Thrashia
08-11-2006, 02:21
Map
This map shows Germany and its controlled land at the point of 1938.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Deutschland_1939.png
Important Figures
Adolf Hitler
Hitler gained power in a Germany facing crisis after World War I, using charismatic oratory and propaganda, appealing to economic need of the lower and middle classes, nationalism, anti-Semitism and anti-communism to establish a totalitarian or fascist dictatorship. With a restructured economy and rearmed military, Hitler pursued an aggressive foreign policy with the intention of expanding German Lebensraum.
Hermann Göring
After Hjalmar Schacht was removed as minister for the Economy, Göring effectively took over, becoming Plenipotentiary of the Four Year Plan in 1936 to better facilitate German rearmament; the vast steel plant Die Reichswerke Hermann Göring was named after him. This gave him great influence with Hitler. In 1937 Goring was given direct command of the new german Luftwaffe (Air Force) and made a Reichs Marshal.
Joachim von Ribbentrop
Germany's foreign minister, Ribbentrop is responsible for all international relations that germany may have with the outside world.
Heinrich Himmler
Leader of the SS and Reichs Interior Minister.
Albert Speer
Reich Minister for Weapons, Munitions, and Armament.
Military
Infantry: 1,300,000 (65 divisions, 20,000 men each)
Artillery Pieces: 12,000 guns
Panzers: 2,700 tanks (6 Panzer divisions)
Luftwaffe: 1,300 aircraft
German Vehicle numbers in 1938
Panzer I Ausf A – 818
Panzer I Ausf B – 675
Panzer I Ausf B Command versions – 184
Panzer II Ausf A – 123
Panzer II Ausf B – 134
Panzer II Ausf C – 114
Panzer 35(t) – 224
Panzer 38(t) - 47
Panzer III Ausf A-B– 268
Panzer IV Ausf A – 134
Panzer total overall in 1938: 2721
Sd.Kfz. 231 (6 Rad) – 231
Sd.Kfz. 231 (8 Rad) – 117
Sd.Kfz. 233 (8 Rad) – 87
Armored Car total overall in 1938: 435
Panzer Division contains the following:
247 Panzer Is
30 Panzer I C.V.
61 Panzer IIs
37 Panzer 35(t)s
44 Panzer IIIs
22 Panzer IVs
38 Sd.Kfz. 231 (6 Rad)
19 Sd.Kfz. 231 (8 Rad)
14 Sd.Kfz. 233 (8 Rad)
40 Half-tracks
1 Rifle Infantry Regiment
1 Motor-cycle Reconnaissance Platoon
1 Cavalry Reconnaissance Platoon
1 Artillery Regiment
1 Medical Company
1 Communication Company
1 Engineer Brigade
Economy
The German economy was transferred to the leadership of Hermann Göring when, on 18 October 1936, the German Reichstag announced the formation of a Four-Year Plan. The Nazi economic plan aimed to achieve a number of objectives. Under the leadership of Fritz Todt, a massive public works project, the Reichsarbeitsdienst, was started, rivaling Roosevelt's New Deal in both size and scope. It functioned as a military-like unit, its most notable achievements being the network of Autobahnen. These projects and others boosted Germany's economy decisively.
Another part of the new German economy was massive rearmament, with the goal being to expand the 100,000-strong German Army into a force of millions. With the agreement between Moscow and Berlin, Germany's much needed raw resources have helped Germany become greater even than it was before the First World War.
The German economy currently has the capacity to produce 340 Panzer IIs, 134 Panzer IVs, 204 Panzer IIIs, 405 StuG IIIs, 129 Me-109s, 89 Ju-87s, 78 He-111s each year. It is also capable of producing 7 U-boats per year.
Armour Pool (ie Produced, but not assigned)
58 Panzer IIs
37 Panzer IVs
48 Panzer IIIs
87 StuG IIIs
In case of War or Mobilization
Germany can mobilize 2.3 million more men than its present army.
