On a cold early December day, my aide-de-camp Oberst Hintern von Affe arrives at a quick pace at my desk office, deep inside the bunker built for the Oberkommando das Heeres offices near Berlin. Hitting his heels together and saluting as he comes to my desk, he presents me in earnest two enveloppes, further stating these had just arrived from the Chancellery to be given to me in person.
First, a sealed enveloppe with the personal cipher of the Führer. Thus read the directive of the Gröfaz - The infamous Directive no. 21 :
Quote
The Führer and Commander-in-Chief of the German Armed Forces
OKW/WFSt./Abt.L(I) Nr. 33 408/40 gK Chefs.
SECRET
The Führer's Headquarters
18 December 40
To Generaloberst Drakken, Chief of the General Staff of the Army :
Directive Nr. 21
Case Barbarossa
The German Wehrmacht must be prepared to crush Soviet Russia in a quick campaign (Operation Barbarossa) even before the conclusion of the war against England.
For this purpose the Army will have to employ all available units, with the reservation that the occupied territories must be secured against surprises.
For the Air Force it will be a matter of releasing such strong forces for the eastern campaign in support of the Army that a quick completion of the ground operations can be counted on and that damage to eastern German territory by enemy air attacks will be as slight as possible. This concentration of the main effort in the East is limited by the requirement that the entire combat and armament area dominated by us must remain adequately protected against enemy air attacks and that the offensive operations against England, particularly against her supply lines, must not be permitted to break down.
The main effort of the Navy will remain unequivocally directed against England even during an eastern campaign.
I shall order the concentration against Soviet Russia possibly 8 weeks before the intended beginning of operations.
Preparations requiring more time to get under way are to be started now - if this has not yet been done - and are to be completed by 15 May 1941.
It is of decisive importance, however, that the intention to attack does not become discernible.
The preparations of the High Commands are to be made on the following basis:
I. General Purpose:
The mass of the Russian Army in western Russia is to be destroyed in daring operations, by driving forward deep armored wedges, and the retreat of units capable of combat into the vastness of Russian territory is to be prevented.
In quick pursuit a line is then to be reached from which the Russian Air Force will no longer be able to attack the territory of the German Reich. The ultimate objective of the operation is to establish a cover against Asiatic Russia from the general line Volga-Archangel. Then, in case of necessity, the last industrial area left to Russia in the Urals can be eliminated by the Luftwaffe.
In the course of these operations the Russian Baltic Sea Fleet will quickly lose its bases and thus will no longer be able to fight.
Effective intervention by the Russian Air Force is to be prevented by powerful blows at the very beginning of the operation.
II. Probable Allies and their Tasks:
1. On the wings of our operation the active participation of Romania and Finland in the war against Soviet Russia is to be expected.
The High Command will in due time arrange and determine in what form the armed forces of the two countries will be placed under German command at the time of their intervention.
2. It will be the task of Romania to support with selected forces the attack of the German southern wing, at least in its beginnings; to pin the enemy down where German forces are not committed; and otherwise to render auxiliary service in the rear area.
3. Finland will cover the concentration of the German North Group (parts of the XXI Group) withdrawn from Norway and will operate jointly with it. Besides, Finland will be assigned the task of eliminating Hanko.
4. It may be expected that Swedish railroads and highways will be available for the concentration of the German North Group, from the start of operations at the latest.
III. The Conduct of the Operations:
A.) Army (in approbation of the intentions submitted to me):
The area of operations is divided into southern and northern halves by the Pripet Marshes. The point of main effort will be made in the northern half. Here two army groups are to be committed.
The southern of these two army groups - in the center of the whole front - will have the task of breaking out the area around and to the north of Warsaw with exceptionally strong armor and motorized formations and of destroying the enemy forces in White Russia. This will create a situation which will enable strong formations of mobile troops to swing north; such formations will then cooperate with the northern army group - advancing from East Prussia in the general direction of Leningrad - in destroying the enemy forces in the area of the Baltic states. Only after the accomplishment of these offensive operations, which must be followed by the capture of Leningrad and Kronstadt, are further offensive operations to be initiates with the objective of occupying the important center of communications and of armament production, Moscow.
Only a surprisingly rapid collapse of the Russian ability to resist could justify an attempt to achieve both objectives simultaneously.
The primary task of Group XXI, even during the eastern operations, remains the protection of Norway. Forces available other than those needed for this task (Mountain Corps) will first of all be used to protect the Petsamo area and its mines together with the Arctic road, and will then advance, in conjunction with Finnish forces, against the Murmansk railway and will cut the Murmansk area's land supply routes.
Whether an operation of this nature can be carried out by stronger German forces (two to three Divisions) coming from the area of Rovaniemi and to the south is dependent on Sweden's willingness to make the Swedish railways available for such a move.
The mass of the Finnish army will have the task, in accordance with the advance made by the northern wing of the German armies, of tying up maximum Russian strength by attacking to the west, or on both sides, of Lake Ladoga. The Finns will also capture Hanko.
The army group south of the Pripet Marshes will make its point of main effort from the Lublin area in the general direction of Kiev, with the object of driving into the deep flank and rear of the Russian forces with strong armored formations and of then rolling up the enemy along the Dnieper. The German-Romanian group on the right flank will have the task of protecting Romanian territory and thus of covering the southern flank of the whole operation; in coordination with the attack by the northern of Army Group south of tying up the enemy forces on its sector of the front; then, as the situation develops, of launching a second thrust and thus, in conjunction with the air force, of preventing an orderly enemy withdrawal beyond the Dniester.
Once the battle south or north of the Pripet Marshes have been fought, the pursuit is to be undertaken with the following objectives:
In the south the rapid occupation of the economically important Donetz Basin, in the north the speedy capture of Moscow. This city is a political and economical center, and is a main railway junction point.
B.) Air Force:
It will be the task of the Air Force, so far as possible, to damage and destroy the effectiveness of the Russian air force, and to support the operations by the army at the points of main effort, that is to say in the sectors of the central army group and in the area where the southern army group will be making its main effort. The Russian railways will either be destroyed, or, in the case of more important objectives close to hand (river crossings!) will be captured by the bold use of parachute and airborne troops.
In order that maximum forces may be available for operations against the enemy air force and for direct support of the army, the munitions industry will not be attacked while the major operation is in progress. Only after the conclusion of the mobile operations will such attacks, and in particular attacks against the industrial area of the Urals, be considered.
C.) Navy:
During the war with Soviet Russia it will be the task of the Navy to protect the German coast line and to prevent any hostile naval force from breaking out of the Baltic. Since once Leningrad has been reached the Russian Baltic fleet will have lost its last base and will thus be in a hopeless position, major naval operations are to be previously avoided.
After the destruction of the Russian fleet it will be the responsibility of the Navy to make the Baltic fully available to carrying sea traffic, including supplies by sea to the northern wing of the Army (Minesweeping!)
IV. All orders to be issued by the Commanders in Chief on the basis of this directive must clearly indicate that they are precautionary measures for the possibility that Russia should change her present attitude toward us. The number of officers to be assigned to the preparatory work at an early date is to be kept as small as possible; additional personnel should be briefed as late as possible and only to the extent required for the activity of each individual. Otherwise, through the discovery of our preparations - the date of their execution has not even been fixed - there is danger that most serious political and military disadvantages may arise.
V. I anticipate further conferences with the Commanders-in-Chief concerning their intentions as based on this directive. Reports on the progress made in the proposed preparations by all services of the armed forces will be forwarded to me through the Armed Forces High Command.
[Signed] A. Hitler
[initialed by Jodl, Keitel, Warlimont and one illegible.]
The second document is a formal invitation, dictated through my boss, Feldmarshall von Brauchitsch, from the Gröfaz to attend the first operational conference due in three days time at the Wolfsschanze. It was made perfectly ostentatious to Oberst Affe von Hintern that neither absence or delegation to a representative will be abided; the presence the Chief of the General Staff of the Army is required. There we shall discuss the planning of the impeding war with the Soviet Union where I will make my recommandations - or rather, possibly, have the operational objectives of the Fuhrer imposed on me.
Reading this, I sigh; there's no way I can avoid this titanic struggle for the Vaterland forced on us by the Führer. This will be the final test of my abilities. Will I accept kowtowing to the Führer to implement his capricious whims and flaky 'political instincts' to save my hide, or will I take a stand for a decisive blow at the risk of alienating the Fuhrer and risk my career (or even my hide) when things don't go my way on the battlefield?
The Axis immediately loses if any of the following happens to me:
- The Soviets capture any German base across the border
- Any of the three Army Theatre HQ is destroyed
- Hitler fires my ass (yes, Hitler can sack the player if our relations get too sour)
What say you? Do I :
a) Support Hitler (Most PPs and good relations with Hitler, at the expense him deciding my objectives and constant interferences in waging the war)
b) Go Moscow or Bust (Moscow is the main objective. Hitler is unimpressed but he relents for now, giving both reasonable PPs and less inteferences. He will still attempt to divert my efforts from time to time, but when conferences are called it is possible - with the right allies among the staff - to convince him of the soundness of going straight for the Soviet capital)
c) Request Military Independence (I stand up to Hitler and I call the shots. I receive the bare minimum of PPs. No interference, but Hitler is so incensed that he refuses dealing with me personally; only von Brauchitsch stands vouching for me. If I screw up or my relations with him deteriorate further I risk being sacked anytime)
Turn no.1 will be due tomorrow. In the meantime to put you guys on the marching mood :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wawpXI-9l3I
From now on, TAMAS KEEP OUT!!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
Please support Hitler.
Quote from: The Brain on December 11, 2015, 03:06:43 PM
Please support Hitler.
I didn't know that Sweden let German troops transit through its territory. You guys really are slimy bastards.
First game? Keep Hitler happy. Hopefully the extra PP makes up for the meddling...
Turn 1 - Situation at the start of Case Barbarossa on June 22, 1941.
The three German theaters north of the Carphatian Mountains, and the Axis allies with 11th Army in support in the south.
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Already, I have two possible What-if scenarios made available for me by Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop.
The first one entails Romania fully entering the war from the start of the invasion in support of AGS, which might be of help if our main objective is punching through in the south.
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The second one entails a full military alliance between Finland and Germany. If we accept these overtures either Luga or Narva need to be taken before the Finns would be able to cross toward Leningrad.
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But first... I am expected to be in Berlin 1000, Monday morning, for the final determination of the Wehrmacht's objectives for Operation Barbarossa. Only if they correspond to either option might I consider them... at the cost of giving VPs to Tamas. As you may also see General Jodl's attitude towards me is Neutral, and he is known as a Nazi sympathizer and a lackey to Hitler.
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More in a few minutes...
Watching. Curious to see if Drak takes the Moscow option in his strategy after AG Center clears the marshes. AG South should be lagging way behind by the time that happens, putting the historical dilemma in play.
