Eastern Front 1941: Распутица

August 31 - October 4

Leningrad:

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
2 Finnish Infantry	112
4 Finnish Infantry	104
40 Panzer Corps	199	112	4 Militia Army

At last, the Finns are in play. They can't actively attack, but once the last of Leningrad's militia are out of my way, they can assist the next battle group with pincer attacks.

 

Rzhev: 

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
		95	7 Militia Army
26 Infantry Corps	88	49	9 Militia Army
28 Infantry Corps	108	83	8 Infantry Army
6 Infantry Corps	127	103	10 Tank Army
3 Panzer Corps	202	105	41 Infantry Army
24 Panzer Corps	137
1 Infantry Corps	129
38 Infantry Corps	112	83	35 Infantry Army
7 Infantry Corps	150
		113	24 Infantry Army
		106	34 Infantry Army

 

North of Rzhev I have enough of a power advantage that I feel I can be aggressive, but not so much that I can count on victory in every engagement. I will need to pick my engagements with more care than in past months. I do not count on taking Rzhev itself this month.

Smolensk:

2 Infantry Corps	121	140	30 Infantry Army
		120	32 Infantry Army
47 Panzer Corps	183	75	14 Infantry Army
10 Infantry Corps	97
46 Panzer Corps	186	133	29 Infantry Army
		112	1 Guards Cavalry
56 Panzer Corps	184	120	22 Infantry Army
		114	31 Infantry Army
41 Panzer Corps	154	61	2 Tank Army
		192	8 Militia Army

 

Power advantage is mine, numbers advantage is theirs. I will try to scatter and isolate weak units, but keep a close eye in case the situation worsens.

South of Smolensk:

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
8 Infantry Corps	129	87	8 Tank Army
		65	21 Infantry Army
5 Infantry Corps	68	67	15 Infantry Army
		88	3 Cavalry Army

 

This isn't great. The 8th Infantry can fight, but the 5th is weakened with nowhere to run. Better hold and pray that help can arrive soon.

 

Kiev: 

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
		69	5 Cavalry Army
17 Infantry Corps	108	137	10 Infantry Army
9 Infantry Corps	125
49 Infantry Corps	138	74	5 Tank Army
1 Hungarian Panzer	96

 

Focus on the weaker cavalry units and push north to support Smolensk.

 

Kharkov:

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
		123	19 Infantry Army
		129	2 Guards Cavalry
		135	40 Infantry Army
48 Panzer Corps	183
57 Panzer Corps	101	41	17 Infantry Army

RUN. Split up and run. Move the panzers away from Kharkov, and help engage the Soviets near Dnepropetrovsk. Kharvok can be dealt with later when there is no longer any threat from the south.

 

Dnepropetrovsk:

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
29 Infantry Corps	111	124	23 Infantry Army
14 Panzer Corps	185	94	4 Cavalry Army
4 Rumanian Infantry	88	118	25 Infantry Army
11 Infantry Corps	107	119	33 Infantry Army
30 Infantry Corps	125

 

Advantage is mine but victory will not be quick or guaranteed.

 

Odessa:

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
1 Rumanian Infantry	88	74	7 Infantry Army
2 Rumanian Infantry	93
5 Rumanian Infantry	47
54 Infantry Corps	100	46	2 Cavalry Army

 

Destroy the cavalry, push back the infantry, and claim Odessa for the fatherland. Move north to Dnepropetrovsk but keep an eye on Crimea's militias.

 

I continue to move aggressively wherever I have a strength advantage - this is the last month where I can count on having one - but I keep a close eye on battle results turn-by-turn to see if it falters.

Surprisingly, for the most part, it doesn't! Multiple cities fall over the month - Smolensk first, then Odessa, next Rzhev, Dnepropetrovsk, and as October starts, Orel and Kharkov. Only Odessa held longer than expected, thanks to the mediocrity of the Romanian companies besieging it.

The final week is especially devastating to the Soviet armies, with many around Moscow in vulnerable positions sandwiched between superior Axis units.

We also get some Italian reinforcements, but their combat strength is poor and they are much too far away to see any action this month. Stalingrad, of course, sends many more.

 

Note the color shift at the start of October. You know what this means.

Photo collected by Imperial War Museum, original source unknown

 

All of my armies are now unsupplied, cutting their combat strength in half. The Russians are not affected.

September battle reports - to better highlight battle losses, these numbers do not reflect the 50% combat strength loss across the board.

This is difficult to summarize. There was a lot of movement this month!