Army Organization
Armee (pl: Armeen) [Army]:
An Armee consisted of one or more Korps, plus any attached or independent units or formations, units in reserve, and its own organic units. Armee served at the strategic level, not at the tactical. In theory, an Amree would have had between 60,000 and 100,000 men within its ranks.
Korps (pl: Korps) [Corps]:
A Korps contained one or more Divisionen, plus any attached or independent units or formations, units in reserve, and its own organic units. Korps served at the strategic/operational level, directing the actions of mainly Divisional sized units, as well as those independent Abteilungen and Bataillone that were attached temporarily to the Korps or that were organic to it. In theory, a Korps would have had between 40,000 and 60,000 men within its ranks.
Division (pl: Divisionen) [Division]:
Divisionen varied depending on the type of Division, with most containing between 1 and 4 Regimenter, plus any attached or independent units or formations, and its own organic units. Divisionen served at the operational level, both in combat and as the operational HQ for the Regimenter and attached units and formations of the Division. In theory, a Division would have had between 10,000 and 20,000 men within its ranks.
Brigade (pl: Brigaden) :
Brigaden sized units served either as independent units, as an organic part of a specific Division, or sometimes as an organic part of a Korps in place of a Division. Early in the war, many Divisionen consisted of one or two Brigaden, each consisting of a number of Regimenter along with the usual attached and organic units. Brigaden served mostly at the operational/tactical level. In theory, a Brigade would have had between 5000 and 7000 men within its ranks.
Regiment (pl: Regimenter) [Regiment]:
Regimenter consisted of a number of Abteilungen, along with any attached units or formations, and its own organic units. Regimenter served mainly at the tactical level. In theory, a Regiment would have had between 2000 and 6000 men within its ranks.
Abteilung/Bataillon (pl: Abteilungen/Bataillone) [Battalion]:
Abteilungen and Bataillone consisted of a number of Kompanien, sometimes also with other attached units or formations. These units served at the tactical level directly engaging in combat. The Abteilung was the smallest self-contained and self-sufficent combat formation. It was armed and manned to be fully able to maintain itself in combat without the support of other units. Any unit below the level of Abteilung usually did not have enough offensive or defensive firepower and support elements (Pionier, Panzerjäger, Artillery, MGs, etc), to maintain itself in a combat situation. In theory, an Abteilung organization would have between 500 and 1000 men within its ranks.
Kompanie (pl: Kompanien) [Company]:
A Kompanien consisted of a number of Züge. Kompanien served at the tactical level. In theory, a Kompanie would have had between 100 and 200 men within its ranks.
Zug (pl: Züge) [Platoon]:
A Zug consisted of a number of Gruppen. The Zug served at the tactical level. In theory, a Zug would have had between 30 and 40 men within its ranks.
Gruppe (pl: Gruppen) [Group]:
The smallest sub-unit in the German military, usually a component of a Zug.
Halb-Zug (pl: Halb-Züge) [Half-platoon]:
The result when a normal sized Zug was split into two seperate parts.
Trupp (pl: Truppen) [Troop]:
A small unit, smaller than the zug, usually of 10-20 men in size.
Kampfgruppe (pl: Kampfgruppen) [Battlegroup]:
The Kampfgruppe was an often used German combat formation that doesn't really have an equal in Allied organization, being closest in concept to that of an American task force. A Kampfgruppe could range in size from a Korps to an Abteilung or Kompanie in size. Most Kampfgruppen were usually around an Abteilung in size. The Kampfgruppe was essentially an ad-hoc organization of different arms (Some tanks, a few artillery pieces, infanry, some assault boats, a few anti-tank guns, etc), more-or-less organized temporarily for a specific operational task. These tasks could be short term or long term in nature, and they were often organized quickly in accordance with tactical and strategic situation at hand. Kampfgruppen were usually named after the person choosen to command the formation.
