Call for Alpha Testers - Scenario Covering the Battles of Lorraine and Vosges

[Cyber]

Hello everyone,

I'm reaching out to volunteers from the Panzer Campaigns community to take on the role of Alpha testers for my scenario project recreating the Battle of Lorraine and the Battle of Alsace in November 1944.
The project is far from finished, as I haven't completed the German and American OOBs, haven't finished positioning all the units, haven't yet worked on the reinforcement units arriving during the period (13 to 26 November 1944), and plenty of other things I list below.
Despite the project not yet being complete, I'm sure there's already work to be done on readjusting the values of each of the scenario's units. I started from the values found in other Panzer Campaigns (Normandy '44 and Bulge '44) and readapted them and tested them a bit. I know that some of you have a real finesse in analyzing what these data can be. Granted, in the end they can only truly be assessed after several dozen turns, but I'm convinced that preliminary readjustment work can be done. In fact, this alpha test would consist of playing a few tactical combat turns (against the AI or against yourself) using artillery and direct fire.
Those who are willing to serve as Alpha testers, please get in touch with me by PM. I'll send them the scenario, the mods needed to display the units, and an Excel file allowing them to view the unit values. Thanks in advance to them!
You just need France'40.

Which battle is this about?
There are actually two battles within a single scenario. Originally, I wanted to recreate Haislip's Corps (XV Corps) offensive in the Vosges in November. This offensive would lead to a breakthrough by the French 2nd Armored Division toward Strasbourg. This breakthrough would be lightning-fast, and the capture of the city entirely unforeseen by the Germans... and by the Americans too. The 2nd DB would be among the first few Allied units to reach the Rhine, but it would not manage to cross it.
A little further north, on the left flank of the 7th Army — which was originally supposed to push northeast (and not toward Strasbourg) — we have Patton's 3rd Army. If in the south it's the Battle of the Vosges, in the north it's the Battle of Lorraine. A battle that cost the lives of many American soldiers in a difficult context: appalling weather, fierce German resistance from men aware that their national territory was under threat, etc. This part of the Battle of Lorraine centers on the capture of Metz and the march toward the Westwall.
The scenario begins on 13 November, the date of the start of the XV Corps offensive. In the north, the 3rd Army had begun the encirclement of Metz on 8 November. So in the south we have a static situation with the mission of breaking through the double defensive line of the Vosges, while in the north we have a war with a bit more movement. Germans falling back, Americans trying to break through, and a genuine fortress to encircle: Metz.

Genesis
When the enlarged map of France was released, I immediately thought I could use it to recreate the 2nd DB's campaign. But which one? The Normandy one is short and can't be recreated, nor can it by France '40 or Normandy '44. The march to Paris isn't of great interest, nor is the liberation of Paris (which isn't the case for Panzer Battle or, even more so, Squad Battle). The Battle of Dompaire could have been of interest, but the scale isn't the most suitable — it is, however, for Panzer Battle. Beyond the 2nd DB, the map isn't large enough to recreate the advance up the Rhône valley and the capture of Colmar (French 1st Army), or the Battle of Alsace with Operation Nordwind. In short, all that remained was the capture of Strasbourg and the fulfillment of the Oath of Kufra. After waiting a long time, thinking that WDS would work on one of these modules (perhaps that's the case with Operation Nordwind?) and that it would be foolish for me to embark on a large, time-consuming project only to later learn that someone else was working on it... I took the plunge. Without getting into political considerations that have absolutely no place in the video-gaming world of wargaming, recreating this battle is also a way of paying a small tribute. A tribute that was originally intended for the epic of the 2nd DB, which every enthusiast of French military history has in mind. I told myself: why not add 50 more hexes to the north to recreate the encirclement of Metz and the advance toward the Westwall.
