Historicon Military Seminar Series Topics 2008
FRIDAY
Operations in the "Great Bend" of the Don River and Between the Don and Volga Rivers, 22 July – 2 Sept. 1942
Friday 9 AM, 2 hrs, Hopewell Room
Col. David Glantz – Guest of Honor
Describes German Sixth Army’s advance into the “Great Bend” of the Don River, Fourth Panzer Army’s advance south of the Don River, Soviet defensive planning and the formation of 62nd and 64th Armies, and combat between Army Group B’s Sixth and Fourth Panzer Armies and Stalingrad Front’s 62nd and 64th Armies up to 2 Sept. 1942. Concludes with Sixth and Fourth Panzer armies’ advance to the Volga River at Stalingrad.
Withdrawal Without Leaving Chaos: The Soviet Withdrawal from Afghanistan
Friday 9 AM, 2 hrs, Laurel Grove Room
Lester Grau – Guest of Honor
Contrary to US lore and Al Qaeda revisionist history, the Soviet Union was not driven out of Afghanistan. It conducted a skilled operation involving mutually supporting diplomatic, economic and military plans coupled with a strong "Afghanization" program. The Soviets left behind a viable government that outlasted the Soviet Union. Their withdrawal operation might well serve as a model for other withdrawals by other armed forces.
“Where the Leaf Falls, Let it Rot” – Captain Robert Cholmely and the Braddock Campaign of 1755 – Theme Seminar
Friday 11 AM, 1 hr., Hopewell Room
Dr. Walter Powell, Executive Director of the Conococheaque Institute
The British and colonial military expedition led by General Edward Braddock in the summer of 1755 seemed full of promise, and despite the daunting challenges of building a road across rugged mountain terrain in Maryland and Pennsylvania, very nearly succeeded. The story of this expedition, and its tragic aftermath, is explored through the first person account of Captain Robert Cholmely’s "batman."
The American Civil War in the Southwest
Friday 11 AM, 1.5 hrs, Laurel Grove Room
John Hill – Guest of Honor
The Confederate invasion of New Mexico in 1862 represented one of the most arduous long distance – from San Antonio to Santa Fe – in the entire civil war. And the battles of Valverde, Apache Pass, and Glorietta demonstrated an unequaled tactical variety; to include the Civil Wars’ only confirmed lancer charge along with an incredible cast of improbable characters and leaders.
Osprey Insights: From Development to the Latest Publications
Friday 12:30 PM, 1.5 hrs, Hopewell Room
Richard Sullivan, Osprey Publishing
Richard Sullivan, Marketing Director, from Osprey Publishing will talk about the company in more detail and to give you some sneak previews of new titles. Topics will include how Osprey makes their publishing decisions, what is the best way to submit a synopsis if you are interested in becoming an author, a chance to suggest new title ideas, what their bestsellers are, who to contact with about new title ideas and news on the latest online developments. Plus information on the new army lists coming out in the Field of Glory series!
General Macdonald’s Crossing of the Alps in 1800
Friday 12:30 PM, 1 hr, Laurel Grove Room
Rick Parrish
This seminar will deal with General Macdonald’s epic march across the Alps in 1800-01, after the Battle of Hohenlinden, and before the Treaty of Luneville. Macdonald’s Army of the Grisons formed the lynch-pin between the Army of Italy, led by General Brune and the Army of the Rhine, commanded by General Jean Moreau. Unlike Napoleon, however, Macdonald had to march through the Alps in winter…!
German Defenses at Omaha Beach
Friday 2 PM, 1 hr, Hopewell Room
Steven Zaloga
This presentation will describe the German coastal defenses at Omaha Beach on D-Day including newly discovered German maps, historical photos, and contemporary photos of the site today.
