Fall Weiss II - Western Theatre AAR (crispy131313 vs BPINisBACK) #4

[crispy131313]

November 1940

Not much action in the fall of 1940 thus far. In the Atlantic there has been no raiding activity, and mainly bombing raids and troop movement in North Africa. Italy did declare war against Greece, but the Greeks with UK support hold the Italian at the border. Germany is engaging Vichy France diplomatically. The Soviets are demanding equipment from Germany as per the Molotov Agreement, their response yet unknown.

[BPINisBACK]

5th Axis High Command Report

Repairing, refitting and planning...

Regional report

1) Germany

After the French defeat, many of our soldiers rest for a while. The equipment is being refitted.

2) France

War is over but not diplomacy over Vichy. After two roudns of negotiations, the alignment raise up to 61% (from 40's...)

3) Italy and Balcans

Italy declared war on Greece but we are waiting for reinforcements before entering in the Country.

Romania and Hungary join the Axis Alliance.

4) Russia

Axis agrees to Molotov Agreement so, their readiness drops to 30%.

6) Norway, Sweden and North Atlantic

Allied raiding keeps supressing the Norway convoys.

8) Iberian Peninsula and Western Africa

After our victory in France. Spain alignment drops up to 11%, but is still under Allied influence.

9) Lybia and Egipt

British bombs every turn Tobruk and the nearest towns but they don't advance yet.

[crispy131313]

April 1941

Short update. The real battles are just about to start.

[crispy131313]

May 1941

Atlantic
No action, NONE at all. The Kriegsmarine has not engaged in unrestricted naval warfare, or engaged in any such manner in the Atlantic at all. This was interpreted as a prelude to Sealion, and yet that has also not materialized. Perhaps because the German Paratroopers were destroyed behind the Maginot Line, or is there something more sinister at play here? Either way the British heavily prepared for an Axis invasion across the English Channel that did not materialize, which of course delayed other British objectives. However I take solace that we have received all of our convoy income.

France
Germany conquered France slowly and methodically, however the loss of two Paratrooper Divisions and a Tanks Corps was costly. The French coast is garrisoned, some Infantry Corps and Divisions are spotted along the port cities. There will be no opportunity for diversion from Germany's next objectives.

Norway
Germany called the UK's bluff on a 1940 invasion of Norway. Norway is edging closer and closer to the Axis as a result of our persistent raiding activity, it's easy to lose track and I don't even remember where we are at currently.

Yugoslavia
Another slow and methodical invasion into Yugoslavia, I suspect the country's surrender to be highly coincidental to another major invasion with German forces in high spirit. The Axis Balkan countries and some straggling forces of Italy and Germany have been tasked with destroying the Yugoslavian forces, no German Armour or Luftwaffe are present.

Vichy France
A diplomatic target of Germany right now, they are 70+% Axis leaning, and will be a valuable source of income soon.

Greece
The Greeks firmly hold their borders. The enemy does not have forces in Albania or Bulgaria yet up to the task of penetrating our defensive lines.

North Africa
Tobruk is besieged from all sides, with Italian forces retreating towards Benghazi. I think the German's have opted against deploying the DAK as well. At a cost of 850 MPP for half strength units, it is definitely an option not to, however the Italians are not putting up a good fight without. I should have advanced earlier, but as I said Sealion was expected, and the British forces were slow to mobilize in Egypt.

USSR
Are the Soviets prepared as the German's line the border? Of course not. Will we have time to prepare? Let's wait and see. German Tanks and Armies are continuously showing up along the border. Stalin is starting to wake up, we are 41% convinced an attack is imminent. This could be a massive invasion force, given Greece, North Africa and the Atlantic have all been ignored.

[BPINisBACK]

6th Axis High Command Report

Barbarrossa begins

Regional report

1) Germany

Our main activity in our loved homeland was to build new armies and refitting the older ones.

2) France

After some rounds of negotiations Vichy is 76% "pro-axis".

3) Italy and Balcans

Our forces in the Greece border are still waiting for reinforcements.

Yugoslavia was conquered by Italy, that's quite new!

Switzerland received some allied diplomatics. Now it's 20% pro-axis.

4) Russia

On July, 4th (53% pro-allied) Germany DOWN on Russia.

18 soviet units (close to 2.700MPP) were destroyed in the first turn.

The most remarkable facts were some commando and paratroops landinds. Narva is captured, Riga and Tallin is surrounded and will be captured very soon. Three armoured corps and some auxiliary forces (infantry + mechanised and armoured divisions) seems to look for Leningrad meanwhile other "minor" forces secured the east border of Poland.

At the east of Romania a very similar force assault the border. Thanks to strategic bombing it seems that Soviets wont' be able to reinforce the frontline at the west of Kiev - Odessa line...

Around 5 - 7 soviet units are isolated in this first turn in three pockets.