A triggering factor was the opening of electronic access to the French military archives. Our Service Historique, on this subject, was for a long time far behind the NARA (whose rolls are not all easy to consult) or the Bundesarchiv (there too, one can drown). I therefore finally had access to all the JMOs (Journaux de Marche / war diaries) of the 2nd DB, which I went through in their entirety. I supplemented them with other works on the 2nd DB. On the German side I already had a substantial library (it's detailed below), but I had to go fishing for Gliederungen and a few KStN in order to formulate hypotheses on the equipment levels of the German units present. Fortunately, I was helped by French-speaking specialists who were kind enough to find me several files that I was able to go through and turn into OOBs. I thank them again for it :
https://www.39-45.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=60360

I did not escape the "drowning" within the NARA and the Bundesarchiv. I still have some rolls to find in T315 to make sure I've correctly modeled the German divisions. As for the Americans, Cole's work was essential, but I'm missing a whole section on corps- or army-level organic units. So in the scenario, you'll notice there's no corps artillery or engineers yet. Only the units attached to the divisions are modeled. I've ordered Stanton, Shelby L.'s World War II Order of Battle, which should help me wrap all that up.
I now come to the first testing phase, the testing of unit values. Testing the scenario with its nearly-completed OOB, the victory points, the reinforcements, etc., will come later.

What's left to do
• Analyze the feedback from the unit-value testing in order to then readjust them (or not).
• Complete the German OOB by verifying that the divisions are correctly modeled.
• Complete the Allied OOB by adding the corps-level units.
• Adjust the actual equipment levels of the troops in the field as of 13 November.
• Build the Allied and German OOBs for the air units.
• Structure the arrival of reinforcements.
• Place the objectives with values assigned to them, likewise for the exit and entry hexes.
• Rework the modeling of the Maginot Line by turning the Forts and Bunkers into simple trenches. Indeed, the orientation of the Maginot Line (facing east) means it isn't very relevant to model it and allow a German player to dig in there. That would make no sense. The Germans, moreover, weren't mistaken about this — they didn't do it, except in a few places where the artillery was reactivated.
• Work on the weather.
• Launch a testing phase.

Working method for building the OOB
The foundation is an already-advanced knowledge of the 2nd DB and of the German Army, including an ability to read a Gliederung and a KTB with the Meldungen without too much trouble (even though German isn't my strong suit). On top of that foundation comes a large library.
I first built a large structure (corps/division) then went into depth. I started with the Germans then moved on to the Allies. I'm about to return to the Germans and then will go back to the Allies once more.
When data is missing, I go with hypotheses that I apply to a theoretical structure. The hypotheses are the product of the testimonies and assessments of the writings recounting certain moments of the battle. It's long and complicated.
It's complicated because the information is often contradictory, and these contradictions are very often the product of viewpoints staggered in time. You all know this: units move around the battlefield, they change their chain of command, take losses, have their losses replaced, etc. It's difficult to have a clear picture at a given moment, especially since the Battles of Alsace and Lorraine are less popular than the Eastern Front, the Normandy campaign, or the Ardennes.

Between historical accuracy and playability
The thorny subject...
Being passionate about the topic, I was very drawn to the "ultra-faithful historical modeling" side, but on the one hand it's very difficult (lack of data), and on the other you very quickly fall into nonsense by modeling units present in barely two examples in certain divisions. In short, an unplayable mess. Nevertheless, I sometimes gave in, notably with the 21. Panzer-Division, which kept a few specimens of its menagerie present in Normandy. But most of the time I simplified or even ignored certain units. On the other hand, those allergic to the Normandy '44 OOB will find the heavy companies again... sorry, I love them.
My greatest fear is that the Germans will be unplayable because of their skeletal companies (heavy attrition) and their mediocre experience/morale, facing the big US battalions. But perhaps it won't be so catastrophic, because the Allies, with the exception of certain units, have divisions that are already quite worn down and tired.
The cherry on top, the weather: during this November 1944, the weather was difficult. Mud, always mud, with a few snowy days. One can read in the JMOs and other reports: the tanks and other vehicles sometimes had trouble moving off the road axes in the heavy soil of the Moselle (and of Lorraine).

