Expert Front 1941: Hitler on Ice

 

Winter is here, and my men are in rough shape. The good news is that Soviet reinforcements are slowing down. The bad news is that, not counting passive militia, they have a combined 7,295 muster strength to my 2,728, and most of it is an immediate problem.

 

Northmost cluster:

Axis	Current strength	Current strength	USSR
10 Infantry Corps	24
28 Infantry Corps	38	24	7 Militia Army
41 Panzer Corps	15
2 Infantry Corps	31	40	11 Militia Army
40 Panzer Corps	95	61	42 Infantry Army
56 Panzer Corps	85

 

These militia have got to fall soon, right? I have all but given up on Leningrad - do I really want to waste time and muster recruiting two units that can't even attack? Taking Moscow remains a slim possibility.

Rzhev:

Axis	Current strength	Current strength	USSR
46 Panzer Corps	53
35 Infantry Corps	91
1 Flieger Corps	223
47 Panzer Corps	58
11 Infantry Corps	38
26 Infantry Corps	9
7 Infantry Corps	49

 

Nothing to do here but capture the city and pass through. We will aid the tussle up north and move on together.

 

Smolensk:

Axis	Current strength	Current strength	USSR
24 Panzer Corps	102
2 Flieger Corps	163
4 Flieger Corps	180
1 Infantry Corps	56	208	1 Guards Tank Army
6 Infantry Corps	89
12 Infantry Corps	51
34 Infantry Corps	93

 

I think I can pretty much pass through. Even with this strength deficit, I should be able to trap and destroy the tank guard.

 

Orel:

Axis	Current strength	Current strength	USSR
9 Infantry Corps	70	177	54 Infantry Army
13 Infantry Corps	104
4 Infantry Corps	35	236	2 Guards Cavalry
5 Infantry Corps	39
8 Infantry Corps	101	16	14 Infantry Army
48 Panzer Corps	40	192	61 Infantry Army
5 Flieger Corps	129	129	47 Infantry Army
		128	45 Infantry Army

 

Down here, things begin to look not so terrific. 14 infantry is certainly done for - I will kill it, and try to push and encircle Orel from around the top. But I'm well past the point where I can assume my pushes will be successful.

 

Kharkov:

Axis	Current strength	Current strength	USSR
3 Panzer Corps	62	195	9 Tank Army
17 Infantry Corps	65
3 Flieger Corps	88
54 Infantry Corps	44
1 Hungarian Panzer	21	94	7 Cavalry Army
30 Infantry Corps	85
57 Panzer Corps	52	92	15 Infantry Army
		130	19 Tank Army
		170	2 Guards Infantry
14 Panzer Corps	22	76	66 Infantry Army
		202	28 Tank Army
5 Rumanian Infantry	8	89	33 Infantry Army
		54	95 Infantry Army
49 Infantry Corps	35
2 Rumanian Infantry	33	106	52 Infantry Army
1 Rumanian Infantry	46
4 Italian Infantry	24
29 Infantry Corps	42

Well, this is the main event, and there's no sense in throwing myself against that red wall. Up north, where there's a gap, I'll push gently. Down south, the 52 Infantry is in a fix that I'll exploit and hope I can finish off before we break, and elsewhere, I withdraw or hold.

2 Rumanians, who are my weakest non-engaged unit in terms of muster strength, will sneak around the back and try to capture Dnepropetrovsk for some bonus points.

 

December 7 - December 27

 

Northmost cluster:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
10 Infantry Corps	24	8
28 Infantry Corps	38	26		24	7 Militia Army
41 Panzer Corps	15	46
2 Infantry Corps	31	32		40	11 Militia Army
40 Panzer Corps	95	102		61	42 Infantry Army
56 Panzer Corps	85	36	193		8 Tank Army

All Soviets here were destroyed and we are on our way to Moscow. A tank army rolling over the river to the east is all that threatens us.

