@Zeewolf future idea

[Freiwillige]

Just an idea I thought I would throw your way for the future, I know your plates quit full at this moment.

Modeling Army group Kurland late 1944.

The terrain would be similar

The battle would be heroic.

Its a win\win situation!

And it puts the German element on the defensive which I like with a few counter attacks to keep the Russians off guard.

[ZeeWolf]

Originally Posted by Freiwillige

Just an idea I thought I would throw your way for the future, I know your plates quit full at this moment.

Modeling Army group Kurland late 1944.

The terrain would be similar

The battle would be heroic.

Its a win\win situation!

And it puts the German element on the defensive which I like with a few counter attacks to keep the Russians off guard.

That is a fantastic idea FreiW, We need a winter battle campaign that would
be historical and this just might fit the bill. If you could help me with some
research on the place and maps etc. I could be more firm on the idea. The
terrain map has become a fairly easy task of attaining good satellite digital data sets.
So the terrain could be accurately reproduced. But good battle
maps is what is really needed.

Zee

[Freiwillige]

Originally Posted by ZeeWolf

That is a fantastic idea FreiW, We need a winter battle campaign that would
be historical and this just might fit the bill. If you could help me with some
research on the place and maps etc. I could be more firm on the idea. The
terrain map has become a fairly easy task of attaining good satellite digital data sets.
So the terrain could be accurately reproduced. But good battle
maps is what is really needed.

Zee

Not a problem, I will see what I can dig up.

[Freiwillige]

In the mean time here is some great reading about Tigers, at the bottom it compares Tiger commanders views on combating the IS2!


Ooops forgot the link!

Here it is, had to find it again!
http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/tiger1_in_action.htm

[Freiwillige]

After days of research I have come up with almost nothing. Very little has been written about this phase of the war, At least in English.

I do know that 6 major battles were fought in Kurland and the German's stopped the Russians every time. Also Hitler forbade any retreat from Kurland or after the encirclement a break out attempt. Kurland held out till the German surrender. 220,000 German and Baltic forces were captured. 5th SS wiking fought in the area.

So the only option from here it seems is to purchase a book.

[Raptor1]

Originally Posted by Freiwillige

5th SS wiking fought in the area.

The SS Wiking division did not fight in the Courland Pocket, or anywhere near it. From what I know it was fighting in Poland when the pocket was formed, then continued to operate in Hungary and surrounding areas until the end of the war (It took part in Operation Konrad too, which might be interesting if you're looking to do a historical winter campaign). IIRC the only armoured divisions to be trapped in Courland were the 12th and 14th Panzer Divisions, though I'm not 100% certain.

[ZeeWolf]

Originally Posted by Freiwillige

After days of research I have come up with almost nothing. Very little has been written about this phase of the war, At least in English.

I do know that 6 major battles were fought in Kurland and the German's stopped the Russians every time. Also Hitler forbade any retreat from Kurland or after the encirclement a break out attempt. Kurland held out till the German surrender. 220,000 German and Baltic forces were captured. 5th SS wiking fought in the area.

So the only option from here it seems is to purchase a book.

Very good Friewillige. Perhaps we could move the time frame back to 1943
and start with the Leningrad front and maybe the Heavy Tank Battalion 502.
They had Tiger Es and also fought in winter campaigns. This would still
be a challenge for accurate research but could be a starter for the retreat
of Army Group North witch as you know fought in Kurland.

ZW