Expert Front 1941: Mud and snow

 

It is August 31st, and one month of summer remains before the muddy rasputitsa and biting Russian winter. One month to make German superiority count. Let's do this.

 

Riga to Rzhev:

Axis	Current strength	Current strength	USSR
10 Infantry Corps	55	74	41 Infantry Army
41 Panzer Corps	148
46 Panzer Corps	79	88	32 Infantry Army
		80	30 Infantry Army
38 Infantry Corps	47	100	34 Infantry Army
40 Panzer Corps	188	42	4 Guards Infantry Army
1 Infantry Corps	74	60	1 Guards Cavalry Army
56 Panzer Corps	119	56	56 Infantry Army
28 Infantry Corps	85
2 Infantry Corps	107

 

The strength advantage here is decisively mine, but after my inevitable victory I will have a difficult choice to make - do I go after Leningrad, or not? Leningrad would be worth a few victory points and two Finnish infantry, but Smolensk needs help.

Minsk to Smolensk:

Axis	Current strength	Current strength	USSR
7 Infantry Corps	145
26 Infantry Corps	93
4 Flieger Corps	231	108	31 Infantry Army
47 Panzer Corps	45	95	22 Infantry Army
6 Infantry Corps	102	11	29 Infantry Army
1 Flieger Corps	218
		112	28 Infantry Army
24 Panzer Corps	65	52	2 Tank Army
8 Infantry Corps	59	137	40 Infantry Army
2 Flieger Corps	182
		50	3 Cavalry Army
		56	14 Infantry Army
		57	21 Infantry Army

 

This looks bad. Three units near Smolensk are cut off from supplies and can do little but entrench while waiting for help, and only the 6th infantry is close enough to provide any immediate relief. I will have the 7th and 26th infantries detach from the northern group to help here.

 

Kiev:

Axis	Current strength	Current strength	USSR
5 Infantry Corps	99	43	5 Tank Army
		72	10 Infantry Army
		59	18 Infantry Army
		80	19 Infantry Army
3 Panzer Corps	141	77	23 Infantry Army
49 Infantry Corps	91
9 Infantry Corps	118
11 Infantry Corps	96
27 Infantry Corps	75
12 Infantry Corps	79
23 Infantry Corps	83
57 Panzer Corps	145
5 Flieger Corps	190
14 Panzer Corps	156	134	18 Tank Army
4 Infantry Corps	96
48 Panzer Corps	121	50	1 Cavalry Army
29 Infantry Corps	39
3 Flieger Corps	179

The 5th infantry is deep in the swamp, bravely holding off three Soviet units. There's little to impede the rest of my army here.

 

Odessa:

Axis	Current strength	Current strength	USSR
17 Infantry Corps	45
30 Infantry Corps	95	8	4 Cavalry Army
1 Hungarian Panzer	29	24	5 Cavalry Army
54 Infantry Corps	53	70	2 Infantry Army
1 Rumanian Infantry	74
5 Rumanian Infantry	48	36	7 Infantry Army
2 Rumanian Infantry	62
4 Rumanian Infantry	28

My army here isn't in the best shape, but nonetheless I expect Odessa to fall soon, after which I can send them to other fronts.

 

September is a long, bloody month, and apart from Odessa, no additional cities are conquered. I even lose Kiev, though just for one turn, to the mud units behind me!

 

August 31 - October 4

Riga to Rzhev:

"Inevitable victory"

Axis	Old strength	Current strength x2	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
10 Infantry Corps	55	30		74	41 Infantry Army
41 Panzer Corps	148	74	71		9 Militia Army
			86		42 Infantry Army
46 Panzer Corps	79	104		88	32 Infantry Army
			136	80	30 Infantry Army
38 Infantry Corps	47	22		100	34 Infantry Army
40 Panzer Corps	188	74		42	4 Guards Infantry Army
			94		11 Militia Army
1 Infantry Corps	74	62		60	1 Guards Cavalry Army
56 Panzer Corps	119	104	66	56	56 Infantry Army
28 Infantry Corps	85	84	96		7 Militia Army
2 Infantry Corps	107	106	43		43 Infantry Army
35 Infantry Corps		94	104		43 Infantry Army

We destroyed the September squad pretty thoroughly, but this took longer and cost more muster than expected, and by October's mud, whatever we destroyed are more than replaced with reinforcements and militia. Leningrad must wait. Yes, there are two different 43 infantries; Russian numbering systems are very complicated.