 

Rzhev to Moscow:

 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
46 Panzer Corps	53	70	68		13 Tank Army
35 Infantry Corps	91	84	177		1 Militia Army
1 Flieger Corps	223	154
47 Panzer Corps	58	41
11 Infantry Corps	38	77
26 Infantry Corps	9	46	111		33 Tank Army
7 Infantry Corps	49	98

At last, I'm approaching Moscow's front door. But the militia there has had plenty of time to grow. I've got the numbers to encircle it and the complement of tank armies, and possibly enough strength to knock it down.

 

Smolensk east: 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
24 Panzer Corps	102	32	213		34 Tank Army
2 Flieger Corps	163	60
4 Flieger Corps	180	70	121		3 Guards Infantry
1 Infantry Corps	56	13	157	208	1 Guards Tank Army
6 Infantry Corps	89	83	151		4 Guards Infantry
12 Infantry Corps	51	13	135		55 Infantry Army
34 Infantry Corps	93	93	79		31 Tank Army

Well, I tried to encircle and cut off the tanks, but I wound up getting two of my units stuck in the zones-of-control of all those reinforcements instead. 31 Tank Army might be defeatable, though, and that would improve things.

 

Orel:

 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
9 Infantry Corps	70	27	131	177	54 Infantry Army
13 Infantry Corps	104	13
4 Infantry Corps	35		81	236	2 Guards Cavalry
5 Infantry Corps	39	32
8 Infantry Corps	101	83		16	14 Infantry Army
48 Panzer Corps	40		125	192	61 Infantry Army
5 Flieger Corps	129	80	120	129	47 Infantry Army
			145	128	45 Infantry Army
			254		5 Guards Infantry
			89		46 Infantry Army

And now we start to enter the lost cause zone. We might be able to finish off 2 Guards Cavalry, but this assault just isn't sustainable.

 

Kharkov: 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
3 Panzer Corps	62	19	180	195	9 Tank Army
17 Infantry Corps	65	33
3 Flieger Corps	88	133
54 Infantry Corps	44	43	165		37 Infantry Army
1 Hungarian Panzer	21		114	94	7 Cavalry Army
30 Infantry Corps	85	58	128		49 Infantry Army
57 Panzer Corps	52	43		92	15 Infantry Army
			150	130	19 Tank Army
			173	170	2 Guards Infantry
			151		48 Infantry Army
14 Panzer Corps	22	69	102	76	66 Infantry Army
			205	202	28 Tank Army
			210		59 Infantry Army
5 Rumanian Infantry	8		90	89	33 Infantry Army
			86	54	95 Infantry Army
49 Infantry Corps	35	49
2 Rumanian Infantry	33	16		106	52 Infantry Army
1 Rumanian Infantry	46	46
4 Italian Infantry	24	52
29 Infantry Corps	42

This attack really isn't sustainable! New strategy - delay. A gradual withdraw can last longer than entrenchment, especially if we use the terrain and ZOC rules to our advantage. Make them attack from the slippery frozen river.

 

2 Rumanians have captured Dnepropetrovsk. Why stop there? I have them moving east to Rostov and Krasnodar, which are similarly unguarded. Up north, I send 10 Infantry Corp up and around the river toward Gorky.

December 28 - January 17

Northmost cluster:

 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
41 Panzer Corps	46	46
10 Infantry Corps	8	16
28 Infantry Corps	26	26	157		8 Guards Infantry
56 Panzer Corps	36	34
2 Infantry Corps	32	49
40 Panzer Corps	102	70	109	193	8 Tank Army

 

We've pretty much merged with the Moscow group. Strength is poor, but nonetheless we can take out the tank army here, which is already encircled and cut off.