Leningrad to Moscow:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength x2	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
2 Finnish Infantry	112	112
4 Finnish Infantry	104	104
40 Panzer Corps	199	199		112	4 Militia Army

 

The Finns are free and moving toward Moscow. The panzers have moved south of Leningrad to try to pick off a straggler from Rzhev.

Rzhev to Moscow:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength x2	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
				95	7 Militia Army
			99		43 Infantry Army
26 Infantry Corps	88	84	47	49	9 Militia Army
			111		42 Infantry Army
28 Infantry Corps	108	108	131	83	8 Infantry Army
			106		44 Infantry Army
35 Infantry Corps		96	27	105	41 Infantry Army
6 Infantry Corps	127	118		103	10 Tank Army
3 Panzer Corps	202	174
24 Panzer Corps	137	191
34 Infantry Corps		98
1 Infantry Corps	129	122
38 Infantry Corps	112	107		83	35 Infantry Army
7 Infantry Corps	150	143
				113	24 Infantry Army
				106	34 Infantry Army

 

Rzhev is conquered and several of its conquerors are in a line approaching Moscow, but not all of them. 

• The 26th and 28th Infantries chased their prey all the way to the map's north edge and are now standing off against four Soviet armies.
• The 35th Infantry is catching up, and has cut off the 41st Infantry's escape, who is sandwiched between it and the 40 Panzers.
• 6th Infantry had also been pursuing the 9th Militia all the way to Leningrad, pushed them into the mud, and is walking away.
• The rest are either close to Moscow or on their way.

Smolensk to Moscow:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength x2	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
2 Infantry Corps	121	121	134		43 Infantry Army
				140	30 Infantry Army
			119	120	32 Infantry Army
			121		50 Infantry Army
47 Panzer Corps	183	160		75	14 Infantry Army
10 Infantry Corps	97	83
46 Panzer Corps	186	132		133	29 Infantry Army
			133	112	1 Guards Cavalry
56 Panzer Corps	184	163	116	120	22 Infantry Army
			124		47 Infantry Army
				114	31 Infantry Army
41 Panzer Corps	154	157		61	2 Tank Army
			195	192	8 Militia Army

 

It's devastation for the Soviets defending Smolensk, but at some cost to my Panzers. Everyone is now part of a line spanning from Moscow, which is defended by a militia megastack, to Orel, which is mine.

 

South of Smolensk:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength x2	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
8 Infantry Corps	129	126		87	8 Tank Army
				65	21 Infantry Army
5 Infantry Corps	68	135		67	15 Infantry Army
				88	3 Cavalry Army

These isolated infantry got relief from the Smolensk group and are rejoined with the line, near Orel.

Kiev to Kharkov:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength x2	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
				69	5 Cavalry Army
17 Infantry Corps	108	110		137	10 Infantry Army
9 Infantry Corps	125	122	116		54 Infantry Army
49 Infantry Corps	138	134	74	74	5 Tank Army
1 Hungarian Panzer	96	96
23 Infantry Corps		95	106		7 Cavalry Army
4 Infantry Corps		136

 

Smolensk didn't really need help from the Kiev group, so they attacked Kharkov instead.

 

Kharkov:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength x2	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
				123	19 Infantry Army
			121	129	2 Guards Cavalry
			120		45 Infantry Army
			114		6 Infantry Army
			145	135	40 Infantry Army
48 Panzer Corps	183	180
57 Panzer Corps	101	168		41	17 Infantry Army

The Panzers did split up and run, but were put to use once out of danger. The 48th helped capture a fleeing infantry unit, the 57th helped fight at Dnepropetrovsk before returning to take Kharkov.

Dnepropetrovsk:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength x2	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
29 Infantry Corps	111	99		124	23 Infantry Army
14 Panzer Corps	185	183	72	94	4 Cavalry Army
4 Rumanian Infantry	88	80		118	25 Infantry Army
11 Infantry Corps	107	110	112	119	33 Infantry Army
30 Infantry Corps	125	100

I was wrong - victory was pretty fast, and Dnepropetrovsk is already far behind its conquerors.

 

Odessa:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength x2	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
1 Rumanian Infantry	88	88	78	74	7 Infantry Army
2 Rumanian Infantry	93	87	123		5 Militia Army
5 Rumanian Infantry	47	46	110		3 Militia Army
54 Infantry Corps	100	99		46	2 Cavalry Army
			119		6 Militia Army

 

The Romanians faltered a bit here, but eventually pushed through. With no clear objective for them next, I've split them up and sent them in various directions to provide other war groups with their dubious service. The 1st Infantry is currently harassing some Crimean militia groups, and the 2nd has a Soviet infantry division cornered by the sea.

