Blubel vs TheDoctorKing - To the Ural Mountains or Berlin?

[Blubel2]

Turn 5 Finns

The finnish people started to paretake in the struggle last week. Strangely enough there was no broadcast about it and no historical documents survive (=I forgot to take pictures). They did well, though, as can be seen by their advance on week 5 in which they managed to surround 3 divisions.

[Blubel2]

Turn 5 North and Center

AGs North and Center faced a dilemma in week 5 of the operation. While AG North had about 2 corps of well fueled up mobile divisions and with the Soviet troops holding Pskov a clear target, AG Center had only 3 fueled up divisions and would achieve nothing with them agaist stiff soviet resistance. Furthermore, the Soviets still sat in the swamps leading to Velikiye Luki, through which the nearing rail line was supposed to go. It was therefore decided to take almost every mobile division of AG North and South at hand and reduce this group.

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AG Center would only be able to help a little bit with the encirclement.

[Blubel2]

The result was worth it, though. It also left 2 divisions of AG North as reserves for the next week.

[Blubel2]

Turn 5 South

In the south Odessa was reached and surrounded this week. The port still workes, though and would see the evacuation of most of the Soviet troops and industry.

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In other parts of the southern front last weeks pocket was broken and the partaking divisions surrounded themselves.

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With the supply source in Romania very near and much of Panzergroup 1 unoccupied however it was no problem to remedy the situation, while there remained reserves, still.

[Blubel2]

For his examplery performance so far Leo Freiherr Geyr von Schweppenburg was rather unexpectedly (wiki) promoted as the first General since the start of the Operation to Generaloberst.

[Blubel2]

Turn 5 losses

Soviet losses are reported to have crossed the million mark this week.

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Air losses

The air war also goes still rather well.

[Blubel2]

Turn 6 Finns

The finish forces were again able to make great progress and most noteworthily were able to cross the river into Greater Finnland.

[Blubel2]

Turn 6 North

After last weeks success in the marshes the Soviets reasonably Sir Robined out most units around Pskov. This did leave 4 fueled up German divisions with a lot of land and few units to conquer, though.

[Blubel2]

Which led to an unexpectedly large pocket, as there were still Soviet units on their way to the Luga.

[Blubel2]

Turn 6 Center

AG Center was able to hold last weeks pocket closed. With some units not having participated last week and finally having fuel it was decided to try to enlarge it somewhat.

[Blubel2]

Which led to a small pocket and most importantly the capture of Velikie Luki. Reserves were kept refitting in case of their need in weeks to come.

[Blubel2]

A bit further south nothing had really happened in weeks.

[Blubel2]

Turn 6 South

As was true for this week in AG South. Last turns pocket was cleared and the mobile divisions rested and refueled.

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Although some small headway was made around Odessa.

[Blubel2]

Air war

In the air losses on both sides were starting to climb.

[Blubel2]

Turn 7 Finns

The Finns were able to destroy one of the three pocketed divisions and slowly advance.