OKW decided to launch a kind of "early" attack on Russia in order to get advantage of the summer... Let's see...

5) Finland

OKW expects that Finland join axis very soon!

6) Norway, Sweden and North Atlantic

Allied raiding keeps supressing the Norway convoys.

7) USA

It's 35% pro-allied.

8) Iberian Peninsula and Western Africa

Spain is 19% pro-allied.

9) Lybia and Egipt

British advance (at last!) over Cyrenaica. Italians could do nothing at all.

[crispy131313]

AHHH! I usually garrison Narva for this exact reason but found myself pretty stretched this time around and left it open, that is a significant choke point, not good news for Leningrad!

[BPINisBACK]

Fortunately i could take the city... [:D]
If not, i would have landed at his right in order to cut the road... at least for a while...
Unfortunately for me you put some strong units in Riga, so i could not overrun the city in the first turn... but just a small delay...

[crispy131313]

August 26, 1941

[BPINisBACK]

Lovely picture!!
[&o][&o][&o]

[BPINisBACK]

7th Axis High Command Report

Soviet army exhausted

Regional report

1) Germany

Despite having build new units. Research and Diplomacy were our task during the last weeks.

2) France

After some rounds of negotiations Vichy is 83% "pro-axis". Soooooo slowly!!

3) Italy and Balcans

Romanian forces support Italian ones in order to enter in Greece.

Also, Lutfwaffe send two figthers and one medium bomber to help a little.

On the other hand, British land and send many bombers at the north of the Greece border.

No big changes but in our last turn we could destoy two greeks units and take the Greece port at the north.

4) Russia

After two months since the beginning of the war the soviet army is exhausted.

During the last three turn it can raise over 50 units at the beginning of its turn (usually Wermatch kills from 5 - to 8 units).

Kiev and Dnepropetosk are in German hands, meanwhile a hugue force head over Leningrad. The first line of resitence are under heavy attack.

In the center of the line, an Army Groups fights at the east of Smolenks in order to build a "logical" frontline.

5) Finland

Finland is harassing the north of Leningrad, meanwhile a small infantry group is taking some small villages at the nort east of the city, cutting the railway in that area.

Petsamo is under besiege, but i will resist for a while.

6) Norway, Sweden and North Atlantic

Allied stops raiding Norway when the country was 70% pro axis.

7) USA

It's 53% pro-allied. I don't know how long they will wait for war...

8) Iberian Peninsula and Western Africa

Spain is 40% pro-allied!!!

9) Lybia and Egipt

Only Tripoli holds to the Desert Rats. Maybe in two turns the city will fall...

[crispy131313]

Late November 1941

Axis Concentrated War Aims

The Axis have been very conservative with their aggression thus far, their has been no raids in the Atlantic, Denmark and Norway both remain neutral countries. Vichy France is at 83% as the Axis have taken a diplomatic approach to try to earn Vichy income. North Africa was also an afterthought with little to no reinforcements sent to assist the Italians. The Pearl Harbour event at turn end did not prepare USA to immediately join the war which may be the intention here. Everything save the Italian and Romanian Army is therefore being thrown at the Soviets, in a rather concentrated effort.

Mediterranean

Tripoli was captured in the fall of 41' without much fight and in general North Africa was never on the Axis' radar. Libya is now fully under British control. In Greece heavy fighting continues, an Italian Tank Corps and Romanian Army have been destroyed by British/Greek counter attacks, while also losing units ourselves. Neither side has truly been able to penetrate through the rough terrain. Battles over the skies frequent every turn. British Carriers have been harassing the Italian Navy, attacking a Heavy Cruiser in port at Albania and coaxing an Italian submarine flotilla out of port to be sunk by destroyers. The Italian Navy is still quite strong.

Eastern Front
Leningrad is besieged, our outer defensive positions were attacked just as I had earned Infantry Weapons II and Anti-Aircraft I so they melted away quicker then I would have liked. The Major City is defended by Anti-Air, Artillery, Fighters and ground forces but will likely come to a bloody end as the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe have committed so much to the destruction of the city.

Smolensk still holds, and reinforcements are beginning to pour into the area. In the South; Kiev, Odessa, Kharkov and Dnepropetrovsk have all been occupied. Soviet reinforcements are hoping to slow the advance to Rostov. I will post a formal map soon now that I am finally drawing some defensive lines.

[crispy131313]

March 4, 1942

[BPINisBACK]

Quick update: Vichy France joins axis in the same turn that USA enters at war after several months of Diplomacy works... (March, 1942)

I almost die...

[:D][:D][:D][:D]

[BPINisBACK]

Tomorrow i will try to make a big update of the situation.

Quick facts:

- Leningrad is under control.

- Soviet forces raise their units up to 85 (at the beggining of their turns). Infantry tech is still "2". Their planes are missing.