 

October 5 - November 8

 

The Soviet infantry northwest of Smolensk, sandwiched between a panzer and infantry unit, makes a good test run to see how well we fight in the mud.

The results? Not very well at all - it ends the first week healthier than it had been at the start of it. We don't move too well either; any given unit is lucky if it moves a single space in a week. At least the Soviets are also slowed down.

I try to avoid further fighting and spend the month regrouping and reforming lines, moving units away from the rivers as much as possible. Where there is no resistance, I advance, and try to encircle where I can.

At least this month goes by pretty quickly.

 

The striking color shift means that winter is here. And it brings little relief to my supply-starved men - although the supply lines have reopened, every company has a random chance of missing theirs, cutting their combat effectiveness in half yet again. We'll see these companies marked in orange.

The Russians, of course, never miss a delivery, and are stronger than ever.

Leningrad:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
6 Infantry Corps	118	40	73	47	9 Militia Army

 

Leningrad's militia remains stuck in the frozen mud as the 6th infantry march eastward.

Dvina River:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
35 Infantry Corps	96	93	5	27	41 Infantry Army
40 Panzer Corps	199	48

 

If the Germans can't win here despite the winter handicap, then we might as well retreat now.

 

North river:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
			107	99	43 Infantry Army
28 Infantry Corps	108	78	139	131	8 Infantry Army
			114	106	44 Infantry Army
26 Infantry Corps	84	72	118	111	42 Infantry Army

 

Going here was a mistake. Retreating now.

Moscow:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
4 Finnish Infantry	104	103	120		1 Tank Army
2 Finnish Infantry	112	38
2 Infantry Corps	121	111		134	43 Infantry Army
3 Panzer Corps	174	135
1 Infantry Corps	122	79
24 Panzer Corps	191	136
34 Infantry Corps	98	75
7 Infantry Corps	143	63
38 Infantry Corps	107	75	105	195	8 Militia Army
56 Panzer Corps	163	45	141	71	1 Guards Cavalry
47 Panzer Corps	160	66
10 Infantry Corps	83	69

Moscow's winter was brutal. Despite that, Moscow itself is looking pretty vulnerable. During the first week of winter, I was able to surround it and its formidable militia stack, and rub out the 43rd Infantry with my northern divisions.

 

Orel:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
			131	121	50 Infantry Army
			133	119	32 Infantry Army
46 Panzer Corps	132	129	126	116	22 Infantry Army
5 Infantry Corps	135		137	124	47 Infantry Army
41 Panzer Corps	157
9 Infantry Corps	122	39	136		9 Tank Army
8 Infantry Corps	126	73	137	114	6 Infantry Army
17 Infantry Corps	110	111	131		2 Guards Infantry
23 Infantry Corps	95	94

 

Üff, what a disaster. Overrun by mid-October, Orel was a total loss for two companies, including the better of two panzer corps. We may need to abandon this conquest.

 

Kharkov:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
1 Hungarian Panzer	96	37	113		49 Infantry Army
49 Infantry Corps	134	120	155	145	40 Infantry Army
			114	106	7 Cavalry Army
57 Panzer Corps	168	66	85	74	5 Tank Army
4 Infantry Corps	136	39	155		37 Infantry Army
14 Panzer Corps	183	96	115		55 Infantry Army
48 Panzer Corps	180	67	107		48 Infantry Army
5 Rumanian Infantry	46	47
54 Infantry Corps	99	71

 

Kharkov is lost - holding it seemed hopeless as winter started. But we may yet have the chance to take it back, when/if the companies here regain their strength.

 

Dnepropetrovsk:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
11 Infantry Corps	110	96
4 Rumanian Infantry	80	81
29 Infantry Corps	99		90	72	4 Cavalry Army
30 Infantry Corps	100	37	119	112	33 Infantry Army
4 Italian Infantry		54

 

Aggression in late October cost me an infantry corps to a Soviet pincer attack. I may yet be able to regroup and destroy them.

Crimea:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
2 Rumanian Infantry	87	43		78	7 Infantry Army
1 Rumanian Infantry	88	44	131	123	5 Militia Army
			118	110	3 Militia Army
			127	119	6 Militia Army

It took all month but I finally caught up with and drove the trapped 7th Infantry into the sea. The militia behind will leave me alone if I leave them alone.

 

November 9 - November 29

 

In the first week of winter, I learned that Panzers can move a maximum of 5 spaces per turn, and infantry a maximum of 3, and as the rivers start to freeze over, they become less of a hindrance. But that goes both ways.

