AAR - Delaying the Inevitable Alternate Reality [finished]

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:15 pm

December 29th 1943

The Allies declare war on Belgium, who join the Axis!

I guess I better garrison the Siegfried line then.

Manstein and Rommell have made slow progress due to the snow and mud, but are closing in on Minsk - if they can continue to Kaunas and then Konigsberg they will encircle another large Russian element. Forces are getting low though, only 5 Armoured units and 2 Mechanised, plus 3 assorted Corps including Hungarians.

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:28 pm

January 18th 1944

The ME262 Jet Fighter enters service and so all front-line Luftwaffe units get upgraded. I am able to sell most of the labs researching air tech and this gives enough production to produce a new armoured unit, the first one for quite a few months.

Air superiority in the West is unquestionably lost, but for now we can live with the occasional raid on the Ruhr, if the Allies step up the bombing campaign I can move fighters back to defend the Reich.

The Eastern front is more closely matched but it is slightly in our favour still as although we are slightly outnumbered our greater technology is giving us a slight edge. I am hopeful Manstein and Rommel can cause some severe losses to the Russian air force once they arrive at their great aerodrome north of Konigsberg.

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:40 pm

February 7th 1944

Belgium holds and gives time for a defence of the Siegfried line to form.

Not much to report in the East, mainly upgrading and reinforcing weakened units.

There is the possibility of launching an assault at Moscow but that would mean splitting Model and Manstein's force that is trying to cut off the bulk of the Northern Red Army, so some extra units are railed in to see if this can happen.

I also need some German units in the South as the entire South appears relatively undefended, also a general there to command the new Army Group South on a drive East and to the Caucuses might be worthwhile, although oil supplies are still very healthy.

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:50 pm

February 27th 1944

Belgium falls - just and the Allies declare war on Holland, who is the fascist here exaclty?

Looks like I need to extend the Siegfried line!

The Russians mount a counterattack in the defence of Moscow, but I'm not too scared!

This shows how Manstein force will head North West while Model goes for Moscow, both forces will receive another couple of divisions each before Spring.

There's a lot of activity around Denmark, two transports spotted, one attacked by the Graf Zeppelin and so I send most of the Luftwaffe there to foil any invasion attempt as the Eastern Front is fairly quiet at the moment.

I also suspect an Ally attack and invasion of Southern Italy soon due to increased naval activity. The Italians are almost wiped out in North Africa now, it's been something of a backwater.

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 7:43 pm

Allies declare war on Switzerland!

March 1943

The Reich is going to collapse pretty quickly if I am not careful, the Western Front is holding up just about, Guderian is now in command:

Large invasion forces off the North coast, badly damaged by the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine, who sail out of the Baltic into the North Sea to engage - they wont last long but might beat off this attack and it's crucial they do as I've few forces in the area to fight an invasion that gets established.

In the East, the offensives are still slow going due to the weather and the only real resistance is around Minsk as Manstein is now fighting a desperate battle to try to isolate the main Russia forces. These forces in turn are putting the German defences under strain and have captured Brest-Litovsk, this must be retaken when the weather improves.

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 7:54 pm

April 27th 1944

The Danish peninsular is being flanked by a LOT of Allied transports, they've not tried to invade Denmark yet though. The Kriegsmarine has sunk many transports along with the Luftwaffe but there are just too many of them. This has given time for a few more German units to be brough up close to the beaches though.

Western Front holds up, my new armour division has been deployed in this area as I fear it will be needed soon!

Desperation on the Eastern front, despite fair weather Manstein is making extremely slow progress, there are many Russian units in his path!

The main front is holding though and has pushed back the foe near Danzig and we almost retook Brest-Litovsk.

I fear that by Winter this year we will be fighing on the defensive on all fronts however.

One plus is Model is proving the hero once more as he closes in on Moscow, capturing the final city in the way - to be fair he hasn't had much opposition as most of the Russian army is in a tiny area around Konigsberg!

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:12 pm

May 17th 1944

Eastern Front extremely tricky now, Manstein makes barely any progress and has to halt as his flanks are looking exposed, Romanian and Bularians are brought up to help hold the flanks.

von Rundstedt makes a brave drive on Konigsberg to some effect but Brest-Litovsk is proving a tough nut, Rommel is given orders to concentrate on this target as his primary objective.

Model makes good progress, his advance units are within a hundred or so miles of Moscow, encircling a Russian Armoured unit.

On the Western front, we hold the Siegfried line and wipe out one Allied unit that managed to get ashore in Northern Germany, but many transports are gathering and we cannot attack them all, the Kriegsmarine will cease to be a fighting force soon now.

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 9:38 pm

June 6th

The Allies invade Denmark, another front to try to hold!

