Slitherine

(starting with McGuba's Kursk save game - round 51)

Berlin – July 04 1943 – Hauptquartier der Deutschen Wehrmacht

Top secret meeting between Reichsfeldmarschall Ludwig Werner, his military advisors and the leaders of the German Heer, Marine and Luftwaffe to explain the global Wehrmacht strategy for the year 1943 and 1944 that Werner and the OKW (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht) has worked out. Reichsfeldmarschall Werner is ending his speech with the following sentences:

“Meine Herren,
as you know in these days we face a lethal military challenge and we have to prove that the outstanding military power of the German Wehrmacht can still change the course of this war.

The last months brought us shocking and shameful defeats at Tobruk and in Stalingrad. You all know that the war in the east was nearly lost begin of this year but we were able to stabilize our front again. It is now the last chance to turn the table in the east. With our new Panzer weapon - the Panther and Tiger divisions - we have the most powerful tanks on the battlefields. And we have the most experienced and best soldiers in the world.

Our goal is to win the war in the east until mid of 1945 and to hold a draw in the west and the Mediterranean battlefields.
With operation Zitadelle we will start a decisive blow against the Red Army frontline at Kursk. We will break through the Red Army front line and encircle and destroy several of their best armies. If Zitadelle as successful as we except we will use the confusion in the Red Army to directly attack Moscow and Stalingrad.

Intelligence tell us about a planned invasion of Sicily and Italy. It is clear that we can’t allow Patton or Montgomery to reach the borders of the Reich from the south. The Italians will not be able to stop the upcoming invasion of Sicily. The OKW is preparing the defense of the Italian mainland near Rome with Italian and German troops.

Much more dangerous for us is the planned invasion of the Anglo Americans in France in 1944. If they land we will have to bring so many troops from the eastern front to France that we will loose the initiative in the east again. Thus the OKW has decided to counter this allied invasion with our own invasion of Scotland. This will be a surprise for the allies and will prevent or at least postpone the invasion of France until we have finished the Russians.

That’s all for today. You have your orders. You all can leave now except General von Runstedt and Admiral Dönitz.”

After the core of the people left, Werner is presenting the plan for operation Seelöwe to General von Runstedt and Admiral Dönitz.

“Meine Herren,
You both will command our troops that are landing in England. General von Runstedt will command the Heer, Admiral Dönitz will command the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe in this battle. Intelligence told us that there is a weak point in the British coastal defense this will allow us to break through the defense lines and land our troops in Scotland. You will conquer and defend Edinburgh and Glasgow cutting off Scotland from the British Empire. Here have a look at our tactical map”.
Step 1: Gather invasion forces with troop transports and the Kriegsmarine in ZONE 1 (red) in winter 1943. Our four destroyer fleets will be repaired to full strength because their capabilities are mandatory for our success.

Step 2: With begin of snow fall the destroyers will open the mines defense line at the point marked with the red X. Because of the bad weather the British will not detect this action.

Step 3: The destroyers will attack the British submarine flotilla south of Aberdeen. It is important that the submarines are destroyed as quickly as possible to open the way to our landing site named “kingslanding” (green crosses). The battleships will destroy the British destroyer fleet south of Aberdeen. The battleship HMS Rodney is ruling the coastal sea and has to be destroyed to prevent them from firing on our troop transporters. We have planned the battleship Tirpitz, two heavy cruisers and a submarine flotilla to finish the Rodney immediately.

Step 4 (parallel to step 3): Attacking the British vessels will alarm the Royal Navy and they will send the strong British fleet from Scapa Flow south to destroy our forces. Our submarines (a pity we have only two flotillas available, the other ones are cut off at the French Atlantic coast) and battleships will block the British ships to enter the yellow dashed areas from where they could fire on our invasion forces that have entered ZONE 2 (yellow) to prepare the landing.

Step 5: Land our forces near Aberdeen at kingslanding (green crosses). Establish a beach head and move quickly through the mountain area to the south west to attack and conquer Glasgow. Main core will be several Gebirgsjäger divisions that can move quickly through the mountains. They will be supported by infantry, Grenadier, artillery and 88er anti air / antitank weapons. These troops can be resupplied and repaired with the help of Scottish separatists.