Turn 1 - Situation at the start of Case Barbarossa on June 22, 1941. (continued)
Arriving in Führer Chancellery in Berlin at 0915 Monday morning with my aide-de-camp Oberst von Affe, I meet von Rundstedt sitting and smoking a cigarette in the war conference's waiting hall with his aide. Upon seeing me enter, we both exchange smiles. He stands up to resolutely salute, before approaching me to shake my hand. Breaking protocole, I follow this by a hearthy path of the back by the old Feldmarshall. He hasn't forgotten how I stood for him when Keitel ordered the Panzers to slow down in the conquest of France, and I like the old man. He has always been a mentor for me.
We exchange a few jokes before entering the Führer's map room... where the air got suddenly frosty for the both of us. "Seems like we are already in Russia", whispers von Rundstedt through his teeth.
I salute my immediate boss, Feldmarchall von Brauchtisch, who returns an air of distance as he politely salutes back. Our relations got a bit sour after a dispute over the utility of invading Denmark. He agreed with the Führer that taking Denmark was necessary, while I advocated that Denmark was an hour-march waste of resources and that we should be going straight at Norway instead. From the looks of it, the Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht hasn't forgotten and is already prepared to a showdown.
More ominous is the icy-cold stare and blatant hostility behind the Reichführer-SS Heinrich Himmler's round spectacles, as he passes by me with barely a nod in salute. :ph34r: He is the most dangerous man, outspokenly my bitter opponent; I got word that he suspects I was involved in an alleged plot to get rid of our Führer during the München conference in 1938. Obvious lies spread by my competitors, of course! However, such is the position of Himmler that I cannot ignore him. A political power of his own right with the ear of the Führer and a whole apparatus of state terror under him, who knows what lies he might spew if the war runs badly? I risk being shot or, worse, sent to the Fallbeil or hanged on a meat hook.
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Given this icy air of hostility, this sword of Damocles hanging over me from both my immediate boss and the head of both SS and Gestapo, I decide it is best not to make too many waves. If I stand up to Hitler right now in front of Himmler I might be arrested at once. Thus, when He presents the objectives of the imminent invasion of Russia I decide to hearthily voice my support for the plan.
He immediately smiles and answers, "Of course, Generaloberst Drakken, you lone among those buffoons know this war will be won by taking down symbols. By burning the city bearing the name of Lenin and razing it to the ground the Bolshevist regime will fall like a house of cards!" I gain Good relations with Hitler. As long as I keep him happy, my ass is protected. Such are the daggers of Nazi high politics. :blush:
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The plan calls for priority given in the North (Leningrad). The destruction of Russian forces and killing as many Russian soldiers as possible as fall back objective. The South and especially Moscow are given a big fuck-you, sadly for my friend von Rundstedt. :(
Now that I know the Führer wants the impetus to go North toward Leningrad, I take the time to read a letter written by General Gercke, the Wehrmacht's Chief of Transportation and supply (who takes care of railways, NOT trucks, go figure). He asks my input to decide which railway line we should give priority for converting railroad gages from Russian to German ones. He asks for my advice both for the North and the Center.
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I don't give a rat's ass about Moscow as of now, and neither does Hitler, so I decide to do nothing. Gen. Gercke is understandably pissed.
In the North however it is of paramount importance. I have the choice of ordering the Railway Construction bataillons to work in priority either on the line toward Luga or Narva from Kaunas. As the North is Hitler's top priority either either choices cost -2 PP to decide (I have currently 80 PPs, so no shortage). As my strategy implicates to punch through Kaunas and sweep northward toward the South of Leningrad, with the Finnish troops closing the trap I take the second option.
I also decide to accept the recommandation of von Ribbentrop for alliance with the Finns. I have the option of either go for a full Military Alliance with the Finns (100% chance of Finland crossing the border if I take Luga or Narva, at the cost of giving 10VP to Tamas) or mere mutual assistance (chances are merely doubled, for 5VP to Tamas).
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The Finns are necessary in my plan. Taking Leningrad is our primary objective. My wager is that concentrating on the North will reap much more VPs to myself than Tamas. Also, what's fun with What-if Decisions is that while Tamas will know I have taken one, he won't know which.
The immediate plan for AGN decides itself - A thrust toward Kaunas to grab its railway node with a breakthrough northwestward to surround the Soviet 8th Army and reach the rails behind Tamas's lines.
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Summary
- Gen.Obst Drakken supports Hitler's plan
- Leningrad first... for now.
- I am disliked by von Brauchitsch, and especially by Himmler, who are both biased against me. The exact opposite with von Rundstedt.
- Germany signs a full alliance with Finland, effective when either Luga or Narva falls.
- Construction bataillons to work in the North on the Kaunas-Dunaburg-Luga line.
:)
Good luck!
T2 - June 22th, 1941 (Part 1)
D-Day has come.
D, as in "Dortmund", the codeword for the launch of Operation Barbarossa.
D, as in death and destruction unloaded on Tamas from the ground and above, on the largest landed border of the world, in the largest conflict of the world has ever seen so far.
Meteo reports show fine weather, at worst only light drizzle at the border. Dry weather is predicted for the next four days.
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Plenty of Decisions are waiting on my desk, needing my attention on the logistics side of the invasion. Any of these might be critical for the success of the initial assault. But first, I receive a receive a private letter from SS-Reichsführer Himmler, who never misses an occasion to put me under hot pressure. After investigating my personal file it seems the certificate of my taking the personal oath to the Führer has been "lost" in the archives, and couldn't be found. He sent me a copy to be signed ASAP, but means an opportunity to publicly join the NSDAP.
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Keitel is unpredictably eager to have me join the Nazi party, and Goebbels promises me Party resources and assistance should I sign the papers and becoming a Nazi. However, let's say my boss is not amused at all at the rumors.
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My relations so far :
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Despite the possibility of joining being tempting, I don't wish to alienate my subordinates by giving them the perception I am becoming a Nazi stooge, or my immediate superior for that matter. As both Junkers we have at heart to protect the independence of the German Armed Forces. So I merely register my Oath to pay lip service to the Party, and prove my loyalty by winning the war instead. This allows me to improve my relations with von Brauchtisch to Neutral, but sets my own bias as "Against" those with the Nazi trait. Goebbels remains Neutral, so the losses are minimal.
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T2 - June 22th, 1941 (Part 2)
Before attending to the remaining decisions I decide to play my different cards to spend as many PPs on Operational cards and spending the rest on Decisions.
Oberst von Affe bugs me with the fact that for each theater I must set Command Focus to one Army HQ or PanzerGruppe (the latter only if Neutral or Positive relations with the Theater Commander), set the Theater Artillery to Direct fire on one Army HQ or Division. No need for to use Cards for defensive Artillery Counter-batteries as of now, we don't expect any counterattack. We use artillery for the offensive.
AGN : Command Focus on 4th PzG and Direct Fire Art on 18th Army
AGC : Both Command Focus and Direct Fire Art on 4th Army
AGS : Command Focus on 1st PzG and Direct Fire Art on 17th Army
It will take a full turn (4 days) for these to become effective.
I also assign my Rail Siege Artillery nearby Brest-Litovsk. It is estimated it will arrive in 4 days time from Warsaw, so next turn if all goes well. In the meantime I will attack to attempt to isolate the Fortress with Infantry elements of the 4th PnG attacking the flanks around Brest-Litosvsk. Let's say this keyhole won't be lasting long.
Thus my cards set I return to the remaining Decisions. I decide to increase the allocation of fuel to be given in priority to AGN, compared to Center and South. I push also, unsuccessfully it seems, for the accelaration of the timeline for building a new IG Farben plant complex that would increase Synthetic Oil production by 20%. Finally, I advocate the reduction of Civilian Oil allocation by a quarter in the next fourty days, which both hurt my relations with the Fuhrer and Goebbels. :(
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Touching the Air Force, Reichsmarshall Göring advocates that we maintain the Luftwaffe's Air Offensive against both Soviet infrastructure and land-force command and control. While they do that air forces cannot be assigned to TAC functions. However, I agree with him. The Luftwaffe harassing Tamas's communication and infrastructure heavily hamper his ability to activate his Armies. I thus vote to maintain it to the maximum of twelfe days proposed by Göring, to inflict maximum damage to Tamas. :menace:
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This brings my relations with my boss to Poor back again. The fool. :rolleyes:
Finally, Security Divisions on all theaters are assigned to mopping up operations for another fornight, to eliminate future Soviet divisions remaining behind while we advance to the satisfaction of all my theater commanders.
Now that the nitty-gritty of being a bureaucrat is done... along we go for the actual fight. :menace:
T2 - June 22th, 1941 (Part 3)
AGN
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4th PzG pushes north in the plains due northeast of Kaunas, aiming for the railroads linking Kaunas to Riga and ram the flank of the 11th Army defending the city. 16th Army is pushing back the Russkies toward the Niemen River, but the 23rd and 56th Rifle Corp plus a Mech Corps makes for a good defence, stopping me from grabbing the rails and the bridge and snap the Russian forces in two.
AGC
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Seized Bialystok, but not enough to close the encirclement. However if all goes bad for Tamas' activation next turn all those troops are threatened to be surrounded and destroyed. Attacks were made by 2nd PanzerGruppe around Brest-Litovsk to bare its flank until our Siege Artillery arrives (hopefully next turn). Might not even become necessary if I encircle the city and make them starve to death.
AGS
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17th and 6th Army frontally keep the Russians contained, as 1st PanzerGruppe swerves around Tamas' right flank, isolating two Rifle Divisions from the Soviet 5th Army while threatening to rolle down to close Lvov behind Tamas' back.
I forgot to move the Hungarian troops and 11th Army in Bessarabia. Oops. I thought they were inactive. :blush:
Quote from: Drakken on December 14, 2015, 09:18:22 AM
I forgot to move the Hungarian troops and 11th Army in Bessarabia. Oops. I thought they were inactive. :blush:
:huh: They
were inactive. You just said so.
They were probably all sitting around, chilling...thinking "Hey, wasn't today something important? Like....weren't we supposed to be doing something....? Nahhh, I think that is next week...."
Well it is a bunch of Hungarians...
You hear about the Hungarian that was sooo oblivious...
that the other Hungarians noticed!
Quote from: grumbler on December 14, 2015, 09:53:07 AM
Quote from: Drakken on December 14, 2015, 09:18:22 AM
I forgot to move the Hungarian troops and 11th Army in Bessarabia. Oops. I thought they were inactive. :blush:
:huh: They were inactive. You just said so.
I thought they were to be activated later, like the Finns or the Roms. Practicing against the AI I noticed to my surprise that they were active, after all.
No biggie. Let's roll with it. What else to be expected by a bunch of Beets? :nelson:
Quote from: Berkut on December 14, 2015, 10:06:57 AM
They were probably all sitting around, chilling...thinking "Hey, wasn't today something important? Like....weren't we supposed to be doing something....? Nahhh, I think that is next week...."
