Відео

Smashing the much smaller enemy division is juicy and tempting, but it's ultimately a distraction from the mission, so that's a hard pass. They'd just retreat like crazy and divert you from doing your job of screening for the siege. The enemy's numerical superiority isn't all that huge, so just sitting tight and seeing how the situation develops isn't a bad idea, especially since your job isn't to destroy the enemy, but to delay him. Going for the good defensive position is also a viable option, if it doesn't restrict your future options too much. I doubt 3000ish men can do much about the siege. I suppose Moltke would like to remind us that the mission always comes first, so he'd advise us to sit tight and wait to see what the enemy is up to.

It depends on the force ratios. Is my army big enough to defeat the enemy armies in detail without taking particularly nasty casualties? Does the enemy lack artillery that they can park on the hills to make the Northwestern road a kill-zone? If the answer to both of these questions is "yes" then I leave a small garrison at Glatz to hold off the enemy southwestern group for a bit, while the bulk of my forces squishes the enemy force around Branau, before marching back along the road and smashing the enemy force coming from the South-West as they emerge from the heights. Remember, they're slow, because they are marching through trackless hills, right? Finally, relieve the Glatz garrison and celebrate our victory. In any case, letting the enemy concentrate is a bad idea, but forcing your troops to whiz around and fight multiple exhausting battles within a short space of time is also a bad idea, especially if the enemy also happens to take the high ground and pepper you with artillery as you march, and *especially* if they might be stronger than you expect, giving them the ability to cut of your supplies/line of retreat. Sitting around Glatz is the safe-ish option, because you will have plenty of time to support Silberberg if the enemy goes towards it, while Glatz itself is easily accessible to the enemy via roads, and is therefore the most likely target for the enemy to attack. Let's see how I did. Heh. Moltke's works in mysterious ways. It really isn't like him to be this defensive.

It really depends on how quickly they can cross the river and how much of an advantage I have over them in terms of numbers and morale. They are retreating after a defeat, true, but my guys are also tired from fighting and pursuing. Also, I have no cavalry to screen or scout for me, so the enemy may be bringing up reinforcements without me knowing. If they're really worn down and can't get across the river in time, then attacking them directly might actually be a good idea. It's possible I can smash their rear-guard just quickly enough that only a *part* of the enemy main force manages to cross, leaving the other part in a very vulnerable position, where they can be defeated while in the chaos of an incomplete river crossing. Even if their entire main body manages to get away, I still get to destroy their advanced guard. Option 3 might be a good idea, if there is more than one viable river-crossing, because that way we have the initiative and can concentrate to overcome the enemy's defensive advantage. On the other hand, if there is only one crossing, then the enemy can easily anticipate and block us, inflicting heavy casualties. Knowing Moltke, he's probably going to invent some absolutely crazy but ingenious reason why 2 is the best option, 1 is acceptable and 3 is the worst possible option. My guess is that it's going to be something like this: "Even if you fail to catch the enemy main body with their pants down/mid-crossing, you at least annihilate their advanced guard, making them weaker in the long run. Option 1 wastes this opportunity. Option 3 is terrible, because the enemy can save his main force AND his advanced guard while you are dithering/wandering South. Also, don't forget that you don't have cavalry to scout ahead, so the enemy might be bringing up reinforcements which will stop you dead in the South, while the erstwhile retreating enemy counterattacks you in the back. Did I mention that if the enemy sees your main body moving south, they'll just stop retreating, smash your advanced guard and cut off your retreat/supplies while you're crossing the river?" Let's see how I did: Ah, apparently I was under the delusion that I didn't have cavalry and that there were only two viable river crossings, the one just next to Halle and the one in the South.