- Greece is close to fall under the boots of the Romanian Army (quite big already with 4 infantry armies and one or two corps, i don't remember).

- Italy is being fortified at all speed!

- For firts time in the war... two single subs raids at South Atlantic... LOL!!!

- Finland: soviet army tried to make a hard strike at the north of Filand with paratroops and a small force... Fortunately we can handle the situation.

- German's income is 730MPP. British is around 300MPP, Russia is around 800MPP and USA is 400MPP i think.

It's summer 42. What will be the next objetive for the East Front for Germany? Moscow, Stalingrad, Caucasus, to hold the line? And in the other fronts??

Quite interesting time!

[BPINisBACK]

7th Axis High Command Report

Summer campaing is going to start

Regional report

1) Germany

Research and refitting units were our duties these last months.

2) France

Vichy France joins Axis in the same turn as USA enters at War! Unbelievable!

Some British planes have tried the skies over France and BENELUX, but it was only a try.

3) Italy and Balcans

Romanian forces are stronger each turn. With the support of Luftwaffe they push the Greece more and more into their homeland.

British are now under defence in Greece. No more offensive movements are expected (a carrier was sunk some weeks ago).

Italy became an enormous stronghold. Mussolini's scientifics are working hard.

4) Russia

During Winter and Spring, Axis movements were focused on Leningrad (conquered) and very little movements in the other areas (some villages and cities were captured, like Sebastopol).

So, German army is fully recovered from the Winter Strike and ready to launch (or not) their new war plan for summer.

In the last turn, Soviet forces gave a step ahead and reached our lines (i think it's only a "try"). About 7 units were easily destroyed...

Russian army is about 85 units. But they are still quite weak or unexperienced.

5) Finland

As Filand forces were supporting the assault on Leningrad we cannot take care of our Northen border.

There, thanks to paratrops and their numerical superiority, soviet forces advance (slowly) into the country.

6) Norway, Sweden and North Atlantic

Allied stops raiding Norway when the country was 70% pro axis.

7) USA

USA entered at war some weeks ago (March?) but their national income is quite low (see next graphic)

8) Iberian Peninsula and Western Africa

Spain is 40% pro-allied!!! No changes.

9) Lybia and Egipt

The dream for a new Italian Empire seems to be over... for a while at least!

[BPINisBACK]

MPP losses for the three main majors... [:'(]

[crispy131313]

July 1942

[BPINisBACK]

8th Axis High Command Report

End of summer campaing

Regional report

1) Germany

Factories and R&D centers are working at 100% (income is around 800MPP)

2) France

All is quite... A little bit suspect...

3) Italy and Balcans

In our last turn, Greecians were fully destroyed and Italian forces took Athens.

This income will be of great help to the needy Italians.

Romanian force and Luftwaffe will be relocated very soon.

4) Russia

Stalien tried to buy time with a very early offensive around the Kurst area. Their losses were huge (at present the Soviet army is below 60 units at the beginning of their turn).

After the first combats, the experienced German forces overwhelm the reds and Volkhov, Smolensk, Kurst and Rostov were captured with very little losses in our side.

It is suppose that bad wheathed will prevent further movements in the East Front.

5) Finland

Once that Leningrad were conquered the main Finish forces were delivered around Kemi. Our isolated units will be liberated very soon. Soviet forces were unable to advance in this area during summer.

6) Norway, Sweden and North Atlantic

Axis diplomacy moves Norway close to Germany up to 85%

7) USA

We know that the yankees are moving their units... but... where??

8) Iberian Peninsula and Western Africa

More allied diplomacy moves the Spaniards to 61% pro allies.

10) Turkey

Allied diplomacy moves the Turkish to 36% pro allies.

[crispy131313]

December 1942

[crispy131313]

June 1943

Mediterranean

British and American forces land in Southern Italy throughout the spring, successfully landing a HQ and 5-6 ground units, the area is swarming with Italians in anticipation, we have captured two supply sources but are yet to capture a port for optimal supply. The Luftwaffe are present halfway up the boot of Italy and control the sky for the time being, the British lose a Strategic Bomber attempting to loosen Italian supply as a result.

Atlantic

German Wolfpacks are active all over the map, they have been engaged in the mid Atlantic and near the Canary Islands, yet to be contested in the Northen Atlantic and along the Norwegian coast.

Eastern Front

The German and Romanian Army is pressing hard towards Stalingrad, Soviet losses in the area are staggering, however we manage to counter and destroy another Panzer Tank Corps in the spring of 42’ as well as a 3rd which was spearheading the offensive into the Caucasus near Grozny.

The main, and only true Soviet offensive, directed towards Smolensk is really intensifying, we have destroyed two German Panzer Corps and an Infantry Army over the last two turns, and are shelling Smolensk with our rail gun to limit German supply. The Soviets have destroyed 5 German Tank Corps since Dec 42’ in total, a huge win for Soviet morale!