In whatever calendar these Magyars use down there.
No, I will not stand for mockery of Hungary. Magyar pride! :punk:
T3 - June 26th, 1941
Not a lot of movement on the front overall. Perhaps Tamas botched his activations or most of his moves went outside my fog of war. That's what happens when you keep lackeys and cronies and send massive amounts of talented officers to the executioner. I will make Comrade Tamas pay for his lack of vision.
Also, the Axis troops down south AGS are Rumanian, not Hungarian! Why have they decided to use Green for their counters??? :bleeding: :bleeding: :bleeding:
The only meaningful development is the encirclement of 2nd PzG's 29th Motorized Division stationed in Bialystok. Nothing too worrying, though. I just need to kick in the door to break the pocket, restore supply lines and reinforce the Division, and a light attack in and around Grodno will isolate 12 Soviet divisions, in a single stroke. Plus the urban terrain and drizzle helped the defenders organizing their defence against Tamas's counterblows, and 29th Motorized suffered only minor losses.
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My evaluation so far is very satisfactory, and the Führer is pleased. It seems the Führer does not regret my nomination as Commander of the Ostfront. My talents in logistics will come in handy for the Reich. :cool:
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Logistics-wise, OKW Quartermaster General Wagner (who takes care of trucks, NOT trains and railways, go figure) lets me know that there is a shortage of tires due to the blockade of the Royal Navy preventing rubber imports from Asia. We have enough for only one theater, so obviously they are to be directed to AGN. After all, what Hitler wants he gets.
Feldmarshall von Bock is upset by this decision, so I attempt to mollify him by allocating more fuel to AGC from AGS. There's no shortage at all of fuel supply for AGS, which has 2+ quota of fuel for only 1 PanzerGruppe. AGC has 2 Gruppes for 1 quota of fuel, and its needs are and will be greater. This attempt doesn't make von Bock like me any better, though. Our relations are still Poor, which prevents me from giving AGC's Command Focus to either Hoth or Guderian.
Finally, Walther Funk asks my support to pressure the Führer to increase the oil production coming from Austrian soil. Austrian oil installations are currently left derelict and barely used. As Austria is now a province of the Reich I don't see why I shouldn't support its development, and neither do Jodl and Ribbentrop... which means Hitler is for it if Toadies like Jodl and Ribbentrop dare voice their support for such a project. So I hearthily give them my help, to the pleasure of the Führer. It'll still take about two months time to get active, however.
To be continued...
Quote from: Drakken on December 15, 2015, 12:36:57 AM
Also, the Axis troops down south AGS are Romanian, not Hungarian! Why have they decided to use Green for their counters?
That's actually pretty common, at least in the wargames I've seen. I think it's based on their uniform colors during the war. What color would you have preferred?
Looking forward to more posts! This is great thus far, as your AARs usually are. :)
T3 - June 26th, 1941 (Operations)
AGN
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4th PanzerGruppe finishes surrounding the HQ of Soviet 8th Army, while 8th Panzer Division races toward Jakobstadt, the road blocked by 10th Airborne Division. The remaining elements of the PanzerGruppe tightens the rear attack on Kaunas, where the pocket is expected to be closed on the Soviet 11th and a dozen divisions next turn. :menace:
Meanwhile I transfer 18th Army north to further push the remnants of Russian 8th Army toward Liepaja and eventually Riga. I am worried though about the wide gap south of Riga, where Tamas could try to rescue his HQ. :yucky:
Finally, I move 12th Infantry Division south of Kaunas to prevent any closing of a pocket and protect the rear supplies of 4th PanzerGruppe.
AGC
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As predicted, Bialystock is linked to my line of supply and a dozen Soviet divisions are pocketed to be liquidated next turn. Hope Tamas won't miss them. We will make them very comfy in Hotel Buchenwald. :pinch:
Soon after taking the pic above 28th, 161st and 162nd finishe chasing the Soviet pocketed divisions off the railways. Grodno is now linked to the rest of the railway system - with Russian gauges. However, double rails on the map means that the road is paved and sealed, which are the only road which will not turned into schmooze when the mud comes.
I attempt a pincer movement to encircle the whole Western Front in Minsk sector, with 3rd launched towards Vilnius and the 2nd toward Minsk itself. The Panzers, however, faces stiffer resistance with defences in depth between our lines and Minsk. As for Vinius, rather than run away in front of my panzers the minor garrison gives a furious defence, pinning most of 3rd PanzerGruppe in front of the city!
AGS
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1st PanzerGruppe cleaves south to overrun Lvov, but with no avail. While the Russian Divisions fail to stop us we fall short of reaching Lvov at this time. Furthermore the depth of 1st PanzerGruppe away from the railways worries me as the reserves of fuel for AGS dwindle. So I order an emergency air fuel resupply over the HQ of 1st PanzerGruppe, just in case.
Also, as an emergency prophylaxic measure I order 2nd PanzerGruppe's 1st Cavalry Division to cross theater and come protect the HQ of 1st PanzerGruppe that was left naked and vulnerable. This violation will cost me 1PP per turn, but it's only temporary and to ensure that Tamas don't get a chance to make a move with his 19th Tank Division and come harass my HQ. This move means also that I return my Siege Artillery to Warsaw for protection, as it would be left defenceless in front of Brest. In any case I'm about to surround and starve Brest-Litovsk into reduction rather than bombard it into a pile or rubble.
Bessarabian Front
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Four days late after D-Day, Oberst von Affe arrives to the Rumanian High Command. He brings an order personally signed by me to move their collective Rumanian asses off their chairs and join the war right fucking now. The Rumanian Chief of Staff deeply apologizes for the missunderstanding, blaming a penpushing secretary for the mistake writing a "6" instead of a "2" on the translated date of the invasion. Romanian is very, very far from German, you see... and one could be easily misstranslating Zwei for Sechs...
:glare:
Ahem...
In any case, Herr Oberst, the Rumanians are now on the move. So... huzzah!
The main thrust is made by the German 11th Army, who pushes forward in the center. Rumanian troops are however much weaker than their German counterparts, and facing much more powerful Soviet divisions in the mountains. However their 1st Armored Division is poised to pierce through their 32nd Cavalry Division and cleaving the Bessarabian front in half.
Ende for now.
Quote from: Habbaku on December 15, 2015, 12:43:14 AM
That's actually pretty common, at least in the wargames I've seen. I think it's based on their uniform colors during the war. What color would you have preferred?
I thought their counters' colour was Purple, and Hungarian Green.
Purple is the Spellus Byzantine Dinosaur divisions, dude.
Quote from: Norgy on December 15, 2015, 08:39:33 AM
Purple is the Spellus Byzantine Dinosaur divisions, dude.
I prefer my hordes of Slavic brain-dead cannon fodder purple. Green's for Magyars and Guidos.
T4 - June 30th, 1941 (Sitrep/Logistics)
Tamas has evacuated the vicinity of the trapped 8th Army HQ, leaving it to his fate most probably to go defend Riga, a strategic city (showed on the map with a red dot). This move is sound: Rescueing Kaunas is pointless at this point, and if I capture Riga Comrade Tamas will risk going into one of his infamous Paranoid Episode, to the lifethreatening nightmare of his officer staff.
Feeble attempts were made to exit the Kaunas salient, only contributing to create a traffic jam northeast of Kaunas: No few than 13 divisions with 11th Army HQ (and General Morozov) are poised to be trapped simply by overunning the Soviet 5th Tank Division and closing the gap. I am certain that the Army flag emblems from two annihilated Soviet HQs from the Northern front will bring a big smile under the Führer's black mustache. :yeah:
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Only one attack by Comrade Tamas registered in my battle log; 60km NE of Brest-Litovsk against 34th and 252nd Infantry Division by 5(!!) Soviet Divisions, including 2 Motorized and 2 Tank. Again, these were easily repulsed and, from my recon, seemed more costly on the Reds than on my Divisions. However, this Festung on Brest-Litovsk is starting to become a thorn in my side.
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My main problem right now, though... is not Tamas. My main problem is inside my own armed forces, more precisely inter-theater misorganization heavily pushing on my PPs, my AGS fuel truck columns overextended, and 2nd PanzerGruppe's dwindling TO&E and mediocre fuel supply because of the unexpected stiff defence in front of Minsk.
First issue, as I have stated in a previous post, units crossing outside their theater's operational borders incurs penalties in PPs because they need a lot of coordination between the different staffs. The further they are, the more they cost. Last turn's move of 2nd PnzGr's Cavalry unit to protect 1st PnzGr HQ, plus the 16th Army HQ and 2 Divisions supporting the Kaunas front in AGC's area of operation is costing me -8PPs this turn! This will have to be resolved ASAP as this decreases my operational capability.
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Second issue, my truck columns to supply fuel from rail depots are getting overextended to reach AGC, but more especially AGS where it's getting eggregious. Because of the Russian standing fast in and around Lvov, fuel destined to AGS's 1st PanzerGruppe must leave its supply depot in Krakau to reach Lodz and Warsaw by truck, then Lublin by train, and finally 1st PzG HQ again by truck! Same with AGC: Because Brest-Litovsk is still in Soviet hands the railway is currently useless (trains need two stops to work, one charge and one discharge), and so they are also deliveres via trucks. Where there are railways on the map, there are assumed to be roads. This creates a very long line of supply on wheels, creating a heavy toll on my chattel of Opel Blitz.
Rationalizing my fuel pipeline by reducing Lvov will be our top priority this turn for AGS. I need Lvov to bring fuel from closer in the field from Krakau.
I will have to send in a fuel complement through air supply to 1st PanzerGruppe.
For AGC, I must find a way to reduce Brest once and for all. Reading the manual, Garrisons pull their supply from the city so they can't be cut-off, and the one inside Brest-Litovsk has 186 Fortification Rating. I will need to place an Infantry Division next to it, call the Siege Artillery once again and wait until it bombards it. I estimate it'll take at least 8 days, two turns, to send it, move it, set it, and let it start shooting. Or, move all available Infantry to march on Brest-Litovsk and swarm it human-wave style. :yucky:
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To add fuel to the fire (pun quite intended), AGC's 17th and 18th Panzer Divisions, plus 10th Motorized Infantry Division were outside 2nd PanzerGruppe's Command Range last turn. Thus they suffer severe fuel shortages and have not enough AP to attack this turn. <_<
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Third issue, Guderian's 2nd PanzerGruppe has now 86% of its Panzer still operational due heavy battle losses. The wall of Soviet corpses-to-be north of the Pripet Marshes is so thick I am considering pulling it back to Bialystok to rest and refit, while transfering 4th and 9th Army to increases our hold on Grodno and keep the pressure on the Minsk front there while 3rd PanzerGruppe overruns Vilnius and races behind his back.
