ACGP-080928-CVf2.qxd 6/13/08 4:34 PM Page CN1
SEPTEMBER P. 34 P. 68 P. 30 P. 92 + P. 94 RED ARMY’S GREAT SPY STALINGRAD WARRIORS BEST GADGETS EAST FRONT 2008 + GEAR STAND ZULU! BOOKS + DVDs! GERMANY’S GREATEST PANZER LEADER P. 26
®
“For the very reason that it appeared impossible, an attack … might well be the key to success.” –ERICH VON MANSTEIN IN RUSSIA,, 1941 1941 ARMCHAIR GENERAL ®
FIELD MARSHAL ERICH VON MANSTEIN VON ERICH MARSHAL FIELD HITLER’SHITLER’S BESTBEST GENERALGENERAL IfIf HitlerHitler hadhad listenedlistened toto PrussianPrussian aristocrataristocrat ErichErich vonvon Manstein,Manstein, couldcould GermanyGermany havehave wonwon thethe EastEast FrontFront war?war? Ralph Peters on Decisive
DISPLAY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2008 | SEPTEMBER 30 Islamic Defeats ARMCHAIRGENERAL.COM
VOLUME PLUS Napoleon at Waterloo P. 38 GREAT HISTORY >> V STRATEGY >> P. 28 NO. French Foreign Legion LEADERSHIP >> 4 GAMES >> First Sioux Indian Medal of Honor P. 14
BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN PANTONE 200 CV PANTONE 877 CV ACGP-080928-CN1.pgs 06.13.2008 15:40 ACGP-080928-TCf.qxd 6/10/08 8:58 AM Page 2
CONTENTS August / September 08
VOLUME V ISSUE 4
COVER STORY DEPARTMENTS 42 Hitler’s Best General 4 PUBLISHER’S NOTE lutionized how wars were Prussian aristocrat Erich von Manstein was perhaps the Nazi 6 EDITOR’S LETTER planned and fought. dictator’s best commander. Was he the one man who could 38 HARD CHOICES 8 MAILBAG have won Germany’s East Front war? By Frederick Baillergeon Napoleon at Waterloo 10 CRISIS WATCH An analysis of the critical FEATURES Great Expectations decisions that led to Napoleon’s How unrealistic goals cripple defeat at Waterloo. 48 Crescent Descending! war efforts. By Ralph Peters To complement last issue’s Special Feature, “Crescent Tri- 40 LEADERSHIP 12 DEFENSE 21* umphant,” we examine three decisive jihadi defeats that Alfred Thayer Mahan Quivering Arrows checked Islam’s thousand-year rise. By Ralph Peters Leadership lessons from the U.S. Is technology outstripping our Navy’s prophet of sea power. military’s ability to control it? 58 The Commander’s Right Arm: The 96 PARTING SHOT By Caspar Weinberger Jr. Evolution of the Military Chief of Staff Dogs of War Virtually every successful commander within the last 14 DISPATCHES 200 years has been supported by an indispensable staff. Real heroes, destinations, REVIEWS By David T. Zabecki significant events in history, 86 GAME BUZZ INTERACTIVE cool gear and more! Fall Wargame “Kickoff” 22 10 QUESTIONS Forget football – the real action COMBAT! Theodore P. Savas is on gamers’ computers this fall! 65 Desert Storm Tank Attack, 1991 An interview with Ted Savas, 88 VIDEO GAME REVIEW Choose the correct course of action as a U.S. tank platoon leader of Savas Beatie Publishers. Frontlines: Fuel of War, Army of attacks dug-in Iraqi defenders in the Gulf War’s toughest 26 FORGOTTEN HISTORY Two, and Conflict: Denied Ops armored encounter. Unsung Panzer Hero 90 WARGAME REVIEW YOU COMMAND Although not well known, Erhard Danube Front ’85 and 68 Stalingrad, 1942 Raus may have been Germany’s Close Combat: Modern Tactics Test your combat decision-making skills as a Red Army most skilled panzer leader. 92 BOOKSHELF tactical commander leading Soviet soldiers in the Eastern 28 LEGENDARY COMBAT UNITS East Front Cities at War Front’s turning-point battle. The French Foreign Legion A dozen chilling accounts of YOU COMMAND SOLUTION A profile of France’s most nightmarish combat. 74 The Battle of Surigao Strait, 1944 famous fighting force. 94 DVD LIBRARY Historical outcome and winning Reader Solutions to 30 GREAT WARRIORS The Eastern Front on Film CDG #26, May 2008 issue. Zulu Warriors Movies that depict the brutality WHAT NEXT, GENERAL? These “Spartans” of Africa of World War II’s East Front 78 Manstein’s East Front Gambit, 1943 turned tribal warfare into a fighting. Control the outcome of battle as Hitler orders Field Marshal science – and thrashed a Erich von Manstein’s hard-pressed troops to halt Stalin’s European army. ON THE WEB resurgent Red Army in Ukraine. By Richard N. Armstrong 32 BADGES OF HONOR MORE AT Croix de Guerre ARMCHAIRGENERAL.COM France’s “Cross of War” Alphabet Soup! recognizes acts of bravery by The British Army Staff French and Allied forces. System of World Wars I 34 SPY WARS and II Tools of the Trade by Maj. Gen. David ON THE COVER A peek at some of the cool Manstein and Hitler discuss strategies, February 1943. T. Zabecki