The problem seems kinda weird. I don't see what the differences between the options are supposed to be, at least not from the text itself. The map gives me some pointers though. My gut instinct is to take the option to attack the enemy forward element as quickly as possible before the main enemy force can concentrate, and then just dig in in Frankfurt and trust the inherent advantage of the defense, together with the advantage of dense urban terrain will allow me to weather the enemy onslaught. I kind of think that using the southern approach isn't a good idea, due to the rough terrain, which will slow my troops down, but other than that, it's a toss-up between options 1 and 2. Also yes, the map does seem to show that the high-road really does lead into elevated terrain, while the southern approach seems to go through less-than-passable woodlands. However, since there is no explicit information with regard to the speed of the different options, I tend to gravitate towards option 1, because it means I can take the high ground away from the enemy, especially since I have cavalry and he has only infantry and artillery, meaning I can get there first. Ergo, send the cavalry division North to occupy the heights and hold them until the infantry marches along the main road to face the enemy. Depending on whether we have the time, we can send a division of infantry to relieve the by bow beleaguered cavalry, set up our artillery on the heights, bombard the enemy, send in the infantry to break them and finally send the cavalry to mop them up as they retreat. But since we probably don't have time, we probably have to whack the enemy ASAP before we can set up an ideal infantry-artillery position. Let's see how I did:

I chose 2. Usually he's concerned about lines of communication and protecting the route to Belfort is part of the scenario info. Option 2 would enable 2 divisions and the avantgarde to concentrate closer to Belfort and meet the enemy on the ridgeline ahead of Traubach with most of the corps. The 30th and cavalry coming up behind provide a manoeuvre element and reserve. Going for Option 3 seems to abandon Belfort for the safest solution

I'd do option 2. Gotta give time for my army to gather so I wouldn't do 1. 3 is still an option if necessary but 2 holds the good terrain and keeps an eye on the ultimate goal of clearing a path west.

Option 1: bad. One would be not fast enough to concentrate there, leaving oneself vounrable to defeat in detail. Option 3 is also bad but for another reason. Here one concentrate just fine but support for belfort is not possible anymore. Also the wagons are now easy pickings. Option 2 seems best. 2 divisions should be able to hold until the cav and 3rd arrive. Also the units are close enough to prevent the red force to turn around and attack the wagons or belfort.

This more fun than Wordle! Got this one right by Moltke!!!

Awesome video!❤

I would have gone for option 2 because then you can take the Autobahn...

Are problems 9 and 10 in a different playlist?

Okay so if you're the enemy why wouldn't you pick the forces off one at a time?

It seems to me that 1 is the better approach, it offers better speed thus enabling you to defeat the enemy in detail

This is an excellent idea for a playlist

Got this one right!

Tasdorf eat Worldorf!!!

Somehow I missed this one when it came out. I'll do number 2. Number 1 is too aggressive when you don't know the enemy strength yet. 3 seems like you're not complying with your mission as you're falling back too hard and giving up good ground too easily. Of course I'm wrong because Moltke and I never agree.

This thing about finding the central position sounds like the "hold your center line" from kung fu, but with lots of people instead just your own body.

Sneaking 'cross the Saale to Halle...

Seems straightforward. Takes the initiative away from red and leaves you options

So the enemy have held the river crossings for most of a day and we've only seen about a division of their army. Sounds like a screening force for a defensive deployment. If they were attacking they should have had more forces across by now

There are benefits and drawbacks to each option, realistically I'd probably want Cavalry to further define the locations of the enemy and make further decisions from there but **Within the context of the problem** the first option is likely the best as the other two more easily allow two OPFOR groups to join together

So. My opinion would be as follows: 1. The cavalry should rush to valdieu, and then entrench in the town and vicinity. Recon in force should be ordered, but forbid any large scale attack. Valdieu appears to be within a foresty area, and thus, they should act as skirmishers in the lead up. 2. The second division should take positions at Menoncourt, ready for when enemy division strike. 3. Here i am assuming that: i) the divisions in question are 'square divisions' (read: two brigades formed by two 3-battalion regiments), ii) a prussian style division, were companies and battalions had a certain latitude to operate independently. The 1st division should detach a battalion from each regiment. Regiments from brigade 1A should take positions at Chalonvillars and the ones from 1B at Valdoye. These battalions *should* make their presence known to belfort's garrison. This is done for two reasons: a) it makes the enemy think that the first division is poised to lay siege at belfort and thus dissuade them from sallying forth to valdieu and getting their backs exposed; b) in the case of the the 1B battalions, it gives the 2nd division an additional reserve and deffensive depth. c) In the case the garrison sallies to attack either position (this assumes they got good intel or called the bluff), they can reinforce the other position with ease in order to avoid a two-to-one or three-to-one advantage. Now, this is assuming that valdoye and chalonvillars are less than a day's march of each other and that valdoye is also within a day's march of menoncourt. If the distance is larger, shift said battalions further east so they can support the other formations more effectively. 4. The bulk of the 1st division should go to gros magny. 5. The 3rd division should take positions at gyro magni. 6. Once these two divisions and what is essentially a reinforced brigade are in position, advance to meet the enemy at St Germain. If possible, these divisions should fan out and attack in a 'zulu' style pattern. By these i mean that the 2nd division fans to the east and tries to find a flank and the 3rd division strikes headlong, possibly finding the western flank of the enemy. Once these two divisions are engaged, the weaned off 1st divisions should strike at the center of the formation, which is quite possibly pretty thinned out and brittle. 7a. Once the enemy division's been beaten, the 2nd divisions and the 1st division should turn and help the cavalry brigade. 7b If the second division's been battered by the attack, send them two valdieu and rotate the cavalry brigade. 8. All the forces not sent to valdieu shall lay siege.

