Victor (axis) vs Pion Urpo (allies).

[gerones]

Turn 37. August 21, 1941

Leningrad was isolated.

Leningrad is now cut off from 5 supply level. And to make the things even worse for the Leningrad defenders Luftwaffe strategic bombings over the city are becoming devastating so it was reduced to 2 PP´s. Wehrmacht attacked and destroyed 2nd Soviet Army that until now linked Leningrad with the rest of Russia. This leaves the things in a favourable situation for the germans to seize old Russian Empire capital.

Meanwhile, in southern USSR the things can´t go better for the axis. Kursk, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk and Kherson were captured. Soviet forces there are less strong than in the north so OKH is planning a concentrated attack in Rostov.

• 

Eastern front now completely focus the attention of the game so only to mention that german U-boats continue to attack convoys: this turn it was the central one.

[gerones]

Turn 38. September 10, 1941

Siege of Leningrad begins

Luftwaffe bombers reduced Leningrad to 0 PP´s. This means that the city has decreased its supply level from 3 to 1. Axis forces have really a fair chance to take the city since land attacks achieved to reduce soviet 7th Army strength to 6 steps. Now all is ready for the final assault on the next turn which, if successful, will allow to link the finns with the rest of Axis forces.

• 

Army Group South is still active and this turn captured Stalino. Since it is 10 september 1941 and there´s only one more guaranteed fair weather turn, may be it would be a little bit risky to try something in Rostov.

• 

A 39-stregth central convoy was definitely sunk by U-boats.

[Schnurri]

I'd go for Rostov in September - it is on the right side of the river for defense and you can rail troops up behind the river. I you can take it in one or two turns max it should be worth it.

[gerones]

Turn 39. September 30, 1941

No screenshots this turn in which axis forces around Leningrad continued to attack the city. Leningrad defenders are really tough and they still hold at 3 steps at the end of the turn.

I'd go for Rostov in September - it is on the right side of the river for defense and you can rail troops up behind the river. I you can take it in one or two turns max it should be worth it.

Actually axis forces finally decided to attack Rostov: they were successful at the first stages of the offensive and reached the outskirts of the city. Nevertheless strong soviet forces were spotted in this area. Surely Urpo has reinforced this area and he will defend Rostov at all costs. It all depends on the next turn weathern to achieve something in this sector but anyway it would be rather complicated to take the city.

[gerones]

Turn 40. October 20, 1941

Mud stops axis offensive in Rostov.

Weather turns to mud in Northern Europe. This makes impossible to do anything in Rostov whilst Leningrad defenders were reduced to 1 step so the city should reasonably fall on the next turn. Highlighted areas in the image below can be seen in zoom level 3.

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• Leningrad

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• Rostov

• 

[Schnurri]

Since you didn't get Rostov I'd abandon Stalino and pull back to Dnepro... - As Russians I always launch the winter offensive out of Stalingrad and Rostov - similar to what Morris did to Plaid. I'd assume the Siberian reserves and plans are all waiting for the go order and you should have a couple of turns to consolidate.

[gerones]

Since you didn't get Rostov I'd abandon Stalino and pull back to Dnepro... - As Russians I always launch the winter offensive out of Stalingrad and Rostov - similar to what Morris did to Plaid. I'd assume the Siberian reserves and plans are all waiting for the go order and you should have a couple of turns to consolidate.

The issue here is that changes made to Eastern Front scenario to fight against Morris german armoured blob have really affected to normal Barbarossa operations. Fair weather possibility on november in Northern Europe zone has been removed so if the weather turns to mud or winter right in october, the soviets are able to start their offensive movements from 20 october allies turn. Before, there was a 25% chance of fair weather in november and this was IMO right. Let´s think that the real germans were able to launch an offensive (Typhoon) in Moscow from 15 november to 4 december 1941. As a consequence of this, the soviets now become excessively confident about the weather so they start their offensive movements in october.

[Schnurri]

This is true. Against Morris and Mamahuhu I launched devasting attacks on the Axis (though they did get Rostov) from Stalingrad that forced them to withdraw precipitously - they withdrew all the way to Germany which is a bit excessive, but...also, the more severe penalties on Axis recovery of efficiency makes it easier to have a prolonged, devastating winter offensive.

[gerones]

Turn 41. November 9, 1941

The fall of Leningrad

After a heroic resistance Leningrad defenders finally surrendered. The siege of the city has lasted more than 2 months so lack of food and ammunition have made desperate the situation of the soviet troops. Now, german and its allys are able to make strategic redeployments from all over the territories they control. Moscow was reduced to 3 PP´s because of Luftwaffe strategic bombings that did not stop no matter the bad weather.

This turn it was winter so the Barbarossa campaign can be considered as finished. Germans failed to take Novgorod as one of the main objectives planned for this 1941 campaign but they achieved more than expected in the south no matter they could not finally take Rostov.

• 

Red Army surely will start its winter offensive attacks right from this turn.

[richardsd]

You look very weak in the South, if he has spotted this the Russian's will a free ride all the way to Hungary.

[gerones]

You look very weak in the South, if he has spotted this the Russian's will a free ride all the way to Hungary.

Fortunately for the germans in the last updates spotting ranges are also halved for the soviets in bad weather so he won´t be able to see much. Anyway, OKH estimates (from new Forces window) that the soviets have a strong army of 40-45 infantry corps and 4-5 mech corps. (siberian reserve units still not included). To have built this huge infantry army will probably have made reduce USSR manpower level close to 75 limit. So Mikko will surely avoid unnecessary losses in his infantry forces and he will likely wait for severe winter to start the assault to german lines.

My intention is to build a defensive line in the south as quick as possible and to also organize in this sector of the front delaying actions here and there. Now, with Leningrad captured, the germans will be able to free 1-2 corps units from this sector. Also, second line of units of double defensive line can be covered with garrison units, etc.

