That resolves the 305th. Still not a factor for us. As for the rest of the German OOB:
bru888 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 8:42 pm
Ach du lieber! Time to cut the Gordian Knot!
It's cut. And dried.
A number of times, I have found excellent maps at a blog called "Hyperwar" that is hosted on a web service called ibiblio.org. The latest one, for Operation Diadem, I found here:
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/US ... ino-5.html
The map on that page is huge; I shrunk it 50% to show it here (I also used it as my scenario template):
- Operation Diadem 1.jpg (327.64 KiB) Viewed 1083 times
If you look carefully (follow the link if you cannot see), that fellow's German unit designations match Atkinson's on his map of the Hitler Line:
- Operation Diadem 2.jpg (232.78 KiB) Viewed 1083 times
So from this, I am taking these six German divisions as follows, from north to south:
- 1st Parachute Division
- 90th Panzergrenadier Division
- 26th Panzer Division
- 15th Panzergrenadier Division
- 94th Infantry Division
- 29th Panzergrenadier Division
Only the first four fit on the Gustav Line, which is shorter than the Hitler Line (the portion on my
Operation Diadem scenario map, that is; actually, the Gustav Line stretched across Italy). These four divisions will swing like a gate that is pushed backward toward the Hitler Line with Cassino as the hinge. As for the other two divisions, I have a special purpose for the 94th Infantry Division down in the Gaeta area, and the 29th PzG Division will be waiting on the Hitler Line (they were in reserve, anyway)
Now, there were other German forces in the area and, for the purposes of balanced gameplay, I have to make some effort to include them. According to the "Hyperwar" article, "the 90th Panzer Grenadier Division, which since the 16th had replaced the battered 44th Infantry Division ..." so I will include the 44th, perhaps in a depleted fashion in the rear. Same for the 71st Infantry Division because "the 26th Panzer Division, which Kesselring had ordered to replace the battered 71st Division ..."
That leaves, from Wikipedia's Operation Diadem OOB, the 5th Mountain Division and the 114th Jäger Division as being on the Winter Line and the 1st Paratroop Panzer Division 'Hermann Göring' as being in reserve. I need at least two of these units for balanced gameplay.
I will leave out the 114th Jäger Division. According to another Wikipedia article, "The division was transferred to Italy in January 1944, to reinforce the
Anzio front. It was destroyed in combat in that theater in April 1945."
I have seen reference to the 5th Mountain as being in the area, in the mountains west of Cassino (close enough), and according to Wikipedia, "After the start of the Allied offensive, Operation Diadem, on 12 May, the ['Hermann Göring'] division retreated towards Rome and then abandoned the city." Well, in this version, they hang around. They are interesting.
- 44th Infantry Division (depleted)
- 71st Infantry Division (depleted)
- 5th Mountain Division
- 1st Paratroop Panzer Division 'Hermann Göring'
There you are. 10 German divisions, 8 full strength and 2 depleted. They are facing 14 Allied divisions. Realistic enough as to relative strength (although there will be German foxholes, bunkers, mines, and a roving band of Tiger tanks to deal with).