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It is currently too late to play the turn. Will do, tomorrow.
In the meantime, guess who's has sent me a heartwarming telegram tonight, which Oberst von Affe handed to me at my table over my roosted chicken dinner and my bottle of French Bordeaux? :bleeding: :x :pinch: :ph34r: :zipped:
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Charming. :Joos
T4 - June 30th, 1941 (Decisions)
Himmler's "heartwarming telegram" couldn't come at a worse moment. I have a feeling I might feel guilty after this turn. And dirty. :(
I have 37 PPs left for Decisions and Card Plays this turn.
I immediately play two Fuel Resupply cards for AGC (2nd PanzerGruppe) and AGS's 1st PanzerGruppe, costing 6 PPs each in total.
Siege artillery is dispatched again nearby Brest-Litovsk to batter it to reduction, for 1 PP.
Direct Fire Artillery is transfered to 9th Army, which will be moved to take the brunt of the Offensive on the Grodno-Brest-Litosvk line, for 4PPs due to my poor relations with Feldmarshall von Bock.
Only now, may I take a look on my Decisions :
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I decide to deal with AGN only as a last resort, as it really has no shortage of fuel. AGC and AGS, however, are another matter.
For AGS, it am notified that the Eisenbahntruppe merely convert the railway gauges as fast as possible without repairing or strengthening the rail infrastructure (like adding water towers for our trains). On this, I decide to intervene again against my boss's advice and push for repairing the rail infrastructure (- 9PPs). This brings my relations with von Brauchtisch to Distrustful, but I make good progression on the converting process.
For AGC General Gercke proposes to improve train signaling, against the advice of Keitel who frankly says it's beneath us. I agree, I have no time for this What I need NOW is more railways, so I push for keeping converting tracks and damn goes the signaling.
I leave the rest to my Chief of Staff.
That leaves me 11PP for the damned Einsatzgruppen issue. I decide to - politely - tell Himmler to shove its telegram up where the Sun of the Reich does not shine: I refuse any Wehrmacht cooperation with his sleazy death squad business, but without threatening to stand witness in trial (too costly). It hurts my already poor relations with Himmler (who is now Distrustful), while somewhat improving my relations with von Brauchtisch (back up to Poor) for standing for the stainless honour of the Wehrmacht. :contract:
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T4 - June 30th, 1941 (Operations)
Kaunas, Vilnius, and Lvov have fallen, meaning the fuel supply roads for AGS and AGC have been shortened with outstanding success. Most of my immediate operational goals for this turn have been met. The Romanian Armored Division has pierced through the Bessarabian front to created a bridehead passed the Dniestr River, and the Finnish have joined the war - if only to reconquer Karelia. :w00t:
If Tamas expected it to be easy, he should now be realizing how mistaken he was. Without being too overconfident the immediate situation he is facing on his multiple fronts is dire. Two of them, in the center and south, are even facing annihilation.
AGN
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The 8th Army pocket has been liquidated, and the Kaunas pocket lies next, despite frantic resistance. The whole 16th Army occupies the vicinity of Kaunas and is ready to march on the pocket. SS Division Totenkopf went north to recon Riga then came back south to control the road up to Jakobsadt and checking any move north by 11th Army to escape the pocket. 18th Army marches north toward Liepaja and Riga.
4th PanzerGruppe created a front on the western bank of the Dvina, but my recon has revealed a gap east of Riga. If it could be exploited the whole Northern front might crumble.
Finnish front :yeah:
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Without warning, the Finnish Army has launched a major offensive to reclaim its rightful territory lost in the Winter War. South Eastern Army has taken Viipuri, while the Karelian Army moved through the forest towards Petrozavodsk.
Those Red Bs represent the limit the Finnish Army cannot cross without Finland formally joining the German offensive, representing Finland's reluctance to enter the war as a German partner unless Germany shows it's clearly winning. If I cross these before the threshold event occurs the Axis player incurs massive penalties. However, when I grab either Luga or Narva these there is a chance each turn these will turn blue, allowing the Finns to close on Leningrad. However, since I have chosen the military alliance with Finland option in the What-If Decision for Finland on Turn 1, Finland's full activation will automatically trigger when I take either Luga or Narva.
AGC
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After 4th Army quickly liquidating the remaining Soviet divisions caught in the Bialystok area pocket, I start transfering 9th Army to create a front passed Grodno, while the remaining 4th Army available to move close in on Brest-Litovsk. Next turn the Siege artillery should arrive back to B-L while I finish surrounding it into a cauldron that will not last very long.
After harshly making a concentrated attack on the minor garrison at Vilnius, pushing it off after fierce combat, 3rd PanzerGruppe has found a gap north of Tamas' Western Army, and started exploiting it with a swerve West and North of Minsk. I'm not too worried about 33rd and 38th Tank Division closing the salient, I will quickly reopen it next turn with 20th Panzer Division. Meanwhile 2nd PanzerGruppe's SS Das Reich has opened a weakness in Tamas's position, allowing me a way to pass around the Pripet marshes, threatening Tamas's whole Western Front if he is not careful by next turn.
If I were Comrade Tamas, I would severly start pulling back here. His whole front is facing utter destruction.
AGS
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The proud 6th Army is now a shadow of its former glory, almost completely trapped. 11 Divisions plus 2 Divisions of 5th Army completely surrounded between the Hammer of 1st PanzerGruppe and the Anvil of 6th and 17th Armies. With Lvov and its immediate vicinity now secured our fuel supply system should be much more effective from now on - no more truck columns circumnavigating around to reach 1st PanzerGruppe.
I intend to let 6th Army finish off these pockets, while 17th Army moves southeastward toward Tarnopol. Von Kleist will turn around and swerve around Rovno into Southwestern Army's flank and rear.
Bessarabian Front
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Supported by the German 239th Infantry Division, Romania's 1st Armored Division has created a bridehead across the Dniestr River for 11th Army (now reinforced by two additional Infantry Divisions) to exploit next turn. 3rd Army keeps pushing 4 Divisions on 9th Army's right flank back to the River, while 4th Army threatens to flank 9th Army's HQ by pushing back Tamas's 5th and 9th Cavalry, 15th Motorized, and 150th Infantry Divisions.
With such a multitude of crisises looming I doubt Tamas will have enough resources to attend to all at once. He will have to give way somewhere...
The casualties so far :
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And finally, on a more positive note, FeldMarshall von Leeb commented on the valor demonstrated by GeneralLieutenant Ottenbacher, commander of the 36th Motorized Infantry Division, under fire. While temporary, after investigattion and confirmation it can become permanent, granting him combat bonuses. :cool:
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The 1st Romanian Armored Division was almost entirely equipped with surplus Czech 38s and none of the their AT guns could penetrate the armor of their Russian equivalents. I was amazed they ever did anything at all.
How bout an overshot of the entire front. What date in the game are you at?
Quote from: Valmy on December 17, 2015, 12:21:03 AM
The 1st Romanian Armored Division was almost entirely equipped with surplus Czech 38s and none of the their AT guns could penetrate the armor of their Russian equivalents. I was amazed they ever did anything at all.
Hence why I used to push on the Cavalry Division. :P
1st Armored Division isn't fully tanks, it has also Infantry TO&E and the Soviets facing me are soft targets. I wouldn't use it to blitz through too far from the German 11th Army, though.
Quote from: 11B4V on December 17, 2015, 02:19:35 AM
How bout an overshot of the entire front. What date in the game are you at?
I just finished June 30th, 1941.
Each turn represents 4 days; Turn 1 is a pre-turn where the player is only allowed to choose strategic goals and play randomly triggered Decisions.
No turn for you guys tonight, I have an appointment later tonight and I must get up very early tomorrow.
In the meantime, I promised an overshot of the entire front so far on T5, D+12 (July 3rd, 1941).
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Bounced it off Glantz's book. Darn close AG North and Center. AG South a little behind historically. But the exciting thing is AG North and Center are pulling ahead of AG South. The historical puzzle is forming. Excellent.
Except that AGC and AGS are running at < 1 quota of fuel right now. My lines are overextended.
Quote from: Drakken on December 17, 2015, 09:41:49 PM
Except that AGC and AGS are running at < 1 quota of fuel right now. My lines are overextended.
:XD:
I'm getting the game this weekend.
Quote from: Drakken on December 17, 2015, 09:41:49 PM
Except that AGC and AGS are running at < 1 quota of fuel right now. My lines are overextended.
Wasn't that always the case for the whermact during this campaign?
Whermacht? Thermacht.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 17, 2015, 11:27:21 PM
Wasn't that always the case for the whermact during this campaign?
Let's say the Panzers didn't dawdle waiting for the FSBs to move forward. I rely on air transports to keep me supplied on the Center and the South. Right now, just AGS has 1120 bbls of fuel for the next 4 days. Let's say I won't race to Kiev just with that. :bleeding:
In very short order I'll have to relocate my FSB to Lvov and Grodno, forcing me to take a pause to refit. But not before I finish off the the soviets in front of Minsk and grab Tarnopol in the South.
Before I go to bed, here is the logistics report for AGS on the eve of Turn 5.
By the end of Turn 4 1st PzrGruppe's had used all its fuel supply. :pinch:
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I must find a way, any way, to increase the ratio of fuel going to AGS. I cannot afford to change 1st PzrGruppe's posture from Blitzkrieg to Offensive as of now.
Most of my fuel is hogged by AGN, which runs at 2+ quotas of fuel. To use this to our advantage, after the Minsk pocket is sealed and liquidated I plan a right hook straight into Comrade Tamas' teeth: Hitler's positive relation with me allows me to reassign PanzerGruppes, in this case 3rd PnzGruppe reassigned from AGC to AGN. I bet it's the last thing Tamas will expect.
How long does it take you, on average, to finish a turn?
Quote from: Alcibiades on December 18, 2015, 01:10:26 AM
How long does it take you, on average, to finish a turn?
Without redacting an AAR, about 30 minutes to an hour.
T5 - July 4th, 1941
As predicted, Tamas has attempted a controled pullout in the Center. However they haven't pulled out fast enough and my threat of destruction of his central front still stands. I expect a major garrison on Minsk, but not behind the city itself. Thus I will attempt to envelop the whole Western Army and Minsk, with both PanzerGruppe's forward Motorized unit meeting South or Southwest of Minsk. Basically, more or less like Pavlov's real disaster in real life.
In the North, the remnants of 11th Army have moved a little, expanding into their pocket for some space. More importantly, Tamas has arranged defensives positions on the other side of the Dvina : bridges have been blown at Dunaburg, a minor garrison was placed in Jakobstadt and fortifications arranged around that city. Logically, Tamas has sent Zhukov there as troubleshooter and expended PPs to arrange this defence.