[b]Wehrmacht
Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Wehrmacht commander in chief)
Field Marshal Walther von Brauchitsch (commander in chief, Army)
Grand Admiral Erich Raeder (commander in chief, Navy)
Reich Marshal Hermann Göring (commander in chief, Air force)
1st Army – General Franz Halder
2nd Army – General Herman Hoth
3rd Army – General Ludwig Kleist
4th Army – General Albert Kesselring
5th Army – General Erich Manstein
6th Army – General Gunther Kluge
7th Army – General Friedrich Olbricht
8th Army – General Friedrich Paulus
9th Army – General Erwin Rommel
10th Army – General Gerd Rundstedt
11th Army – General Werner Fritsch
12th Army – General Johannes Blaskowitz
13th Army – General Wilhelm List
14th Army -
15th Army -
16th Army -
17th Army -
1st Falschrimjaeger Division (paratroopers) - 23,000 men under Colonel Kurt Student
Each army contains 100,000 men, which is 5 divisions of infantry, one of which is mechanized in each army; making it so there are 13 mechanized infantry divisions overall within the Wehrmacht, at present. Each infantry company has a battery of 10 mortars; each platoon has two machine guns. Each regiment has a attache of 40 anti-tank guns.
There are six panzer divisions. Two attached to 1st army, two attached to 2nd army, one attached to 5th army, and one attached to 6th army.
Each division has a brigade sized artillery attaché that holds 130 pieces of artillery (50mm – 120mm) and 250 anti-air craft emplacement guns (20mm – 88mm).
Here is the “food-chain” of an army, biggest to smallest: 1 army, 2 corps, 5 divisions, 14 brigades/ regiments, 24 Battalions, 120 companies, 600 platoons.
Kriegsmarine (Navy)
Battleships: 1, Tirpitz
Battlecruisers: 2
Heavy Cruisers: 6
Light Cruisers: 7
Destroyers: 34
Torpedo Boats: 67
Submarines: 57
Luftwaffe
Bombers: 1,558
Fighters: 1,290
This map shows Germany and its controlled land at the point of 1938.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Deutschland_1939.png
Important Figures
Adolf Hitler
Hitler gained power in a Germany facing crisis after World War I, using charismatic oratory and propaganda, appealing to economic need of the lower and middle classes, nationalism, anti-Semitism and anti-communism to establish a totalitarian or fascist dictatorship. With a restructured economy and rearmed military, Hitler pursued an aggressive foreign policy with the intention of expanding German Lebensraum.
Hermann Göring
After Hjalmar Schacht was removed as minister for the Economy, Göring effectively took over, becoming Plenipotentiary of the Four Year Plan in 1936 to better facilitate German rearmament; the vast steel plant Die Reichswerke Hermann Göring was named after him. This gave him great influence with Hitler. In 1937 Goring was given direct command of the new german Luftwaffe (Air Force) and made a Reichs Marshal.
Joachim von Ribbentrop
Germany's foreign minister, Ribbentrop is responsible for all international relations that germany may have with the outside world.
Heinrich Himmler
Leader of the SS and Reichs Interior Minister.
Albert Speer
Reich Minister for Weapons, Munitions, and Armament.
Military
Infantry: 1,300,000 (65 divisions, 20,000 men each)
Artillery Pieces: 12,000 guns
Panzers: 2,700 tanks (6 Panzer divisions)
Luftwaffe: 1,300 aircraft
German Vehicle numbers in 1938
Panzer I Ausf A – 818
Panzer I Ausf B – 675
Panzer I Ausf B Command versions – 184
Panzer II Ausf A – 123
Panzer II Ausf B – 134
Panzer II Ausf C – 114
Panzer 35(t) – 224
Panzer 38(t) - 47
Panzer III Ausf A-B– 268
Panzer IV Ausf A – 134
Panzer total overall in 1938: 2721
Sd.Kfz. 231 (6 Rad) – 231
Sd.Kfz. 231 (8 Rad) – 117
Sd.Kfz. 233 (8 Rad) – 87
Armored Car total overall in 1938: 435
Panzer Division contains the following:
