forces that conquered Malaya and fire-control system been developed of targets, it would’ve done little good.
Singapore in some 70 days immediately
after the start of hostilities.
Those British fortifications and
their heavy guns are long since gone,
replaced by a new naval base con-
structed by the independent Republic
of Singapore. While the former base
is no more, however, three myths still
persist about the famously powerful
naval rifles that failed to prevent the
Japanese conquest. The best known
of those legends is, of course, that
they faced the wrong way and were
thus incapable of firing on enemy
forces advancing from the mainland.
Two other historical myths concern
the source of the guns and what
happened to them after their capture
by the Japanese. Each of those myths
has been refuted, but all continue to
reappear in stories about Singapore.
That first and most familiar myth
about the guns’ facing came to life
shortly after Singapore’s surrender.
The truth, however, is that all of the
15-inch guns had 360 degree traverse,
and three of the 9.2-inch guns and
two of the 6-inchers had arcs of fire
allowing them to cover the northern
approach to Singapore. Three of the 6- One of
inch batteries and a few of the heavier Singapore’s
ones could in fact also strike targets 15-inch coastal
within Singapore itself. The guns, it’s defence guns
elevated for
clear, didn’t “face the wrong way.”
firing.
silhouette of an enormous ocean watertight doors shut in order to seal Lowe became aware of the attack.
liner with its lights showing.” off the forward part of the ship. That She turned toward the damaged
The S-13 shadowed that vessel area contained the crew quarters. ship and managed to pluck some
for nearly an hour until it reached That resulted in many of the off-duty 472 survivors from the icy water.
the Stolpe Bank off the Pomeranian crew being sealed in a watery tomb. Forty-five minutes after the
coast. At around 9:00 p.m. Marinesko Where the second torpedo first torpedo struck the 25,484-ton
gave the command to fire all four impacted, the swimming pool, there Wilhelm Gustloff slipped beneath
forward torpedoes. One failed to was a scene of devastation. That was the surface. She plunged into the
launch; however, the other three sliced due to the fact the drained pool and depths taking thousands with her.
smoothly through the water toward cabins in its vicinity were being used to Another torpedo boat, the T-36,
the target. Those onboard the Gustloff, house the Women’s Naval Auxiliaries. arrived just in time to see the liner go
Rau and Lowe remained unaware of the Only a handful managed to escape. under. She was from another convoy
danger rushing toward them, since the It was the third torpedo, however, and had been escorting the heavy
submarine detection equipment on the that decided the fate of the Wilhelm cruiser Admiral Hipper. As the T-36
Lowe had become frozen and useless. Gustloff. Its direct hit on the engine rescued other survivors, the S-13 fired
At 9:16 p.m. the first torpedo room knocked out power on the a torpedo at her. The torpedo boat
struck the port bow of the Gustloff. ship: all the lights went out and the managed to dodge that attack, despite
The resultant explosion opened a communication system went dead. being overloaded with survivors. Her
gaping hole. Soon after, the second Survivors later reported all they could skipper made the decision not to go
torpedo hit amidships where the ship’s hear in the pitch dark was screaming, after the sub with depth charges, since
swimming pool was located. Finally, shouting and rushing water. The ship that would’ve caused harm to other
the third torpedo scored a hit on the quickly began to list to the port side. survivors still in the water. Thus the
engine room directly below the funnel. Radioman Rudi Lange was able S-13 was able to make a clean escape.
Upon getting the first reports to use an emergency transmitter to Three other minesweepers arrived,
of damage, Peterson ordered the send an SOS. It was only then the saving a total of 179 more among
Wilhelm Gustloff
as a hospital ship.
Danzig,
23 September 1939
their continued resistance there. Courland and use its transferred Hitler and Hermann Goering, head
Engelhardt managed to garrison to defend Germany, that of the German Air Force and heir appar-
withdraw eight divisions before withdrawal order wasn’t given until late ent to the Fuehrer, both had extensive
that halt order was given. April. By then Liepaja and Ventspils personal art collections. Their insatiable
Army Group North was re-des- had been severely damaged and all desire for obtaining ever more items of
ignated Army Group Kurland on 15 the East Prussian ports were lost. Fuel value in the countries under German
January 1945, and Germany’s Baltic shortages and mounting ship losses occupation fueled massive looting.