WALTER FRENTZ/ULLSTEIN BILD FRENTZ/ULLSTEIN WALTER gadgets and gear “spooks” get Armchair General® (ISSN 1546-055X) is published bimonthly by Armchair General®, LLC, 4165 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite to use! 255, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362. Periodicals Postage paid at the Thousand Oaks Post Office and at additional mailing offices. Sub- scription rate is $29.95 for 6 issues (one year). Subscriptions sent outside of U.S. must be prepaid in U.S. funds with an addition- TIPPING POINTS al $12 for surface postage and $20 for airmail postage. For Customer Service e-mail us at [email protected] 36 or call us at (800)755-1366 or (386)246-3456. Canadian Post International Sales Agreement #40852014. POSTMASTER: Send The Prussian General Staff address changes to Armchair General®, P.O. Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32164-0235. Copyright ©2008. Armchair General®, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, The “secret weapon” that revo- mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission. WALTER FRENTZ/ULLSTEIN BILD FRENTZ/ULLSTEIN WALTER The views expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of Armchair General®, LLC. * FORMERLY THE PRESIDIO WALL SUARES J.C.
2 ✯ ARMCHAIR GENERAL ✯ SEPTEMBER 2008
BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN ACGP-080928-002.pgs 06.10.2008 09:16 ACGP-080928-ELr.qxd 6/9/08 9:26 AM Page 6
FOUNDER/PUBLISHER EDITOR’S LETTER ERIC WEIDER EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF Jerry D. Morelock EXECUTIVE EDITOR Pamela Valance ASSOCIATE EDITOR Tonya Gericke Looking Eastward GAMES EDITORS Mark H. Walker East Front combat, jihadi defeats, revealing Jeffrey Paulding CONSULTING HISTORIAN historical perspective and much more! Carlo D’Este EDITORIAL/INTERACTIVE/ ADVERTISING COORDINATOR JoHanna Gratz CONTRIBUTORS Bevin Alexander, John Antal he September 2008 issue ing companion piece to his outstanding Richard Armstrong, Steven Clay of Armchair General® is “Crescent Triumphant!” (July 2008, ACG) in Ralph Peters, Douglas Scott filled with articles about the bru- which he examined five landmark jihadi vic- Brian Sobel, Peter Tsouras tal combat of World War II’s tories in the thousand-year struggle between Caspar Weinberger Jr. Eastern Front, with several sto- the cross and the crescent. This issue, Peters ART ries devoted to Hitler’s war analyzes three jihadi defeats that checked the ART DIRECTOR against Stalin. While this is a real rise of Islam. Both works are “must-reads” Kenneth Kleppert feast for East Front fans, all read- that place today’s conflict with militant Is- IMAGE EDITOR ers can learn more about the decisive battles lam in historical perspective. Zachary Bathon T CARTOGRAPHER that led to the Nazis’ defeat. Historical perspective is also at the fore- Jason Petho Our Cover Story examines the battle- front of retired Major General David Zabec- ILLUSTRATOR field leadership of Erich von Manstein, the ki’s article, “The Commander’s Right Arm.” Gregory Proch Based on Zabecki’s exceptional new two-volume study, Chief of INTERNET DIRECTOR OF Staff: The Principal Staff Officer INTERNET OPERATIONS Behind History’s Greatest Com- Brian King manders, it gives readers the SENIOR ONLINE EDITOR Gerald Swick essential history behind the modern military staff and the ADVERTISING key position of chief of staff. PUBLISHING DIRECTOR This month’s Tipping Julie Roberts Points complements Zabecki’s (310) 922-2159 fax (310) 388-0389 article by tracing the rise and ARCHIVES NATIONAL [email protected] A German shell explodes near a Russian machine-gun position fall of the Prussian/German in North Caucasus. This issue of ACG takes an in-depth look at General Staff, a system that CIRCULATION the Eastern Front and some of its most brilliant commanders. continues to influence modern SUBSCRIPTION DIRECTOR military organizations. Norma Clousner Prussian aristocrat who may have been But wait – there’s more! We’ve also RETAIL