 

Minsk to Smolensk:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength x2	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
7 Infantry Corps	145	58
26 Infantry Corps	93	82
13 Infantry Corps		108
4 Flieger Corps	231	118		108	31 Infantry Army
47 Panzer Corps	45	102	69	95	22 Infantry Army
6 Infantry Corps	102	107		11	29 Infantry Army
34 Infantry Corps		96
1 Flieger Corps	218	218
				112	28 Infantry Army
24 Panzer Corps	65	78	41	52	2 Tank Army
8 Infantry Corps	59	109	89	137	40 Infantry Army
2 Flieger Corps	182	183
				50	3 Cavalry Army
			21	56	14 Infantry Army
			79	57	21 Infantry Army

The initial goal was to rescue the panzers and 8th infantry from the north Dnieper river, and very soon the goal also became to rescue an eager 7th infantry who pushed themselves into a kitty corner at the month's start. Overall the goal was a success, and the 8th infantry managed to escape their muddy deathtrap with a bit of air support, but nobody in this group is in great shape except the Fliegerkorps and the reinforcements.

 

Kiev to Kharkov:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength x2	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
5 Infantry Corps	99	92	13	43	5 Tank Army
				72	10 Infantry Army
			42	59	18 Infantry Army
				80	19 Infantry Army
3 Panzer Corps	141	52		77	23 Infantry Army
			56		15 Infantry Army
49 Infantry Corps	91	80
9 Infantry Corps	118	108
11 Infantry Corps	96	91
27 Infantry Corps	75	77	94		60 Infantry Army
12 Infantry Corps	79	97
23 Infantry Corps	83	80	103		33 Infantry Army
57 Panzer Corps	145	145
5 Flieger Corps	190	132	114		66 Infantry Army
14 Panzer Corps	156	62		134	18 Tank Army
4 Infantry Corps	96	20	113		19 Tank Army
48 Panzer Corps	121	148	41	50	1 Cavalry Army
29 Infantry Corps	39	42
3 Flieger Corps	179	142

Impediment happened, as we're met by reinforcements near Kharkov. 5th infantry couldn't hold off three units alone for long, so I joined it with the 49th while the airplanes moved forward - now they've all moved east some and are holding onto Kiev.

The 14th Panzers tried to encircle a Russia tank army mid-September, but wound up walking right into a pincer trap, where it must remain all October now. This wouldn't have happened if we could play out the action day-by-day instead of week-by-week!

 

Odessa:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength x2	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
17 Infantry Corps	45	88
30 Infantry Corps	95	98		8	4 Cavalry Army
1 Hungarian Panzer	29	36		24	5 Cavalry Army
54 Infantry Corps	53	45		70	2 Infantry Army
1 Rumanian Infantry	74	47
5 Rumanian Infantry	48	17		36	7 Infantry Army
2 Rumanian Infantry	62	35
4 Rumanian Infantry	28
4 Italian Infantry		54

It took all month, but the Romanian Suicide Squad took Odessa, killed everyone around it, and what's left of them are slowly walking away.

 

Fighting over the next month is futile - every Axis unit is working at half strength during the muddy season! As before, I keep some distance as I try to reform my lines on favorable terrain, but this is trickier than it was.

As winter starts, all of my Fliegerkorps are down a massive amount of combat strength, though none have suffered any permanent muster damage.

October 5 - November 8

Northmost cluster:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
10 Infantry Corps	30	31	80	71	9 Militia Army
28 Infantry Corps	84	20	36	96	7 Militia Army
			82	86	42 Infantry Army
40 Panzer Corps	74	95	123	94	11 Militia Army
2 Infantry Corps	106	95	50	43	43 Infantry Army
41 Panzer Corps	74	83

 

These guys have mostly held it together throughout the mud season, and skirmished a bit with the Soviets nearby during the first week of winter, but aren't fully recovered yet. Strength advantage is overall mine, especially as the militia cannot attack.