Combat strength increases and decreases pretty randomly, as the winter supply lines are unreliable. But they dictate how bold my attacks are - an unsupplied unit is worthless in a direct assault, but can still be useful in a pincer attack as long as the biting jaw is strong.

Moscow is taken by Thanksgiving, but Orel is lost.

 

Dvina River:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
40 Panzer Corps	48	58		5	41 Infantry Army
35 Infantry Corps	93	93

As expected, the 41st Infantry was wiped out and we are heading eastward toward Moscow.

 

North River:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
28 Infantry Corps	78	108
			137	139	8 Infantry Army
			122	114	44 Infantry Army
26 Infantry Corps	72	77	126	118	42 Infantry Army
			115	107	43 Infantry Army
			101		13 Tank Army

I go back and forth between retreating and standing off. Now, retreating seems smarter.

Moscow:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
6 Infantry Corps	40	119
4 Finnish Infantry	103	51
2 Finnish Infantry	38	45	126	120	1 Tank Army
2 Infantry Corps	111	116
24 Panzer Corps	136	182
34 Infantry Corps	75	48
7 Infantry Corps	63	126
3 Panzer Corps	135	52	121		4 Guards Infantry
1 Infantry Corps	79	61		141	1 Guards Cavalry
38 Infantry Corps	75	89		105	8 Militia Army
56 Panzer Corps	45	40	132	132	54 Infantry Army
47 Panzer Corps	66	108

 

Moscow's guard is surrounded and crushed and a big cache of victory points mine. But this combat strength is needed elsewhere.

 

Orel:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
10 Infantry Corps	69	82	137	131	50 Infantry Army
			108	137	47 Infantry Army
46 Panzer Corps	129	158	113	126	22 Infantry Army
9 Infantry Corps	39	94	69	133	32 Infantry Army
			143	137	6 Infantry Army
8 Infantry Corps	73	121	142	136	9 Tank Army
17 Infantry Corps	111	90	137	131	2 Guards Infantry
23 Infantry Corps	94	94	136		45 Infantry Army

We've abandoned Orel but regained some strength while retreating. Still, this is not nearly enough to beat back the Russians, but we might be able to rout a few isolated divisions - one of them is already entrapped.

 

Kharkov:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
			118	113	49 Infantry Army
1 Hungarian Panzer	37	80	74	155	40 Infantry Army
			121	115	55 Infantry Army
49 Infantry Corps	120	57	91	111	7 Cavalry Army
			76	155	37 Infantry Army
4 Infantry Corps	39	41		85	5 Tank Army
57 Panzer Corps	66	84	92	107	48 Infantry Army
48 Panzer Corps	67	63	142		52 Infantry Army
5 Rumanian Infantry	47	47	128		46 Infantry Army
14 Panzer Corps	96	76	32		59 Infantry Army
54 Infantry Corps	71	98

Kharkov is retaken but our hold is tenuous as the winter saps our strength and Soviet reinforcements concentrate here.

 

Dnepropetrovsk:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
4 Rumanian Infantry	81	40
11 Infantry Corps	96	102	96	90	4 Cavalry Army
30 Infantry Corps	37	51		119	33 Infantry Army
4 Italian Infantry	54	54

Our task to regroup and push back was successful.

 

Crimea:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
2 Rumanian Infantry	43	43
1 Rumanian Infantry	44	39

The Romanian infantry ignore the peninsula and march north to join up with the others at Dnepropetrovsk.

With 252 victory points out of a maximum of 255, I'm pretty sure I couldn't lose if I tried. I don't know if I can get Stalingrad. I don't even know if I'll be able to hold onto the front as it stands now. But even if we get pushed back some, I will be very surprised if I end with a lower score than 175, which is what I had at the end of August.

Eastern Front 1941: Lachend kommt der Sommer

My second post on Eastern Front 1941 will cover the months of July and August, split into three phases representing nine turns. I've tried to make this as narratively interesting and easily digestible as I could, and apologize if I've totally failed.

June 29 - July 12

 

Finland:

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
2 Finnish Infantry	112	109	1 Militia Army
4 Finnish Infantry	104	99	4 Militia Army

The Finns hold their ground, the Russian militia outside Leningrad hold theirs. This region will be irrelevant for awhile.

