This issue I am devoting my column to one Europa division because that division illustrates the specialized consideration and tailoring given each counter in the system design. The featured counter of this column is the German 1st Infantry Division. Many players have noted this particular counter is somewhat unique, and I will explain the reasons behind its singular development. The Europa rating scheme strengthens the 1st Infantry Division's power in a uniformly progressive manner, unlike most German infantry divisions which diminish in effectiveness later in the war.

The 1st Infantry Division was officially raised at Insterburg, East Prussia, on 3 February 1935. The division was composed of the 1st Infantry Regiment from Konigsberg, the 22nd Infantry Regiment from Bumbinnen, and the 43rd Infantry Regiment from Insterburg. Each infantry regiment contained three battalions. The division was mobilized on 17 August 1939 and initially deploys in Case White (the 1939 Polish campaign) as a 7-6.

The 1st Infantry Division reaches an 8-6 level in time for 1940 (The Fall of France). The 1st Infantry Division invades the Soviet Union at this same 8-6 level in 1941, a figure representative of all standard "first wave" German infantry divisions. The uniqueness of the 1st Infantry Division does not become apparent in Fire in the East, but the first hint of its special nature comes in Scorched Earth during July 1943.

The 1st Infantry Division does not have a 5-7- 6 counter provided, making it ineligible that month for voluntary reorganization. This was not an oversight or mistake in the counter sheet. The absence of a 5-7-6 divisional counter for the 1st deliberately simulates the fact that the German high command maintained this formation at a special, reinforced level throughout the Russian campaign. By this time, like most other German infantry divisions, the 1st Infantry Division had three battalions taken out of its organization (the III Battalion of each regiment), leaving it with only six battalions instead of the former nine.

Starting in July 1943, most divisions drop in strength to 5-7-6. This reflects their reductions in total manpower, while accounting for increases in amounts of automatic rifles, hand- held antitank weapons, etc. This "leveling" of German infantry divisions to 5-7-6 accounts for their standardization at new late-war infantry tables of organization and equipment (TOE), which gave them six internal battalions of riflemen. The 1st Infantry Division is retained in game play at a potential 8-6, even with a lower number of battalions (six) because of upgraded battalion manpower and weapons allocations due to its favored status as the 1st Infantry Division from East Prussia.

During the course of Scorched Earth, in September 1944, the 1st Infantry Division is further increased by converting to a 10-6 level. It becomes the only German infantry division to achieve this combat striking force so far in the Europa simulation. This late-war counter elevation was premised on carefully researched facts regarding the 1st Infantry Division's reorganization in the fall of 1944.

The 1st Infantry Division was completely overhauled in September 1944 to defend its motherland of East Prussia, the traditional foundation of the pre-World War II German state. The division was rebuilt with hundreds of selected recruits and experienced training base personnel, all armed with the latest in automatic weapons, who were merged with surviving veterans of its hard-fighting regiments. This enabled the division to officially add a third grenadier battalion to each of its regiments for the first time since 1942, giving it nine instead of six infantry battalions. The 1st Infantry Division contained three full rifle battalions in each of its regiments, which were now labeled the 1st Grenadier, 22nd Fusilier, and 43rd Grenadier Regiments. The division had extra artillery assets as well as a separate 1st Fusilier Battalion (reconnaissance) and other additions. In fact, the 1st Infantry Divsion was the only sondergliederung (special composition) infantry division in the entire German arsenal--all the others were being projected for modification under 1945 standard TOE schedules in late 1944.

The 1st Infantry Division was specially outfitted for the pronounced purpose of spearheading any counterattacks needed to "guarantee the security of East Prussia." While the German high command undoubtedly expressed a lot of optimism in the capability of this one lone division to defend its home ground, there was little doubt--after careful review of its "Verband Sondergliederung" TOE table in National Archives Record Group Microfilm roll 1027-- that a full combat power of 10 was fully warranted. The new 1st Infantry Division with nine reinforced grenadier battalions, obviously rated a point higher then a 9-8 sturm division with six reinforced grenadier battalions. Whereas a sturm division had a movement rating of 8, however, the 1st Infantry Division's slower speed of 6 was retained. The 1st was never motorized at the level of a sturm division and its artillery and "logistical tail" remained largely horse-drawn.

This is the background for the German 1st Infantry Division's unique treatment in the Europa system.

More 1sts:

US 1st Infantry Division (Europa #1)
German 1st Infantry Division (Europa #4)
1st Moscow Proletariat Rifle Division (Europa #5)