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Attacking these positions head-on with my Panzers would be disastrous. The main road of progress is through Riga as its bridges still stand. That said, I doubt Tamas would do such a moronic thing as to leave Riga undefended, plus I had already foreseen from his T1 pullout that he intended to create a defensive line at Riga. North of Jakobstadt is still open field without fortifications. Flanking around these positions seems the way to go; it would allow me to slip around and mess with his rear... and the later addition of 3rd PanzerGruppe via Vitebsk and Polosk might throw Tamas into a panicked reaction if he expects a classic Moscow-first strategy from me.
In the South, Tamas is building a defense in-depth in front of Tarnopol, which I don't intend to attack headfront with 1st PanzerGruppe; pinned Panzers are useless Panzers. I'll use Infantry for that, which I have lots of. On the Dniestr 1st Armored Divison has been repelled back across the River, but that is only a minor setback as the German 11th Army is posed to cross it, and I continue to receive reinforcements on that front from the Reich.
Decisions
My capture of Kaunas, Vyborg/Viipuri, Lvov, and Vilnius, plus destruction of two Soviet HQs in the North theater has granted me a huge bonus in PPs to spend this turn, bringing my total from 0 last turn to 49.
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For 10 PPs I decide to spend my PPs immediately to request the reassignment of 3rd PanzerGruppe from AGC to AGN. This will be effective only when I decide to cross the theater borders with 3rd Panzergruppe, so I do not have to move them across immediately. It's on as long as my relations with Hitler remain positive.
Fuel air supply missions have been requested for both AGC and AGS, but to my consternation the mission was cancelled for AGC despite good weather. This no fuel was delivered to either 3rd or 2nd PanzeGruppe. <_<
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I concentrate my Decisions hands-on on AGS's rail infrastructure. I push for adequate signaling to maximize delivery of fuel and supply through AGS rail system, to the pleasure of General Gercke (relations now to Poor). I also order my friend von Rundstedt and Feldmarshall von Bock to hand over captured Soviet trucks to General Wagner and OKW Theater Quartermaster, as per standing instructions. Let's say I'm not making a friend at all of von Bock right now.
Following Herr Feldmarshal von Leeb's recommandation, I approve the recognition of GeneralLieutenant Ottenbacher of the 36th Motorized Division's bravery under fire and, making it official and permanent. We need more leaders like Herr Ottenbacher. :thumbsup:
Finally, as a show of good grace for the domestic front I accept Herr Goebbels' offer of a camera crew filming me freely on duty for propaganda reasons. We need to show how we are winning this sacred war against the Bolshevism.
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AGN
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Comrade Tamas has organized tremendous defences along the Dvina. A major garrison and the Baltic MD Front strongly defends blocks Riga, making it suicidal to attack it directly with my PanzerGruppe. Instead, after fierce and costly battle 8th Panzer and 36th 'Offenbacher' Division overtakes the redoubts NW of Jakobstadt, piercing through and creating a bridgehead that sadly I cannot yet exploit. As the bridges in front of Dunaburg are now useless I switch gears and redirect 4th Panzergruppe toward the salient.
I decide to spend my remaining PPs to give Direct Fire support to 18th Army. They include Engineers, so they will progressively decrease the Fortification rating of the defenders facing its Divisions along the Dvina.
The remnants inside the Kaunas pocket continue to oppose a desperate resistance, pinning the whole 16th Army liquidating these stragglers. I suspect Tamas' last orders to them were "No retreat, and if needed, die. End of message".
On the Finnish front my South East and Karelian armies vigourously pushes the Soviets toward the 1940 frontiers.
AGC
Fuck the Siege artillery. General Gercke's lack of diligence in allowing the big guns to Brest-Litovsk has brought my time schedule too long. Seeing that Tamas has left only the garrison inside I decided to force the issue once and for all. After concentrating several divisions of 4th Army around the city I made a coordinated, sustained assault on the city with overwhelming odds. Brest-Litovsk has fallen. Fuck General Gercke.
At Minsk, good news... and bad news.
The good news is... well a picture is worth a thousand words :
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16 divisions and 2 HQs are caught in the Minsk cauldron, including General Kuznetzov! And Minsk has no Major garrison!
The bad news is... I'm out of fuel. Gah!!!! :mad:
This swift and maneuvre cost me all my available fuel reserve in the Center, and the failure by the Luftwaffe to bring in the fuel I so desperately need made me unable to fully exploit the situation: take Minsk (without a Major Garrison!! :bleeding:) and further trap Pavlov and Kutznetsov. They will live to die another day.
AGS
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The good news is, 6th and 17th Armies are now shuffled in position and created a front, even slowly grinding their way toward Tarnopol. All the while 1st PanzerGruppe has regrouped and found a way to swerve around the Soviet right flank.
The bad news is... I'm out of fuel. Gah!!!! :bash:
Bessarabian Front
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Since 1st Armored Division is paralyzed (again, out of fuel) this time the Germans take over. I counterattack across the Dniestr and push three German divisions on a beachhead across the River. On my left flank, two Rifle Divisions and 1 Mountain Division are trapped by 3rd Army and elements of the German 11th Army.
I am now within 100km of Odessa. Let's see how long until Tamas decides to retreat behind the Bug River.
In the meantime. I need fuel. I'll do anything for more fuel. Now. :Embarrass:
My advice,
Get Moar Fuel.
Gott im Himmel! :bleeding:
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That's is, FSB to relocate to Lvov this turn.
You mean Lemberg?
Quote from: Drakken on December 20, 2015, 12:34:09 PM
Gott im Himmel! :bleeding:
You really need more fuel than that.
Quote from: PDH on December 20, 2015, 03:16:29 PM
You really need more fuel than that.
No shit.
Seems the time has come for 1st PanzerGruppe to wrap up that offensive and go rest with fuel delivered by airlifts.
Quote from: Drakken on December 20, 2015, 07:10:13 PM
Quote from: PDH on December 20, 2015, 03:16:29 PM
You really need more fuel than that.
No shit.
Seems the time has come for 1st PanzerGruppe to wrap up that offensive and go rest with fuel delivered by airlifts.
Dunno. Attacking without fuel would definitely take the Ruskies off guard.
T6 - July 8th, 1941
Tamas is setting reinforcements in front of Mogilev. Time is the essense to push back the Minsk pocket as far from these as possible. No big swiping movement, I want this pocket wiped out ASAP.
The elastic of our fuel pipeline in the South has ruptured : only 451 bbls of fuel have reached 1st Panzergruppe's HQ this turn. A quick look at the AGS logistics report easily shows why : our Truck columns are overworked, the supply line being too long and the roads too hards for our Opels to drive through. That means fuel is left stocked in the depots while we fight the war between human civilization and semi-ape 'civilization', because there are simply a lack of truck columns being available for the distances being ran.
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I decide the time has come to relocate out Forward Supply Base to Lvov Lemberg. My Chief of Staff reports that transfers will start again in approximately 8 days. In the meantime, 1st PanzerGruppe will receive fuel by air. Not a big loss, they were receiving next to nothing anyway.
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From the meagre 15PPs allotement this turn, redeploying the FSB and resupplying 1st PnzGr by air cost me 8 PPs. Now that Luftwaffe has ended its D+2 Offensive time has come to assign Tactical Air Support.
AGN will go to 18th Army to destoy the resistance around Riga.
AGC will go on 2st PanzerGruppe to reduce the bulk of the Minsk pocket.
AGS will go 1st PanzerGruppe to trap as many Russian Divs as possible with the few fuel we have received.
AGN
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Liepaja and Jakobstadt have been liberated from the Soviet hordes. Riga still stands but I've surrounded the city from all side with Infantry. Attacking it right now would be too costly, so it will go next turn. I've redirected Siege artillery toward it, but it'll be taking at least 12 days. :yucky:
The Kaunas pocket has finally been fully liquidated. As the Dunaburg bridges have been blown off I redirect them through Jakobstadt, hoping the bridges will be rebuilt as soon as possible.
Karelian Front
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In Karelia 54th Rifle Division reconnoitred too far from his lines; it was soon surrounded and exterminated in the woods. On the Leningrad Front a localized offensive has pushed back 4 Border Divisions and a Rifle, only to find 8 other Divisions of the 23rd Army waiting in the peninsula.
AGC
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It took 4 days and all my fuel... but 2 full Armies and 14 Divisions have been wiped out clean of the surface of the Earth. Minsk is now ours and linked to our FSB . Only 17th and 24th Rifle Divisions remain and could still escape. 9th Army is racing East to create a front East of Minsk while our Panzergruppes rest and lick their wounds.
The remaining Divisions in the vicinity of Brest-Litovsk have been swiftly dealt in... but 4th Army stand in the Pripet Marshes facing Brest-Litovsk, too dangerous to be left unattended with its General Korobkov and 24 Initiative.
AGS
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No flanking maneuver as we have barely just enough fuel to iron out the sallying Russian Divisions on our left flank. 1st PanzerGruppe's infantry Divisions will take the frontage as we send it fuel by air to bring the Panzers and Motorized divisions in, slowly and inexorably.
Meanwhile 6th and 17th Armies keep pushing the Russkies back, taking defensive positions in the mountains standing now right in front of Tarnopol. We still keeping advancing forward, but as a much slower place. I am worried, but we mustn't forget that the main target of the offensive is Leningrad.
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Down on the Bessarabian front the Romanian 3rd Army and the German 11th keep pressing on, now 60km off the city of Odessa. The three trapped Russian Divisions have been mopped off the map.
Worryingly though, a majority of the Divisions of the 11th seem to show signs of weariness and fatigue. When Odessa falls I will arrange a pause in the offensive to let them rest and consolidate a bit in the following turns.
Quote from: grumbler on December 20, 2015, 09:09:15 PM
Dunno. Attacking without fuel would definitely take the Ruskies off guard.
No fuel, no spending of APs: no movement, no offensive attack.
Quote from: Drakken on December 20, 2015, 09:17:28 PM
Quote from: grumbler on December 20, 2015, 09:09:15 PM
Dunno. Attacking without fuel would definitely take the Ruskies off guard.
No fuel, no spending of APs: no movement, no offensive attack.
:hmm: I may not have been entirely serious.
Won't DG be lost?
DG? :unsure:
You seem on track in the North and center, but are lagging in the south.
Can't go back to old save Timmay. :contract:
^_^
This is good.
You know they pay attention to detail when you get a message about Goebbels wanting to film you.
Loving the AAR.
Quote from: Norgy on December 21, 2015, 08:52:48 AM
You know they pay attention to detail when you get a message about Goebbels wanting to film you.
Loving the AAR.
I love the less costly option that tells Goebbels his crew may freely film around, just not around me. Let them use a stand-in instead. :lol:
Quote from: The Brain on December 21, 2015, 01:04:49 PM
Dorsey4Guller works for FSB.
I sure hope DGuller's virtual grandad wasn't in the Minsk area last turn. :cry:
Huh. What happened to the Swastika flags? Your love of the Kaiserreich made you decide to go back to their flag for the last turn?