Fleet was ordered to supply its nearly also cut transport capacity. Over 60,000 Other senior German officers also
600,000 troops while also evacuating troops were abandoned on the coat of sought to benefit from the treasures
civilians, wounded and unnecessary East Prussia, and some 200,000 were being stolen and stockpiled in Germany.
military personnel. Command of that left to their fate in the Courland pocket. The German Reichskulturkammer
operation was given to Adm. Oscar The precise number Germany (Empire Chamber of Culture)
Kummetz, Marineoberkommando Ost evacuated across the Baltic during the regulated everything related to the arts.
(Naval High Command East). He in war’s final six months will never be Membership was required of all who
turn placed the 13th Naval Transport known, but it involved the transport of worked in any field of art. Jews, commu-
Flotilla in charge and gave its com- at least 2.1 million people under com- nists, and those whose works didn’t con-
mander authority over all transports bat conditions. Losses were heavy. Six form to Nazi philosophy were excluded.
in the Baltic. Even warships were to large passenger liners were sunk with Much artwork by Jewish artists was
serve as transports when returning a loss of over 19,000 lives, and another deemed “undesirable” and destroyed.
from gunfire support missions. 104,000 tons of shipping were sunk dur- The Germans established the
Despite that massive resource allo- ing the effort, as were four destroyers Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg
cation, the operation faced challenges. and over a dozen minesweepers, the (Special Staff of Empire Leader
First, British aerial mining rendered primary escort ships used. Nonetheless, Rosenberg, or ERR) in Paris in July
areas of the Baltic unsafe for navigation. it was a remarkable operation. Dunkirk, 1940. The initial mission of that task
Britain and the Soviets were also bomb- and even America’s 1975 evacuation of force was to acquire — by forced
ing the destination and departure ports, over 100,000 refugees from Vietnam, purchase, official confiscation or simply
respectively. The Soviets were bombing don’t come close in terms of size looting — Jewish art collections recently
Liepaja and most East Prussian or duration, though the British can rendered “ownerless.” That mission later
ports almost daily, while the British claim they faced an equally serious expanded to acquire masterpieces from
were doing the same to Flensburg, military threat in 1940. Germany’s all sources in all the occupied nations.
Kiel, Stettin and Swinemuende. evacuation of the east remains the Nominally the ERR was under
The first 7,000 civilian refugees largest maritime evacuation of all the control of the Reichsleiter Alfred
departed Pillau on 25 January, and time, and marks a feat not likely to be Rosenberg. His title was a misnomer,
another 55,000 followed over the next matched in the foreseeable future. however, in that Goering was actually
three days. The Soviet Navy wasn’t idle, the master thief who controlled his
launching aggressive aerial patrols — Carl Otis Schuster organization. The latter’s art collec-
and deploying submarines off those tion, which had been stolen from
ports. Over 9,000 died in the Baltic’s Historical museums across Europe, was found
freezing waters (see previous article). Perspective in a building near Berchtesgaden,
By late February the transport Germany, soon after the war.
convoys themselves were facing nearly Nazi Art Theft in World War II The first major Nazi acquisition
constant Soviet air attack, forcing them of art masterpieces had occurred
to steam only at night. The pace then Art became a high priority in the when German troops crossed the
unavoidably picked up as the Courland Third Reich after Adolf Hitler became Austrian border in March 1938.
pocket shrank and Soviet armies Chancellor of Germany in January The German secret state police,
penetrated into East Prussia. April saw 1933. He dreamed of building an art the Geheimstaatpolizei or Gestapo,
over 157,270 wounded evacuated along museum — the Fuehrer Museum — in quickly acquired the art collections of
with 264,887 refugees carried out of his hometown of Linz, Austria. That Vienna’s prominent non-Nazi families.
East Prussia. Another 100,000 wounded world-class institution would contain American journalist William Shirer,
were taken out of the Courland pocket, all the masterpieces from the Nazi- then a reporter for CBS, lived near the
which the Soviets were desperately try- occupied countries of Europe. His focus palace of Louis de Rothschild. Shirer
ing to destroy. Despite the Army High on art and cultural pillage continued reported seeing troops hauling away his
Command urging Hitler to abandon until his suicide in April 1945. continued on page 56 »
» continued from page 54 The Schutztaffel (SS), a Nazi Party realized Germany’s existing artwork
collection. The Germans subsequently political and military organization, wouldn’t be adequate for his museum
arrested Rothschild and commandeered confiscated all the valuables of others in Linz. After his return to Germany,
his home as a headquarters. who fled Austria. The valuables of those therefore, the ongoing acquisitions
Later, Jews were allowed to leave who remained in Austria had to be became more organized and systematic.