 

Rzhev:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
46 Panzer Corps	104	103
38 Infantry Corps	22	35	177	136	30 Infantry Army
1 Flieger Corps	218	60
56 Panzer Corps	104	92	135	66	56 Infantry Army
35 Infantry Corps	94	88	134	104	43 Infantry Army

Also not much of a line change, but the strength difference is serious. I'm going to need to push my numbers advantage here to encircle and cut them off from supplies.

 

Smolensk:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
7 Infantry Corps	58	33
1 Infantry Corps	62	29
26 Infantry Corps	82	62
13 Infantry Corps	108	91
4 Flieger Corps	118	88
47 Panzer Corps	102	118	34	69	22 Infantry Army
6 Infantry Corps	107	36
34 Infantry Corps	96	80

We took an unguarded Smolensk during the start of October, cutting off the lone infantry there from supplies. The Russians are trying to take it back, and the severely weakened infantry they sent are joined by a severely weakened tank unit from the south and a strong infantry from the north. But it won't be enough.

 

Minsk:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
24 Panzer Corps	78	111	20	41	2 Tank Army
8 Infantry Corps	109	46	41	89	40 Infantry Army
2 Flieger Corps	183	106	45	79	21 Infantry Army
			22	21	14 Infantry Army

 

Pathetic. Minsk will hold, but going after the Soviets in the river will be annoying.

Orel:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
9 Infantry Corps	108	45
11 Infantry Corps	91	30	138		54 Infantry Army
27 Infantry Corps	77	11	186	94	60 Infantry Army
12 Infantry Corps	97	30	47		50 Infantry Army
			202		61 Infantry Army

My guys mostly marched here in the mud and snow unimpeded from northern Ukraine but are too exhausted to fight despite being positioned for multiple pincer attacks. I can only hope supplies reach them before the Soviets break out.

 

Kiev:

 

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
5 Infantry Corps	92	46	35	42	18 Infantry Army
5 Flieger Corps	132	41
49 Infantry Corps	80	35		13	5 Tank Army
3 Flieger Corps	142	116

Most of these units have left Kiev by now and are moving up to Orel. Two of the units currently there came from Odessa, moving north. The Soviet 5th tank army perished trying to take Kiev back, and the 18th infantry army is about to.

 

Kharkov:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
			209		39 Infantry Army
3 Panzer Corps	52	44	96	56	15 Infantry Army
4 Infantry Corps	20	21	126	113	19 Tank Army
48 Panzer Corps	148	42
14 Panzer Corps	62	58	107	114	66 Infantry Army
57 Panzer Corps	145	74
23 Infantry Corps	80	40	149	103	33 Infantry Army
29 Infantry Corps	42	21	1	41	1 Cavalry Army
			174		2 Guards Infantry

Oh. Oh no.

My units here are in no fighting condition, and a battering ram of Soviets are coming in, and more are right behind them. Try not to let anyone get encircled as we withdraw west for more reliable supplies. Try not to let anyone get bashed in.

 

 Odessa:

Axis	Old strength x2	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
30 Infantry Corps	98	46
17 Infantry Corps	88	86
1 Hungarian Panzer	36	37
54 Infantry Corps	45	44
1 Rumanian Infantry	47	46
5 Rumanian Infantry	17	16
2 Rumanian Infantry	35	33
4 Italian Infantry	54	54

Odessa is now far behind all of these companies, who have regrouped and formed up with others. Russia doesn't seem all that interested in taking it back.

 

November 9 -  December 6

Northmost cluster:

Yep, the Finnish armies are still stuck there.

