Monday, March 01, 2010

Would you like to play a game?


23-26 MAR 2010.
Since 1993 Connections has worked to advance the art, science and application of wargaming by bringing together all elements of the field (military, commercial and academic) so they can exchange info on achievements, best practices and needs.


The theme of Connections 2010 is enhancing wargaming ability to anticipate the future of warfare. We explore that theme through; two keynotes, four panels, three working groups, demos and a play test. See agenda. Still, many believe the most valuable element of Connections is the chance to meet leaders from across the branches of wargaming.
If this is in your playground, the joining instructions can be found here.
UPDATE: And while you are at it - get your latest edition of the ROE Handbook.

4 comments:

kmadams85 said...

Sounds like fun.  Wish I had the money to go!

Outlaw Mike said...

There was not really a 560th ID. There was, however, a 560th Volksgrenadier Division. Also, the Grossdeutschland was in East Prussia at the time. There was however a spinoff brigade, the FBB, composed of GD personnel (FGB may also have been present, but don't remember). Clearly, I am a WWII buffoon.

Finally, the RĂ©gion Wallonne as such did not exist at the time.

AW1 Tim said...

Mike,

  Speaking of GrossDeutschland, One of my favorite books is "The Forgotten Soldier" by Guy Sajer. 

  I'd love to be able to attend this conference, but I just can't swing the time or the funds right now. Perhaps next year, however.

   Respects,

Anonymous said...

AW1 Tim, yes, I read that one too. I must have been about 13. IIRC, Sajer's book is rich on 'a soldier's daily life' but a bit short on hard info.

Those FGD and FBD formations were among a flurry of spinoffs from the original GD Pz grenadierdivision, which itself towards the end of 44 morphed into a Corps. Not that by that time the Germans had the resources to equip it like that.

Till the very end the Germans kept creating new units with the manpower and materiel which ought to have gone to the existing divisions, which were, more often than not, bled white. The last panzer division they created was the Clausewitz, in early April 1945(!). This unit was special in that it belonged to an army (the 12th) which was simultaneously fighting the western allies and the ruskis, the German-held territory by that time beign reduced to a small sliver running north to south.

The Clausewitz had a special 'first': IIRC, near a place called Fallingbostel, the division employed Panthers equipped with IR equipment, and knocked out several US vehicles and AT guns.

Sorry CDR. Off topic. I let myself go.