[zechi]

As you captured Leningrad, I would sstrongly recommend to use the Finnish INF in the coming Soviet winter offensive as front units, as they are winterized and they have good tech levels.

[gerones]

Turn 42. November 29, 1941

Mud weather everywhere. In Eastern front, the Wehrmacht took the chance to organize their defenses for winter. New railed units come to the front line to cover the endless territories of USSR. Others were reinforced or upgraded. Strategic bombing campaign in Moscow was cancelled because of the weather.

What has happened in Western Europe during all of this time? Almost nothing. Only RAF bombers started bombing Scholven Synth plant and the Ruhr. But almost inmediately, Luftwaffe was going to take control of the situation and british bombers withdrawn when they started to increase their losses.

It is time to come back to other fronts. Specially, the Mediterranean scenario has increased a little its activity with the RAF becoming more and more active in Africa. Royal Navy has not appeared yet so may be it will not become such a strong naval force as I thought at first. There´s a little possibility that Rommel takes the command of Afrika Korps in a near future but this is not for sure.

• 

I will soon post current italian lab situation.

[gerones]

As you captured Leningrad, I would sstrongly recommend to use the Finnish INF in the coming Soviet winter offensive as front units, as they are winterized and they have good tech levels.

That is true. It will also allow the germans to free some units in Leningrad front and redeploy them in the much needed Southern front.

[Plaid]

Victor, as you have only 1 german ground unit in africa, its really little use to deploy expensive Rommel for the area.
Some general with 4-5 stars and stat bonus will be just as good, while it will cost twice as less.

[gerones]

Turn 43. December 19, 1941

Winter weather this turn. Axis forces were busy these last turns building their defensive line in Eastern Front. It is planned to build a strong one from Leningrad to Kiev and from this city to Dnepropetrovsk or Kherson the defense line would be weaker. Red Army did not yet make any attack to axis positions but II romanian Corps was trapped NE of Rostov and nothing can be done to save it.

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Wehrmacht has finally deployed in Eastern front 30 corps, 5 mech corps and 4 armoured corps units. This is a pretty significant effort so more than 85% german military power is invested in Barbarossa. Italy, has also made a considerable effort and has deployed 9 corps units and 1 garrison. So the total of axis land forces in Eastern front in december 1941 are the following:

48 corps units
7 mech corps
4 armoured corps
24 garrisons

OKH estimates that Red Army forces are 40-45 corps, 7-8 mech corps, 2 armoured corps and 25-30 garrisons. As you can see, forces are balanced numerically for this first 1941 winter campaing in Russia. A major Red Army offensive is expected in southern USSR so cities like Kursk, Kharkov, Stalino will probably be lost almost for sure. It would be a great defensive success if Dnepropetrovsk can hold for all the winter.

In other fronts, RAF Bomber Command definitely stopped bombing Germany and now the british bombers are focussed in bombing rail facilities in France with Paris as their main objective. In Africa, there weren´t RAF air attacks to land forces this turn. May be Mikko will not try major offensive here until USA joins the allies.

Severe winter started this turn.

[gerones]

Turn 44. January 8, 1942

Red Army launched a general offensive this turn as it was expected. Isolated II romanian Corps and italian 11 Corpo were destroyed. Furthermore, Corpo Alpini was cut off and Messi´s HQ 5 Corpo saw its strength halved. Messi was forced to evacuate the area that is zoomed to level 3 in the image below for better seeing soviet offensive in southern Russia.

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Probably primary objectives of this first soviet offensive turn were to liberate Bryansk and Kursk. Both cities were heavily attacked by the russians but both still holds. Reserve siberian elite units are spreaded all over the front and they launch many attacks from Novgorod to Bryansk. Surely with this attacks Mikko wants to take the chance for reducing german PP´s and manpower but this also means that he is not going to direct a strong soviet punch in any particular sector. We will see how much in a hurry will be the soviets on the next turn in southern front. If they want to finish off the numerous axis pockets in the area, the axis will gain a precious time for organizing a stand in Dnepropetrovsk so the city can hold for all the winter. If the axis is not successful in holding at Dnepr river, then the defensive line will be formed further west between Kiev and Kherson. Highlighted area in the image below correspond with the zoomed above.

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Turning back to Western Europe, Luftwaffe High Command was amazed in how strong British Bomber Command is in a so early date as january 1942 is.

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Also to mention that RAF resumed its air strikes over axis land forces in Lybia.

[gerones]

Victor, as you have only 1 german ground unit in africa, its really little use to deploy expensive Rommel for the area.
Some general with 4-5 stars and stat bonus will be just as good, while it will cost twice as less.

I´d prefer a commander with +1 ground attack bonus for DAK. Dietrich is 40 PP´s, Hoth is 50 PP´s and Rommel is 70 PP´s. The difference is obviously in command range: Rommel will be able to increase the effectiveness of Luftwaffe Afrika whilst the other two ones mentioned don´t. We will see how this goes on.

[gerones]

Turn 45. January 28, 1942

No screenshots this turn. Worst expectations happened in southern front since the germans lost Kursk, Kharkov, Stalino and Bryansk in a single turn. Effectively, Red Army firstly wanted to eliminate all of those axis pockets before making an approach to Dnepr river.

In Africa, RAF continued its ground attacks.

[gerones]

Turn 46. February 17, 1942

As last turn I also got no screenshots. Only to mention that soviet offensive in the south achieved to form a bridgehead in Dnepr river and that the extremely weak axis defenses there were overrun. Wehrmacht forces made first counterattacks and achieved to restore the line near Kalinin where the russians destroyed a german infantry corps there making a hole in the defensive line.