Slaughter on the Dnepr. Herman ( Ger ) vs. Stef78 ( Rus ) No French Guys

[Hermann]

AGN

[Hermann]

AGM

[Hermann]

I overwrote the AGS photo im afraid but Im very happy with results next turn will see some major action in that area. All told im very happy with the turns results.

[Hermann]

OK Turn 6 has arrived and the headlong flight continues as the German Panzers smash through 1 defensive line after another. The enemy continues to keep his main army intact, is constantly launching sharp counterblows and has brought his airforce into play with great effect doubling the German air losses in a single bloody turn as I focused on Ground support to break through dense defense positions. Casualty rates continue to hold at 10 to 1 in the German favor with Russians losses over 900k to 87k for the Germans the German airforce has suffered 774 losses against 6730 kills including 2000 Ground. In the Far north the Russian player is staging a fighting withdrawal down the Karelian Isthmus. In the Pskov Area the Russian has concentrated significant force well forward with massive air support as the German push continues south of lake Ilmen well east of the Russian defenders.
In the army Group Ceter area 3rd Panzer army is beginning the encirclement of Smolensk as they drive east towards Vyzama while second army ( held up by poor supply takes up a threatening position North of Kiev to refuel before continuing the advance on Bryansk. In AGS the 1st Panzer group is on schedule - looking to cross the Dnepr next turn and together with 2Pza force the displacement of SW front - At this point the slaughter will begin as the combined panzergroups 2,3 and 1 attack and force a pocket of epic proportions east of Kiev.

[Hermann]

Mitte

[Hermann]

Sud

[RKhan]

I'm sure Stef must realise the backdoor at Chernikov can unhinge everything. Kiev is now untenable for him and I note there is no back up line.

You are getting over the Dnepr easily given the extra Soviet units available.

[Hermann]

ya but hes keeping his army intact - thatll cost me

[Hermann]

Well its turn 7 Apparently my opponent misunderstood the slaughter on the Dnepr reference and has attempted to cause great harm to my armored spearhead. The sacrifice was worth it he has abandoned the front from Kiev to Chernigov as hoped and enabled 6 army to close up on a thinly defended river line. In the far North the finns are slogging through Karelia headed for the Svir. In Army group North he has once again concentrated strong forces opposite my tank spearheads. I may have to rethink my plans in that area but for now im going to move a corps forward on either side of lake Ilmen. In army group center 3 pza continues the drive on vyazma for 1 more turn then itll turn south and head for orel. 2pza has managed to do a buildup - the threat to the Russians in the kiev area is strong so im hoping their presence moves the Russian front back one more time while my infantry close up. the actual attack is a pocket between vyazma and Bryansk - I think the opponent hasn't picked up that threat yet especially from 2 panzergroup. afterwards 2 pza will move for Kursk. 1 panzer army has a much tougher job - the goal is to keep the Russians occupied along the Dnepr. im going to split and send a reinforced corps south to attack along the coast towards Nikopol and 2 corps up north into the bridgehead to keep the Russians moving towards the east. given the enemies propensity to run its been very difficult to close the infantry enough to deal them a shattering blow. Casualties are still holding at 10 to 1 100k german to 1 million Russian and in the air 900 to 7500 ( ratio is falling due to stronger Russian air defenses and the need to target Russian airbases. )

[Hermann]

AGn

[Hermann]

agm

[Hermann]

ags

[Hermann]

This is where I start to really pay the price for refusing the Lvov pocket. Generally the way this plays out is im forced to concentrate 3 panzergroups in the orel area till September then move 2 to agn to clear the region north of Pskov. the remainder and the reinforcing XL Korps attempt to clear the dnepropetrovsk region. I wont gain any sort of victory but should be able to establish a decent defense - that's against a passive opponent however and Stef78 is showing some very alarming aggressive tendencies. were playing mild winter and plus 1 Russian attack - mild winter being a necessary trade for no Lvov. My ultimate goal is to secure cities to base my armor for the winter months and hold like crazy.

[RKhan]

Given that you are such a fan of the historical opening, I'm surprised you have not sent Guderian racing south behind Kiev and made up for the Lvov pocket in one fell swoop. Perhaps you did not have PG2 in place, it is hard to tell where all the mobile units are at.

But he could have made more of a fight of it on the Dnepr near Smolensk so at least you are making ground and eventual his southern forces will have to fall back to make a line. A break through in the center might be possible. Good luck!

[Hermann]

The Campaign is taking an interesting turn. There was a massive counterattack in the area of army group North. A pattern is starting to develop that I plan on exploiting - the enemy is massing opposite my armored spearheads everywhere I go. That means a feint and a sucker punch will work. I made a mistake and forgot to move my FBD units a few turns back and that together with his constant retrograde movements is creating a problem with my armored spearheads. Casualties are still holding at 10 to 1 in ground 110k to 1.1 mil and in air its 1k to 8k ( 2k of which are ground support ) I did some airbase strikes last turn and will do the same again next turn to force his airfields further back especially in AGN

[Hermann]

AGN the situation in AGN is stable the finns continue the Karelian advance. The enemy has brought his army far forward which means his forts wont be too bad behind the front when my attack comes in later - the sheer number of troops means a frontal assault at this point will fail. Ive resupplied by air so my units will have some movement next turn. A major possibility has opened up that should push my forces through to Rzhev and displace the enemy opposite the Oshtakov hills. Im going to send 3pza north and poke 4pza south to meet them. afterwards both groups will head north and end the AGN silliness. either by a wide flanking movement to cut off Karelia or a direct assault on Leningrad from the Pskov area.

[Hermann]

AGM is in good shape my final objective is the Rzhev/Vyama/Bryansk line and that looks reacheable. Im going to bypass Bryansk and head for orel while 1st pZA moves on Kursk both groups will then move on Kharkov. Further south Im going to try to cross the Dnepr with a single panzer korps

[Hermann]

AGS is splitting theres a weak front to the north ill use to push 2 panzerkorps on Kursk

[Hermann]

Further south is the drive to the Dnepr im having a little trouble with Odessa waiting for reinforcing German units to arrive in the area

[RKhan]

I'm conflicted between cheering for and supporting my honourable opponent, and my visceral reaction to seeing the grey counters move forward after playing the Soviet side for so many nights... [&:]