New France: Light Troops in Frontier Warfare, 1680-1740 – Theme Seminar
Friday 3 PM, 1.5 hrs, Hopewell Room
René Chartrand – Guest of Honor
Early use of light troops features from the 1630s. The development of a Canadian doctrine involving light troops in frontier warfare, 1680s-1740s, absolute success of this doctrine over European and Indian opponents, and its lack of ‘publicity’.
How To Deploy Seven Years’ War Battalions and Brigades – Theme Seminar
Friday 4 PM, 1 hr, Fireplace Area – Main Lobby
Bill Protz & Jim Purky – Guests of Honor
Join Bill Protz, author of “Drums of War Along The Mohawk and his new Batailles de l’Ancien Régime 1740-1763 (BAR) for an easy, fun and informative session about mid-18th Century battle lines. You will benefit by a hand’s on experience deploying battalions and squadrons from line to column and back again as was done 250 years ago. The importance of intervals, passing through the lines, seniority and other dynamics will also be explained. If time allows, Bill will form you into small platoons marching you into column and line for a visual and physical means to uniquely understand how things were done. Adapt all this to you own games. Be sure to wear a tricornered hat!
The World Ablaze: An Introduction to the Seven Years’ War – Theme Seminar
Friday 4:30 PM, 1.5 hrs, Hopewell Room
Martin West, Director of Fort Ligonier
This program, based on a new, permanent exhibition at Fort Ligonier on the Seven Years’ War, is a narrative of the conflict, the most significant war of the 18th century. It presents images from 300 original objects on display, as well as numerous contemporary pictures, from the Seven Years’ War theaters of North America, Maritime, Central Europe, Western Europe, India, Africa and Spain, and concludes with the legacy of the war.
War for Empire in Western Pennsylvania – Theme Seminar
Friday 6 PM, 1 hr, Hopewell Room
Doug MacGregor, Fort Pitt Museum
Often forgotten in textbooks, the French and Indian War is far more than the paragraph preceding the American Revolution. The events and results of this war would have a tremendous impact on global events as well as the American Revolution. George Washington would get his first taste of battle in this war as he ignited the conflict. This presentation will cover the conflict in Pennsylvania including Washington’s loss at Fort Necessity, General Braddock’s disastrous defeat along the Monongahela and the victorious campaign of General John Forbes in 1758, resulting in the creation of Pittsburgh.
The Road to Empire: The Building of the Forbes Road and the Forbes Campaign of 1758 – Theme Seminar
Friday 7 PM, 1 hr., Hopewell Room
Dr. Walter Powell, Executive Director of the Conococheaque Institute
The Forbes Campaign of 1758 was one of the most important military expeditions of the French and Indian War in North America. Yet despite the successful capture of the French Fort Duquesne on November 25th, the victorious outcome of this campaign was by no means assured, and, at times, seemed destined to fail. Personalities, inter-colonial political rivalries, and the sheer magnitude of trying to build a road across 150 miles of Pennsylvania’s most rugged mountain terrain – all played a role. This seminar will examine the challenges faced by General John Forbes and Colonel Henry Bouquet as they successfully maneuvered their way through engineering, logistical, and political problems to complete a road and pave the way for British victory.
Frederick the Great – Theme Seminar
Friday 8 PM, 1.5 hrs, Hopewell Room
René Chartrand – Guest of Honor
The King of Prussia develops his concept of light troops as tactical shock units – notably hussars and jaegers. Publications (including one attributed to Frederick) dealing with various aspects of light troops start to appear in continental Europe.
Lessons and Heroes from 30-Years-a-Soldier
Friday 9:30 PM, 1 hr, Hopewell Room
Pete Panzeri
Join decorated combat veteran infantryman Pete Panzeri along with both video and photos to impart his “Lessons-Learned and Modern-Day Heroes” from over 30 Years of active service on five continents, during five foreign conflicts, starting as private E-1 in 1977, and culminating in leading a battalion. According to the Royal Military Academy’s War Studies head: "Some of Panzeri’s lessons learned are controversial, some are heartbreaking, some are hilarious, but ALL are astonishing."
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