I got it right!!!

My thoughts were as follows: 3 has some merit as it allows you to deal with that division nice and easy, but unless you’re troops are super fast then you’re not going to make it in time to stop the reinforcements and supplies arriving. 2 seems to me to be quite a bad idea. You’re open to an attack in the rear by a sortie, and you can’t stop the Thann force if it decides to come to the aid of the Belfort force. Especially if this happens your ideal line of retreat is cut off leaving you the retreat option only of going into what I believe to be enemy territory. 1 allows the lovely central position from which you can cut off communications between the forces, which means they will likely not coordinate well and you can defeat in detail. Worse comes to worst you’ll be fighting all three forces at once, but operating on interior lines you should be able to do a tactical defeat in detail. And if you lose you still have a decent line of retreat.

I’ll be honest I have no clue on this one, more complex than most, so instead of guessing I’m just gonna sit back and listen

find the central position, so "THEY COULD BE COMING FROM ALL SIDES"

I'd do 3 to try to knock out the Thann force separately and quickly before the other reinforcements before Altkirch arrive. I think 1 or 2 would end up with me fighting both the Thann force and the Altkirch reinforcements at the same time.

Pausing as requested: I am once again going to modifiy the answers provided. We are a full corps, we need to use those numbers to our advantage, but we are currently spread out a bit much. Utilizing a modified "Option 1": concentrate the infantry near the terrain advantage of Menoncourt along what looks to be an eacape route for Belfort. The cavalry division will deploy to our right with orders to attempt to capture or destroy the reinforcements, and in failing that, prevent them from reinforcing. I would take 2 regiments from 1st division and deploy them in Chalonvillars and Valdoye so as to antagonize Belfort that we have that blocked off, also they will scout for any sallies from Belfort or any odd far-flanking reinforcements from the north. Once obtaining this position you can use the bulk of your forces to deal with the enemy in the field first before concentrating for a siege should one occur as your positioning, and hopeful destruction of reinforcements will persuade the enemy to abandon the position without a fight as you gave them a route to leave due south. Best outcome, you take the fort without a siege and defeat a whole enemy division in the field. Worst case there is an entire enemy corps past that known division, the cavalry fail and Belfort is reinforced and you are forced to reposition to prevent a pincer.

Pausing as requested: I think a modified "Option 2" to Thann is the better position. Your division, blocking that passage places you near enough to your brother unit that should an engagement or disaster happen you can call them up the next day or fall back to them in Mullhausen. The modification would be to detach 75% of your cavalry to escort the caravans in segments. The segments should be timed out that your cavalary guides them 3/4 of the way there, and then goes back for another caravan. 1st caravan will have orders to relay to the fort city of this plan and request they cover the last 25%. This usage of option 2 will leave you nearly blind, yes, but it threatens French entry into the region, protects the caravans that supply a fortification, and protects your deploying fraternal division. Option 1 throws you far too of of the way to be much help or to get help. 3 would stretch you too thin along that caravan line to be effective should the french attack. Modified 2 is the better option.

wow.. actually got this one right lol

This one is tricky as all 3 options have something to them. Let's start with the super aggressive option 3: the advantage is that i probably can defeat a division with minimal losses. The disadvantage is that the supply will reach the fort and even the division at thann might retreat to the fort. The option to block the road is feasible and blocks the supply but you have to pass by the fort and the line of communication is gone. The best option is to gather north of the fort. From there you can raid the road and block any advances from thann.