10 Infantry is well on its way to Gorky.

 

Rzhev to Moscow:

 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
47 Panzer Corps	41	28	131		10 Guards Infantry
11 Infantry Corps	77	23
6 Infantry Corps	83	64	208		12 Tank Army
35 Infantry Corps	84	42		177	1 Militia Army
46 Panzer Corps	70	29		68	13 Tank Army
1 Flieger Corps	154	57
26 Infantry Corps	46	33	242	111	33 Tank Army
2 Flieger Corps	60	46

Moscow is mine, a good chunk of victory points come with it, and I am certain we can hold it.

 

Smolensk to Moscow: 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
24 Panzer Corps	32	82	247	213	34 Tank Army
7 Infantry Corps	98	49
34 Infantry Corps	93	15	115	79	31 Tank Army
1 Infantry Corps	13		112	121	3 Guards Infantry
4 Flieger Corps	70	53	75		36 Infantry Army

Supply problems and few openings or weaknesses in the Soviet line make combat difficult. My Fliegerkorps are threatened by a tank unit, which I may yet be able to isolate and destroy.

 

Orel: 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
9 Infantry Corps	27	34	114	157	1 Guards Tank Army
			198	151	4 Guards Infantry
12 Infantry Corps	13		178	135	55 Infantry Army
			101		16 Tank Army
			238		32 Tank Army
5 Infantry Corps	32	69		81	2 Guards Cavalry
13 Infantry Corps	13
8 Infantry Corps	83	55		131	54 Infantry Army
			127	145	45 Infantry Army
17 Infantry Corps	33	53	192	125	61 Infantry Army
5 Flieger Corps	80	102
3 Panzer Corps	19	14		120	47 Infantry Army
			255	254	5 Guards Infantry
			149	89	46 Infantry Army
			94		15 Tank Army
			101		11 Tank Army

 

We were able to trap and destroy three units, but nothing is free any more. None of what they've got left is weak or exposed, except for a 255-strength Guards Infantry pressing its luck. None of what I've got left is strong, and my 17 Infantry is caught between zones of control and can't withdraw.

 

Kharkov: 

 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
			174		14 Tank Army
3 Flieger Corps	133	205	172		6 Guards Infantry
54 Infantry Corps	43	42	181	180	9 Tank Army
			123	128	49 Infantry Army
30 Infantry Corps	58	26	123	150	19 Tank Army
			160	165	37 Infantry Army
			207	210	59 Infantry Army
57 Panzer Corps	43	81	117	114	7 Cavalry Army
			103	102	66 Infantry Army
49 Infantry Corps	49	24	200	205	28 Tank Army
14 Panzer Corps	69	58	96	90	33 Infantry Army
			146	151	48 Infantry Army
4 Italian Infantry	52	26	109	86	95 Infantry Army
1 Rumanian Infantry	46	23	144	173	2 Guards Infantry

 

I have just realized that when Soviet numbers go down or up, it isn't always because of battle or reinforcement; a "fog of war" sometimes gives inaccurate numbers on Soviet units that haven't been engaged in battle yet. It would have been nice to see these numbers indicated with a question mark or something.

My severely depleted units are scattering, trying to avoid damage while also trying to slow the Soviets down. It may be us who get pushed into the swamp this time.

2 Rumanians have conquered Rostov and Krasnodar in the southeast, and are heading up north to Stalingrad, which is amazingly completely undefended.

 

January 18 - February 7

Moscow:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
2 Infantry Corps	49	32
56 Panzer Corps	34	12	191		7 Tank Army
6 Infantry Corps	64	32
47 Panzer Corps	28	27	41	109	8 Tank Army
40 Panzer Corps	70	15	255	131	10 Guards Infantry
11 Infantry Corps	23	18
28 Infantry Corps	26	12	195	157	8 Guards Infantry
41 Panzer Corps	46		232	208	12 Tank Army
35 Infantry Corps	42	53
1 Flieger Corps	57	92
26 Infantry Corps	33	16	84	242	33 Tank Army
2 Flieger Corps	46	165
24 Panzer Corps	82	24	111	247	34 Tank Army
7 Infantry Corps	49	29

Moscow holds, but supply problems prevent us from fighting the rest of the Soviets around it with full effectiveness. But despite one lost unit, and poor overall combat strength, I am more or less in control here.

