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OT: Distance between opposing fronts? - 2/11/2020 2:52:51 PM

Zoetermeer

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Hello! Not a game question, but I'm curious what a typical distance would be on the Eastern Front between fronts. Maybe this varied quite a lot over time. Imagine a German infantry division is manning a stretch of front and opposite is a Soviet rifle division. How far apart would they generally be?

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RE: OT: Distance between opposing fronts? - 2/12/2020 2:48:53 AM

Zoetermeer

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Nobody? So much Eastern Front knowledge on this forum...maybe it would be better if I posted this in a more general forum?

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RE: OT: Distance between opposing fronts? - 2/12/2020 7:35:45 AM

Naughteous Maximus

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From: Los Angeles, California
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For divisions, they usually tried to cover between 10 to 14 miles, but sometimes covered twice as much due to losses and covering holes in the front due to enemy actions. If your talking about no-man's land between enemies, then it could range from possible yards to a few miles.

(in reply to Zoetermeer)

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RE: OT: Distance between opposing fronts? - 2/12/2020 10:17:45 PM

Shalkai

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Fronts could be densely packed (total frontage of less than 100 miles/10 hexes) for major battles - see Smolensk/Vyazma counterattacks 1941. A front might cover 150 miles/15 hexes or more on a quiet section of the line.

(in reply to Naughteous Maximus)

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RE: OT: Distance between opposing fronts? - 2/13/2020 7:33:55 AM

Hanny

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Joined: 7/5/2011
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Zoetermeer

Hello! Not a game question, but I'm curious what a typical distance would be on the Eastern Front between fronts.
Maybe this varied quite a lot over time. Imagine a German infantry division is manning a stretch of front and opposite is a Soviet rifle division. How far apart would they generally be?

Formations attack and defend at different unit density per klm of front, they do so differently over time. A SU ID would have a allocation of 4klm when on offensive posture, but could be as much as 50+ when in defensive posture. From the German field manual 1944, the Divisional frontage is given as 6,600-11,000 yards, but it may end up with over a 100klm to defend.

As a general rule SU packed more manpower into a smaller space when attacking while German formations held wider frontages when defending.

You might find this of use:
https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a187901.pdf

< Message edited by Hanny -- 2/13/2020 7:38:19 AM >

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To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

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RE: OT: Distance between opposing fronts? - 2/17/2020 12:23:46 PM

Zug

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I don't think the OP is asking about frontage, but the distance between the opposing forces, the no man's land, which could be as close as a few feet, just on the other side of the rail embankment. I'd reckon the heavier the terrain the nearer the lines as a rule.

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RE: OT: Distance between opposing fronts? - 2/17/2020 2:23:31 PM

Hanny

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Zug

I don't think the OP is asking about frontage, but the distance between the opposing forces, the no man's land, which could be as close as a few feet, just on the other side of the rail embankment. I'd reckon the heavier the terrain the nearer the lines as a rule.

You may be right. If so, its still a how long is a piece of string question, at some points in Stalingrad contest, the front line ran through a house with each side in different parts of the house. When a German ID was brought into the Ostfront to begin with ( it had been formed and trained in depots, and worked up in a garrison capacity in an occupied nation, before deemed combat ready and sent to an active front) it went to a quite area to finish its readiness for combat, so could be 20klm and outside Art fire from the enemy, it could be inside Art range and as close as the terrain or strategic requirements called for. Static points on the front line could have brought ww1 style trenches into operation and each side as close as 500m.

Terrain considerations would determine how clear a field of fire ( or line of sight to bring in Art/Mtr fire) was from the mil crest and no one would be in too close except to patrol/infiltrate.

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RE: OT: Distance between opposing fronts? - 2/18/2020 2:14:33 PM

Zemke

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The answer is not really the answer you want, because it is all terrain-based, from over the next hill to in the next room, could be a km (or more) or 10 meters.

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RE: OT: Distance between opposing fronts? - 2/18/2020 4:13:51 PM

Hanny

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Zemke
"Give me liberty, or give me death"

Ive always liked that quote, when P Henry arrived to give the speech he left his groom to watch his horse while he went in to deliver the speech, the groom listened from outside, liked the speech, but liked the one the Gov of Va (Dunmore) gave later in the year better, freedom to any slave who fought for the crown, so much he ran away to fight with the British who emancipated him.

_____________________________

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

(in reply to Zemke)

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RE: OT: Distance between opposing fronts? - 2/18/2020 10:26:19 PM

king171717

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Joined: 5/14/2016
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Hanny

quote:

ORIGINAL: Zemke
"Give me liberty, or give me death"

Ive always liked that quote, when P Henry arrived to give the speech he left his groom to watch his horse while he went in to deliver the speech, the groom listened from outside, liked the speech, but liked the one the Gov of Va (Dunmore) gave later in the year better, freedom to any slave who fought for the crown, so much he ran away to fight with the British who emancipated him.

love it!

(in reply to Hanny)

Post #: 10