Who Was Oberst von Strachwitz?

Redleg · Post by **Redleg** » Thu Jun 27, 2002 9:18 pm

It is a bit difficult to locate info on this officer who commanded the Panzer Regiment of Grossdeutschland.

Do any of you know about this man?

A scenario is in the works attempting to depict some of his exploits - and they were very remarkable.

Any info about combat actions involving von Strachwitz will be appreciated and used to create a large Tiger battle... or two.

Jim1954 · Post by **Jim1954** » Thu Jun 27, 2002 11:05 pm

I found this. Hope it is not redundant. Keep up all the good work.

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quart ... hwitz.html

Redleg · Post by **Redleg** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 12:35 am

Thanks for the link.

Here's a couple of teasers.
Knight's Cross Holder w/ Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds.
Highest decorated regimental officer in German army.
Commanded Panzer Lehr at Normandy as a Major General, survived the war after being wounded 13 times.

But here's the real deal. In a single engagement, the good Colonel (at the time) with a single platoon of panzers destroyed 105 Soviet tanks in less than an hour without loss.

How does this relate to SPWAW, you ask?

Well, I am working on a scenario featuring Grossdeutschland and its Tigers.

My result in alpha testing: 96 Soviet AFV destroyed at a loss of 12 AFV, including 3 Tigers. So I ain't no von Strachwitz but I didn't do too bad. Marginal victory.

20 turns of desperate tank action. Very little infantry. Virtually no artillery.

This is for Fabios Armor site. I need 2 play tests from people who will play the 20 turns and send me the scores. I want to be sure this is up to Fabio's high standards and play testing is the key.

If you email me (don't use the private mail thing) just copy this address:

artifice@fireserve.net

Put "Tiger Test" in the subject I will send you this battle to play if you promise to tell me the score when you finish. Then, I can make any alterations you discover are required.

I don't often create large battles and I'd like to get it right! The standards at the Armor Site are quite high.

Fabio Prado · Post by **Fabio Prado** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 2:43 am

High standards indeed!

And here goes a challenge:

The first one that manages to replicate von Strachwitz (and prove it, of course) will acquire the rights to be repectfully called "Herr Panzergraf" on this Forum, and will receive a special mention along with the (virtual) Knights Cross with Oak Leaves in a special page on The Armor Site! It is the first time in the history of the Armor Site (serving the wargaming community since 1997) that such an honor is offered.

Panzers Forward!

Fab

Mojo · Post by **Mojo** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 2:53 am

That quite an offer Fab. Looks like no sleep for me tonight if I want the title.

Redleg · Post by **Redleg** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 3:05 am

"Panzergraf" was the nick of our Colonel.

Geez I wish I had played more carefully. Sob, sob.

We have two stalwart testers who have met the challenge. I cannot wait to see how they put my performance to shame.

Have fun, guys. It gets sort of thrilling when the ammo supply gets tight!

Mojo · Post by **Mojo** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 5:51 am

Warm it up. I'm on T-12 and have only lost 3 tanks so far. One lucky (for Ivan) shot on a Tiger at about a zillion hexes.

At this point the Soviets are popping more smoke than they are shooting real rounds at me. I doubt that I'm doing real well on score though. I'm using my superior gunnery to blunt their attack ( Ahhh Grasshopper........the bamboo bends in the typhoon but doesn't break) and then I'm going to turn their flank and roll them up like a dog pee stained rug.

That's the plan anyway.

So far.......exactly what you'd expect from a scen designed by Redleg. Top shelf.

BTW the ammo is always short against the Sovs. I just love trying to hold off T 34s with mgs. Argh

Orzel Bialy · Post by **Orzel Bialy** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 6:23 am

hope I get a shot at Ivan too.

I love Redleg's scenarios! Between him and REMF...they really make some challenging material!

Redleg · Post by **Redleg** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 7:04 am

Thanks for the comments! Just received an exciting email with a progress report. Looks like ol' Redleg will definitely be left back in the motor pool washing vehicles when the dust clears.

Whoa! You guys are good! Sound tacticians. Remember I need to know what is needed to meet Fabio's extremely high standards!

Mojo · Post by **Mojo** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 7:34 am

DV

Ger /Sov
50 866
0 0
1 0
0 20
6 124
0 0
0 0

Only lost 1 Tiger and lost 2 tanks on the last turn. Grrrrrrrrrr

Good fun:D

Final score 25722 to 2584

Redleg · Post by **Redleg** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 8:02 am

Wow! Good going. If others do as well you, I may need to tighten things up in order to keep the Soviets competitive. It sounds like you had fun - that is the main thing.

Do you have any suggestions for improvement?