Not much else to report this turn, Manstein is halted and loses an armour unit, Model reaches Moscow with his vanguard but not enough force to attack yet.

The Italians are being pushed back now.

The end is nigh, last desperate throw of the dice as the Luftwaffe heads East again to try to force the advance again.

Crazygunner1 · Post by **Crazygunner1** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:21 pm

I enjoy reading this aar, very exciting. I really hope you close that gap and encircle the northern russian force. I think that should be your main priority, after that you can easily redistribute forces as you see fit.

Crazyg

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 6:53 am

July 17th 1944

Model encircles Moscow!

We also capture Konigsberg and Brest Litovsk with the help of Luftwaffe forces, Manstein makes slow progress once again.

Bad news in the West, Bern falls and Switzerland surrenders, this causes a gap in our line that will need filling.

afk_nero · Post by **afk_nero** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 7:31 am

Enjoying the AAR - I am looking forward to seeing if you pocket the Ruskies.

one quick question - where are your paratroopers.

A small point to note - you refer to the units as divisions but in reality they are Corps (2-4 divisions). The Garrison type units represent single divisions.

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 8:16 am

August 5th 1944

MOSCOW IS TAKEN!

Model will win his diamonds for this - there is little enemy presence in the area so after resting and resupplying we will need to decide if we push on or head back to assist Manstein.

Manstein has made some progress too:

In the West we hold but barely, losses are now difficult to replace and the Allies are attacking into Germany from Denmark, but we hold the line of the Kiel Canal for now.

Units from South Russia are being brought back to defend the Reich and to help hold Manstein's ever lengthening flanks.

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 8:48 am

August 25th 1944

Winter is coming and the Allies now threaten Stuttgart as they bypass the Siegfried line to the South, I am really struggling to find units to fill the gaps now!

Manstein reaches Vilna, so close to encircling the major Russian formation, if we can do that then I can spare forces to protect the Reich, but time is running out.

Model sends most of his non-German forces to help Manstein and his flanks while the rest of his force rests ready to push East.

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:53 pm

September 14th 1944

The Allies have a beach-head!

In Russia, slow progress as Manstein suffers a counterattack and falls back, but then regains the lost ground.

October 24th 1944

Mansteins leading elements are cut off by a strong Russian counterattack, but by some last-ditch attacking his rearguard manages to fight through to relieve them!

Model captures Gorki and continues East with his supply lines becoming more and more tenuous but they hold still.

Western front holding but French armour now penetrating deep into Austria through the Alps.

I sold most of my labs to enable us to build a new Mech unit, the first new unit for several months and also recruit Leeb who will be useful to help in the defence of the Reich as he is experienced in defensive doctrine.

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 1:14 pm

Ovember 13th 1944

Disaster!

Denmark falls and the Allies enter the Baltic in force, with nothing to stop them they establish a beach-head some 100 miles long - all forces are pulled back with the exception of Model who is now past Gorki and Manstein who is practically trapped.

The best we can hope for is to contain this but it will not be for very long and the Russians are now free to advance, the end is nigh.

I've managed to recruit another new unit, just an Infantry but it is woefully inadequate to defend against this new threat.

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 1:49 pm

December 3rd 1944

We've managed to get forces together to stabilise this new front - and Hitler thought he had it tough with 2 fronts!

Not sure if we can hold for long though, pressure is mounting from all directions!

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 2:05 pm

January 12th 1945

Manstein's forces are no more, encircled and overwhelmed by numerous Russian attacks.

Model continues his advance, but slowly due to the Winter.

We've repelled all the Allied beach-heads but the Russians are closing in, not enough forces to hold them back and maintain a defence along the coast.

The Italians are now also starting to suffer and have fallen back, Milan will fall soon.

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 2:07 pm

afk_nero wrote:Enjoying the AAR - I am looking forward to seeing if you pocket the Ruskies.

one quick question - where are your paratroopers.

A small point to note - you refer to the units as divisions but in reality they are Corps (2-4 divisions). The Garrison type units represent single divisions.

Thanks, I know about the Corps/Divisions but feel it's easier and more consistent to refer to them as Divisions, even if it isn't technically correct! I'll review this for my next AAR.

I've not really had the need for paras as I've not fought the usual style of campaign, also struggled to get SS units as my forces have been engaged almost constantly.

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 2:15 pm

February 1945

We've stablished most of the lines now, just need a few more units to help hold back the Russians further South as they now threaten Krakow.

Model has now stalled, used the bad weather to upgrade his forces, now just one Armoured, one Mechanised unit!

davidjwest · Post by **davidjwest** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 2:27 pm

February 21st 1945

Surprisingly quiet, Russians still advancing but we've almost checked them again.