Quote from: Valmy on December 23, 2015, 01:24:58 AM
Huh. What happened to the Swastika flags? Your love of the Kaiserreich made you decide to go back to their flag for the last turn?
I reinstalled the game afresh. I were unable to load my single player saved games without the game freezing or crashing, and I thought part of the reason it was the graphic mods. Turned out BitDefender antivirus was messing with my game.
It's now resolved, so I will reinstall it.
T7 - July 12th, 1941
A setback in the north : a coordinated counterattack from three sides has forced 1st Panzer Division to retreat, with 20 tanks among the losses and casualties (over a total of 95). :hmm: Another... attack of Tamas, this time on 11th Infantry Division, went worse for the Russians : 2400 Red casualties for absolutely none on my side. :lol:
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That said, this lead me to have a check to the status of my PanzerGruppes... and what I saw shocked me : All my PanzerGruppe except 1st PzrGr in the South are now under 75% of their TO&E in tanks. Not only Tamas has cost me... but the wear and tear of the vast superficity of the Russian country accounts the loss of 120 tanks :blink:
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I don't have the exact armoured casualties in real-life Barbarossa after a month of combat in-hand, right now, to compare my performance and my casualties so far. But to me, these numbers seem to indicate I've been using my Panzers a bit carelessly. Starting now I'll be more careful with Panzer Divisions. As practicable they be either concentrated, or if if I can't supported by a Motorized Division.
Now that Minsk has be conquered and Tarnopol is poised to fall soon, I decide that time has come to rest and refit my Panzers in the South and in the Center while I reorganized my supply lines, starting with 3rd PanzerGruppe. The first wave of reinforcement should be coming starting T10, so I have time to prepare the next stage of the offensive. I also convert these PanzerGruppes's posture away from Blitzkrieg posture to Defensive, temporarily, to save fuel and increase defence, while I keep resupplying 1st PzrGr with fuel from the air while the FSB is still been shuffled to Lvov Lemberg.
Another reason to keep refueling 1st PzrGrp... is to use the Romanian 1st Armored Division down south to give the death kneel to Tamas's front and exploit the weakened Soviets between Odessa and Proskurov.
Speaking of FSBs, I relocate the one for AGC to Minsk. This is estimated to take 12 days, more than enough time for my Infantry to rejoin the frey and gather facing Mogilev, where Tamas is now massing at least two new Soviet Armies.
I also order my PanzerGruppe to take a less zig-zagging approach to save fuel, this will decrese their movement bonus from 50% to 30%, but will cost me 500 less bbls of fuel per PanzerGruppe per turn.
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Right like a toothache can never come at a better time my boss, von Brauchtisch, has sent me a telegram to express his dissatisfaction with the current conduct of the campaign. He has a set of new orders for me to pass down the chain of command and execute like a professional German officer. Since my real boss likes my work so far, I could tell him to shove it... but I need the PPs so I say, "Jawohl, Herr General!" to mollify the Little Boss. <_<
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AGN
Well, the defence of Riga didn't last long. :lol:
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Surrounded and targeted by a well coordinated attack from all side, both by ground and air, the major garrison and the two Rifle Divisions caught inside the Riga cauldron were thrown into panic and destroyed without surrender. Riga falls, with its bridges still left intact! 18th Army uses them to immediately cross the Dvina, while 16th Army masses in front of Dunaburg.
The rest of 4th PanzerGruppe cleans the area surrounding Riga, but without advancing too much this time. I also decide not to let my Panzer Divisions without Infantry support in case Tamas tries something fancy. Next turn I will aim at the unfortified plains north of Dunaborg to surround the city and pocket its Divisions. Only after it is liquidated I will rest 4th PanzerGruppe.
AGC
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We start to prepare the Mogilev front. As stated above 3rd PnzGr is ordered to rest and refit, while 9th Army moves eastward to reach Mogilev either next turn or the turn afterwards. German 4th Army moves forward in support, pushing about Tamas' 4th Army further inside the marshes in the process.
This time again, all Panzers are left with immediate backup of Motorized Infantry. I also leave one or two hex spaces between Tamas and I; this makes me harder for its recon to identify my resting status, and if he attempts a move he will have to consume APs and be left vulnerable in front of my Panzers in plain, open fields. Bad move. I doubt Tamas will have the guts to attempt a counter-offensive to exploit, however. He will probably take this respite to gather more units and entrench itself.
From my recon reports Tamas is massing two Armies in front of Mogilev, 21st and 22nd. More worringly, these have a new item in the arsenal. :yucky:
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AGS
Tamas has surrendered Tarnopol. :yeah:
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While 1st PnzGruppe is resting and refiting, 6th and 17th Army keep mauling the Soviet front, pushing them toward Proskurov. I take the opportunity to straighten my front, avoiding salients unless I can mass enough troops to counter any attempt by Tamas of a counterattack. I picking off weak Divisions around his bigger stacks, whacking Tamas' weak spots one by one to occupy and surround its stacks and whack his massed Divs from several sides.
Karelian Front
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Russian troops are successfully pushed off Finnish territory by the Karelian front. In the Southeast, however, our offensive against the massed 2 Rifle and 2 Border Divisions 60km due North of Leningrad was repulsed.
Bessarabian Front
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The Southern front's line of defensive resistance is crumbling.
Romanian 4th Army units reach the vicinity of Odessa while a breakthrough is isolating most of Southern Army's units from the rest of the front. The ways to reach Proskorov by the South and the Southeast is also now open before us. :menace:
Tamas's casualties are mounting. I am fairly certain by next turn these will reach the million losses for Tamas.
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And another Hero from AGN recommended by FM von Leeb, this time for the Knight's Cross, First Class for GenMaj von Seydlitz-Kurzbach, Commander of 12th Infantry Division, 16th Army, for outstanding bravery. :cool:
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How's the air war going?
Quote from: The Brain on December 24, 2015, 04:22:53 PM
How's the air war going?
The sky is Nazi, thanks to thousands of VVS planes blown to bits on te first day.
Gamewise the Axis have mastery of the air for much of the scenario. Later though IIRC Tamas can play Cards that represent aerial counter-interdiction and local aerial patrols.
Quote from: Drakken on December 24, 2015, 04:33:50 PM
Quote from: The Brain on December 24, 2015, 04:22:53 PM
How's the air war going?
The sky is Nazi, thanks to thousands of VVS planes blown to bits on te first day.
Gamewise the Axis have mastery of the air for much of the scenario. Later though IIRC Tamas can play Cards that represent aerial counter-interdiction and local aerial patrols.
Gotcha.
T8 - July 16th, 1941
No aggressive move by Tamas this turn, mostly spent reinforcing his Center and reshuffling his units in the North and in the South. I'm really surprised his hasn't pulled his Southernmost line of defence behind the Bug river - as my intelligence informed as soon as last turn there was nothing around Kiev right now.
Already reaching mid-July I start to get worried. I really feel lagging behind schedule now. Understanding better how changing postures work I've found out changing my Posture for my Panzergruppes to Defensive in the Center has been a mistake: Needless, and because switching posture makes my units reorganizing and vulnerable it'll take 2-3 more turns to switch them back to Blitzkrieg posture.
This gives me no choice to keep the pressure on Tamas' flanks: Dunaburg in the North; and Proskurow and Odessa in the South.
Speaking of the South...
A regretful incident of Slav barbarism has been reported from 170th Inf Division, AGS. One of its patrol was captured by the Soviets, stripped naked by the commissars, and left tied onto stakes to be eaten by wolves. I decide that it's best to acknowledge the report, to let the men of 170th Infantry Division feel that their suffering does not fall on deaf ears. :cry:
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On the other side, my friend von Rundstedt reports me, with alarm and disgust, that Einsatzgruppen have started their 'work' in newly-occupied Tarnopol, gathering both civilians and Jews and murdering them in mass executions. :bleeding:
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Himmler almost orders me not to inferfere, while Brauchstisch cautions me to be very prudent - I agree with him that the Reichsführer-SS is not a man to be trifled, and those 'actions' are indeed authorized by the Führer. Lodging a formal complaint will not stop these massacres... but I decide nonetheless to verbally complain up the chain of command, making Himmler very distrustful in the process but maintaing my good relations with von Runstedt.
I profit from the occasion to organize a meeting with my boss meet von Brauchtisch, who has invited himself to my headquarters so we straighten up our work relations, so to speak. His distrust of me is a nuisance to our war effort, so it's the occasion to repair what damage has been done so far. We and our mutual staff work out a working arrangement that leaves no more misunderstanding between us, severely repairing our working relations (Up to Good).
Logistics-wise, the FSB is Lvov has finally arrived, although the network nees still being set which is gonna take a little while longer. I order the AGC's Luftflotten to relocalize from Warsaw to Minsk, the closest possible to the front, while 2nd PanzerGruppe is ordered to undertake rest and refit.
Finally, Baltic Sea convoys from Königsberg to Liepaja to complement trucks and trains to bring in fuel to AGN have been authorized.
AGN
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4th PanzerGruppe has passed around the fortified positions along the Dvina and cleaned the Russians behind Tamas' rear off Dunaburg, but with too few APs left to come crashing on Dunaburg. 2 Infantry Divisions of 16th Army attempt a daring, but ultimately failed offensive, across the Dvina to seize Dunaburg. 18th Army moves up behind the Dvina to create a push toward Pskov and Tallin, discovering a Minor garrison in Ostrov along the way.
AGC
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A wide segment of my left flank is totally open across the woods north of Minsk. Tamas is gathering force, but not crossing the woods. I direct 9th Army north to rush to the Northeast to attempt coverinf that flank and deploy von Weichs' newly available 2nd Army HQ to Vilnius, so its Divisions gather there to go cover the northernmost segment of that front. :hmm:
4th Army crosses the Pripet marshes in direction of the Dnepr, intending to cover in front of Mogilev on the other side of the Dnepr. Bridge leading to Orsha has been blown, but Mogilev's bridges still stand - for now.
AGS
Thanks to von Brauchtisch flip-flopping orders I have APs penalties preventing me to push further that I'd want, so the advances in the South toward Proskurov have been mediocre. This will change, hopefully, on the next turn.
On the more positive side, both Odessa and Czernowitz have been liberated from the Bolshevik hordes.
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T9 - July 20th, 1941
As expected, Tamas has been mostly reshuffling his defences, gathering his forces in the Center behind the Dnepr and behind the woods North of Mogilev, plus pulling back somewhat in the North. This passive defence is starting to get on my nerve. Is it Stalin, the so-called Man of Iron, leading the Bolsheviks, or a ballet dancer from the Bolshoï theater? Too bad I won't be able to see Tamas' face melt when he sees 3rd PanzerGruppe is veering north.