Playability
See the point above. I hope the Germans will be playable; I think you need to play with the optional rules of the ALT type to "preserve" the small German companies. The experts will surely have an opinion. That's why I'm launching this Alpha test.



[img]https://www.39-45.org/files3945c/16605_OOB%20d'ensemble%20V1.jpg[/img]

[img]https://www.39-45.org/files3945c/16605_Point%20d'%C3%A9tape%202%20-%20OOB%2021.Pz.jpg[/img]

[img]https://www.39-45.org/files3945c/16605_Point%20d'%C3%A9tape%202%20-%20Zone%20Faulquemont%20v2.jpg[/img]








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SOURCES USED
Primary sources — Wehrmacht / Heer
• Georg Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939–1945 — Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück. Volumes I to XIV, digitized and OCR-processed by the Bundesarchiv, available on bundesarchiv.de. The absolute primary reference for the existence, structure, and numbering of all German units.
o Bd. 1: Die Waffengattungen — Gesamtübersicht
o Bd. 2: Die Landstreitkräfte 1–5
o Bd. 6: Die Landstreitkräfte 71–130 (Army Corps LXXXII, LXXXIX, XIII SS)
o Bd. 10: Die Landstreitkräfte 371–500 (416. ID, 462. VGD)
o Bd. 11: Die Landstreitkräfte 501–630 (553. VGD, 559. VGD)
o Bd. 12: Die Landstreitkräfte 631–800 (708. VGD, 716. ID)
o Bd. 14: Namensverbände / Luftstreitkräfte (17. SS "GvB", Pz.Brig. 106 "FHH")
Secondary sources — German units
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht (lexikon-der-Wehrmacht.de) — Detailed unit-by-unit entries: narrative text, dated Gliederungen, Lagekarten (period maps in jpg). Used for all the German units in the report.
• Lexique Armée Allemande — Reference for the exact nomenclature of formations (I am the author of this file; I never finished it).
• NARA T78 R411 — Kriegsgliederungen 1944–45, Walküre/Gneisenau-Einheiten WK XII. American primary source (microfilms of captured German military archives). Used for: (1) Übersicht WK XII of 30.9.44 — Kampfgruppe Krause: 5,200 men, 238 MG, ~40 GrW, 18 PAK/Flak, 30 guns [Annex 3]. (2) Gliederung Fhj.Schule VI (Alarmeinheit): 3-battalion structure + 13.I.G.-Kp without sIG 33 [image 2]. (3) Gliederung Walküre-Einheiten WK XII: Btl. Preikschat, Bub, Bethge, Wagner [image 3]. (4) Confirmation of 1 temporary Abt. of 8.8cm Flak within KGr. Krause. Source shared by Moderator A.M. on the Forum der Wehrmacht (thread 462.ID/Lsch.Btl.782).
• Wikipedia (German, French, and English editions) — Articles on the divisions, army corps, and battles (Lorraine campaign order of battle, 17. SS-Pz.Gren.Div., 11. PzDiv., 462. VGD, LXXXIX. AK, etc.)
• Axis History Forum (axishistory.com / forum.axishistory.com) — Specialized discussions, OOBs, testimonies.
• Feldgrau.net (forums) — Discussions on the Lorraine campaign, partial KTBs, testimonies.
• Jeff Dugdale, Panzer Divisions, Panzer Grenadier Divisions, Panzer Brigades of the Army and the Waffen SS in the West, Autumn 1944 and East, Spring 1945 — Source for the armored equipment levels of Pz.Brig. 106 FHH (107 Sd.Kfz. 251 + 119 trucks + 18 Panthers + 3 Jagdpanzer IV as of 1/11/44).
• Dieter Robert Bettinger, Die Geschichte der Heeresgruppe G Mai 1944 bis Mai 1945 — Helios-Verlag, 2010.