Step 6: Retreat back our surviving battleships to Norway for repair. Establish a supply route through the Northern Sea to send more troops to Scotland if necessary.

Essential for the success of Seelöwe is the weather. The whole operation has to be started with snow fall in 43 and has to be finished until the snow fall ends in 44. If not our forces will come in the crossfire of the British forts, the artillery near Glasgow and the HMS Rodney (blue arrows). Additionally overwhelming Anglo American bomber forces will attack our ships. This would lead to a disaster for our forces. Nevertheless a fleet of bombers and fighters will be stationed at Stavanger to support in the case the weather gets clear to early.

So you are giving it another go, eh?

Wouldn't it be easier to instead attack Southern England? Or is the Kriegsmarine mostly stuck in the North?

Yes, I want to give it a last try.

In the south I see no chance to land any units because there is immediately armor coming to the coast blocking the landing forces.

The area around Aberdeen in the north has the big advantage that there are no British ground forces there and also no forces that can move there immediately. Disadvantage is of course the Scapa Flow fleet that will strike hard against my ships. But I don't have to win this sea battle. I "only" have to protect my transporters until they landed (3 rounds) but this is difficult enough.

Also the isthmus between Glasgow and Edinburgh can be defended easily against counter attacks from the south. If two Gebirgsjäger units are deeply entrenched and covered by artillery they can stop every attack from the south (as long as the British do not make their own landing operation north in the back of the German troops).

I think on the whole east coast of England there is only one weak point. Undefended Aberdeen (I guess they are all on the way south to prepare operation Overlord ).

Orders for Admiral Dönitz.

Battleship Tirpitz; North Sea not far from the English mine belt – December 27 1943 – Bridge

Admiral Dönitz is looking in worries out of the big windows. Even the damn weather seems to be on the British side. It looks like the snow fall is stopping soon and the sky clears. Too early! Beim Klabautermann, much too early! Dönitz is looking disgusted at the weather forecast and then at the map showing the order of battle.

Until now the operation worked very well undetected by the enemy. The four destroyer fleets that have trained mine removing far a long time in Norway have done a perfect job. They removed the mine field as quickly as possible. Dönitz lost 20% of his destroyers but that is the expected rate.

All battleships are in position. In the north the German submarines slowly sneak through the mine fields to reach their final positions. A new submarine flotilla is coming from Kiel with highest speed to join the upcoming battle against the HMS Rodney.

But now the weather is changing. Soon the Royal Navy will see the German destroyers and some of the German battleships. They will count two and two together and will know what is happening. Invasion! And then they will send the Royal Navy, the Royal Airforce and the United States Airforce to fire on the German ships. German fighters and tactical bombers will protect the fleet, but only the transport ships. This will be the doom for the Kriegsmarine if they retreat not immediately. Or if the weather is not changing soon back to snow fall.

Especially critical will be the situation for the German destroyers. They have to eliminate the British submarine flotilla protecting the coast near Aberdeen. But with good weather the destroyers will be targeted by the HMS Rodney and the British fort near Edinburgh. If the destroyers fail to remove the British submarines the whole invasion is not possible anymore.

Dönitz had planned even to wait some more days until the submarine flotilla from Kiel is in firing range on the HMS Rodney covered by the snow fall but the time is running out. The flotilla will come too late.

Dönitz has used his Enigma machine to report all this to Berlin, recommending the immediate retreat to Norway.
Admiral Dönitz is waiting one hour walking around. Then a message is coming from Berlin and the communication officer is decrypting the order from Reichsfeldmarschall Werner.

K . I . N . G . S . L . A . N . D . I . N . G

Admiral Dönitz is staring at the dark waves of the ice cold North Sea. It looks like a hungry monster waiting to be fed with German sailors and proud German battleships ...

GeneralWerner wrote:Yes, I want to give it a last try.

Not yet time to go global? The Japanese Emperor is quite disappointed.

