by James A. Broshot
In issue #32 Thomas Kolley addressed the subject of Korpsabteilungen, and since this is an excellent idea for Scorched Earth, I would like to elaborate on it. According to Alex Buchner in Os~front 1944, a "Korpsabteilung" was usually composed of three division groups (equivalent to three infantry regiments) each with two regiment groups (equivalent to two battalions). Per my sources, the historical "Korpsabteilungen" were formed as follows:
B 112, 255 and 332 Infantry Divisions C 183, 217 and 339 Infantry Divisions D 56 and 262 Infantry Divisions E 86, 137 and 251 Infantry Divisions F 38, 62 and 123 Infantry Divisions G 57, 299 and 337 Infantry Divisions H 95, 197 and 256 Infantry Divisions They first start showing up in the orders of battle found in the OKW Kriegstagbuch in October 1943 and last appear in September 1944. Werner Haupt in Das Buch der Infanterie states that on September 15, 1944, the surviving Korpsabteilungen were redesignated and reformed as follows:
C 183 Infantry Division D 56 Infantry Division E 251 Infantry Division F 62 Infantry Division G 299 Infantry Division H 95 Infantry Division Korpsabteilung B was destroyed in the Cherkassy Pocket in February 1944. Korpsabteilung D survived the destruction of Army Group Center in June 1944, and Korpsabteilung C was decimated in the Brody Pocket in July 1944. I would modify Thomas's rule to show their strength as 5-6 Inf Corps Groups with cadre strengths of 1-6, to better show the ad hoc and fragile nature of these units. On Sep II 1944, the survivors convert to 5-7-6 Inf XX/2-3-6 Inf Cadre (use counters from divisions scrapped to form the Corps Groups). Also, once formed, a Corps Group may not break down and if reduced to cadre or destroyed, it cannot be rebuilt or replaced.
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