• Karl-Heinz Pröhuber, Volksgrenadier-Divisionen — Helios-Verlag Aachen, 2017.
• Kurt Mehner, Die geheimen Tagesberichte der Deutschen Wehrmachtsführung im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939–1945 — Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück, Bände 11 and 12.
• Soldbuch (anonymous source) — Soldbuch of a member of MG-Bataillon 43, forwarded by the user via forum. Indicates the position at Fraulautern (Saarlautern) in November 1944.
Primary sources — Allied forces
• US Army Historical Division, The Lorraine Campaign — Published by the Center of Military History, available on Hyperwar/ibiblio.org. Main primary source for the American forces and the OOB of XII Corps and XV Corps.
• US Army Tables of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) — Theoretical structure of US units: Tank Battalion (TO&E 17-25), Tank Destroyer Battalion, Infantry Division, etc.
• ECPAD (Établissement de Communication et de Production Audiovisuelle de la Défense) — Photographic archives of the 2nd DB. Confirmations on equipment (Sherman M4A2, M10 Wolverine RBFM).
Secondary sources — Allied forces
• 2edb-leclerc.fr — Official site of the Association of veterans of the 2nd DB. Structure, equipment levels, itineraries.
• US Army Center of Military History — The Lorraine Campaign (Hugh M. Cole, 1950): chapters VII (XII Corps offensive 8–17 Nov.), VIII–IX (Battle of Metz). Reference work based on German and US archives. Maps 7, XXVII–XXXV. URL: ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Lorraine/. Key data: German OOB opposing XII Corps, Metz garrison, 17. SS strength (15,843 men), 11. PzDiv (19 Pz IV + 50 Panthers as of 8/11).
• balsi.de (Die Einheiten des Deutschen Heeres): site specializing in Wehrmacht units. Content sub-pages blocked (403) — information exploited via the Lexikon der Wehrmacht and Wikipedia DE, which draw on the same sources.
• US Army maps (The Lorraine Campaign + Riviera to the Rhine) analyzed visually (uploads): maps 7, XXVII–XXXVII (Lorraine), 25–28, 31 (Riviera/Strasbourg), Zaberner Steige. Positions of the divisions on 8–30 Nov., Maginot Line, counterattacks. Decisive sources for the 17. SS sector (Nied Française) and the identification of the 36. VGD and 198. ID.
• ww2f.com — "Metz 1944" thread: discussion and OOB of the Battle of Metz (to be cross-checked, period not strictly 13/11).
• 2db.forumactif.com — Forum of 2nd DB enthusiasts. Primary source for the actual strengths of the RMT companies: III/RMT loading lists (LGD-501, post Sept. 2024), TED of the FR carried infantry company (Pierre Van, Pittino), US/FR comparison (PEB7514). Vehicle lists, equipment levels by regiment.
• Wikipedia FR/EN — Articles on the 2nd DB, US divisions (80th, 35th, 26th, 44th, 79th, 100th Infantry Divisions, 4th Armored Division).
• Lorraine Campaign Order of Battle (Wikipedia EN) — Complete OOB for XII Corps and XV Corps.
Cartographic and contextual sources
• Lagekarten from the Lexikon der Wehrmacht — Period maps in jpg from the German archives. Units in blue, towns in red, date at top left. Used for positioning (Lagekarte LXXXIX1144, LXXXII1144, etc.).
• france-histoire-esperance.com — Six-part articles on the Vosges campaign 1944. Used for StuG-Brigade 280 and general operational context.
• barr-memoire.com — KTB of Pz.Brig. 106 (positioning Badonviller–Pierre Percée, October–November 1944).
• Voie de la 2ème DB (voiedela2edb.fr) — Route and stages of the 2nd DB in Lorraine and the Vosges.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY — WORKING RESOURCES
Comprehensive listing of the resources actually consulted in the preparation of this report. Sorted by type and by decreasing usefulness.