247 Panzer Is
30 Panzer I C.V.
61 Panzer IIs
37 Panzer 35(t)s
44 Panzer IIIs
22 Panzer IVs
38 Sd.Kfz. 231 (6 Rad)
19 Sd.Kfz. 231 (8 Rad)
14 Sd.Kfz. 233 (8 Rad)
40 Half-tracks
1 Rifle Infantry Regiment
1 Motor-cycle Reconnaissance Platoon
1 Cavalry Reconnaissance Platoon
1 Artillery Regiment
1 Medical Company
1 Communication Company
1 Engineer Brigade
Economy
The German economy was transferred to the leadership of Hermann Göring when, on 18 October 1936, the German Reichstag announced the formation of a Four-Year Plan. The Nazi economic plan aimed to achieve a number of objectives. Under the leadership of Fritz Todt, a massive public works project, the Reichsarbeitsdienst, was started, rivaling Roosevelt's New Deal in both size and scope. It functioned as a military-like unit, its most notable achievements being the network of Autobahnen. These projects and others boosted Germany's economy decisively.
Another part of the new German economy was massive rearmament, with the goal being to expand the 100,000-strong German Army into a force of millions. With the agreement between Moscow and Berlin, Germany's much needed raw resources have helped Germany become greater even than it was before the First World War.
The German economy currently has the capacity to produce 340 Panzer IIs, 134 Panzer IVs, 204 Panzer IIIs, 405 StuG IIIs, 129 Me-109s, 89 Ju-87s, 78 He-111s each year. It is also capable of producing 7 U-boats per year.
Armour Pool (ie Produced, but not assigned)
58 Panzer IIs
37 Panzer IVs
48 Panzer IIIs
87 StuG IIIs
In case of War or Mobilization
Germany can mobilize 2.3 million more men than its present army.
Army Organization
Armee (pl: Armeen) [Army]:
An Armee consisted of one or more Korps, plus any attached or independent units or formations, units in reserve, and its own organic units. Armee served at the strategic level, not at the tactical. In theory, an Amree would have had between 60,000 and 100,000 men within its ranks.
Korps (pl: Korps) [Corps]:
A Korps contained one or more Divisionen, plus any attached or independent units or formations, units in reserve, and its own organic units. Korps served at the strategic/operational level, directing the actions of mainly Divisional sized units, as well as those independent Abteilungen and Bataillone that were attached temporarily to the Korps or that were organic to it. In theory, a Korps would have had between 40,000 and 60,000 men within its ranks.
Division (pl: Divisionen) [Division]:
Divisionen varied depending on the type of Division, with most containing between 1 and 4 Regimenter, plus any attached or independent units or formations, and its own organic units. Divisionen served at the operational level, both in combat and as the operational HQ for the Regimenter and attached units and formations of the Division. In theory, a Division would have had between 10,000 and 20,000 men within its ranks.
Brigade (pl: Brigaden) :
Brigaden sized units served either as independent units, as an organic part of a specific Division, or sometimes as an organic part of a Korps in place of a Division. Early in the war, many Divisionen consisted of one or two Brigaden, each consisting of a number of Regimenter along with the usual attached and organic units. Brigaden served mostly at the operational/tactical level. In theory, a Brigade would have had between 5000 and 7000 men within its ranks.
Regiment (pl: Regimenter) [Regiment]:
Regimenter consisted of a number of Abteilungen, along with any attached units or formations, and its own organic units. Regimenter served mainly at the tactical level. In theory, a Regiment would have had between 2000 and 6000 men within its ranks.