SALES CONSULTANT George Clark Hitler’s best general – and who might have packed the magazine with exciting articles won Germany’s East Front war had he been on a wide range of subjects and historical PRODUCTION given the chance – while What Next, Gener- eras: Great Warriors features Zulu fighters; PRODUCTION DIRECTOR al? challenges readers to test their mettle Legendary Combat Units highlights the Karen G. Johnson against the surging Red Army in one of French Foreign Legion; Spy Wars discusses PRODUCTION MANAGER Karen M. Bailey Manstein’s most famous battles. cool spy gadgets; Leadership shares lessons Furthering the East Front theme, For- from naval icon Alfred Thayer Mahan; HOW TO REACH US: gotten History profiles Germany’s unsung Badges of Honor looks at the history of Armchair General® is published by panzer genius, Erhard Raus; You Command France’s Croix de Guerre; Hard Choices ex- ARMCHAIR GENERAL, LLC places readers in the rubble of Stalingrad’s amines Napoleon’s decisions at 3835-R E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. #192 factory district as a Red Army tactical com- Waterloo; and 10 Questions is an Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 mander; and Bookshelf and DVD Library interesting interview with history fax (805) 372-7454 present our picks for the best East Front book publisher Ted Savas. In [email protected] books and films. short, this issue has something ✯ QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR Acclaimed strategist, globe-trotting au- for everyone! SUBSCRIPTION? thor and ACG advisory board member Jerry Morelock, PhD, (800) 755-1366 Ralph Peters also looks “eastward” in his fea- ARMCHAIR GENERAL www.armchairgeneral.com ture story, “Crescent Descending,” a reveal- Editor in Chief. [email protected]
6 ✯ ARMCHAIR GENERAL ✯ SEPTEMBER 2008
BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN ACGP-080928-006.pgs 06.09.2008 10:44 ACGP-080928-DIr2.qxd 6/17/08 5:12 PM Page 14 DISPATCHES
UNCOMMON VALOR - REAL HEROES Korean War Medal of Honor Awarded
a recommendation for the Medal of Honor for his Octo- n March 3, 2008 – ber 15, 1951, heroism somehow nearly 60 years after was lost. But in 2007, a law was Ohis heroic exploits in passed allowing military offi- October 1951 – cials to waive the statute of lim- Master Sergeant Woodrow Wil- itations on Medal of Honor son Keeble was posthumously recommendations, and Keeble’s awarded the Medal of Honor long-delayed medal was by President George W. Bush in approved. a White House ceremony. Kee- Story by Carrie McLeroy, ble, who died in 1982, was the Army News Service first Sioux Indian to receive the nation’s highest valor award. First Silver Star for Keeble was born in 1917 on a Woman Soldier the Sisseton-Wahpeton Reser- in Afghanistan vation that spans parts of North and South Dakota. In 1942, he enlisted in the North n March 20, 2008, Army Dakota National Guard and OSpecialist Monica Lin became a member of the first Brown, a 19-year-old medic, U.S. Army unit to join the became the first woman in Marines fighting on Guadal- Afghanistan and only the sec- canal in October of that year. ond female Soldier since In recognition of his World World War II to receive the Sil- War II actions, he received the N.D. WAHPETON, VETS INCORPORATED, ver Star, the nation’s third- Bronze Star and the Purple Master Sgt. Woodrow Wilson Keeble was posthumously awarded the Medal highest valor medal. Heart (the first of four Purple of Honor by President George W. Bush in a White House ceremony on March Heart medals he would earn in 3, 2008. He was the first Sioux Indian to receive this prestigious award. his lifetime). In 1951, during the Korean nese soldiers surrounded the wounds, Keeble used grenades War, Keeble was acting platoon heavily fortified hill. Keeble led and a Browning automatic ri- leader in G Company, 19th In- three platoons in three succes- fle to single-handedly knock fantry Regiment, 24th Infantry sive assaults against the enemy out all the pillboxes, waiting Division. On October 15, ac- position, but each charge was until he had eliminated the cording to eyewitness 1st repulsed with heavy casualties. Chinese resistance before sum- Sergeant Kosumo Sagami, “All Not wishing to sacrifice