The Diary of Herr Pferdmann

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 9:39 am

October 23rd 1941 (8.)
The skies have darkened and we're expecting more rain, lousy Russian weather is doing more harm to my advance than the Red Army!

Although the Infantry outside the city were destroyed the Regiment in Rzhev prove to be stubborn

The 3rd Division's Panzers advance but the Infantry are held up dealing with some resilient Engineers,

More stubborn Russians!

AGS eliminate the defenders of Bolchow and should secure the city shortly.
With Luftwaffe support the 34th SE Panzer regiment destroyed some Russian BA-10's on the flank and the city of Mitensk is under assault, I predict the 1st Division will be advancing further shortly.

A Russian counter attack in the south causing disruption with two Regiments of T34's appearing out of thin air! With suspect weather I am concerned with our ability to handle this new threat

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:48 am

October 26th 1941 (9)
As predicted the rain had begun once more grounding my Luftflotte, this may yet again cause my offensive to stall and in the South East may prove disastrous with two Regiments of T34's to contend with.

In the northern sector Rzhov was captured and my forces now drive on Kalinin with AGN in support.

The 3rd Division finnaly eradicates the Engineers manning the forward defence line and take Mozhaisk.

A Regiment of Soviet Bridging Engineers were eliminated along with an Infantry Regiment protecting their right flank and the 2nd Division now place Kaluga under siege.

Without air support the Panzers of the 1st Division supported by those of AGS fail to eliminate the T34's and I fear further Russian troops may yet reinforce their counter attack. The defenders of Mitensk also continued their stubborn defiance.

Undaunted by my forces the Russian tanks press their attack doing some harm but also weakening themselves.

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:17 pm

October 29th 1941 (10)
The rain has stopped but it is still overcast.

In the north my forces discover Kalinin is undefended and easily secure the city.

The 3rd Division has destroyed a Russian Infantry Regiment holding the 2nd defensive line, slightly further to the north my Luftflotte has located forces mustering to defend Volokolamsk.

The 2nd Division took Kaluga destroying the defending Flak Regiment.

In the south with the Luftwaffe now able to support once more the T34's are destroyed and the 1st Division succeeds in taking Mitensk.
AGS forces spread out east to protect our flanks.

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:39 am

November 1st 1941 (11)
The cloud cover has cleared

My Northern battle group advances on Klin which is only poorly defended by a Regiment of Conscripts

One more Regiment of regular Infantry and two of Conscript Infantry are confirmed to be defending Volokolomsk. With the majority of the 3rd Division pausing for resupply little progress was made though I expect things will improve over the next few days.

Maloyarolavets and Serpukhsv were undefended and easily secured by the 2nd Division, advanced elements confirm Fominisk is also devoid of defenders.

Tula is well defended by a Russian Para Regiment, 2 Conscript Regiments and an Artillery Regiment.

Deployed to the front the Artillery was easily overrun and the 1st Division moved up in force.

AGS Panzers fanning out on my right flank are ambushed by another Regiment of T34's, Stuka's from my Luftflotte are dispatched to remove this threat.

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:23 am

November 4th 1941 (12)
Klin was neutralised by the Luftwaffe as my northern battle group assembles for the assault.

The 3rd Division has begun their push on Volokolamsk and hope to take the city in the next few days.
The Soviet Fighter Wing was also dealt with by my Luftflotte regaining total air supremacy once more.

The Soviets are truly getting desperate, two more Conscript Regiments have been hastily assembled to protect Naro Fominsk. They are quickly driven back with heavy loses.

The assault on Tula has stalled although the 1st Division did destroy more Soviet Conscripts holding one of the cities flanks.

The Red Army once more proves its stubbornness by launching several counter attacks across the front. They are without exception poorly organised and with close artillery support my forces easily drive them back with heavy loss.

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:01 am

November 7th 1941 (13)
Klin is easily taken

Volokolamsk falls to the 3rd Division though the 2nd Grenadier Regiment is left a little exposed

The 2 Conscript Regiments that took part in the counter attack are finished off even though one had retreated to the Moscow defence line. The 2nd Division will now be moving into position ready for the attack on the Soviet capital.