- BNC

In the moment Scotland is my target. The world will also be there tomorrow

Battleship Tirpitz; in fight with HMS Rodney – January 08 1944 – strongly damaged bridge

Admiral Dönitz is lightly injured. The HMS Rodney is giving the German fleet a hard fight. The British battle cruiser was strongly hit but also the Tirpitz. One of the German heavy cruisers is seriously damaged, the second one is still in good condition.

The German destroyers again made an excellent work and have nearly eliminated the British submarines. The defense line in the north and the submarines are waiting for the British Scapa Flow fleet including the battleships HMS Warspite and HMS Repulse.

The German Luftwaffe is covering parts of the fleet and is awaiting now the attack of the Anglo American Air Force.

Berlin – February 7 1944 – headquarter of the OKW

Reichsfeldmarschall Werner is standing at an open window staring at the snow covered park under a blue sunny sky. From far away in the north he can hear some Flak fire. The British again seem to get serious to carry their bomber war deep into the Reich.

Werner is sitting down at his desk taking the telephone. Somebody is asking: “Jawoll, Herr Reichsfeldmarschall?”. Werner is responding: “Immediate radio message to Admiral Dönitz and General von Runstedt: The Reich is counting on you. Good success. Werner“

The Reichsfeldmarschall hangs up and mumbles: “If Dönitz and von Runstedt really have success, we could even win this war that was nearly lost one year ago.” Werner is looking at the reports that summarize the military operations of the last six month since the start of operation Zitadelle.

Kampfgruppe Seelöwe

Battleship Tirpitz; on the way north with highest speed – February 07 1944 – damaged Bridge
Admiral Dönitz is using his glasses to look north searching the HMS Warspite. The job for the Kriegsmarine near Aberdeen is done. The British submarines and the destroyers sunk. The HMS Rodney nearly helpless in the crosshairs of German submarines.
The way for the invasion fleet to the coast of Aberdeen is free now!
The Tirpitz and all remaining battleships are now enforcing the defense line in the north firing at the British destroyers while the German submarines do their best to survive as long as possible and keep the British battleships out of the sea area north of Aberdeen.
The Anglo American bombers make hit by hit on the unprotected German battleships but the fighter protection of the transport ships is still working.
Germany, Das Reich
Nothing to report. Sometimes carpet bombing of German cities.
For the next six month nothing special planned.

Italy
Our Italian ally did his best to postpone the Anglo American invasion of Sicily for several weeks. The OKW had decided to send no German troops to Sicily but to plan the defense of Italy in the mountains and hills around Rome. The enemy captured Sicily, entered the main land but then was slowed down by deeply entrenched German and Croatian infantry troops in Naples, Foggia and Taranto.
Finally these cities were captured by the Allies but now they face the entrenched German and Italian elite troops at the Gustav line and Monte Cassino.
The Anglo Americans have the naval and the air superiority in Italy.
For the next six month the plan is to hold the defense lines in Italy

Balkan
Fight against partisans.
Nothing special planned for the next six month.

Heeresgruppe Nord and Finnish troops
The attack on Leningrad was planned as a diversionary tactic to stop the Russians from sending enforcements from the north to the battle of Kursk. But in the meantime the Finish troops supported by some German divisions are so successful that Leningrad was already captured in the last weeks.
The plan for the next six month is to hold Leningrad and to set up an army that can move to and capture Archangelsk in the very north.