I'd probably do Number 3. 1 is good but I don't want to march too hard and I'd rather remain centrally located to have the flexibility to face a threat from any direction.

You mixed up the "colours" Usually blue are own troops and red are OP-Force.

Amazing Video. Tahnk you for sharing it with us.

Hey man, thank you for bringing these hidden gems to light. they are short and make for great food for thought coming from one of the greatest Prussian Military minds. Thank you

Good stuff

This is like a Moltke Milk!

I think 3. For flexibility and being close to your force. Plus the 28th can threaten French supply lines by day 2 or 3 if the French do move too far south After watching: I failed to consider the need to protect Mulhausen itself

Okay another attempt: #1 is out. It protects the fort but not the road. #2 viable but not great. The division would be isolated and any raiders behind the point (we know there are some from the sabotage) are free to operate. #3 is best in my opinion due to the flexibility one has there. Pushing out cav should allow one to foil any raids and one is close enough to the fort to support it

Although sub-commanders attacking at the wrong time due to impatience/ego/itchy feet is entirely historically accurate.

If the main enemy body is across at Markwerberg, wouldn’t you bring your force across like solution 1 says and fall upon its flank? Ofc striking north and threatening its like or communication and retreat is sound, but wouldn’t you want to engage the enemy and pin it to the river ?

I'm really enjoying these. if you do more, or something similar, can you be more detailed with the options? For example. Option 2 was presented as pull the entire force back to between Vogelsdrof and Tasdorf, which would be a terrible idea. The solution given contained some vital differences, making it a good idea. Or is that just straight up how Moltke presented it to begin with? Anyhow, these are great.

Going with option 1. Referring to the teaching point from the last video of keeping the line of communication. The land between the lakes (love that you used the German “See” for lake) must be held for the 1st to maintain contact. If they’re flanked or surrounded while moving west, you could send a detachment to meet a westward breakout After watching: Given the terrain allows closer support of the 1st without compromising the route of retreat, I can see option 2 achieves more than option 1 by also allowing you to better support the 1st

I would utilize the advantage of the high ground and leave a detachment in the rough terrain SE of the hills to slow the enemy approach and keep contact to know the enemy’s direction of movement After watching: looks like I came to the right solution, Moltke added more in his explanation though

If the 1st division is headed west anyway, it seems the enemy won't catch them in a meaningful way. So I'd stay west of the Botz See (option 1) to claim the strong ground.

I wonder if this is one where things change with radio communications. With radio you might be able to more effectively co-ordinate 1st Div's withdrawal and also establish what their situation is as you dig in at Botz See. Without radio communications I guess you have to go forwards to take control of the situation.

I'm partial to #2. If 1st's position is untenable, we are fresh forces in the face of the enemy and 1st can withdraw towards the Botzsee and conduct a series of leap-frogging rearguard actions. Your objective with any defensive action is to achieve a balance between men, space and time. Do you let the enemy advance rapidly and deep into your lands to save men? Do you force your men into a series of tight consecutive actions expending men and time to arrange to keep your opponent from seizing a certain position? Do you accept the enemy's advance as a fait accomplit and thus send men with the intent to buy yourself more and more time to achieve a coherent defense in a further rearward area? In this case, we have to pick our fights to defend Berlin; thus, we must waste men and time. 1st is alright caught in a battle. Our choice to arrive there will save some of their men and doom some of ours, but we will buy time for them to set up another defensive line in the rear. Thus the enemy will be able to advance very little over time even if they inflict heavy losses upon us.

Okay, let's start with #3. That is a terrible idea. Line of communication vounrable, 2v1 odds, no terrain features to support me and it is the furthest away. #2 is better helping the 1st to retreat in good order. #1 sounds best to me because I have a strong defensive position, the line to Berlin is protected and 1st can retreat west without me blocking roads. My Cavalry can move forward and assist 1st while Infantry and artillery can dig in.

this is an interesting problem! the premise is quite different to most of the other ones (guessing the enemy VS making your own moves), very cool