 

Poland/Slovakia: 

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
		92	8 Infantry Army
38 Infantry Corps	120	86	7 Tank Army
41 Panzer Corps	195
28 Infantry Corps	112
56 Panzer Corps	194	69	1 Tank Army
10 Infantry Corps	101	88	4 Infantry Army
26 Infantry Corps	104
1 Infantry Corps	120	81	8 Tank Army
2 Infantry Corps	123
24 Panzer Corps	192	76	3 Cavalry Army
5 Infantry Corps	136
6 Infantry Corps	127
46 Panzer Corps	181	105	10 Infantry Army
7 Infantry Corps	150
47 Panzer Corps	192	60	5 Tank Army
8 Infantry Corps	129
57 Panzer Corps	171
9 Infantry Corps	136
3 Panzer Corps	202	119	6 Infantry Army
14 Panzer Corps	193
29 Infantry Corps	111
49 Infantry Corps	140
48 Panzer Corps	191	108	26 Infantry Army
17 Infantry Corps	119	43	3 Tank Army
4 Infantry Corps	142	78	4 Tank Army

 

The Wehrmacht holds a massive strength advantage here which I intend to continue to exploit while I still can. One of the Russian tank armies is even cut off from supplies, weakening its combat power.

Hungary:

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
54 Infantry Corps	106	80	12 Tank Army
		75	5 Cavalry Army
30 Infantry Corps	131	35	11 Tank Army
11 Infantry Corps	125	122	9 Infantry Army

 

I'm outnumbered here but not outpowered. The 11th tank army is cut off, but may slip past my own infantry. I'm not going to worry about it too much.

Romania:

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
4 Rumanian Infantry	92	83	4 Cavalry Army
2 Rumanian Infantry	96
1 Rumanian Infantry	97	78	2 Cavalry Army

 

Advantage: Romanians, but Odessa lies ahead, guarded by two more infantry armies. I'll need to be careful not to push too far in without backup.

My day-to-day simulation tactics worked well before - I'm going to keep doing them for now. The northern armies will continue to encircle, break through, and pincer isolated Russians when possible, and my units not engaged in combat will move toward objectives or southward to aid the fighting there. Russian units are to be pushed into the swamp, but not pursued - by the time they scrape themselves out of the mud I expect they will be cut off from supply and nonthreatening.

 

The final plan is even more chaotic than the one before!

Over the next two weeks, I'm careful to have my units stay out of the swamp as they push forward, but it's complicated to navigate the terrain here while also fighting. My main group splits into two as they go around the swamp, some going north, others going south.

Up north, I actually have a few of my units withdraw as they approach Riga, where they'd be outnumbered. Minsk, the closest city by the marshes, is besieged.

I've also received two new divisions as reinforcements; a fully powered Panzer unit from Warsaw, and a mediocre Hungarian armor unit in the Carpathian mountains. But the Soviets have received far more, which we'll see in a bit.

 

My battle reports - pink represents reinforcements and/or reserve units that were previously disengaged.

Poland/Slovakia:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
			115	92	8 Infantry Army
38 Infantry Corps	120	112	36	86	7 Tank Army
41 Panzer Corps	195	195
28 Infantry Corps	112	112
56 Panzer Corps	194	192	73	69	1 Tank Army
10 Infantry Corps	101	97	37	88	4 Infantry Army
26 Infantry Corps	104	104	116		13 Infantry Army
40 Panzer Corps		210	96		6 Tank Army
1 Infantry Corps	120	129	68	81	8 Tank Army
2 Infantry Corps	123	123
24 Panzer Corps	192	93	74	76	3 Cavalry Army
5 Infantry Corps	136	136
6 Infantry Corps	127	127
46 Panzer Corps	181	186	123	105	10 Infantry Army
7 Infantry Corps	150	150
47 Panzer Corps	192	191	64	60	5 Tank Army
8 Infantry Corps	129	129
57 Panzer Corps	171	176
9 Infantry Corps	136	136
3 Panzer Corps	202	202	54	119	6 Infantry Army
14 Panzer Corps	193	191
29 Infantry Corps	111	111	72		1 Cavalry Army
49 Infantry Corps	140	140
48 Panzer Corps	191	191		108	26 Infantry Army
17 Infantry Corps	119	119		43	3 Tank Army
4 Infantry Corps	142	142	35	78	4 Tank Army

 

There's a lot less carnage overall compared to the first turn, especially of the Soviets who I'm pursuing through difficult terrain rather than clashing with up front. The 24th Panzers occupy Minsk but are in a precarious situation, flanked, cut off from supply, and vulnerable to a pincer attack from which escape would be impossible. But if I can open up a little breathing room first, their strength will return.

On the USSR's side, the 8th Infantry is fleeing north and may be out of the picture for a bit. The 4th Tank Army is past my combat lines and lost in the mountains, and perhaps isn't worth pursuing.