Heeregruppe Mitte
The decisive battle of Kursk is the main keystone in the OKW’s strategy to turn the table at the eastern front and get back the initiative in the battle of Russia. With our modern Panzer forces we were quickly able to close the pocket of Kursk and to destroy many Russian armies in the pocket. The Russian counter attack came as expected at our weakened defense line near Smolensk but by moving our victorious tank divisions quickly from Kursk to the northwest we are currently very confident to crush the Russian winter attack in this area and reach Moscow soon.
The Russian are ferociously defending the area west of Moscow and transport more and more strong troops to this area. Our main attack force near Moscow consists of six Panzer divisions (4x Panther, 1x IVG, 1x IVH).
North of Moscow the Russians tanks move quickly to the west by using a gap in the German defense line between Novgorod and Rzhev. This gap has to be closed by our troops immediately.
At Kursk the Russians started a counter attack. Our Tiger division is fighting there.
Heeresgruppe Süd, Romanian&Hungarian Allies
The Russian bear was shocked by the surprising attack of the German 8. Army on Stalingrad. The city was weakly defended and was captured after a short fight. The shame of Stalingrad where the 6. Army died one year ago is wiped out now. The Russians are currently sending fresh troops from the north east to counter attack our troops in Stalingrad.
The last occupied city in the Caucasus at the Black Sea – Novorossiysk – is defended by German and Romanian troops until today against overwhelming Russian forces.
We have recaptured the city of Rostov – the gate to the Caucasus.
The Red Army surprisingly attacked Sevastopol with an airborne operation. Our Romanian ally was able to repel this attack until German enforcements were moved to the Crimea.
The plan for the next six month is to repel all Russian counter attacks in this area.

Global summary:

The OKW is very satisfied with the strategy in the east. The OKW counts with strong Russian counter attacks at Moscow, Kursk and Stalingrad in the next months. After these attacks are repelled the Wehrmacht can reach the Volga River to end the war in the east.

In the west there are still good chances to invade Scotland and prevent the planned Anglo American invasion of Western Europe in the year 1944.

In Italy we have currently a draw.

Battleship Tirpitz; in fight with HMS Warspite – February 22 1944 – heavily damaged bridge

Admiral Dönitz is still alive but the captain and half of his officers on the bridge are gone by a direct hit from HMS Warspite. Endgame for the Kriegsmarine and Dönitz knows how the end looks like. They can only protect the invasion fleet as long as possible.

The fleet has reached the beaches and the British can’t prevent the Wehrmacht anymore to enter Scottish soil.

Battleship Tirpitz; sinking – March 09 1944 – burning bridge

Admiral Dönitz and his fleet has done what could be done. The Tirpitz has shot its last salvo and the British response will end the life of many German battleships. But Dönitz was able to protect the first and the second wave of the invasion.

Now General von Runstedt has a chance to reach Glasgow.

Admiral Dönitz is shouting: “Alle Mann von Bord!” One second later the Tirpitz is exploding in a huge fireball.

For the Admiral the Great War is over.

Scottish highlands – March 24 1944 – command car of General von Runstedt

General von Runstedt had to see the sinking of the German fleet.

The strategists of the OKW estimated some month ago that some of the German battleships could retreat to Norway or to the East Sea. But in December 44 the weather changed too early and the British bombers made a good job.

Von Runstedt’s second wave has landed but the third one is in great danger to be annihilated by the Royal Navy.

Von Runstedt has all his important Gebirgsjäger divisions in good shape available and three artilleries. Hopefully at least one 88er division will reach the beaches.

The German General now has a good chance to make a quick attack on Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Hm, I really did not mean to make that fortress naval transportable. I guess its the one from Königsberg... Anyway, I do not think that it made a difference, you would have done the landing without it as well, it is just kinda strange and unexpected. I will fix it in the next version.

Nice strategy, by the way. I am sure that the British Admirality is utterly surprised and there will be some personal changes soon. Mr. Churchill has some sleepless nights these days, I suspect.

It was so useless in Königsberg

The OKW wanted to shock the British defenders with a prototype of a German Wunderwaffe - the moving fortress.

Good work general. Your reports are well written and include some creative surprises - I know that many coastal fortifications used old naval guns but shipping them across the sea takes it to a new level.

In one of the Kaiserschlacht maps it is possible to move bunkers on trains.

I left that feature in simply because it was entertaining.

- BNC

Glasgow – April 23 1944 – preliminary headquarter of General von Runstedt

Victory! General von Runstedt has fulfilled his main target. The quick attack of his Gebirgsjäger divisions on Glasgow has completely surprised the British that were not able to organize a serious defense for the city anymore.

Glasgow and the airport (supporting now the surviving planes of the Luftwaffe) are in German hand.

Now the attack on Edinburgh is intensified to capture the city and to cut off Scotland from the Empire.