Austria by first surrendering their registered with the Gestapo, and could The art collections of Jews were the
possessions, especially valuable art, be seized whenever desired by Hitler. first target for theft. Kristallnacht
to the Office of Jewish Emigration. When Hitler visited Rome in 1938 occurred on 9 November 1938, when
Failure to abide by that order resulted he was dazzled by the artistic splendor the Nazis orchestrated a night of
in imprisonment and, ultimately, of the Eternal City. During his tour widespread violence against them.
transport to a concentration camp. of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, he From then on, all their possessions,
especially their art collections, were
legally available for the taking.
In 1939, Hitler appointed art histo-
rian Hans Posse to handle the growing
collection destined for the museum
in Linz. As the war raged across more
and more of Europe, museum directors
thus not only had to deal with the
possible loss of irreplaceable artwork
from bombing raids and combat; they
also had to face confiscation by Posse
after those dangers had passed.
As the plundering expanded,
curators began to hide their treasures
in villas, chateaus, castles and even
under viaducts; however, those precau-
tions didn’t deter Hitler’s troops from
arriving at homes and museums with
shopping lists of artwork the Fuehrer
wanted. Hitler’s art advisers prepared
detailed dossiers of desired works. For
example, in November 2001 the US
National Archives announced discovery
of two leather bound photograph
albums created by the ERR. Those
albums documented art that had
been looted, and they had served as
a catalogues from which Hitler could
choose particular pieces for the Linz
museum. It’s known the ERR created
nearly 100 such albums during the war.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower,
Supreme Allied Commander in Europe,
gave a high priority to preserving
and recovering cultural treasures.
A multinational group known as
the Allied Monuments Fine Arts &
Archives (MFAA) unit was established
in 1943. About 400 MFAA members
thereafter worked to preserve
Europe’s cultural heritage, and to
locate and return stolen treasures
— Charlie Bell,
as told to Andrew Hind
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Briefing Room ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Go to strategyandtacticspress.com
With
Custer
at the
Death
by Robert F. Burke
America at War Trading Cards, by the actual veterans of the “Easy
WWII Series 1: D-Day (iCardz/Graphic Company” depicted in Band of Brothers. The fascination with Custer’s Last
Communications Group, 2009). The cards are full-color on high- Stand hasn’t diminished in the decades
Reviewed by Chris Perello. quality coated cardstock. They’re well since 1876. He led his regiment well
researched and concise, and in the right ahead of the main body, only to run
These cards come as a boxed set combination can tell the complete story into an unprecedented gathering
with 24 packs of eight trading cards of part of the action or the whole battle. of Indians. The first accounts were
— bubblegum not included. Each The downside is each card necessarily is pieced together by other soldiers
card covers one detail of a much limited in scope, and each pack or even a arriving on the scene in the battle’s
larger story — in this case the Allied whole box will have gaps in the narrative. aftermath, and by archaeologists in the
invasion of Normandy in 1944 — with The end result isn’t a detailed and com- generations since. To that information
a picture of a person or event on one plete account, but could be a way to per- was added the reminiscences of
side and a short description on the sonalize one thread of the whole cloth, a the Indians who fought there.
other. Some boxes include special conversation starter, or a good introduc- Interleaving and cross-referencing all
cards, including some autographed tion to the subject for a novice. ★ those accounts provides a minute-
by-minute story of the fighting, as
Custer desperately and expertly
maneuvered his outnumbered troops
to face repeated and well-coordinated
assaults by bands of Indian warriors.
The resultant narrative is supported
by dozens of detailed maps and
orders of battle for both sides.
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Turning the
pages of history.
1982 FALKLAnDS WAr | taiping rebellion | Hattin | Llamas & Lilies
FAlklAndS
WAR 1982 Going beyond the usual
narratives, the articles focus
on the “how” and “why” of
conflicts and are illustrated
liberally with maps, charts,
tables and pictures.
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