Hungary:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
54 Infantry Corps	106	106		80	12 Tank Army
			78	75	5 Cavalry Army
30 Infantry Corps	131	127	72	35	11 Tank Army
1 Hungarian Panzer		96
11 Infantry Corps	125	125	52	122	9 Infantry Army

 

These units are all a bit scattered at this point, but the Soviets are in a particularly bad spot. The 5th Cavalry is separated, and the 11th Tank and 9th Infantry are about to be sandwiched.

Romania:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
			74		2 Infantry Army
4 Rumanian Infantry	92	88	64	83	4 Cavalry Army
2 Rumanian Infantry	96	94	75		7 Infantry Army
1 Rumanian Infantry	97	97	84	78	2 Cavalry Army

 

The Romanians are chasing more than they are fighting, but as Odessa gets close, they may be at a disadvantage.

July 13 - August 2

Holy moly. That's a lot of Soviet reinforcements! For now that is a problem for future Jerry, as I continue to focus on immediate objectives.

My original battle groupings no longer make sense, so I rechart them:

Minsk:

Axis	Current strength	Current strength	USSR
		115	8 Infantry Army
56 Panzer Corps	192
41 Panzer Corps	195	73	1 Tank Army
28 Infantry Corps	112	36	7 Tank Army
38 Infantry Corps	112	79	14 Infantry Army
26 Infantry Corps	104	116	13 Infantry Army
40 Panzer Corps	210	96	6 Tank Army
10 Infantry Corps	97	37	4 Infantry Army
24 Panzer Corps	93	68	8 Tank Army
1 Infantry Corps	129
2 Infantry Corps	123
5 Infantry Corps	136
47 Panzer Corps	191	74	3 Cavalry Army
6 Infantry Corps	127
46 Panzer Corps	186
8 Infantry Corps	129
7 Infantry Corps	150
3 Panzer Corps	202

 

It's time to pull away from Leningrad and crush the resistance around Minsk. The Finns can wait. The 24th Panzers cannot.

Kiev:

Axis	Current strength	Current strength	USSR
		123	10 Infantry Army
		64	5 Tank Army
57 Panzer Corps	176	78	5 Cavalry Army
49 Infantry Corps	140	54	6 Infantry Army
9 Infantry Corps	136
17 Infantry Corps	119
29 Infantry Corps	111	72	1 Cavalry Army
4 Infantry Corps	142
14 Panzer Corps	191	35	4 Tank Army
30 Infantry Corps	127
48 Panzer Corps	191
1 Hungarian Panzer	96

 

Resistance around Kiev is light, but reinforcements are coming and my own forces are a bit disorganized. I must move in quickly but with care to avoid traffic jams. The 4th Tank Army will be ignored.

 

Dniester River:

Axis	Current strength	Current strength	USSR
11 Infantry Corps	125	72	11 Tank Army
54 Infantry Corps	106	52	9 Infantry Army

 

Two Russian units are sandwiched between two of my own. I should pincer them ASAP and regroup to join the Romanians east by southeast.

 

Odessa:

Axis	Current strength	Current strength	USSR
4 Rumanian Infantry	88	64	4 Cavalry Army
		74	2 Infantry Army
		75	7 Infantry Army
2 Rumanian Infantry	94	84	2 Cavalry Army
1 Rumanian Infantry	97

 

A standoff as I do not have the raw numbers advantage to ensure a minimally costly victory. I will back the Romanians out of the river.

Planning out the mayhem at Minsk is a challenge, but it works - within a week, all Russians are either in the swamp or fleeing. The other plans are comparatively simpler.

 

Unexpectedly, the cavalry units at Odessa flee further east! So do the infantry at Riga. I have the Romanians press forward again, joined with German infantry stacked up by the river. The Kiev group presses on, the forward Minsk group pushes through while the rearguard moves north to Riga and Leningrad.

 

By August 3, I've taken Riga and Kiev, and the Romanians are knocking on Odessa's door. Their backup, though, is distracted - the tank army that I stranded in the mountains found its way out and decided to become a nuisance. One of the infantry units that I attempted to trap at the river also slipped through and went south south, forcing me to send a unit to pursue it - unluckily for it, a new Romanian unit spawned this turn at the black sea.