any moning his men forward. the officers of the company had more of his Soldiers, Keeble Sagami recalled that Keeble received disabling wounds or launched a one-man attack did not complain of his many were killed in action, except against the Chinese pillboxes. injuries and that “only after one platoon leader [Keeble] He later told relatives that “on the unit was in defensive posi- who assumed command of the the fourth attempt he was ei- tions for the night did he allow company.” ther going to take out [the pill- himself to be evacuated.” The company’s mission was boxes] or die trying,” and that For his courageous actions to seize a steep, rocky hill near “he was more concerned about in Korea, Keeble received the the Kumsong River. Three pill- losing his men than about los- Distinguished Service Cross, boxes with machine guns and ing his own life.” the Silver Star, the Bronze Star,
several trenches filled with Chi- Despite suffering five and the Purple Heart. However, CLARE E. MICAH SPC.
14 ✯ ARMCHAIR GENERAL ✯ SEPTEMBER 2008
BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN ACGP-080928-014.pgs 06.17.2008 16:10 ACGP-080928-FHf.qxd 6/9/08 10:05 AM Page 26
FORGOTTEN HISTORY
Unsung Panzer Hero Although Rommel and Guderian were the most famous World War II German panzer leaders, Erhard Raus may have been the greatest.
German panzers fire on a farmhouse on the outskirts of Moscow as they drive on the Soviet capital in 1941.
rhard Raus was born in 1889 in er Division), fighting in the 1940 in the Vyazma Pocket. Bohemia, then part of Austria- Campaign in the West during On November 25, 1941, Raus FAST FACTS Hungary. Commissioned in the the drive on Dunkirk. assumed command of the 6th Austrian army in 1912, he served In 1941, Raus took command Name: Erhard Raus Panzer Division during the drive on World War I’s Russian and of the division’s 6th Motorized Catch Phrase: on Moscow. As the force ap- Italian fronts, where he com- Rifle Brigade, leading it in the “Raus zieht heraus” proached the city’s suburbs, the Emanded mountain troops. His service, like drive on Leningrad during the in- (“Raus pulls you through”) temperature plunged to minus 40 Born: January 8, 1889, that of Erwin Rommel, who also led moun- vasion of the Soviet Union. Raus degrees, stopping the advance in Wolframitz, Bohemia tain troops, demanded exceptional independ- quickly demonstrated extraordi- Died: April 13, 1956, its tracks. Raus’ innovative defen- ence, innovation, initiative and leadership – nary tactical ability and daring as Bad Gastein, Germany sive methods and special care of the quick-thinking, aggressive boldness of a his brigade outfought Soviet Notable Commands: Division, his men, which dramatically re- junior leader. Later, Raus gained extensive ex- forces many times its size. A pro- corps and four panzer armies duced the frostbite rate, saved the perience as an instructor, which developed his motion to general followed in Accomplishments: Nearly 6th Panzer in the face of a great noted ability as teacher and trainer. September. Because of Raus’ ac- rescued besieged 6th Army Soviet counteroffensive in De- A professional officer, Raus simply tions, the 6th Panzer Division in Stalingrad; conducted epic cember. Then in early 1942, Raus changed uniforms when Hitler’s Germany broke through enemy defenses defense of Kharkov, 1943; led counterattacks that helped to annexed Austria in the 1938 Anschluss. In and had Leningrad at its mercy. brilliantly defended against stabilize the front and snatch the massed Soviet armies, July 1940, Raus assumed command of the Then Hitler suddenly sent the di- initiative from the Red Army. 1943-44 4th Motorized Infantry Regiment in the 1st vision south to play an important In April 1942, the 6th Panzer
Light Division (which became the 6th Panz- role in trapping 600,000 Soviets was transferred to France, where N.Y. COLLECTION, GRANGER BILD/THE ULLSTEIN IMAGES: BOTH
26 ✯ ARMCHAIR GENERAL ✯ SEPTEMBER 2008
BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN ACGP-080928-026.pgs 06.09.2008 10:58 ACGP-080928-GWr.qxd 6/12/08 2:35 PM Page 30
GREAT WARRIORS
Zulu Warriors These “Spartans” of Africa turned tribal warfare into a science – and thrashed a modern European army at Isandlwana.