Glasgow – June 22 1944 – permanent headquarter of General von Runstedt, Kampfkommandant of Scotland

General von Runstedt has conquered all his targets in time and will now switch to defense. The British seem to be completely shocked and have stopped the operation Overlord. They are sending troops from the south to recapture Scotland. Exactly like the strategists of the OKW have foreseen it.

Berlin – September 5 1944 – headquarter of the OKW

Reichsfeldmarschall Werner is sitting at his desk in the OKW bunker. Again the Anglo Americans are bombing Berlin.

The Reichsfeldmarschall is very, very relieved about the success of the operation Seelöwe. The feared huge invasion of the Americans in northern France did not happen. Now the Axis troops can concentrate to defeat the Russians, stop the Allies in Italy and southern France where the Americans started an invasion. But the terrain in southern France is very suitable to be defended. The OKW is not in worry about this invasion.

In the east the Russian bear is showing that it will be an extremely hard work to hunt him down. From week to week Reichsfeldmarschall Werner was waiting for the message from his eastern commanders that the Russian resistance is crumbling but the message did not come. And soon the winter will come.

Werner is looking at the latest OKW reports.

Free Republic of Scotland

Glasgow, capital of the Free Republic of Scotland – September 05 1944 – headquarter of Generalfeldmarschall Runstedt
Generalfeldmarschall von Runstedt’s defense is working. All attacks on Glasgow are repelled. The 88er, a fighter force of Fw 190-A5 and a tactical bomber force of Ju 88G build a stable air defense. A damaged submarine flotilla has arrived from Kiel crossing the deadly North Sea to Aberdeen. After repair in Aberdeen the submarines will solve the last disturbing problem in the area: the HMS Warspite.
Germany, Das Reich
Intensified carpet bombing of German cities. In the moment the Wehrmacht can’t do much against these bombing raids. The main core of the Luftwaffe and the Flak batteries in Western Europe are fighting in Scotland, in Italy and soon also in southern France.
For the next six month nothing special planned.

Italy
Our Italian and German troops provide the Allies a battle of attrition at the Gustav defense line.
The Anglo Americans have the naval and the air superiority in Italy but it does not help them much.
For the next six month the plan is to hold the defense line in Italy. Additional enforcement (Bersaglieri and/or Alpini) will be necessary.

France
Due to the failure of an allied invasion in northern France and the successful defense of Italy by the Axis the Allies have decided to make an invasion in the south of France. The OKW is confident to stop this invasion with local troops from France and some new units. Only one German Panzer division will be transported from the east to France.
To relieve the German troops the Hungarian supreme commander Admiral Horty has promised to take over the defense of Lyon and to crush the allied beachhead with mainly Hungarian troops.

Balkan
Fight against partisans.
Nothing special planned for the next six month.

Heeresgruppe Nord and Finnish troops
The plan for the next six month is to hold Leningrad and to move to Archangelsk in the very north.

Heeregruppe Mitte
The Russian winter attack 43/44 was crushed in the area west of Moscow and the battle changed to be a battle of Moscow. The Russians are defending their capital by all means moving an endless stream of strong units from the east to the area west of Moscow. The battle of Moscow is the hardest battle of attrition the Wehrmacht has experienced in the east.

The initial plan of the OKW was to use the Panther divisions to rush around Moscow capturing the two airfields in the east of Moscow. But this was not possible in the last months. Thus the Russians are able to enforce their troops in and west of Moscow continuously with new divisions. Now in September 44 at least a German Panzer division has reached the border of Moscow.
Another serious growing problem for the Heeresgruppe Mitte is the Russian counter attack east of Kursk that became stronger and stronger in the last months.

The main battle is the battle of Voronezh in the center of the battlefield. The Germans hold the western shore of the Don River. The Red Army is trying without any pause at three positions to cross the Don River. The Russians have a better support of artillery in this area and the German defense is under great pressure. Our Tiger division his holding the ford north of Voronezh and they are urgently needed because the Red Army has proven there that German infantry and antitank units could not stop them from crossing the Don.