i'm trying to write an AH scenario - how long would a state take (example France 1939) to go from peactime strength to partial mobilsied to fully mobilised
- peacetime = normal strength only
- partial - call up of reserves
- full mobilisation - reserves plus rest
request for info - mobilisation times
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Re: request for info - mobilisation times
- peacetime = normal strength only
For France the Metropolitan peace time combat strength might be either described as zero, or as the members of the border fortification regiments on active service. The training stations for those formations were at their border posts & the new conscripts plus training cadre were placed there in case the Germans decided to make a abrupt surprise attack without mobilization. The rest of the Metropolitan army was training establishment in peace time and incapable of actual combat operations. In service were conscripts doing their 18 or 24 months initial training, and the long service training cadre. For technical tasks like armorers, vehicle mechanics, aircraft mechanics, air crew it would be longer.
- partial - call up of reserves
In simplistic terms the French ground forces mobilized in multiple waves. The formations mobilized first were of the youngest conscripts with the newest equipment, and more complete formation kit, such as AT guns, vehicles, comm equipment. What some historians identify as "Active" formations were mobilized in the first week of September. There made up the corps that executed the brief Saar Offensive in early September 1939.
- full mobilisation - reserves plus rest
The next several waves of reservists/reserve formations were activated mid September through mid October. Their combat capability was progressively less with each wave. Older men and officers, with less recent training, less modern equipment, and less complete in allocated equipment.
Formations brought from Africa were similar, with the first arrivals having the youngest classes of reservists and most recent/best training. Later arrivals were usually less capable.tho there were exceptions. An example of the best category of infantry formations was the 1st Morrocan Infantry Division. That formation was reasonably well trained and equipped. 15-17 May 1940 it fought the German 4th panzer division and repelled its attack near the City of Gembloux. A example of the next category would be the 18th Infantry Division. That formation fought Rommels 7th panzer div from the 12th to 15th May. Poorly supported by the 9th Army it collapsed and was overrun on the 15th & 16th May. The 55th Infantry Division would be the third level. This was part of the X Corps defending the Sedan sector. It disintegrated in less than 24 hours under the assault of three panzer divisions, despite support from the corps and 2d Army.
These three divisions represent the first 60 days of mobilization & condition of most of the organized reserve formations of 1 September 1939. Formations activated after October 1939 were nearly all 'new' units. Made up of new conscripts with a mixed cadre of leftover reservists, those transferred from other formations, and some from the prewar training cadre. Few to none of those were combat ready in any sense in may 1940 & they did not exist in September 1939.
Hope that very brief description helps.
Re: request for info - mobilisation times
many thanks - much appreciated
- Loïc
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Re: request for info - mobilisation times
In 1936-1939 France knew 5 "partial" mobilisations and the last ended by a General Mobilisation and a declaration of war
there were 1 055 230 men in the French Army the 1st august 1939, including already/still 200 000 reservists from the previous partial mobilisation,
and 4 651 200 the following 1st october 1939 reaching one of the strongest ratios of mobilised among the belligerants in 1939-1945 with one quarter of the male population, and also stronger than the France of august 1914
from Eric Denis L'Armée de Terre Française du 10 mai 1940 Economica 2020
this last mobilisation begun the 22nd august while Nazi Germany and Soviet Union officialize their honeymoon
the 23rd was ordered for the 24th august to recall 370 000 reservists
the 25th was the turn of frontier reservists
the 26th 1 500 000 reservists more were recalled
the 2nd september the General Mobilisation was decreted concerning 4 700 000 men, taking into account that the half had been recalled previously since the 22nd august,
the 3rd september 1939 17h00 France enters in WWII
from active peacetime army more Reserves units until the oldest categories of reservists equivalent to the former Territorial Army of the Great War converted into static Regional Regiments, all were mobilised last week of august early september 1939
there were 1 055 230 men in the French Army the 1st august 1939, including already/still 200 000 reservists from the previous partial mobilisation,
and 4 651 200 the following 1st october 1939 reaching one of the strongest ratios of mobilised among the belligerants in 1939-1945 with one quarter of the male population, and also stronger than the France of august 1914
from Eric Denis L'Armée de Terre Française du 10 mai 1940 Economica 2020
this last mobilisation begun the 22nd august while Nazi Germany and Soviet Union officialize their honeymoon
the 23rd was ordered for the 24th august to recall 370 000 reservists
the 25th was the turn of frontier reservists
the 26th 1 500 000 reservists more were recalled
the 2nd september the General Mobilisation was decreted concerning 4 700 000 men, taking into account that the half had been recalled previously since the 22nd august,
the 3rd september 1939 17h00 France enters in WWII
from active peacetime army more Reserves units until the oldest categories of reservists equivalent to the former Territorial Army of the Great War converted into static Regional Regiments, all were mobilised last week of august early september 1939
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Re: request for info - mobilisation times
Note that in all armies there are differences in dates for mobilization of individual reservists, the mobilization or activation date for a formation the reservists are assigned to, and mobilization completed date for a formation. That last date is the most important in considering when a formation is available for combat or other operations.