Military Regions and Campaign Areas

Germany

Germany is divided into 9 military regions and 81 military districts.

Each square on this map is a military district, and also a wargames table

Each military region consists of 9 squares.

Germany is then divided into three campaign areas

These are outlined in white

North Germany – 1^st French v Prussian Army

Central Germany – 2^nd French v Russian Army

South Germany – 3^rd French v Austrian Army

Spain

Spain is divided into 7 military regions and 63 military districts

Each square on this map is a military district, and also a wargames table

Each military region consists of 9 squares

Spain is then divided into two campaign areas

North Spain – 4^th French v Spanish Army

South Spain – 5^th French v British Army

1 March 1813 – Start Campaign

Location of French and Allied armies 1 March 1813

About the Campaign

This is a fictional wargame campaign.  It is not an attempt to replicate the historical campaign.   The aim is to provide interesting battles to wargame.

The campaign is designed to use all of our wargame figures and scenery in rotation.   To this end there are five allied and five French armies.

This campaign has been running since April 2009.  

During that time it has been reorganised six times.   There have been a number of reasons, including change from solo to PBEM campaign or simply reached the end of 1813.

There were two reasons for the latest reorganisation.   First to add a new level of command.   Previously it consisted of a series of mini campaigns, each bearing no relation to the previous or next one.    This new campaign will add an overall level of command which will create a narrative to tie all of the mini campaigns together

We have also, once again, neared the end of 1813.   The last campaign phase ended on 10 November 1813.    This one will start on 1 March 1813

Campaign Maps

The maps are designed as wargame maps, not historical maps

Europe is divided into 32 military regions.
Each region has nine military districts.
Each square on this map is one district

Each district has nine towns, and each town is a wargames table.

Background to the Campaign

In 1812 Napoleon took Moscow, but lost his army in the brutal retreat to Germany.

By February 1813 he has built a new army, and was ready to take on his traditional enemies Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia. 

He had five armies deployed, three in Germany and two in Spain.

First French Army – Osnabruck, Germany

Second French Army – Dusseldorf, Germany

Third French Army – Freiburg, Germany

Fourth French Army – Burgos, Spain

Fifth French Army – Madrid, Spain

Prussian Army – Berlin, Germany

Russian Army – Dresden, Germany

Austrian Army – Vienna, Austria
British Army – Santiago, Spain
Spanish Army - Seville, Spain

1813 Campaign Maps

Campaign map of North Germany

This is the first attempt to run a campaign using the new maps, and to transfer a battle from the campaign map to the table.

This map is used for planning, and will be the one I use to introduce the new higher level of command to the campaign.

It covers the area of North Germany which will be used by 1^st French Army and the Prussian Army.

Each square is a military district, and will also be a wargames table.   Nine squares (3x3) are a military region.

Arnhem region, on the left, is the staging area of the French Army, and contains their main depot at Arnhem

Berlin region, on the right, serves the same purpose for the Prussian army, and their main depot is at Berlin.

The Prussians have entered Hamburg region, in the centre, which will provoke a French reaction.   They have deployed one corps on the border as a covering force, and to give them warning of a French attack.   Their main strength is in the centre.   This is to enable them to react to any attack, but in particular one on Hamburg.

The French plan is to attack Brunswick (bottom left).   They have deployed one corps in each district along the border, to force the Prussians to do the same and to hide their intention.   3^rd French, 4^th French and 13^th Polish corps will all cross the border at the same time.   Napoleon, with the 1^st Old Guard corps, will support the Polish corps to take Brunswick.

Campaign map of Hamburg Region

This is the map which be used for the campaign movement and diary.  It looks very similar to any of the existing campaign maps.  It is the same size and shows very similar terrain.  It also uses the same sized corps symbols.

The Prussian deployment is the same as on the map of North Germany.   3^rd, 4^th and 13^th French corps are shown just off map and will enter at the start of the campaign.   Napoleon and the Old Guard corps are behind 13^th corps.

Wargames map of Hamburg Region

This is the map which is used to transfer the terrain from the campaign map to the wargames table.  It is exactly the same as maps I currently use.   Each square is the same as in the Campaign Map of the Hamburg Region, but it shows more clearly what each 2x2 foot scenic square will look like on the table.  In the top right of each square is a number.   This is the number of the scenic square which will be used to make up the wargames table.

So far all looks quite good.  I think the maps will work, but only play testing will determine the truth.

However I now have a further task.   In the current campaign all of this map would be used to fight the campaign phase.   This was because it covered such a smaller area.  However in this campaign I will have to devise a way of restricting the contest to just the Brunswick area.   Or at least determine the outcome of the campaign phase to the capture of the Brunswick area.  

This will be done by limiting the amount of time both armies have to determine the winner.   At present I am working on limited supply for each army, so that they have perhaps 7 days to take and hold the objective, in this case Brunswick.

This first campaign will quickly determine whether all of this works in practice or not.

New Campaign Maps

Military Regions and Districts in Germany

The main reason for reorganising the 1813 campaign was to allow me to introduce a higher level of command and direction.   Until now each campaign phase was stand alone and had no real influence on the one which went before, or the one which would come next.   I want to introduce a new system which overcome this.

This is a simplified map of Germany.    Each square is a military district, and will also be a wargames table.   Nine of the maps (outlined in red) will be a military region.  

On this map Germany has been divided into 9 regions and 80 districts.

Each region has nine districts and, each take the name of the town or city they contain.   The region takes its name from the largest city.   For example the region on the top right is called Berlin Region, because it contains the city of Berlin.   This is also the main supply depot for the region.

At present Germany is divided into three campaign areas, each containing one French and one allied army.   This will remain the same

On this map the top three lines are north Germany.   1^st French army is at Arnhem and the Prussian army at Berlin

The centre three lines are central Germany.   2^nd French army are at Dusseldorf, the Russian army at Dresden.

Bottom three lines are southern Germany.   3^rd French army is at Strasbourg, the Austrian army in Dresden.

Military Regions and Districts in Spain

Spain has also been divided into military regions and districts.  There are 7 regions and 54 districts.

When the campaign opens the French will control 5 of those 7 regions.  

The Spanish are at Santiago and 4^th French army at Burgos

The British at Lisbon and 5^th French army at Madrid.