Background:
January 1945 East-Prussia was cut-off, as a result of a great Russian offensive towards Berlin.
While Berlin was still the main goal, there were some good reasons to eliminate East-Prussia:
- this was the first occupied German soil (psychology, propaganda !)
- The German army's there and in Kurland were a dangerous flanking threat.
The forces:
Manpower: Germany 770.000, Russia 1.600.000
Tanks: Germany 700, Russia 2800
On top of that the Russians had almost complete air supremacy.
It has to be mentioned that about 200.000 German troops were so-called Volkssturm, which means every man who could
not serve in a normal way (age, health etc).
Now these men did fight bravely until the end, but of course they lacked the training and condition of a regular soldier.
So the Russians were superior in all aspects.
Still the German troops desperately defended to almost the end of april.
This was no longer for victory or Germany, leave alone for Hitler.
It was just to give over 2 million civilans, mostly women and children, a chance to escape to the west.
This big evacuation, called Trecks, were dangerous by themselves.
At 20 below zero the civilians trailed over frozen Hafs, meanwhile bombed and strafed by the Russians.
Also the last remnants of the German Navy were sacrified here.
The German troops defended well, and gaines some local succeses by smaller counter-attacks, but eventually the
last remnants were pressed towards Konigsberg or the Heiligenbeil pocket.
Defence was improvised from day to day, and consisted usually just some hastily digged trenches in field or wood.
Everything to gain time.
This is the situation Im working on, an abandonded trench around medium March.
First impressions of the groundwork
This wildgrass from Treemendus was exactly what I wanted !
Still a lot to do, and then adding figures.
Those will be Russian assault scouts and some tankriders.
More pics when ready.
Thanks for looking,
willem
January 1945 East-Prussia was cut-off, as a result of a great Russian offensive towards Berlin.
While Berlin was still the main goal, there were some good reasons to eliminate East-Prussia:
- this was the first occupied German soil (psychology, propaganda !)
- The German army's there and in Kurland were a dangerous flanking threat.
The forces:
Manpower: Germany 770.000, Russia 1.600.000
Tanks: Germany 700, Russia 2800
On top of that the Russians had almost complete air supremacy.
It has to be mentioned that about 200.000 German troops were so-called Volkssturm, which means every man who could
not serve in a normal way (age, health etc).
Now these men did fight bravely until the end, but of course they lacked the training and condition of a regular soldier.
So the Russians were superior in all aspects.
Still the German troops desperately defended to almost the end of april.
This was no longer for victory or Germany, leave alone for Hitler.
It was just to give over 2 million civilans, mostly women and children, a chance to escape to the west.
This big evacuation, called Trecks, were dangerous by themselves.
At 20 below zero the civilians trailed over frozen Hafs, meanwhile bombed and strafed by the Russians.
Also the last remnants of the German Navy were sacrified here.
The German troops defended well, and gaines some local succeses by smaller counter-attacks, but eventually the
last remnants were pressed towards Konigsberg or the Heiligenbeil pocket.
Defence was improvised from day to day, and consisted usually just some hastily digged trenches in field or wood.
Everything to gain time.
This is the situation Im working on, an abandonded trench around medium March.
First impressions of the groundwork
This wildgrass from Treemendus was exactly what I wanted !
Still a lot to do, and then adding figures.
Those will be Russian assault scouts and some tankriders.
More pics when ready.
Thanks for looking,
willem
