Matrix Games Forums

Trying to work out the story behind Otto Dessloch

I see him in the scenario data for the v1.10 Bitter End game I am playing (and I assume it has not changed in recent versions). The scenario data states he is already a Generalleutnant at the start and can take both air and ground commands. But he is not offered in the list of leaders and is not listed in the export from the commanders report.

The one strange thing in the scenario data is that it says he is already the leader of a unit II Flak (ID 773) which has a delay of 250 turns (i.e. not in the game). Is this the reason why he is not listed among available leaders? Is this intentional or not?

I think all the large German Flak formations (Corps, divisions and brigades) were left out of the game intentionally. Historically, aside from large offensive operations (Barbarossa, Citadel, Autumn Mist), and late war defenses, flak korps & -division elements were parceled out as support AA regiments and battalions. When employed to support army and korps Artillery Commands as larger ground formations, they functioned as supplemental field artillery formations (8.8 & 10.5cm). IMO, don't think designers wanted to have large German flak formations available to the axis player as independent combat units with similar capabilities as the Soviet artillery divisions.

Yes but my question was on the leader - not the unit. My guess is when they left out the large flak formations, they accidentally left out Otto Desloch from the leaders list?

I think when they intentionally removed Flak korps and divisions from the available units, they removed leaders who commanded those formations as well.