deadly clash took place in Although massed British firepower fi- southern Africa on January nally overcame the Zulu host at the culmi- 22, 1879, in the shadow of nating Battle of Ulundi six months later, the Sphinx-shaped hill at the British at Isandlwana had received a Isandlwana, 10 miles east of taste of what other African tribes had been the Tugela River. The battle experiencing for half a century: the shock- Apitted Europeans armed with the latest mod- ing power of thousands of superbly disci- ern weapons against indigenous warriors plined warriors whose entire existence was carrying little more than shields and spears. devoted to preparing for and waging war. The Zulu warriors won decisively. Behind Of all of history’s Great Warriors, none has them on the battlefield, they left the lifeless surpassed the Zulus. bodies of over 1,300 regular British troops Around 1817, a remarkable leader and colonial auxiliaries. It was the greatest named Shaka (born circa 1787) united the defeat of British arms by a native force in scattered Zulu subtribes and created an em- Britain’s long colonial history. pire that dominated southern Africa for the next 60 years. A ruthless chieftain who used assassination and mass executions to con- solidate and retain his power, Shaka institut- ed military reforms that made Zulu armies virtually invincible in wars of conquest against other tribes. His innovations includ- ed assembling the classic Zulu ensemble of weapons – large cowhide shield, short stab-
ZULU WARRIOR FAST FACTS bing spear, long throwing spear, and club – Name: Ibutho (Zulu warrior, member of and changing warfighting tactics from rela- a regiment); plural, amabutho Era: 1817-1879 tively bloodless, long-range spear-throwing Uniform: Animal skin tunic, cowhide rituals to deadly, close-range, hand-to-hand shield, bare feet battles in which the Zulu short spear (iklwa) Favorite Weapons: Iklwa (short stabbing spear), proved as grimly effective as the famous assegai (long throwing spear), knobkerrie (club) Best-Known Tactic: “Buffalo” formation: chest (main short swords of antiquity (the Roman glad- body), loins (reserve), and horns (encircling force) ius and the Spartan xithos). Notable Battles: Blood River (December 16, 1838), Shaka, however, went beyond merely im- Isandlwana (January 22, 1879), Rorke’s Drift proving Zulu weapons and tactics. He capi- (January 22-23, 1879), Ulundi (July 4, 1879) talized on traditional clan-based cultural ties Films: Zulu (1964), Zulu Dawn (1979) Books: Washing of the Spears by Donald R. Morris, to establish age-group regiments (impis, Like Lions They Fought by Robert B. Edgerton, numbering 400 to 4,000 warriors) that quar- The Zulus by Ian Knight (Osprey) tered together in military villages (kraals), building unit cohesion and loyalty. Boys Zulu warriors carried large cowhide shields younger than military age carried rations (the shield’s color signified the and equipment, often driving cattle (“rations regiment) and were armed with short, on the hoof”) to support military operations deadly stabbing spears and long with an efficient logistical system.