Abteilung/Bataillon (pl: Abteilungen/Bataillone) [Battalion]:
Abteilungen and Bataillone consisted of a number of Kompanien, sometimes also with other attached units or formations. These units served at the tactical level directly engaging in combat. The Abteilung was the smallest self-contained and self-sufficent combat formation. It was armed and manned to be fully able to maintain itself in combat without the support of other units. Any unit below the level of Abteilung usually did not have enough offensive or defensive firepower and support elements (Pionier, Panzerjäger, Artillery, MGs, etc), to maintain itself in a combat situation. In theory, an Abteilung organization would have between 500 and 1000 men within its ranks.
Kompanie (pl: Kompanien) [Company]:
A Kompanien consisted of a number of Züge. Kompanien served at the tactical level. In theory, a Kompanie would have had between 100 and 200 men within its ranks.
Zug (pl: Züge) [Platoon]:
A Zug consisted of a number of Gruppen. The Zug served at the tactical level. In theory, a Zug would have had between 30 and 40 men within its ranks.
Gruppe (pl: Gruppen) [Group]:
The smallest sub-unit in the German military, usually a component of a Zug.
Halb-Zug (pl: Halb-Züge) [Half-platoon]:
The result when a normal sized Zug was split into two seperate parts.
Trupp (pl: Truppen) [Troop]:
A small unit, smaller than the zug, usually of 10-20 men in size.
Kampfgruppe (pl: Kampfgruppen) [Battlegroup]:
The Kampfgruppe was an often used German combat formation that doesn't really have an equal in Allied organization, being closest in concept to that of an American task force. A Kampfgruppe could range in size from a Korps to an Abteilung or Kompanie in size. Most Kampfgruppen were usually around an Abteilung in size. The Kampfgruppe was essentially an ad-hoc organization of different arms (Some tanks, a few artillery pieces, infanry, some assault boats, a few anti-tank guns, etc), more-or-less organized temporarily for a specific operational task. These tasks could be short term or long term in nature, and they were often organized quickly in accordance with tactical and strategic situation at hand. Kampfgruppen were usually named after the person choosen to command the formation.
[b]Wehrmacht
Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Wehrmacht commander in chief)
Field Marshal Walther von Brauchitsch (commander in chief, Army)
Grand Admiral Erich Raeder (commander in chief, Navy)
Reich Marshal Hermann Göring (commander in chief, Air force)
1st Army – General Franz Halder
2nd Army – General Herman Hoth
3rd Army – General Ludwig Kleist
4th Army – General Albert Kesselring
5th Army – General Erich Manstein
6th Army – General Gunther Kluge
7th Army – General Friedrich Olbricht
8th Army – General Friedrich Paulus
9th Army – General Erwin Rommel
10th Army – General Gerd Rundstedt
11th Army – General Werner Fritsch
12th Army – General Johannes Blaskowitz
13th Army – General Wilhelm List
14th Army -
15th Army -
16th Army -
17th Army -
1st Falschrimjaeger Division (paratroopers) - 23,000 men under Colonel Kurt Student
Each army contains 100,000 men, which is 5 divisions of infantry, one of which is mechanized in each army; making it so there are 13 mechanized infantry divisions overall within the Wehrmacht, at present. Each infantry company has a battery of 10 mortars; each platoon has two machine guns. Each regiment has a attache of 40 anti-tank guns.
There are six panzer divisions. Two attached to 1st army, two attached to 2nd army, one attached to 5th army, and one attached to 6th army.
Each division has a brigade sized artillery attaché that holds 130 pieces of artillery (50mm – 120mm) and 250 anti-air craft emplacement guns (20mm – 88mm).
Here is the “food-chain” of an army, biggest to smallest: 1 army, 2 corps, 5 divisions, 14 brigades/ regiments, 24 Battalions, 120 companies, 600 platoons.
Kriegsmarine (Navy)
Battleships: 1, Tirpitz
Battlecruisers: 2
Heavy Cruisers: 6
Light Cruisers: 7
Destroyers: 34
Torpedo Boats: 67
Submarines: 57
Luftwaffe
Bombers: 1,558
Fighters: 1,290