10 Infantry took Gorky completely undefended and is nearly at Kazan.

 

Smolensk:

 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
34 Infantry Corps	15			198	4 Guards Infantry
46 Panzer Corps	29		187	115	31 Tank Army
			189		38 Infantry Army
4 Flieger Corps	53	50		114	1 Guards Tank Army
			221	75	36 Infantry Army

The last ground units got stuck in a trap and I couldn't pull them out with my feeble air support. But they took down a tank and infantry unit with them.

 

Orel: 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
5 Infantry Corps	69	43	93	112	3 Guards Infantry
9 Infantry Corps	34	13	165	178	55 Infantry Army
			180	101	16 Tank Army
			239	238	32 Tank Army
8 Infantry Corps	55	60	150	127	45 Infantry Army
17 Infantry Corps	53		183	192	61 Infantry Army
5 Flieger Corps	102	106	188	149	46 Infantry Army
			73	94	15 Tank Army
				101	11 Tank Army
3 Panzer Corps	14	28	204	255	5 Guards Infantry
			208	174	14 Tank Army

I think I had my last chance to pick off anything here, and paid for it with one of my own. Air support can't help much when I spend each week moving away from the incoming Soviets.

I quite frankly do not know which Soviet units here have depleted combat strength because of combat and which are simply lifted from the fog of war. At this stage I'm not sure it matters.

 

Kharkov: 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
3 Flieger Corps	205		155	172	6 Guards Infantry
54 Infantry Corps	42	29	152	181	9 Tank Army
			138	123	49 Infantry Army
30 Infantry Corps	26	47	115	123	19 Tank Army
			99	160	37 Infantry Army
			191	207	59 Infantry Army
57 Panzer Corps	81	109	117	117	7 Cavalry Army
			108	103	66 Infantry Army
49 Infantry Corps	24		195	200	28 Tank Army
14 Panzer Corps	58	71	96	96	33 Infantry Army
			118	146	48 Infantry Army
4 Italian Infantry	26	52	112	109	95 Infantry Army
1 Rumanian Infantry	23	18	135	144	2 Guards Infantry
			97		9 Guards Infantry
			124		7 Guards Infantry

We are on the retreat and desperately holding onto Kiev (by the swamp) which may hold, and Dnepropetrovsk (by the southeast Dnieper crossing) which almost certainly won't. One Fliegerkorps is lost at the start of February, attacked on the ground by a quickly-mobilizing Siberian reserves.

2 Rumanians is near Stalingrad, which is still not defended.

 

February 8 -  February 28

Moscow:

 

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
			220	255	10 Guards Infantry
28 Infantry Corps	12		204	195	8 Guards Infantry
47 Panzer Corps	27	55	226	232	12 Tank Army
6 Infantry Corps	32
56 Panzer Corps	12	45
40 Panzer Corps	15	27		41	8 Tank Army
2 Infantry Corps	32	14	212	191	7 Tank Army
35 Infantry Corps	53	56
11 Infantry Corps	18
1 Flieger Corps	92	136
26 Infantry Corps	16	8		84	33 Tank Army
2 Flieger Corps	165	182
24 Panzer Corps	24	34	56	111	34 Tank Army

It's a chaotic month around Moscow as poor supply lines continue to hinder my war effort. Two of my units are dead, two are getting pushed around the map by far superior Soviet units, but nevertheless I've killed two of theirs and entrapped another. I think Moscow will hold.

10 Infantry took Kazan and is within close range of Kuibishev, the eastmost city on the map, which is completely undefended.