throwing spears. Shaka instituted a rigorous, nearly con- OSPREY
30 ✯ ARMCHAIR GENERAL ✯ SEPTEMBER 2008
BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN ACGP-080928-030.pgs 06.12.2008 13:44 ACGP-080928-CSf.qxd 6/9/08 10:40 AM Page 47 o like Guderian, Manstein was sacked by the dictator. ]
FIELD MARSHAL VON MANSTEIN As operations in Sevastopol wound down in early July 1942, Manstein received the following wire: LOST VICTORIES? In grateful appreciation of your exceptionally meritorious services in NOT EVERYONE IS – OR WAS – A MANSTEIN FAN. the victorious battles of the Crimea, culminating in the annihilation of the uch like those of his famous contemporary, German com- enemy at Kerch and the conquest of the mighty fortress of Sevastopol, I Mmander Heinz Guderian (see “Heinz Guderian: Hitler’s hereby promote you Field Marshal. By your promotion and the creation of Troublesome Panzer Genius,” January 2008 ACG), the wartime a commemorative shield to be worn by all ranks who took part in the exploits of Erich von Manstein have been challenged by recent Crimean campaign, I pay tribute before the whole German people to the historians. Some critics claim that Manstein’s book Lost Victories heroic achievements of the troops fighting under your command. egregiously overstates his accomplishments, and they take him to task for his book’s thesis that, essentially, “If only Hitler had Adolf Hitler listened to me, I could have saved Germany.” Certainly, the book’s title implies that Hitler’s This promotion brought new opportunities to test war on the Eastern Front could have had a differ- Manstein’s abilities as a battlefield leader and strategist. ent, successful outcome, and Manstein clearly states Those challenges would come at some of the Eastern his claim that he was the commander who could Front’s greatest battles: Leningrad, Stalingrad, Kharkov have achieved those “lost victories,” if only the and Kursk. Eventually, Hitler was forced to tap führer had listened to him. Surprisingly, the critics Manstein’s operational brilliance in bitter defensive bat- – most of whom have also questioned Heinz Gud- tles as the Red Army surged ever westward on the road to erian’s postwar memoirs, Panzer Leader, and his Berlin – a torrent that Manstein could slow but not stop. reputation as a blitzkrieg master and panzer genius Inevitably, Hitler and Manstein clashed over defen- – have used the supposedly discredited Guderian to, sive strategy. The führer obstinately issued increasingly fu- in turn, discredit Manstein by claiming that the phe- tile “hold at all costs” ultimatums, while Manstein advocated nomenal success of Manstein’s idea to attack France a sensible mobile defense that yielded territory but sought to through the Ardennes in 1940 was COURTESY, MILITARY MEDALS MILITARY COURTESY, create opportunities for deadly counterattacks on exposed Soviet flanks Hitler gave this commemo- actually the result of Guderian’s and isolated enemy units. Like Guderian before him (and unlike Rom- rative shield to Manstein genius in implementing the plan. mel), Manstein argued bitterly with Hitler. Also like Guderian, Manstein and his men as a reward for Manstein, whose aristocratic was sacked by the dictator (March 1944). their capture of the Crimea Prussian pedigree apparently After Germany’s defeat, Manstein was tried and convicted of war and the Sevastopol came with a heavy dose of ego- crimes. However, he was released from prison in 1953. The retired field fortress. It was to be worn tism, did not lack for contempo- marshal became a longtime adviser to West Germany’s Bundeswehr but by all ranks who took part rary critics, either. In 1936, chief succumbed to a stroke and died in 1973. His 1955 book, Lost Victories, be- in the Crimean campaign. of the German General Staff, Lud- came one of the most widely read of wig Beck remarked that Manstein all of the postwar memoirs written was “not a man of bad character, but a man of no character at by German commanders. The book’s all.” Hitler, who despised the German officer corps in general, thesis – that had Hitler listened to his thought Manstein was too arrogant and aloof. In the wake of military commanders, the East Front Manstein’s February 1940 presentation of the “Ardennes attack” war’s “lost victories” could have been plan, Hitler stated, “Certainly [Manstein is] an exceptionally won – is impossible to prove. Yet of clever fellow, with great operational gifts; but I don’t trust him.” all the commanders to whom Hitler Franz Halder, chief of the German General Staff during the in- might have turned to lead a winning vasion of France, disliked Manstein enough to have him trans- effort in the East, Erich von Manstein ferred to a backwater corps that would play no part – and thus was the one who best embodied the receive no glory – in the 1940 blitzkrieg victory. combination of tactician, strategist Although recent critics of Manstein grudgingly give him and battlefield leader. ✯ credit for his brilliant 1943 counterstroke that captured Frederick Baillergeon is a retired Kharkov, they question his generalship in other key battles
INESSA KAZARYAN MORELOCK KAZARYAN INESSA U.S. Army infantry officer who command- such as the Crimea, Stalingrad and Kursk. They claim that he HERO CITY. In recognition of the ed during Operation Desert Storm and was an arrogant, amoral careerist too inclined to let subordi- 250-day siege of Sevastopol, the trained Army leaders at the National nates shoulder the blame for failure while always overeager to Soviet government bestowed Training Center in California. He has grab all the laurels for successes. upon the city the honor of “Hero taught tactics at the U.S. Army Command ACG readers are advised to closely examine the evidence City,” which is equivalent to an and General Staff College for several years on both sides, and then judge for themselves if Manstein’s individual receiving the Hero of and is co-author of the popular “ACG” “lost victories” claim rings true. the Soviet Union gold star medal. web series “Tactics 101.”
