Sheldrake wrote:What is your interest ? Are you a historian or a war gamer ?
When you mean a division do you mean a division as per establishment tables ? Or with the attachments that might be routinely attached in some armies ? e.g. an armoured a car unit to a British armoured division in NW Europe, tank and artillery battalions to US formations ?
When you talk about numbers do you mean:
Established strength ? The number that in theory a division should have, on paper. But sometimes these did not bear much relation to reality. Missing equipment or units.
Ration strength ? The number of people fed =- including the sick and non military manpower (e.g. hiwi), plus soldiers attached from other organizations.
Actual strength ? All men part of the unit, including those detached on leave and sick if expected to return in eight weeks - but not necessarily available for service.
Daily strength ? number of men present on a particular day, less soldiers on leave, courses etc.
Combat strength ? The number of soldiers in combat units ?
Front strength ? The number of men in combat units up front - infantry in rifle companies, tank crews, artillery observers ? This might only be C 2-3,000 men in a formation with a ration strength of 15,000.
A distinction in AFV numbers similarly might be between established, on strength and serviceable vehicles.
Oh and there is also a difference between those who are present and those present who take an active role in fighting. "how many fighting troops in this division" ? "about half of them !"
Nice analysis. I am a wide reader of World War II books.