Battle reports:

Minsk:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
			95		10 Tank Army
			124	115	8 Infantry Army
56 Panzer Corps	192	190	138		22 Infantry Army
41 Panzer Corps	195	190		73	1 Tank Army
28 Infantry Corps	112	109		36	7 Tank Army
38 Infantry Corps	112	112	85	79	14 Infantry Army
26 Infantry Corps	104	104	115		27 Infantry Army
40 Panzer Corps	210	208	96	96	6 Tank Army
10 Infantry Corps	97	97		37	4 Infantry Army
24 Panzer Corps	93	190	108		35 Infantry Army
1 Infantry Corps	129	129	86	68	8 Tank Army
2 Infantry Corps	123	121		116	13 Infantry Army
5 Infantry Corps	136	136
47 Panzer Corps	191	191	80	74	3 Cavalry Army
6 Infantry Corps	127	127
46 Panzer Corps	186	186
8 Infantry Corps	129	129
7 Infantry Corps	150	150
3 Panzer Corps	202	202

 

Kiev:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
			129	123	10 Infantry Army
			70	64	5 Tank Army
57 Panzer Corps	176	170	81	78	5 Cavalry Army
49 Infantry Corps	140	136	121	54	6 Infantry Army
9 Infantry Corps	136	104
17 Infantry Corps	119	117
29 Infantry Corps	111	111		72	1 Cavalry Army
4 Infantry Corps	142	142
14 Panzer Corps	191	191	29	35	4 Tank Army
30 Infantry Corps	127	125
48 Panzer Corps	191	186
1 Hungarian Panzer	96	96

 

There's less Russian blood here than at Minsk because most of them fled. Some of them fled pretty far too - the 6th Infantry made it all the way back across the Volga! Either that or I crushed it and the game just reused its name for reinforcement spawns. The 4th tank army slipped past the Kiev assault group and takes potshots at us from behind - I have a group pursuing it westward.

Dniester River

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
11 Infantry Corps	125	124		72	11 Tank Army
54 Infantry Corps	106	105	97	52	9 Infantry Army
23 Infantry Corps		95

 

The tank army here fell victim to my trap. The infantry wriggled out of it and is currently being a pain.

Odessa:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
4 Rumanian Infantry	88	88	90	64	4 Cavalry Army
			80	74	2 Infantry Army
1 Rumanian Infantry	97	95	74	75	7 Infantry Army
2 Rumanian Infantry	94	93	90	84	2 Cavalry Army
5 Rumanian Infantry		52

 

Odessa isn't quite taken yet, but it will be soon. Only two armies still defend it now - Romania never needed Germany's help, it turns out. 

August 2 - August 30

Riga:

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
		103	7 Militia Army
40 Panzer Corps	208	95	10 Tank Army
		132	20 Infantry Army
		104	11 Militia Army
24 Panzer Corps	190	108	35 Infantry Army
26 Infantry Corps	104	124	8 Infantry Army
28 Infantry Corps	109	115	27 Infantry Army
1 Infantry Corps	129	110	24 Infantry Army
3 Panzer Corps	202
38 Infantry Corps	112

 

I want to push the Soviets back to give my panzers a clear path to Leningrad. Resistance here is significant, though the militia can't attack proactively.

 

Minsk:

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
		85	14 Infantry Army
56 Panzer Corps	190	138	22 Infantry Army
10 Infantry Corps	97
7 Infantry Corps	150
47 Panzer Corps	191	96	6 Tank Army
46 Panzer Corps	186
2 Infantry Corps	121
41 Panzer Corps	190	123	21 Infantry Army
5 Infantry Corps	136	115	19 Infantry Army
8 Infantry Corps	129	73	2 Tank Army
6 Infantry Corps	127	86	8 Tank Army

 

Get out of the swamp and push on to Smolensk. 6th tanks are ready to fall, and after that only two infantry are immediate obstacles, but four more companies await south.

 

Kiev:

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
49 Infantry Corps	136	81	5 Cavalry Army
		129	10 Infantry Army
48 Panzer Corps	186
17 Infantry Corps	117	70	5 Tank Army
9 Infantry Corps	104
57 Panzer Corps	170	80	3 Cavalry Army
29 Infantry Corps	111

 

Move east and leave the Russians behind in the swamp. If they crawl out, push them back in. Bear north to support the assault on Smolensk.

 

Dniester River:

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
23 Infantry Corps	95
4 Infantry Corps	142	29	4 Tank Army
1 Hungarian Panzer	96
30 Infantry Corps	125
11 Infantry Corps	124
14 Panzer Corps	191

Finish off the tank army. Keep moving east to support the Romanians.

 

Black Sea: 

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
54 Infantry Corps	105	97	9 Infantry Army
5 Rumanian Infantry	52

 

Finish off the straggling infantry. Move northeast to join the Romanians at Odessa.

 

Odessa:

Axis	Strength	Strength	USSR
		90	4 Cavalry Army
		85	16 Infantry Army
		80	2 Infantry Army
4 Rumanian Infantry	88
1 Rumanian Infantry	95	74	7 Infantry Army
2 Rumanian Infantry	93	90	2 Cavalry Army

 

Fight the two units at Odessa but be wary of the three units across the river. Help is (hopefully) on the way.