SEPTEMBER 2008 ✯ ARMCHAIR GENERAL ✯ 47
BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN ACGP-080928-047.pgs 06.09.2008 11:05 ACGP-080928-CBf.qxd 6/9/08 11:17 AM Page 66
INTERACTIVE COMBAT!
Choose the correct course of action as a U.S. tank platoon attacks dug-in Iraqi Republican Guard defenders in the Gulf War’s toughest armored battle.
ou are Lieutenant Mark There is no American infantry support in DATE: Reynolds, a tank platoon Fe b r u a r y 27, 19 91 your sector, so your platoon must attack LOCATION: leader with the 2d Brigade, Medina Ridge, near Basra, Iraq without the help of “grunts.”Yet each of your MISSION: U.S. 1st Armored Division. It Attack and defeat dug-in enemy M-1A1 Abrams possesses formidable fire- is the third day of the ground tanks and infantrymen power – a 120 mm main gun that can pene- UNIT: war phase of Operation Desert Tank platoon, 2d Brigade, trate the Iraqis’ Russian-built tanks, a .50-cal- YStorm, and your division is sweeping across the U.S. 1st Armored Division iber machine gun and two 7.62 mm machine ENEMY: desert as part of the American-led coalition’s Elements of Iraqi Republican Guard guns. With their superior armor, outstanding military offensive to eject Iraqi dictator Sad- Medina Luminous Division shoot-on-the-move capability and un- dam Hussein’s occupying army from Kuwait. matched fire control equipment, your tanks Traveling at a top speed of almost 40 Although the rise blocks your view, are ready to take on whatever awaits them. mph, the four M-1A1 Abrams tanks in your you’re certain that Iraq’s elite Republican Suddenly, your radio crackles with your platoon rapidly approach Medina Ridge, a 7- Guard units are waiting beyond the ridge platoon sergeant’s voice. “LT, what’s our mile-long slice of key terrain whose low rise with their standard triangular- battle plan?” dominates the otherwise featureless land- shaped defensive fortifications scape. American artillery pummels the ridge arranged to provide interlocking What is your and the enemy targets on its opposite side. fires. Each excavated position plan, Lieutenant Meanwhile, U.S. Air Force A-10 “tank likely consists of a platoon of Iraqi Reynolds? buster” jets swoop low to engage the Iraqi T-72 tanks supported by infantry- Turn the page and units as Apache attack helicopters launch men with machine guns and rock- listen in as Reynolds is- deadly missiles from the flanks. et propelled grenades. sues his orders. Desert Storm Tank Attack 1991 GREGORY PROCH GREGORY
66 ✯ ARMCHAIR GENERAL ✯ SEPTEMBER 2008
BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN ACGP-080928-066.pgs 06.09.2008 11:21 ACGP-080928-YCf2.qxd 6/16/08 10:23 AM Page 71
The ghastly combat that has raged inside Stalingrad since September has produced massive numbers of casualties, [ reducing units to mere skeleton organizations. ]
attention fixed on that location – and away emy fixated on a single point, then it has to We can kill more Germans with the bullets from the rest of our thin, vulnerable defen- be better than swimming for our lives!” we have left if we stay in place and let the fas- sive line – by counterattacking there with sev- cists attack us. Let them play the role of eral storm groups of handpicked men. By Course of Action Two: ‘shooting target’ for a change.” carefully managing the assets we commit to a HOLD OUT Unconvinced, Major Glinyaga warns,“And continuing fight for the Kommissarhaus, we Raising your hand, you attempt to calm when the bullets are all gone, how then do you can tie up the Germans in a struggle for that your men’s frayed nerves. “Wait a moment, propose to engage these ‘targets’? If we simply single position and divert them from launch- gentlemen. Listen to this next course of ac- hold out, then we give the tactical initiative ing a general assault on our entire line.” tion. Rather than risking our remaining over to the enemy. We’d be dancing to his Major Pechenyuk immediately responds force in a focused counterattack, we could tune, just sitting here waiting for him to to your proposal. “Colonel