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1. German primary archives and documents
• Georg Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939–1945 — Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 14 volumes. Digitized by the Bundesarchiv. The absolute reference for the existence, numbering, and organic structure of all German units. Used systematically to verify every division, regiment, and battalion mentioned in the report. Indispensable for distinguishing units actually present from those reconstituted later or stationed elsewhere.
• Lagekarte OKW Chef WFSt 13/11/44 (IMG_1260 + IMG_1261) — Handwritten operational maps of the Wehrmacht headquarters, 1:100,000. Exceptional primary source for the exact armored positions and equipment levels as of 13 November. Used to confirm the tank strengths of the 11. PzDiv, 21. PzDiv, Pz.Brig. 106 and the position of VAK 401.
• Sonderkarte Lothringen 1:100,000 — OKW series (12/11, 13/11, 14/11/44) — Handwritten daily situation maps produced by the Chef WFSt. Showing unit positions (blue = German, red = Allied), the front trace, and armored equipment levels. Direct sources for the present report from V0.64 onward.
• Kurt Mehner, Die geheimen Tagesberichte der Deutschen Wehrmachtsführung im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939–1945 — Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück, Bände 11 and 12. Daily situation reports of the Wehrmacht. Useful for unit strengths and movements in November 1944.
• Soldbuch (anonymous source) — Military paybook of a member of MG-Bataillon 43, forwarded via forum. Confirms the position at Fraulautern (Saarlautern) in November 1944. Occasional micro-historical source.
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2. Allied primary archives and documents
• AAR XV Corps, November 1944 (XVCorps_19441102-26.pdf, 42 pages) — After Action Report of the US XV Corps. Main primary source for the XV Corps sector. Exploited in full: OOB, positions, day-by-day operational chronology, state of the troops, logistics, XII TAC aviation, prisoners. Reference for about twenty corrections to the report (V0.55 to V0.58).
• US Army Tables of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) — Theoretical structure of US units: Tank Battalion (TO&E 17-25), Tank Destroyer Battalion, Infantry Division, etc. Reference for the regulation strengths and standard equipment of American units.
• ECPAD (Établissement de Communication et de Production Audiovisuelle de la Défense) — Photographic archives of the 2nd DB. Material confirmations: Sherman M4A2, M10 Wolverine RBFM.
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3. Reference works — German forces
• Jeff Dugdale, Panzer Divisions, Panzer Grenadier Divisions, Panzer Brigades of the Army and the Waffen SS in the West, Autumn 1944 and East, Spring 1945 — Source for the armored equipment levels of Pz.Brig. 106 FHH as of 1/11/44 (18 Panthers + 3 Jagdpanzer IV + 107 Sd.Kfz. 251). In partial disagreement with the Lagekarte OKW of 13/11 — discrepancy documented in V0.62.
• Dieter Robert Bettinger, Die Geschichte der Heeresgruppe G Mai 1944 bis Mai 1945 — Helios-Verlag, 2010. Operational context of Heeresgruppe G, movements of the major units, command decisions.
• Karl-Heinz Pröhuber, Volksgrenadier-Divisionen — Helios-Verlag Aachen, 2017. Standard structure and history of the VGD. Reference for the 553., 559., 361., 462. VGD and others.
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4. Reference works — Allied forces
• Hugh M. Cole, The Lorraine Campaign — US Army Historical Division / Center of Military History, 1950. Main secondary source on the Allied side. Chapters VII to IX (XII Corps and XV Corps offensives, Battle of Metz, November 1944). Maps XXVII–XXXV. Key data: German OOB, Metz garrison, 17. SS strength (15,843 men), 11. PzDiv equipment. Available at https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Lorraine/
• Bernage, de Lannoy, McNair, Baumann, Album Mémorial : Bataille d'Alsace 1944–1945 — Éditions Heimdal, 1992 (ISBN 978-2-840-48014-3). Reference work with detailed operational maps. Used for the precise trace of the Vor-Vogesenstellung (St-Georges, Blamont, Fremonville, Harbouey, Cirey, Petitmont, Porux, Bremenil, Badonviller, Neufmaisons), the attack axes of the four tactical groupings of the 2nd DB (GTL, MD, GTV, LH), and the departure line of the 44th US Div (Embermenil–Domjevin line). Primary cartographic source for the 13–18 November phase.