Mojo · Post by **Mojo** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 8:34 am

Well after the initial flush of ego. You probably should tighten it up cause I don't think I'm the greatest warrior out there. To quote Dirty Harry "A man's gotta know his limitations."

I was expecting more Sov infantry to be riding in on the tanks. I was pleased they weren't.

Because to be honest with you I'm starting to prefer tank battles because they move faster than strictly infantry affairs. Limited gaming time and all.

The Churchills and were they Stuarts? got knocked out pretty fast. Those KV-1Es make me pull my hair out. They absorb so much punishment. Teamed up with the ISU 122s (?) firing from long range made life difficult.

Grenadier · Post by **Grenadier** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 9:53 am

Lost Victories prominently features the Panzergraf. There are several battles that have his tank batallion from 16 Pz Div featured, including the giant Dubno battle when he faces over 200 Russian tanks with his company of Pz II's and III's.

His dash to capture Lubny and link up with Guderian's forces in the battle of Kiev and the capture of Nikolaev is also featured.

The book'Knights of the Reich" has a chapter on his career.

Not sure about the Panzerlehr command. he was in Lithuania in command of the Panzerverbande Strachwitz at the time of the Normandy battles. Fritz Bayerlein commanded Panzerlehr from its organization until the Ruhrr battles

PavelPipovitsch · Post by **PavelPipovitsch** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 8:53 pm

Here´s another link to the Panzergraf with picture and story:

www.achtungpanzer.com/gen11.htm

Redleg · Post by **Redleg** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 8:55 pm

Some interesting information emerging. Thanks for the link.

Grenadier · Post by **Grenadier** » Sat Jun 29, 2002 7:06 am

I used that photo and part of that biography in LV:)

Originally posted by PavelPipovitsch
Here´s another link to the Panzergraf with picture and story:

www.achtungpanzer.com/gen11.htm

Goblin · Post by **Goblin** » Sat Jun 29, 2002 10:48 pm

Redleg! That was as much fun as the Wittman scenarios, and that is saying something!

Casualties- German men 64, APC's 7(stupid of me), AFV's 1. Russian men 909, APC's 20, AFV's 123.

Score-Germany 26244 DV / Russia 1511 CD

I had two Tiger's hit and the crews bailed, but they remounted. No spoilers, but I did what any smart commander would do in this situation. Let those Tigers get hull-down and do their job!

My ammo didn't run low until about turn 13 or so, and I was able to conserve it then, because that's when I let my CS tanks enter the fray.

Other than when the computer set Soviet armor toughness at 1634% (not a misprint), and the occasional T34 sounding like motorcycles, no problems on the scenario.

You might make a tank battle lover out of me yet! Loads of fun.

Goblin- A Goblin saw fireworks!

Mojo · Post by **Mojo** » Sat Jun 29, 2002 11:17 pm

Ok now I gotta ask.

Why do the Soviets throw those angry cats?

There's some kind of weapon they use that makes this "meow" sound.

Goblin · Post by **Goblin** » Sat Jun 29, 2002 11:26 pm

I didn't hear a meow sound. A coupla time the T34's sounded like MC's, but they died like tanks!;)

Redleg, I wouldn't change the scenario any. It was exceptionally fun, and , if you weren't careful and paying attention, potentially deadly. If some ammo trucks die, or you don't get the Tigers in the right spot, or any number of mistakes, you could easily be overrun.

I did note that the Soviet lighter gunned armor (T34's, Brit tanks, and Stuarts) seemed reluctant to fire.

Goblin- A Goblin only heard his Kitties;)

Fabio Prado · Post by **Fabio Prado** » Sun Jun 30, 2002 12:55 am

Originally posted by Goblin
I didn't hear a meow sound. A coupla time the T34's sounded like MC's, but they died like tanks!;)

Redleg, I wouldn't change the scenario any. It was exceptionally fun, and , if you weren't careful and paying attention, potentially deadly. If some ammo trucks die, or you don't get the Tigers in the right spot, or any number of mistakes, you could easily be overrun.

I did note that the Soviet lighter gunned armor (T34's, Brit tanks, and Stuarts) seemed reluctant to fire.

Goblin- A Goblin only heard his Kitties;)

Sounds like a wise man talking. The art of using Tigers lie in actually knowing your kittens. They are not indestructible, you've got to keep the safe distance, taking advantage of the best gun and optics, and move them to the appropriate killing positions, without exposing them unecessarily.

Fab - Old Fab likes hearing about Goblin's Kitties

Who Was Oberst von Strachwitz?

Who Was Oberst von Strachwitz?

I sent in a request....

Crown me?