 

By now, several Russian reinforcements have reached the front, and more are coming!

For the next turns, I have to adjust my methods. I can no longer assume the Russians will stay put, and now in my day-to-day simulations, I move them first, following the same rules that I move my pieces by.

Withdrawing a vulnerable Panzer Corps in late August

 

Playing out the month of August this way takes me awhile. But despite some goofs that nearly cost me a valuable Panzer company or two, I make big gains, especially on the last week. Leningrad falls, Odessa is ready to be taken, and Smolensk looks vulnerable. Warsaw continues to supply new units, but Stalingrad supplies many more.

 

 

August battle reports:

 

Riga to Leningrad:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
2 Finnish Infantry		112
4 Finnish Infantry		104
40 Panzer Corps	208	199	112	112	4 Militia Army
			95	103	7 Militia Army
			103	95	10 Tank Army
			105		41 Infantry Army
				132	20 Infantry Army
24 Panzer Corps	190	137		104	11 Militia Army
26 Infantry Corps	104	88	49	99	9 Militia Army
28 Infantry Corps	109	108	83	108	35 Infantry Army
1 Infantry Corps	129	129	83	124	8 Infantry Army
3 Panzer Corps	202	202		115	27 Infantry Army
38 Infantry Corps	112	112	113	110	24 Infantry Army
			106		34 Infantry Army

 

The 40th Panzers' trip up the Luga was successful and they've driven Leningrad's militia out, gaining me two Finn armies. The rest of the group was able to break multiple armies at some cost to their own well being, but the Soviets have received reinforcements.

 

Minsk to Smolensk: 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
			75	85	14 Infantry Army
56 Panzer Corps	190	184	120	138	22 Infantry Army
10 Infantry Corps	97	97
7 Infantry Corps	150	150
47 Panzer Corps	191	183		96	6 Tank Army
46 Panzer Corps	186	186	133		29 Infantry Army
2 Infantry Corps	121	121	192		8 Militia Army
			140		30 Infantry Army
			120		32 Infantry Army
			112		1 Guards Cavalry
			114		31 Infantry Army
41 Panzer Corps	190	154	65	123	21 Infantry Army
5 Infantry Corps	136	68	123	115	19 Infantry Army
			67		5 Infantry Army
8 Infantry Corps	129	129	61	73	2 Tank Army
6 Infantry Corps	127	127	87	86	8 Tank Army

 

Everyone's out of the swamp and Smolensk is all but in my grasp, but the bulk of Stalin's new units are parked just outside. Keeping Smolensk, let alone pushing on to Moscow, is going to be tough.

 

Kiev: 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
49 Infantry Corps	136	138	69	81	5 Cavalry Army
			137	129	10 Infantry Army
48 Panzer Corps	186	183
17 Infantry Corps	117	108	74	70	5 Tank Army
9 Infantry Corps	104	125
57 Panzer Corps	170	101	88	80	3 Cavalry Army
29 Infantry Corps	111	111	41	103	17 Infantry Army
			124		23 Infantry Army

 

I got carried away and sent my panzers too far east and nearly lost one, and nearly lost another rescuing it. It will be difficult to continue moving them north to support Smolensk.

 

Dniester River:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
23 Infantry Corps	95	95
4 Infantry Corps	142	137		29	4 Tank Army
1 Hungarian Panzer	96	96
30 Infantry Corps	125	125	119		33 Infantry Army
11 Infantry Corps	124	107	118		25 Infantry Army
14 Panzer Corps	191	185

 

The 23rd and 4th Infantries danced with the tanks for a good month before getting them and have some catching up to do. The rest have crossed the South Bug, fought some, and are now staring down two fresh armies at Dnepropetrovsk-by-Dnieper.

 

Black Sea: 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
54 Infantry Corps	105	100		97	9 Infantry Army
5 Rumanian Infantry	52	47

The 9th Infantry got got in the middle of August and now the 54th and 5th are joined with the other Romanians at Odessa.

 

Odessa:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
			94	90	4 Cavalry Army
				85	16 Infantry Army
				80	2 Infantry Army
4 Rumanian Infantry	88	88
1 Rumanian Infantry	95	88	74	74	7 Infantry Army
2 Rumanian Infantry	93	87	46	90	2 Cavalry Army

 

The Romanians didn't actually have to do that much killing - the 16th and 2nd Infantries ditched Odessa and got destroyed by my advancing armies from the Dniester.

 

Summer's almost over, and it will soon be time for Hitler to go back to school.