• Jean-Julien Fondé, Les Loups de Leclerc — Éditions Plon, 1982 (ISBN 978-2-259-00960-7). Account and testimonies from members of the 2nd DB. Used for the positions of 13/11: Leclerc's CP at Baccarat, RMT (2nd Co.?) fallen back on Ogéviller after being relieved by the RBFM, burial of an RMT member at Herbéviller killed in a bombing on the evening of 13/11.
• Historique de batterie du 3e RAC — Batterie Capitaine Dubois (mot.) — Primary unit document. Traces the operations from 31 October to 11 November 1944: capture of Baccarat (31/10), support of S/Gpt Bonnet at Bertrichamps (1/11), support of S/Gpt Col. Rémy at Migneville (4–10/11), then move to rest at Moriviller (Lunéville area) on 11/11. Key source for the position of a battery of the I./3e RAC on 11/11 and, by extension, 13/11.
• Erwan Bergot, La 2ème DB — Narrative account of the 2nd Armored Division. Used for the RMT companies: 4th company per battalion (FFI reinforcements + Normandy wounded), 100% re-equipment at the end of October 1944. Source for the revision of the total RMT strength to ~1,900–2,100 men (V0.63).
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4bis. — 2ème DB
• Alain Eymard, Album Mémorial 2e DB (1er août 1944 – 8 mai 1945) — Éditions Heimdal, 1994. ISBN 978-2-902-17168-2.
• Laurent Fournier & Alain Eymard, La 2e DB dans la Libération de Paris et de sa région — Tome II : De l'hôtel « Majestic » aux combats du Bourget — Histoire & Collections, 2010. ISBN 978-2-352-50139-8.
• Erwan Bergot, La 2ème D.B. — foreword by General Massu. Presses de la Cité, 1980. ISBN 978-2-724-20867-2.
• Jean-Julien Fonde, Les Loups de Leclerc — foreword by Maréchale Leclerc. Plon, 1982. ISBN 978-2-259-00960-7.
• Marcel Sabas, J'étais tankiste dans la 2e DB — Éditions Heimdal, 2023. ISBN 978-2-840-48612-1.
• Amiral Raymond Maggiar, Les Fusiliers Marins de Leclerc — Une route difficile vers de Gaulle — Éditions France-Empire, 1984. ISBN 978-2-704-80341-5.
• Evelyn Mesquida, La Nueve — 24 août 1944 — Ces républicains espagnols qui ont libéré Paris — foreword by Jorge Semprún. Cherche Midi, 2011. ISBN 978-2-7491-2046-1.
• Collectif (group of Officers and Men of the Division), La 2e DB — Général Leclerc en France — combats et combattants — Arts et Métiers Graphiques, Paris, 1945. (predates the ISBN system)
• Général Duplay, 2e DB avec Leclerc — De Douala à Berchtesgaden — Collection ECPA. Éric Baschet, 1980. (no ISBN)
• Pierre Bourdan, Carnet de retour avec la division Leclerc — Payot. (predates the ISBN system)
German forces — armor and Panzergrenadiere
• Werner Kortenhaus, The Combat History of the 21. Panzer Division — Helion & Co, 2014. ISBN 978-1-907-67771-7.
• Franz Kurowski, Sturmgeschütze vor! — Assault Guns to the Front! — J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, Canada, 2000. ISBN 978-0-921-99145-8.
• Walter J. Spielberger, Panther & Its Variants — The Spielberger German Armor & Military Vehicles Series, Vol. I. Schiffer Military History, 1993. ISBN 978-0-887-40397-2.