Tula has been secured and the remaining Red Army units in the are have been eliminated

Another counter attack on Volokolomsk is easily beaten back by my Grenadiers.

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 6:08 pm

November 10th 1941 (14)
The weather turns sour once more with a heavy cloud cover and rain predicted.

The northern battle group has moved in on Dmitrov in readiness of an assault

The 3rd Division has succeeded in eliminating the remaining Soviet forces near Volokolomsk and now prepare to move east to join in the final push on Moscow

The 2nd Division has the honour of becoming the first of my forces to approach Moscow and find the fortifications only lightly manned. Further more it would appear Moscow itself is poorly defended with only one regular Infantry Regiment and several Conscript Regiments.
One of the Conscripts defending the south west bridge to the city is eliminated and an Anti-tank Regiment although heavily fortified badly reduced.

The 1st Division continues the drive north towards Kolomna, they are still far away from the expected rear assault on Moscow.

Several Flak Regiments in and around Moscow open fire on my support Luftflotte causing light casualties but suggesting the Soviet capital may be better defended than I first thought.

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 6:48 pm

November 13th 1941 (15)
Rain as expected but clear weather and skies are predicted.

I have received a memo from High Command advising me of further developments with our Stuka's, improved hard attack without impairing their ability to target sort targets.

In the north Dmitrov falls but with heavy casualties, my forces shall now advance on Moscow from the north.

The 2nd and 3rd Divisions combine to advance on Moscow from the west and south. A further Conscript Regiment has been destroyed and another badly mauled. The Anti-tank Regiment manning the defences was also finished off.

The 1st Division has moved into position to cross the Oka river in force over the next few days. My expectations of how fast they could advance to close the trap on Moscow proved wildly optimistic though for the most part their slow advance has been the fault of AGS forces failing to adopt an aggressive stance.

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 7:12 pm

November 16th 1941 (16)
Heavy snows have begun and the ground has frozen over!

My northern battle group approach Moscow from the North while the 2nd and 3rd Divisions run rampant. 3 Conscript Regiments destroyed and several more badly damaged, I predict it will be only a matter of days before my troops are occupying Moscow.

The 1st Division have completed their final objective before Moscow and should arrive in time to assist in the assault.

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 7:50 pm

November 19th 1941 (17)
The snow continues to assail my forces and my Luftflotte remain grounded.

The 2nd and 3rd Divisions continue the slaughter at the gates of Moscow as two more Conscript Regiments are destroyed and others suffer heavy loses.
My northern battle group has assaulted a Russian Artillery position knocking out many large calibre guns.

To the east the 1st Division has encountered some Russian reserves and an Engineer Regiment halted their advance though at a cost.

The Red army is not yet ready to throw in the towel and they commit what I can only assuem is their final strategic reserve; a BA10 armoured car Regiment makes no impact attacking AGN's StuG support.

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:07 pm

November 22nd 1941 (18)
The snow has stopped but it is still overcast and the ground frozen solid.

My forces have completed the encirclement of Moscow leaving only four Infantry Regiments (1 Regular, 1 Engineer, 1 Guard and 1 Conscript) defending the capital. Around the city eight enemy Regiments were eliminated (3 Conscript, 2 Artillery, 2 Flak and 1 Anti-tank) I sense victory is close.
The BA10 Regiment that has attempted to break the siege lines were all but destroyed as an effective fighting force

To the east the Soviet Engineers who delayed the 1st Divisions advance were also eliminated.

The Soviets, still showing courage launch multiple counter attacks all of which fail leading to the destruction of the remaining BA10's.

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 5:24 pm

November 25th 1941 (19)
It is snowing again and the ground remained frozen.

With the destruction of a Conscript Regiment and an Engineer Regiment the Soviet defences at Moscow are spread thinly

Still not giving up a Russian T60 Armoured Regiment appears from the east but fails to attack

November 28th 1941 (20)
The snow has stopped though the skies are still filled with cloud, weather forecasters have predicted a deluge which will cause the ground conditions to deteriorate.