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
10 Infantry Corps	31	24	48	80	9 Militia Army
28 Infantry Corps	20	38	24	36	7 Militia Army
41 Panzer Corps	83	15	40	123	11 Militia Army
40 Panzer Corps	95	95	61	82	42 Infantry Army
				50	43 Infantry Army

Despite a strength advantage and a little help from the south, these minor tussles are slow. Weak, poorly supplied units can still encircle, but fighting is hard.

 

Rzhev:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
46 Panzer Corps	103	53
2 Infantry Corps	95	31
38 Infantry Corps	35			177	30 Infantry Army
1 Flieger Corps	60	223
56 Panzer Corps	92	85		135	56 Infantry Army
35 Infantry Corps	88	91
7 Infantry Corps	33	49

Total Soviet destruction, but not without losses on my end. Rzhev will be taken by Monday.

 

Smolensk:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
11 Infantry Corps	30	38		134	43 Infantry Army
26 Infantry Corps	62	9
4 Flieger Corps	88	180
1 Infantry Corps	29	56		34	22 Infantry Army
13 Infantry Corps	91	104	208		1 Guards Tank Army
47 Panzer Corps	118	58
6 Infantry Corps	36	89		20	2 Tank Army

The feeble and isolated Russian attempts to liberate Smolensk were all encircled and crushed by December. A single powerful tank army is closing in, but I've learned not to fear single armies.

 

Minsk to Orel:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
34 Infantry Corps	80	93
2 Flieger Corps	106	163
24 Panzer Corps	111	102		41	40 Infantry Army
8 Infantry Corps	46	101	16	22	14 Infantry Army

Minsk held, one Soviet was destroyed as we chased it across the frozen river, another is caught in a pincer on the other side of the river.

 

Orel:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
27 Infantry Corps	11		177	138	54 Infantry Army
12 Infantry Corps	30	51		47	50 Infantry Army
5 Infantry Corps	46	39		45	21 Infantry Army
4 Infantry Corps	21	35	236		2 Guards Cavalry
9 Infantry Corps	45	70
5 Flieger Corps	41	129	192	202	61 Infantry Army
			128		45 Infantry Army

The sawtooth formation did not hold. I got two of theirs, they got one of mine. Unfortunately, they get two powerful reinforcements. At least I can count on a bit of help coming from Minsk.

 

Kiev to Kharkov:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
49 Infantry Corps	35	35
4 Italian Infantry	54	24
2 Rumanian Infantry	33	33
54 Infantry Corps	44	44		35	18 Infantry Army

As expected, these ragtag survivors from all over the front destroyed the sole enemy here and are marching to Kharkov.

 

Kharkov:

Axis	Old strength	Current strength	Current strength	Old strength	USSR
			129		47 Infantry Army
48 Panzer Corps	42	40		186	60 Infantry Army
3 Flieger Corps	116	88
17 Infantry Corps	86	65	195		9 Tank Army
3 Panzer Corps	44	62		209	39 Infantry Army
57 Panzer Corps	74	52
30 Infantry Corps	46	85
1 Hungarian Panzer	37	21	94		7 Cavalry Army
23 Infantry Corps	40		92	96	15 Infantry Army
29 Infantry Corps	21	42	130	126	19 Tank Army
5 Rumanian Infantry	16	8
1 Rumanian Infantry	46	46
14 Panzer Corps	58	22	76	107	66 Infantry Army
			202		28 Tank Army
			89	149	33 Infantry Army
			54		95 Infantry Army
			170	174	2 Guards Infantry
			106		52 Infantry Army
				1	1 Cavalry Army

Never forget that well-supplied Germans can punch above their weight. By withdrawing in a measured manner, I allowed multiple Soviets to spearhead and isolate themselves, letting me cut them off and destroy them piecemeal.

This still costs significant muster strength, though, which can never be recovered. And with these quickly-dwindling combat strength numbers, I'm doubting that I can outlast Soviet reinforcements!

I do, however, have an opportunity to snatch Dnepropetrovsk to the south, which is completely unguarded.

 

Overall combat strength, not counting the Finns or Fliegerkorps, comes to 1,905 now, out of 2,728 points of muster strength. Winter supply problems account for most of the difference.

Don't know if I'm going to be able to win this time!