 

Smolensk:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
7 Infantry Corps	29	24
5 Infantry Corps	43	21	125	187	31 Tank Army
4 Flieger Corps	50		236	189	38 Infantry Army

 

My grip on Smolensk seems very uncertain, as one Fliegerkorps falls and two weakened infantries are cut off.

 

Orel:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
			90	93	3 Guards Infantry
9 Infantry Corps	13	27	165	165	55 Infantry Army
			133	180	16 Tank Army
			186	221	36 Infantry Army
8 Infantry Corps	60	18	227	239	32 Tank Army
			155	150	45 Infantry Army
			191	188	46 Infantry Army
5 Flieger Corps	106	43	141	138	49 Infantry Army
			242	183	61 Infantry Army
			104	73	15 Tank Army
3 Panzer Corps	28	28	242	204	5 Guards Infantry
			211	208	14 Tank Army
			162		11 Tank Army

 

Yup, we are getting pushed into the frozen swamp by a massively superior army. I've more or less avoided further casualties, but capturing Orel will be absolutely impossible.

Or will it?

Kharkov & Dnepropetrovsk to Kiev:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
54 Infantry Corps	29	10	170	152	9 Tank Army
			102	99	37 Infantry Army
			195	155	6 Guards Infantry
57 Panzer Corps	109	26	110	115	19 Tank Army
30 Infantry Corps	47	68	217	191	59 Infantry Army
			214	124	7 Guards Infantry
			162	97	9 Guards Infantry
			117	117	7 Cavalry Army
			49	108	66 Infantry Army
14 Panzer Corps	71	68	96	96	33 Infantry Army
			143	195	28 Tank Army
			159	118	48 Infantry Army
4 Italian Infantry	52	52	112	112	95 Infantry Army
1 Rumanian Infantry	18	33	130	135	2 Guards Infantry

 

Kiev hangs on by a thread. Dnepropetrovsk is lost. Odessa is threatened.

But. Kharkov itself is now undefended, and 1 Rumanians, who abandoned Dnepropetrovsk and crossed the (now thawed) Dnieper to the east of it, have a clear shot at capturing it! And Orel is about a two week's march to the north of that.

2 Rumanians have indeed taken Stalingrad, and are on their way west to Voronezh, also undefended.

 

March, the final month of the game, is mostly just a lot of entrenching and retreating.

 

But every city holds, and my sneaky units snag all of their targets - Kuibishev, Orel, Kharkov, and Voronezh. Every city on the map except Leningrad and Dnepropetrovsk are mine!

Final score: -29 points, a failure, but a net gain of 99 points from the -128 you start with.

 

I have to say, Expert mode was more enjoyable than Advanced, but you definitely don't want to start off playing this way. Expert mode will utterly destroy you if you aren't already well acquainted with Eastern Front 1941's advanced-level ruleset. I do wish I better understood how air support works, and also how assault mode works; it was never obvious how to best utilize either of these things, and still isn't in retrospect. However, both of these things are ultimately just tools to give you an edge against Expert mode's most significant difference; long-term attrition is downright lethal. This gives the game more tactical complexity, which is actually a major triumph; without Crawford's finely tuned balance, no doubt attained through untold hours of playtesting, it could have easily given it less complexity by making aggressive strategies unviably costly. As it stands, I feel I could have played with a myriad of different strategies, some more aggressive, some more cautious, and none would be obviously better or obviously worse than the one I wound up using without I trying them and carefully documenting the results. And that is a good thing!

I will say that if the winter supply lines had been kinder to my Moscow assault group, I think I could have eked out a win. Perhaps I could have won if I let them hang back a bit and let Stalin wear himself out taking the fight to me, closer to Warsaw. But then again, perhaps taking the pressure off for that long would have just bought them time to regroup and reorganize the reinforcements to better overwhelm me. Who knows?

I won't retry this scenario, but I'm not quite done with Eastern Front 1941. One scenario on the original cartridge remains, one that Crawford meant to be impossible to defeat. It may yet give me a chance to test that theory.