German Military Planning1934-1940

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Carl Schwamberger
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German Military Planning1934-1940

#1

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 17 Dec 2016, 03:22

Reviewing the books on my shelf I'm seeing a over focus on the development of the German Plan Yellow in the English language or US market histories. I find it difficult to think that all the energy of OKH & the rest went into overthinking just one war plan.

So, are there any handy summaries of the assorted war or campaign plans drawn up from 1934 or earlier. Or any experts able to comment on this?

steevh
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Re: German Military Planning1934-1940

#2

Post by steevh » 25 Dec 2016, 21:47

I think there will be an inevitable bias towards plans for campaigns that went on to fruition.

Most countries have plans to deal with a full range of potential enemies, but also like to keep these well under wraps as it doesn't inspire confidence in potential allies and neutrals that you have operational plans to attack them.

The problem with writing a book on say, German plans to invade the Middle East, is that they start to look a lot like contrafactual history, and attract the same disapprobation.


Carl Schwamberger
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Re: German Military Planning1934-1940

#3

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 26 Dec 2016, 14:50

Uh yes, all that is a bit obvious. Do you know of any sources?

Boby
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Re: German Military Planning1934-1940

#4

Post by Boby » 26 Dec 2016, 15:40

Try this book (on defensive theory).
https://books.google.es/books?id=MTrVCM ... tcover&dq=

Carl Schwamberger
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Re: German Military Planning1934-1940

#5

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 26 Dec 2016, 18:01

Boby
thanks. That looks worth a read. I see at least one reference to deployment for the final iteration of Plan Green of 1938, so there is at least that in it. The doctrinal/strategy discussion ought to be helpful in acquiring some context for the plans.

Paul_Atreides
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Re: German Military Planning1934-1940

#6

Post by Paul_Atreides » 02 Jan 2017, 19:07

Russian translation of German documents, since part VI

http://www.katyn-books.ru/archive/forei ... hev-01.htm
There is no waste, there are reserves (Slogan of German Army in World Wars)

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Sheldrake
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Re: German Military Planning1934-1940

#7

Post by Sheldrake » 02 Jan 2017, 21:39

Boby wrote:Try this book (on defensive theory).
https://books.google.es/books?id=MTrVCM ... tcover&dq=
That is Mathias Strohn's PhD., but a tad pricey @£60. One to borrow rather than buy. Matthias is one of the best UK based military historians, on the staff at Sandhurst, and a Artillery LtCol in the Bundeswehr. He was the man chosen to write the academic book to support the British Army's Staff Ride to the Somme. If you get the chance to hear him speak, take it. His delivery style is Henning Wehn-ish.

Carl Schwamberger
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Re: German Military Planning1934-1940

#8

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 03 Jan 2017, 02:14

Thanks paul & Sheldrake. More useful bits to piece it together from.

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Nickdfresh
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Re: German Military Planning1934-1940

#9

Post by Nickdfresh » 03 Jan 2017, 22:36

I'm no expert but the initial defensive plans were Fall Blau and may have dated from the 1920's and were integral to the Reichswehr's covert efforts to circumvent Versailles, IIRC. I don't remember where I read that but maybe Freiser's Blitzkrieg Legend?

Carl Schwamberger
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Re: German Military Planning1934-1940

#10

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 08 Jan 2017, 06:19

Thanks, I'll add that to the list of clues

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