Turn 13:
In the north, each hex aside from Leningrad proper falls, and even though the Finns can't attack this turn I send them through to help garrison the city and man the Volkhov river line. I want to move the 18th Army south to help set up defensive positions for the winter. I know that Finnish morale drops when I keep them below the line, but figure that I can still get good use from the 18th army aside from standing guard duty.
I also make a small push around Lake Ilmen- my hope is to force the Soviets to withdraw from the Volkhov area or be pocketed. This should give more hexes to retreat from during winter if need be. The line from the Valdai Hills to Moscow is mostly lined by regiments, one hex back from the Soviet stacks and building forts. I figured it would take a lot of effort to break through the Soviet lines at this point, and it's not that close to the rail line yet, and plus it makes for a nice clean straight line. Moscow is technically isolated, but I didn't surround the units and my tank is vulnerable. A 4 or 5 hex assault on N Moscow fails miserably, but maybe it will soften up the Soviets for a future turn.
The XXXXVII and XXXIV panzer corps have enough MPs that I decide to mount an attack across the Oka just below Kaluga, where it is a minor river. This allows units to clear the major river Oka hexes without attacking across the river. I meant to pocket some of the units west of Tula, but by the time I am almost done moving the panzer divisions I realize I am out of MP. Still, this provides a nice breakthrough to take advantage of next turn.
In the south, infantry advance toward hat looks to be a heavily defended Voronezh. This city looks like a tough cookie to take before the first winter.
In the south, the Soviets make a surprise retreat to four hexes east of Stalino, leaving garrisons behind in the city. I decide to use my panzers to attack the line on the north and fight into Voroshilovgrad, and then across the Aidar and Derkul rivers to speed the infantry next turn. My goal is to hopefully go around the Donets bend. The L.A.H. SS division walks into Boguchar because, well, it seems like fun, and at least I can almost say I crossed the Don in 1941. I know mud is coming soon and I'm worried I've overextended.
Also: dopey Hitler just remembered that security divisions can be broken down. A whole bunch of Romanians and infantry regiments will be joining the front as they are no longer needed for garrison duty.
"The President has always been given a choice of the various desks that he can have. That is one of the prerogatives."
-Richard Nixon
