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Q: VIETNAM BATTLES (S&T 196): Which contingency reinforcements were chosen historically?

A: Hue: Allied Group 4, 2/101 Airborne [actually, should have been 1/101, but the units are the same]
Pegasus: none

We had several people comment about Mike Bennighof's dismal description of the Waffen SS Division "Nord's" performance in his lead article for issue 194. Mike's evaluation of "Nord" was historically correct.

"Nord" was organized in Norway in February 1941 as SS Kampfgruppe (Battlegroup) "Nord" from German and Austrian police and security units. At the start of Barbarossa, it had a strength of 10,500 men. The unit was upgraded to SS Division "Nord" in September 1941. "Nord" included SS Motorized Infantry Regiments 6, 7 and 9, an artillery regiment, reconaissance, flak, pioneer (engineer) and signals battalions, plus divisional services.

The division's initial performance was poor. SS Major General Demelhuber, "Nord's" commander in June 1941, commented, "...I am convinced that the condition of training of the troops sent to me is of such poor quality that I cannot take responsibility for their engagement." Much of the problem came from the source of "Nord's" troops, SS Totenkopf ("Death's Head") Regiments 6 and 7. The Totenkopf regiments (not to be confused with the elite Waffen SS "Totenkopf" division or the Totenkopf guard battalions of the concentration camps) were Himmler's rear area security force. Himmler upgraded these units to Waffen SS status (i.e., "Armed SS", the combat branch of the SS) to place them on an equal footing with the Wehrmacht, and thereby increase his own political leverage within the Nazi hierarchy. So "Nord" initially lacked the training and motivation to engage armed opponents. However, the unit did improve somewhat with experience on the Northern Front.

Joe, for us gamers who play for the history rather than the competition, what initial Russian setup do you suggest for Crimean War [issue game for S&T #193]? How about the reinforcement options?

> David Vandenbroucke > david_a._vandenbroucke@hud.gov

My recommendation:

Initial Russian setup: Reasonable Effort

Reinforcement options: roll one die each turn:
1-2: Nominal
3-5: Divisional
6: Corps Elites can be chosen only if Event #31 is rolled.

--Joseph

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