The last defenders of Moscow have been eliminated and now my forces move in to secure the city.

The Russian T60's were easily despatched only to be replaced by a fresh BT-7 Regiment.

December 1st 1941 (21)
Still unwilling to surrender the Soviets send more conscripts to their deaths.

December 4th 1941 (22)
Moscow was finally secured today though we have failed to capture Stalin. The last of the Red Army Regiments are also wiped out and all there is to do is wait for the Soviet surrender.

Tarrak · Post by **Tarrak** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 3:09 am

I see you only managed a minor victory in Moscow 41. Did you delay on purpose to play a longer campaign or did you get boggled down by the weather?

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:13 pm

Tarrak wrote:I see you only managed a minor victory in Moscow 41. Did you delay on purpose to play a longer campaign or did you get boggled down by the weather?

I always wanted a minor to get an extra 3 scenario's in before (hopefully) America however I did get bogged down and I don't think a Major victory would have ever been possible

Its hard to know for certain as I didn't push as hard in places as I could have and barely used the auxilary units I had however I think I would have failed at getting a major even if I'd wanted one.

Tarrak · Post by **Tarrak** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:55 am

Horseman wrote:
Tarrak wrote:I see you only managed a minor victory in Moscow 41. Did you delay on purpose to play a longer campaign or did you get boggled down by the weather?
I always wanted a minor to get an extra 3 scenario's in before (hopefully) America however I did get bogged down and I don't think a Major victory would have ever been possible

Its hard to know for certain as I didn't push as hard in places as I could have and barely used the auxilary units I had however I think I would have failed at getting a major even if I'd wanted one.

Thanks for the info. I was trying hard to get major in this scenario but i got boggled down by the bloody weather all the time too. Now seeing others have the problems too i don't feel that incompetent anymore.

Good luck with the rest of your campaign and your AAR. I am eagerly awaiting it.

Korrigan · Post by **Korrigan** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:47 am

Tarrak wrote:I was trying hard to get major in this scenario but i got boggled down by the bloody weather all the time too.

Isn't frozen ground perfect weather to take Moscow itself?

Tarrak · Post by **Tarrak** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:01 pm

Korrigan wrote:
Tarrak wrote:I was trying hard to get major in this scenario but i got boggled down by the bloody weather all the time too.
Isn't frozen ground perfect weather to take Moscow itself?

It helps you to cross the river but before the frozen weather i had a very long period of mud which led to my troops crawling forwards painfully slow. The distance to travel in Moscow 41 is almost as much as an obstacle as the Red Army. With all the extended mud phases i be so bold to say maybe even greater one.

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 5:28 pm

Tarrak wrote:
Korrigan wrote:
Tarrak wrote:I was trying hard to get major in this scenario but i got boggled down by the bloody weather all the time too.
Isn't frozen ground perfect weather to take Moscow itself?
It helps you to cross the river but before the frozen weather i had a very long period of mud which led to my troops crawling forwards painfully slow. The distance to travel in Moscow 41 is almost as much as an obstacle as the Red Army. With all the extended mud phases i be so bold to say maybe even greater one.

Its not just the ground conditions either...rain and snow ground the Luftwaffe and tackiling those T34's without air support definately slowed me down too let alone all the other times when a good air strike could have cleared units out of my way quicker

Tarrak · Post by **Tarrak** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 7:19 am

Horseman wrote:Its not just the ground conditions either...rain and snow ground the Luftwaffe and tackiling those T34's without air support definately slowed me down too let alone all the other times when a good air strike could have cleared units out of my way quicker

Yes this is of course an additional problem with bad weather but to be honest my PzIII was surprisingly effective vs even the T34s.

Horseman · Post by **Horseman** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 8:41 am

December 7th 1941
My Corps has been transferred west to rest and refit and news has already reached me that much of my hard won gains have been thrown away.
I have however received a list of honours won my my men in their latest campaign, Hero's of Germany indeed