Monday, February 28, 2011

The Longest Battle

"The Longest Battle" by Harry Yeide covers the fighting on the approaches to the Roer River in 1944 and the crossings in 1945.  The book provides a detailed operational analysis of the Corps and Divisions and their various battlegroups that took part in the battles.  Well researched and a smooth read.  An appendix provides an order of battle for most of the divisions in the battle, though some divisions are ommitted from the orbat.  And the loan of British "Crocodiles" to the adjacent American formations is not noted in the orbat.  That nugget of information is on page 155 as a reference.  Maps are basic sketches though they are provided often enough in the text to keep the reader up to date with movements.

Interesting aspects of the fighting gleaned from the book are the relatively  heavy use of artillery by Germans and the methodical, grinding "bite and hold" methods of the Americans.  German artillery was more heavily concentrated than typical as guns were numerous and ammunition was plentiful as long as poor weather limited Allied airpower and the artillery regiments remained in the fight as their grenadier and panzer regiments were pulled from the fight to refit. 
The Americans had a mixture of veteran and new divisions in the fight as well as a new Army, the Ninth.  Not in a great hurry to cross the Roer, which the Americans assumed would be flooded and strand their bridgeheads,  a methodical approach to combat predominated.  The Ninth Army in particular would advance forward with artillery fire, smoke, and airpower at a maximum and operate in depth to contain the inevitable German counter-attack.  More veteran divisions such as the 2nd Armored or 29th Infantry would make bolder advances but all in all it was an attritional contest with the advantage to the Allies.

An interesting companion piece to Yeide's book is Tieke's book on the II SS Panzerkorps.  The II SS Panzerkorps contained the 10SS Panzer Division which fought in November and December to defend the Roer River crossings at Linnich.  By way of highlighting the German artillery concentrations, the 10SS fought with not only their own artillery regiment, but with support from the artillery regiments of the 9th Panzer and 15 Panzergrenadier divisions that had been pulled out of the line.

A good book for wargamers as lots of scenarios can be pulled from the book.  Given the absence of grand sweeping maneuvers and the predominance of slugging contests, each day of battle could provide game scenarios for many different rules sets.