After almost a month of constant offensive 4th PanzerGruppe is battered and tired. Its effectives are now down to 59% tanks due to wear and tear and battle losses. That's especially true of of 1st Panzer Division, the tip of my spear in the north, which is now down to 39% of its original effectives. :yuk:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FHyBA8W7.jpg&hash=b4a841d79c1acccadd363d3076b534aee149a779)
In this moment of despair I take solace in that historical doorstopper sitting on my side bedtable. I speak, of course, of Franz Halder's war diaries. Reading the entry for July 20th I find a passage that warms my heart. Perhaps I am not doing that bad, after all. Or perhaps I am being too overcautious, stopping my PanzerGruppes so soon in the Center and the South. :Embarrass:
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My Chief of Staff's decision to ignore both FM von Leeb's and General Gercke's requests about refitting AGN's Truck Columns has angered von Leeb, making our relations Neutral, but more importantly in the negative slightly. That means that 4th PanzerGruppe has lost its Command Focus until it improves. I won't reassign that Focus just yet. The generals leading AGN's Slow Division Armies are average at best, and it'd cost me 5 PPs to reassign it to 4th PanzerGruppe when we resolve this 'misunderstanding'.
Where there is no misunderstanding possible, though, is that the dire status of our truck columns in the South is of earnest interest. Relocating the FSB to Lvov Lemberg is one thing, but now Oberst Hintern von Affe taps on my shoulder and shows me a report from the OKW Quartermaster that only 7 columns supply remain for the whole of AGS, when 15 would be needed just for the fuel its PanzerGruppe!
To put it bluntly. - I lack trucks in the South. Worse, I have no surplus trucks left available there. The reason why : 62% of my trucks are grounded because they are in wait of badly needed maintenance from partisan sabotage and being overworked due to the sheer mileage accumulated.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FQQbe6Hx.jpg&hash=f8109fb23282f1b9e83a05f3580a9a7d347d8d01)
Almost 13000 bbls of fuel are currently sitting in the depots for AGS, waiting to be distributed. 13000 bbls of fucking panzer fuel! When it gets in the pipeline I'll have fuel for months on end. I thus flex my operational muscles (read, spend PPs) to order a full overhaul of my truck columns (as 1st PanzerGruppe is resting it's best to do this now and the losses were just too important), plus 20 truck columns reallocated from ammunition and supply trucks to be used for fuel.
AGN
I've had enough with Dunaburg. I veer enough Motorized and Infantry Divisions south to reduce that pocket from all sides, with Divisions of 16th Army to crossing pontoons and assaulting the defenders under heavy fire across the Dvina.
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The sheer odds (500 stacks with lots of concentric bonuses) overwhelm the defenders. Mitigating this result, though, my attempt to pocket Dunaburg by pushing 16th Rifle Division off its southeast hex has failed, meeting with stiff resistance. This allows the battered defenders to escape the city.
Oh well.
The rest of 4th PanzerGruppe does some reconnaissance en force, but I won't push it further; I pull back my Panzers. My immediate objective has been fulfilled and so I will shuffle my infantry in position and retire my PanzerGruppe to rest and refit next turn. 16th Army will move eastward to cover Dunaburg and prepare to take Ostrov with the help of 18th Army, which pummels the remnants of the Baltic Military Division northward.
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In Finland, not much to write on: Sitzkrieg in front of Leningrad (Tamas has 13 Divisions of 23rd Army facing me) and light skirmishes in Karelia. Tamas has been pulling off Karelia, but I dare not cross those red Bs hexes.
AGC
9th Army has now arrived in position, waiting to strike northeastward and cleave north of the Dnepr when the moment arrives. I place 9th Army's frontage in the woods facing the plains because it gives my Infantry divisions an Entrenchment bonus. Both PanzerGruppes keep resting and refitting in and around Minsk, and 4th Army is moving eastward as Tamas seems to be evacuating the Pripet marshes.
No Division of von Weichs' 2nd Army has arrived yet, they are due to be deployed next turn with 100% odds. They will be ordered on my left flank facing 16th Army. If all goes well, all things should coordinate to launch a new offensive in the Center by the end of July.
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AGS
6th and 17th Armies keep pushing the Reds further and further of Tarnopol, increasing the pressure on Proskurov and giving me options on Zhitomir. More and More of Tamas' Rifle Infantry are have been broken and disclotating, surrendering due to the sheer strength of the Germans keeping the pressure. This front seems to be thinning out, which coupled with my intelligence report suggests that Tamas has either been pulling out behind my recon sight, or I've been dislocating his lines mercilessly and his front is giving way.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fx77C3Ft.jpg&hash=dd9f4ff816032cfbda74fafe7d98118196e909d9)
The German 17th and the Romanian 4th Armies have finally linked up around Czernowitz, with a potential pocket if we punch through 190the Rifle Division the line in front of Proskurov. Meanwhile, two German Divisions - 22nd Luftlande and 79th - and two Romanian Mountain Divisions batters 116th Rifle Division, threatening his rear if I push it aside the railroads.
Last but not least, down on the Ukrainian coastline 196th Rifle Infantry resists strenuously, despite being totally surrounded and harried from all sides.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FFevhokh.jpg&hash=3f4e2e05c888191c12c4b4fe6432dac4a66e9ef5)
Ende for now. The map of the situation at the end of July 20th, and the casualties so far. I am certain now that Tamas has lost a million moujiks to the irresistible might of the Wehrmacht. :cool:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FYJW2LAt.jpg&hash=000ee3e51deea474e470f5df2457e2066bc364bb)
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T10 - July 24th, 1941
First Mobilization Wave of reinforcements has arrived in Berlin, as every ten turns. New blood for my Slow divisions, and new panzers and motorised vehicles for my Fast divisions. They will be progressively sent out to my units.
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While these will fill two-thirds of my losses in infantry, I receive only 215 Panzers for my Panzergruppes - about one-third of my losses. I will send these in priority to 4th PanzerGruppe, who has suffered the most losses, and 3rd PanzerGruppe, to prepare for Warplan Leuthen.
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In the North, as I have taken the Dunaburg-Ostrov-Luga road in priority for my Construction Battalion I temporatily relocate its FSB to Dunaburg - even though the bridges as still blown up. Hopefully in the next 12 days these will be repaired. To help out ease the load I request Kriegsmarine convoys to bring in supply and fuel to Riga as well.
And of course, the Einsatzgruppen are at it again, this time killing in Liepaja in the North. Not much I can do, so I must turn a blind eye. This increases the level of Partisans in the North, messing with my trucks, my units' APs, lines of communication, and so on. :(
In the Center, I immediately transfer the Posture of 3rd PanzerGruppe from Defensive to Blitzkrieg, to at least mitigate my earlier mistake even though it will disrupt its units. But enough waiting: I will take this turn time to position them behind 2nd Army, ready to punch through North of Mogilev and reach inside his rear area. Since von Kluge's 4th Army has Command Focus for now I play his Flank card to make him be extra careful of his flanks, giving 1/2 Offence and 1/2 Defence bonuses to his Divisions.
In preparation of the incoming big offensive, I decide to visit Army Group Center to tour the front, and also have a 'friendly' chat with von Bock who had sent me scathing letter to complain that I was 'ignoring' his front, verging on insubordination. Although all these initiatives are welcomed by the Feldmarshall, our relations remain icy.
Finally in the South, AGS is now way beyond the Luftwaffe's effective range so I finally move the Airbase to Lvov. Odessa is available, but I feel our push inside Ukraine is more important than in Crimea.
Finnish front
Nothing at all in front of Leningrad. However, Comrade Tamas ventured 237th Rifle Division too far inside my border without any support. I manoeuver my three Divisions to cut its supply lines, aiming to destroy it next turn. One less Division for Tamas.
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AGN
Piece of intelligence from Abwehr - intercepts tend to show that Tamas has placed Marshall Rokossovsky in command of Northern Front. That explains a lot of what my recon reports.
A massive concentration of Soviet troops lies in behind Ostrov, laying a deadly trap if I move to occupy the unprepared and displace its minor garrison. Instead of falling for his trap I decide to push 4th Panzergruppe around, by in the plains south of the Ostrov marshes. I make a punch there, cleaving his ZOC between Polotsk and the Ostrov railway, but due to the heavy present of 32nd Army down south and my fear of an overwhelming counterblow I pull back defensively with the aim of swerving them all northward behind Ostrov next turn.
This move gives me some recon knowledge on the state of Tamas' Army commanders in the Center - High Initiative and no Threat in most of his Armies in the upper part of the Center front. This leads me to suspect that Tamas has selected to defend Moscow at all cost, and he concentrated both Zhukov and Khruschev there.
Further north, Eighteenth Army bullies the remnants of Frolov's Baltic Military District Army. Recon indicates that a full new army of conscripts - Akhilustin's 48th Army, lies in the way to Tallinn. Good - I don't care about Tallinn as of now, so better there where they are useless than behind in Pskov. Instead, I position a few Divisions ready to flank Ostrov, beyond the River.
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AGC
Not much this turn. 3rd Panzergruppe is now in position to pierce through Tamas's soft underbelly of his front, right around 12th Motorized Division is placed. Second Army has start to move toward his place on my left flank while I bring Fourth Army further in position. Sadly, Partisan works slow down my advances, depriving me of precious APs.
An Occupation Division is now in Brest-Litovsk, 'policing' the city. :shifty:
And now Warplan Leuthen, aiming to slam Tamas' center by a roundabout in the plains in front of Vitebsk and a vicious blow by 2nd Panzergruppe through the lone bridge to Mogilev. Due to start on July 28th, 1941 or August 1st, at the most.
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AGS / Crimean Front
I use all my fuel to place 1st Panzergruppe in the vicinity of Rovno. No need for a push just yet - Tamas' line in the South is getting thinner in front of Zhitomir, while Eleventh Army keeps climbing north toward the rear of Proskurov. Tamas' whole Southern front is crumbling. Nothing much remains of the South Army, the road to Nikolaev seems to lay open.
Desperate resistance of the remnants of 12th and Southwestern Army on the outer bank of the Dniestr, and a new conscript army - 44th Army- is bunched on the other side of the Bug river, south of Vinnitsa.
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Ende for now. Tamas has now officially lost a million of his sons. :menace:
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Pretty good work in the South after the Romanians spent the first turn...um...doing something stereo-typically Romanian...whatever that might be.
Soviet casualties have really leveled off in the last few turns. Not a good sign for you.
I'm not used to negative cheerleader Tim. :hmm:
Quote from: garbon on January 11, 2016, 03:08:26 PM
I'm not used to negative cheerleader Tim. :hmm:
Just telling it like it is.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 13, 2016, 06:47:00 PM
Quote from: garbon on January 11, 2016, 03:08:26 PM
I'm not used to negative cheerleader Tim. :hmm:
Just telling it like it is.
