• Blitz Shadow Player
  • Caius
  • redboot
  • Rules
  • Chain of Command
  • Members
  • Supported Ladders & Games
  • Downloads


Next Title - Courland Pocket?
02-18-2024, 12:32 AM, (This post was last modified: 02-18-2024, 12:33 AM by MisterMark.)
#1
Next Title - Courland Pocket?
Does anyone know if WDS has any plans to cover the Courland Pocket for their Panzer Campaigns series?
I just got done watching the extremely detailed and engaging 6.5 hour marathon documentary about it on the TIKhistory YouTube channel:

https://youtu.be/uJsjxSfB7Ls?si=oTz-n7gffE9MOKtL

Not sure if the entire operation could be put into a single scenario but it seems it could be diced and sliced up into smaller battles for some interesting game play and to pay homage to this somewhat overlooked theater. There could be a number of alternative and 'what if' scenarios built in too as there is some debate if Army Group North could have been evacuated or deployed in a different way as for them not to be completely trapped and cut off.

As I understand it, Hitler did have some intent to try and use the trapped Army Group as a spring board for launching a counter offensive that could have helped encircle a large chunk of the Red Army at a very crucial time. However, the Germans were not able to organize or execute that plan as the allied fronts were quickly closing in on Berlin and logistics were too difficult to supply and prepare the already exhausted, worn out and isolated Army Group North.

On a side note, if this battle had not taken place, I wouldn't have come into existence to be even be writing this post. My Mother's family lived in Latvia at the time and they had decided to leave when the Red Army rolled through their village and started forcefully conscripting all the able bodied men. My Grandfather hastily got his family together and they took off into the woods and hid for several months until the wars end. Not sure at what point they were able to get off the Courland peninsula but they eventually ended up in an Western Allied displaced persons camp and were lucky enough to eventually immigrate to the US.

Anyway, aside from my faint personal connection to this battle, I think this would make a very interesting title for Panzer Campaigns. 

Thoughts?
Quote this message in a reply
02-18-2024, 04:56 AM,
#2
RE: Next Title - Courland Pocket?
Knowing your personal history you might be interested in recently published "The Road of Slaughter: The Latvian 15th SS Division in Pomerania, January-March 1945" by Vincent Hunt, Helion/Casemate. It disabuses many long held fallacies regarding this division.

A podcast interviewing the author can be found at https://ww2podcast.com/ww2-podcast/216-t...an-legion/

Publisher info at https://www.casematepublishers.com/97818...slaughter/
Quote this message in a reply
02-18-2024, 05:56 AM,
#3
RE: Next Title - Courland Pocket?
(02-18-2024, 04:56 AM)Nick R�sch Wrote: Knowing your personal history you might be interested in recently published "The Road of Slaughter: The Latvian 15th SS Division in Pomerania, January-March 1945" by Vincent Hunt, Helion/Casemate.  It disabuses many long held fallacies regarding this division.

A podcast interviewing the author can be found at https://ww2podcast.com/ww2-podcast/216-t...an-legion/

Publisher info at https://www.casematepublishers.com/97818...slaughter/

Ah I'll check it out for sure.!   I also had an Uncle in Latvia that was conscripted by the Russians and then at some point he was captured and conscripted by the Germans.  I always wondered if he got pressed into the Latvian Legion.  When I was a kid I used to ask him all the time about war stories and he never seemed to want to talk about it.  Whether he was forced into the Latvian Legion Waffen SS, the general Wehrmacht or any national army for that matter, I can understand now as an adult why he wouldn't want to re-live any of it.
Quote this message in a reply
02-19-2024, 04:15 AM, (This post was last modified: 02-22-2024, 02:54 AM by MisterMark.)
#4
RE: Next Title - Courland Pocket?
(02-18-2024, 05:56 AM)MisterMark Wrote:
(02-18-2024, 04:56 AM)Nick R�sch Wrote: Knowing your personal history you might be interested in recently published "The Road of Slaughter: The Latvian 15th SS Division in Pomerania, January-March 1945" by Vincent Hunt, Helion/Casemate.  It disabuses many long held fallacies regarding this division.

A podcast interviewing the author can be found at https://ww2podcast.com/ww2-podcast/216-t...an-legion/

Publisher info at https://www.casematepublishers.com/97818...slaughter/

Ah I'll check it out for sure.!   I also had an Uncle in Latvia that was conscripted by the Russians and then at some point he was captured and conscripted by the Germans.  I always wondered if he got pressed into the Latvian Legion.  When I was a kid I used to ask him all the time about war stories and he never seemed to want to talk about it.  Whether he was forced into the Latvian Legion Waffen SS, the general Wehrmacht or any national army for that matter, I can understand now as an adult why he wouldn't want to re-live any of it.

Got a chance to listen to the podcast... seems the Latvians that had to fight were between a rock and a hard place.  They more or less were pawns played by both the Soviets and Nazis throughout the war and individuals had to choose which of the two evils they were going to align with, whether it be for survival, a hatred for a particular side or some notion that one side could grant some semblance of an independent Latvia after the war.
Quote this message in a reply
02-21-2024, 03:13 AM,
#5
RE: Next Title - Courland Pocket?
I just received my copy. It's a fairly hefty volume. The author was able to interview two members of the legion - both in their late 90's.
Quote this message in a reply
02-22-2024, 04:34 AM,
#6
RE: Next Title - Courland Pocket?
(02-21-2024, 03:13 AM)Nick R�sch Wrote: I just received my copy.  It's a fairly hefty volume.  The author was able to interview two members of the legion - both in their late 90's.

Yeah not many veterans left that participated in WW2.  Glad there are people out there documenting the stories.
Quote this message in a reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 3 Guest(s)