• Walter J. Spielberger, Panzer IV & Its Variants — The Spielberger German Armor & Military Vehicles Series, Vol. IV. Schiffer Military History, 1993. ISBN 978-0-887-40515-0.
• Werner Haupt, A History of the Panzer Troops 1916–1945 — Schiffer Military History, 1997. ISBN 978-0-887-40244-9.
• Jean-Claude Perrigault, La Panzer-Lehr-Division — Album Historique — Normandie, Lorraine, Ardennes — Éditions Heimdal, 1995. ISBN 978-2-840-48081-5.
• Jean-Claude Perrigault, 21. Panzer-Division — Éditions Heimdal, 2002. ISBN 978-2-840-48157-7.
• Jean-Claude Perrigault & Rolf Meister, Götz von Berlichingen — Tome I : Normandie — Éditions Heimdal, 2004. ISBN 978-2-840-48186-7.
• François de Lannoy & Josef Charita, Panzertruppen — Les troupes blindées allemandes / German armored troops 1935–1945 — Éditions Heimdal, 2001. ISBN 978-2-840-48151-5.
• Georges Bernage & François de Lannoy, Dictionnaire Historique — La Luftwaffe, La Waffen-SS 1939–1945 — Éditions Heimdal, 1998. ISBN 978-2-840-48119-5.
• Georges Bernage & François de Lannoy, Dictionnaire Historique — Les divisions de l'Armée de Terre allemande — Heer 1939–1945 — Éditions Heimdal, 1997. ISBN 978-2-840-48106-5.
Alsace — theater of operations
• Bernage, de Lannoy, McNair, Baumann, Album Mémorial — Bataille d'Alsace 1944–1945 — Éditions Heimdal, 1992. ISBN 978-2-840-48014-3.
Equipment and soldiers
• Terrence Booth, Handbook of WWII German Military Symbols & Abbreviations 1943–45 — Helion and Co., 2001. ISBN 978-1-874-62285-7.
• Jean de Lagarde, Soldats Allemands de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale — Histoire & Collections, 2005. ISBN 978-2-915-23934-8.
Periodicals
• Yves Buffetaut (ill. Jean Restayn), Armes Militaria Magazine Hors-Série N°15 — La France libérée (II) : De la Provence aux Vosges — Armes Militaria. (periodical — press code M 4437-15H, no ISBN)
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5. Specialized websites
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht — https://www.lexikon-der-Wehrmacht.de — Detailed entries by German unit: history, dated Gliederungen, Lagekarten. Main internet source for the German units. Used for nearly all the divisions and regiments in the report.
• Ibiblio / Hyperwar — https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/ — Digital archive of the US Army Historical Division publications. Access to the full text of The Lorraine Campaign (Cole) and other CMH publications.
• Axis History Forum — https://forum.axishistory.com — Specialized discussions, OOBs, testimonies, partial KTBs. Complementary source for structures and unit identification.
• Feldgrau.net — https://www.feldgrau.net — Specialized Wehrmacht forums. Discussions on the Lorraine campaign, Pz.Brig. 106 equipment levels (Dugdale), testimonies.
• 2edb-leclerc.fr — https://www.2edb-leclerc.fr — Official site of the Association of veterans of the 2nd DB. Structure, equipment levels, itineraries, account of the breakthrough (Vor-Vogesenstellung, Strasbourg).
• Forum 2DB — https://2db.forumactif.com — Primary source for the actual strengths of the RMT companies: III/RMT loading lists, TED of the carried infantry company, equipment levels by regiment.
• France Histoire Espérance — https://france-histoire-esperance.com — Multi-part articles on the Vosges campaign 1944. General operational context, StuG-Brigade 280, Vor-Vogesenstellung.
• Histoire de Valff — https://www.histoiredevalff.fr — Ost units of the LXIV AK, operations in the Barr sector on 26/11.
• Acier et Tranchées — https://acierettranchees.wordpress.com — State of the German troops in late November 1944.