We're not used to that, either! :P
T11 - July 28th, 1941
Commissar Mudski is back this turn. Most of the ground has turned into mush back in my rearlines, so most of my troops are unaffected. Big parts of Tamas' own fronts are mired in mud, especially in the woods and plains West of Vitebsk, meaning that attacking there with 3rd Panzergruppe this turn would be stupid since I won't be able to exploit any breakthrough.
Means also, that any attack Tamas makes from muddy terrain will decrease his units' Readiness a LOT. Please do!
2nd Panzergruppe, however, is on good terrain.
Not a lot of PPs this turn... but also not a lot of meaningful decisions either. I push for the Kriegsmarine to use Windau's port installations to send in more fuel and supply from Königsberg, sparing precious trains for transport. All major Baltic ports except Tallinn are used to bring in our fuel.
Captured Soviet trucks in the South are also ordered to be handed over for fuel transportation.
Finnish Front / AGN
In Finland, 237th Rifle Division having miserably failed to exit his pocket and extricate itself from mud, dissovled itself into the Karelian woods, most probably to become Partisans. Meanwhile Comrade Tamas has pulled his whole line toward the fortified positions North of Leningrad.
I don't pursue. I let my Finns rest and recuperate until I capture Luga, which shall trigger Finland's real entry in the war. :menace:
Down around Ostrov... I need fuel. Badly. FSB isn't set in Daugavpils and its bridges are still down and being repaired, while air support is still unavailable. Despite this shortage (I had 1186 bbls in bank for AGN at the beginning) I begin the envelopment process nonetheless. A bold attack from 16th Army, from marshes and across the River bridge leads to the capture of Ostrov proper, while 4th Panzergruppe uses it fuel reserves to swerve around 24th Army's rear, pushing a mere Cavalry unit along the way. I pass right under 32th, 33th, and 34th Armies' nose, but as they are sitting in the mud I take the chance - fortune favours the bold.
Further north into Latvia and Estonia, 18th Army mauls the reserve conscript divisions on the left flank of 48th Army in targeted assaults, cleaving my way to flank Pskov by its western marshes.
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AGC
I have no choice - the mud tight behind Tamas's lines in the northern part of the front forces me to postpone Warplan Leuthen for four days. Doesn't mean I can't prepare the terrain, though. And bash him in non-muddy sectors.
Second Army, now in position coupled with Ninth Army commanded by GeneralOberst Strauss, immediately begins assaulting Tamas's right flank and center, breaching the wall wide open, his Divisions now pushed out of defensive terrain through mud. A tasty salient lies just ripe to be plucked when it stops raining, while I occupy his fortified position just beyond the woods.
The fact that Tamas' position is marred with mud means it will be quite hard to move in reinforcements. So I carefully make sure that no Slow division crosses into mud terrain.
Down south, where there is no mud, Guderian's Panzergruppe roams forward in strength to batter Tamas' lines holding the bridge, supported by von Kluge's Fourth Army. The line holds, but 21th Army stands in poor position, threatened to be isolated next turn when my Panzers and Infantry divisions cross the river and swerves into his back. If lucky I might even try to destroy 22th Army HQ exposed behind his first line.
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AGS / Crimean Front
No fuel and ground turned into mush means 1st Panzergruppe is forced to take some time off.
Not that it is needed - yet.
Tamas' small counter offensive in front of Nikolajev has been swiftly pushed back by the right flank of Eleventh Army and Fourth Romanian, which takes position along the Bug River, ready to cross into Pervomaisk.
In the North, Sixth Army is pushing forward toward Zhytomir and inflicting systematic damages to the the battered remnants of 31th Army and Southwestern Front, forcing them to walk back into the mud. Seventeenth Army takes position to take the the offensive and finish off the resistance of Proskurov once and for all next turn - and pocket and destroy what's left of Ponedelin's 12th Army.
Quite a few Romanian Divisions of Third Romanian and Eleventh German Armies are totally exhausted by the mud and battle fatigue. I order 13th and 21st Romanian Division, plus another Romanian Division I forgot, to rest and refit.
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Ende for now.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 11, 2016, 11:00:00 AM
Soviet casualties have really leveled off in the last few turns. Not a good sign for you.
The German shock and awe moment of making big envelopment pockets has passed. Not that there are no chances I do any in future turns, but as time passes Tamas will have higher chances of Armies activating. Despite this, I keep making at a minimum 50,000 Soviet casualties per 4 days. Those losses Tamas will never recover, as Soviets have no replacements, only new Armies deployed as reinforcements.
I, however, have replacements every ten turns, distributed every turn. With these, my Panzergruppes are back into 80-90% range again.
In the next turns or so Tamas, if he is not careful, is in real danger of losing big chunks of his second echelon in the North and the Center, plus 12th Army in the South.
I made the count until Turn 10; Soviet casualties per turn are :
T2: 71300
T3: 100800
T4: 182600
T5: 182500
T6: 266600
T7: 118100
T8: 59400
T9: 55800
T12 - August 1st, 1941
The Soviets are getting more and more uppity, especially on Theater South. Tamas is increasing the pressure in front of Nikolajev against the weaker Romanian 4th Army on my right flank, while the German Eleven Army is quite overextended along the Bug River. On my left flank he is gathering more and more reinforcements to defend Zhitomir.
1st Panzergruppe still suffer from truck columns supply and fuel trickles down the pipeline. Emergency measures are required, so I order emergency repairs on the fleet of trucks requiring maintenance, decreasing it from 68% to 52%, plus a small allotment of 10 trucks from AGS, bringing it down from 80 to 70 allocated for ammunition and supplies.
In the North, against my expectations, Tamas has attacked the flank of 4th Panzergruppe despite muddy terrain, inflicting non-insignificant damage to the Panzers, but laying exhausted right in front of my Panzers.
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I was able to fuel a very small number of bbls, just enough for a devastating counterattack to teach him a lesson.
AGN
With only 300 bbls of fuel, I maneuver to attack. The blow is devastating. The front left by 32th Army is so exhausted, with Readiness so low, that I doubt Tamas will attempt another raid in my flank.
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Due to penalties caused by fatigue and relations with von Leeb now in the negative, 16th Army has more or less been paralyzed this turn. I spend my turn consolidating my hold of Ostrov without gaining much ground. Further north 18th Army keeps 3 Divisions to flank Pskov while pushing BMD and 48th Army further north toward Tallinn. This front is nearby crumbling status.
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AGC
3rd Panzergruppe strikes northward, and 16th Army is facing to be surrounded next turn. The whole line between Polosk and Orsha lays now cleaved in two, the main front only defended by a battered 19th Army facing the bulk of 9th Army with Infantry Divisions from 3rd Panzergruppe.
Meanwhile, Guderian's 2nd Panzergruppe has crossed the river into 20th's flank and into Mogilev defended by 22nd Army. Instructions were given to Panzer Divisions to retreat the soonest possible if any counterattack happens.
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AGS
With fuel delivered by air transport to 1st Panzergruppe I increase the pressure in front of Zhitomir, threatening to pierce through their line. However, with the state of our truck columns I won't bring them too far, and the Luftwaffe didn't bring me enough fuel to fully use all my units anyway. :cry:
Proskurov has easily fallen. 12th Army, 7 divisions total, lays completely surrounded in the mountain south of the city. I made sure there was no chance for them to breakout. Meanwhile Seventeenth Army is ordered to increase pressure toward Vinnitsa.
As soon as this pocket is reduced and 12th Army is eliminated I intend to redirect Romanian 3rd Army south to support and relieve 4th Army which is throughly exhausted in front of Odessa. Recon tells us also that alot of Soviet conscript divisions are suffering from exhaustion as well. - except that bulge of 7 Divisions belonging to 47th Army just south of Southern Front HQ, which is dangerously fresh.
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Ende for now.
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Nice encirclement.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 19, 2016, 09:23:04 AM
Nice encirclement.
Thanks. It might be 7 divisions, but it's still an Army being destroyed and removed from the roster.
The worst for Tamas is, these divisions were... are pretty fresh. He will be missing them badly, later in the game.
T13 - August 5th, 1941
Good news, our fuel pipeline has been patched enough to receive plenty of fuel for our Panzers on most fronts. With most Panzergruppes having good numbers of Panzers available (except in the North, where a rest and refit remain in the cards) we may start planning again.
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As Proskurov has fallen I decide to immediately relocate AGS' FSB to that city. I have more than enough surplus of fuel in the South and I'll quickly liquidate the remnants of 12th Army nearby.
Time has now come to start switching my Armies piecemeal into Sustained Offensive postures, and the most exhausted Armies to start resting to gather some strength. This will be critical as more and more Reds are stacking in front of my troops. Pervitin can only do so much, my troops will need to find their breath. Thus I also order 16th Army to gather in and around Ostrov to start resting next turn.
I have... other plans for 4th Panzergruppe. :shifty:
AGN
18th Army keeps pushing towards Tallinn despite increasing exhaustion, while its right flank cleave through weakened Soviet resistance in front of Pskov.
4th Panzergruppe strike southward to help 3rd Panzergruppe to pocket and quickly eradicate a handful of Divisions before Polotsk.
16th Army moves in Ostrov to its quarters to rest and refit their equipment.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FhgZT2xA.jpg&hash=fe5c3504c685bae3467fc492c8e17db90bfd04f6)
AGC
No less than 12 Divisions are concentrated around Polotsk! If we could manage to pocket this and trap it inside the city with Hoth's 3rd Panzergruppe it would bore a hole around Vitebsk to take an exposed Smolensk by its right flank. All we need... is fuel. This is only one example of one Tamas' overall tactical strategy - concentrate a LOT of Divisions inside his cities as hedgehogs. This means, to cripple the Russian steamroller we must strike around his flanks of his defended cities, isolate these positions, and destroy them one by one.
In the southern part of the front Mogilev has fallen... but with no bridge left standing over the Dnepr. The only path forward lies through Orsha... when 9th Army arrives in front of Vitebsk. In the meantime I concentrate the whole of 2nd Panzergruppe straight on the road to Orsha... ready to strike when ready.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fl2VBULS.jpg&hash=09d0242340c10ffe86c9e3491c971fad8059e94c)
AGS
17th Army is so exhausted, that even with 3rd Romanian, 12th Army delivers a desperate resistance in the mountains, always a favourable ground for defence. 12th Army reeled and shook, but remains. At least they are pushed away from Proskurov. Meanwhile, the rest of 17th Army pushes toward Vinnitsa, where the bridge lies intact.
1st Panzergruppe moves in position on both flanks of Zhitomir, ready to pocket the 8+ divisions garrisoning the city, and if practicable the whole 31th Army.
4th Romanian Army and 11th Army are ordered to rest and refit... but beforehand we increase the bridgehead beterrn Pervomaisk and Vinnitsa.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FI7DXJM7.jpg&hash=47f05f6e772c8a93d118a25b811694deeb737e48)
Ende for now.
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Thanks for doing these, and especially the pictures. You make the game easy to follow.