Lyudnikov, it ap- conserve our combat strength by holding mount a massive attack that will finish us off.” pears that you wish to turn this strongpoint out where we are now. We wouldn’t have to into a miniature version of the Great War’s seize territory to win; we’d only need to sur- Course of Action Three: Battle of Verdun – an attempt to bleed the en- vive and maintain our current positions. BREAKOUT emy white. That action, however, proved a The Germans lost at least 100 men captur- “There’s still one more course of action to double-edged sword, as both sides suffered ing the Kommissarhaus, and they will sure- consider,” you remind the men. “Our biggest appalling casualties. I’m afraid we can’t possi- ly lose many hundreds more if they contin- problem is that we’re cut off from reinforce- bly win a battle of attrition with the fascists.” ue to attack all along our line. If we fight ments and resupply. The longer we remain in Taking a different stance, Major Glinyaga from our present positions, we can make this isolated position, the weaker we become. retorts, “We’re already losing the battle of at- them pay a heavy price.” Eventually we’ll run out of bullets and men, trition, in case you haven’t noticed. If the Captain Konovalenko quickly offers his and when that happens we’ll be finished and Germans decide to push us all along our support of this option. “I believe we would won’t be any good to anybody. My third pro- front, we’ll end up treading water in the Vol- expend less ammunition under this plan – posal, therefore, is to break out and re-estab- ga soon enough. If this plan can keep the en- an attack burns it up at an incredible rate. lish contact with other 62d Army units so we ✃ ®
You Command! COMBAT DECISION GAME (CDG) #28 Stalingrad, 1942 CDG READER SOLUTION WINNERS Commander, you have various options GETA FREE to consider for this mission. Check the GAME! box next to the course of action you choose and draw your solution on the map. Explain your solution in the space provided (200 words max). You can also download a PDF of the CDG map at www.armchairgeneral.com/cdg. Select your preferred course of action. COA 1: COUNTERATTACK Launch storm groups against the Kommissarhaus, a key German defensive position. COA 2: HOLD OUT Conserve combat strength by consolidating your position and defending in place. COA 3: BREAKOUT Break through enemy defenses to re-establish contact with friendly units. Other COA: You have an alternative course of action in mind. PETHO CARTOGRAPHY PETHO
BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN ACGP-080928-071.pgs 06.16.2008 09:22 ACGP-080928-033 6/11/08 10:07 AM Page 33 SPECIAL GIFT OFFER Give your buddies a gift subscription to ARMCHAIR GENERAL, the world’s leading military history and strategy magazine. Act now to qualify for this special gift rate. ✯ Fascinating accounts of brave Soldiers who accomplished amazing feats . . . ✯ Historically accurate narratives of action-packed battles including maps and photo re-creations . . . ✯ Interactive stories that challenge the reader to make life-or-death command decisions . . . ORDER NOW! “There is no better teacher than history in determining the future.” – Bill Gross www.armchairgeneral.com SAVE CALL TOLL FREE up to 1-800-755-1366 50% OR RETURN THIS COUPON HELP HELPGIFT SAVINGS COUPON NOW!
❏ 3 years (18 issues) GIFT TO (PRINT NAME) FROM (PRINT NAME) $53.95 Save 50%! BEST DEAL ADDRESS APT. ADDRESS APT. ❏ 2 years (12 issues) CITY STATE ZIP CITY STATE ZIP $39.95 Worth 6 issues FREE. I’ve attached more gift requests on a separate sheet. Payment enclosed Bill me later ❏ 1 year (6 issues) Free gift card will be sent to you to announce your gift. ARMCHAIR $21.95 Only $3.66 First issue mails in 6-8 weeks. (Outside the US, add $12 per year for surface mail; $20 per ✯ an issue. year for airmail. Payment in US funds must accompany order.) GENERALGENERAL®
Mail coupon to: ARMCHAIR GENERAL, P.O. Box 421910, Palm Coast, FL 32142, USA S85AGX
BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN ACGP-080928-033.pgs 06.11.2008 09:24