• Barr Mémoire — https://www.barr-memoire.com — KTB of Pz.Brig. 106, positioning Badonviller–Pierre Percée, October–November 1944.
• Voie de la 2ème DB — https://www.voiedela2edb.fr — Geolocated route and stages of the 2nd DB in Lorraine and the Vosges.
• Wikipedia (FR / EN / DE) — Used as a last-resort source or for quick cross-checking. Articles on the US divisions (80th, 35th, 26th, 44th, 79th, 100th ID, 4th AD), the German army corps, the 17. SS, the Lorraine Campaign Order of Battle. Always cross-checked against primary sources.
• Balsi.de — https://www.balsi.de — Die Einheiten des Deutschen Heeres. Specialized in Wehrmacht units; content sub-pages inaccessible (403) — information exploited via the Lexikon der Wehrmacht and Wikipedia DE.
• EHRI (European Holocaust Research Infrastructure) — https://portal.ehri-project.eu — Used occasionally to identify the Füsilier-Bataillon of the 361. VGD.
• Panzerworld.com (Christian Ankerstjerne) — https://panzerworld.com/panzer-grenadier-division-1944 — Complete theoretical equipment levels of the Gliederung Pz.Gren.Div.44 from NARA T78 R410: strengths by component (officers / NCOs / men), weapons, vehicles. Digitized primary source. Used for the KStN and theoretical strengths of the 25. PzGren.Div.
• Blog.Sturmpanzer.com — German Panzergrenadier Division 1944 KStN List; Jagdpanzer IV Organization. Organization of the Pz.Jg.Abt. in a PzGren.Div.: 2 Kp. × 14 Jagdpanzer IV + 3 Stab = 31 total (KStN 1149 (fG) v.1.4.44). Used to specify the theoretical equipment level of Pz.Jg.Abt. 25.
• Feldgrau.com — https://www.feldgrau.com/ww2-german-army...attalions/ — Complete list of the Heer Panzer-Abteilungen with a history of each unit. Source for Pz.Abt. 5: formed as Pz.StuG.Abt. on 25/08/1943, reformed from Pz.Abt. 2107 on 5/11/1944.
• Feldgrau Forum (Feldgrau.net) — Thread 28886, 25th Panzergrenadier Division — Numerical state 30 December 1944: Pz.Abt. 5 (6 Panthers + 5 Jagdpanzer IV operational; 30 Panthers + 5 Jagdpanzer IV in transit); Pz.Jg.Abt. 25 (14 StuG III + 3 PAK 40 operational; 17 StuG III + 12 Jagdpanzer IV/70 in transit). Indirect source confirming the actual structure of the division in Lorraine/Ardennes.
• Axis History / old.axishistory.com — Entry on Panzer-Brigade 107 with numerical states 30/09, 31/10 and 04/11/1944: strengths, Panthers, Pz.IV, Sd.Kfz.251. Source for the initial equipment level of Pz.Abt. 5 at its formation on 9/11/1944.
• Panzergrenadier.org — Basic Organization of Grenadier-Regiment (mot) in Panzergrenadier-Division During 1944 — Modalities of reconstituting annihilated PzGren.Div. (10., 18., 25., FHH) by absorption of the Panzerbrigaden (105, 106, 107). Confirmation of the absorption of Pz.Gren.Btl. 2107 into the I. Btl. of Rgt. 119.
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6. Cartographic sources
• Lagekarten from the Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• US Army maps (The Lorraine Campaign + Riviera to the Rhine) — Maps 7, XXVII–XXXVII (Lorraine), 25–28, 31 (Riviera/Strasbourg), Zaberner Steige. Positions of the divisions on 8–30 Nov., Maginot Line, counterattacks.
• Sonderkarten OKW 1:100,000 — Metz–Saarbrücken series (12, 13/11/44) and Luxemburg–Saarlautern (14/11/44). Handwritten daily situation maps. Direct source for armored positions and equipment levels day by day.