Boldairade (Allies) vs Nirosi (Axis). Boldairade welcome

[Nirosi]

October 22nd, 1943 (End of Axis turn)

The last two weeks were quiet on all fronts with the exception of some aeronaval actions.

In the Atlantic, the U-boats inflicted very serious loses on Allied shipping from North America to the UK or USSR, but did suffer some loses as well, forcing a cautious pullback of more that half of the flotillas deployed. Still, OKM did order the remaining surface groups of the Kriegsmarine to the Norwegian sea for hunting.

In Greece and the Aegean Sea, movement both at sea and on land could be a redeployment for an offensive coming. However, in view of the inclement season starting, it is most likely a new defensive posture due to a misinterpretation about the arrival of a German mountain corps in the area (that might have been detected) that in fact is only there to relieve a Panzer Corps in its defensive position.

The battered American submarines did leave Kalamata, but Italian pilots were surprised to find loaded troops in transport still in the port instead. Italian bombs, for the most parts, did find their targets and some panicked radio transmissions were intercepted in the area hinting that about 2/3 of the II Corps had been destroyed by the raids while loaded on ships. It could not be made clear with the garbled transmissions what was the nationality of the corps, but Comando Supremo seems to believe it might have been Canadian.

Germany did suffer some heavy bombing and sadly only a few of our fighters, usually not in top operational order yet, were available to try to counter them and did so only in a mediocre way. On the good side, new top of the line aircrafts are been tested now and might be available late this year or very early next one.

In the Baltic, OKL believes to have eliminated the last Soviet Submarines.

[Nirosi]

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German mountain troops coming from Ukraine, hoping for a quieter front in Greece.

[Nirosi]

November 5th, 1943 (End of Axis turn)

In the Soviet Union, the front remained very quiet. Did Stavka morale collapse and lost its will to fight, or is the Red Army preparing something? OKW ordered OKL to send back a fighter group to Germany to help fight Allied bomber incursions.

In the Baltic, the German fleet engaged the Soviet one after returning from a mediocre hunting in the Norwegian Sea. The Kirov Group has been reported hit in the long range combat on November 12th, but the exact status of the Soviet fleet is not clear.

In the Mediterranean, the Allies seem content for now to cover the Mareth Line but do not seem too eager to assault it. OKW can only speculate that either their troops are at low readiness due to supply overstretch or are needed for something else. For now, local commanders are happy with the situation as the Axis has little reserves, all Italians, in the back of the line should it be breached.

In Greece, some tactical bombing occurred on our mountain troops near Athens. Could it be a preparation for an offensive or are the Allies still afraid we might be planning one ourselves? For now, just in case, the XIX Panzer Corps will stays put until the newly mobilised XXI Mountain Corps, just arrived in the area, finishes been equipped with top-of-the-line equipment. When this will be done, three mountain corps will cover the door into the continent from Athens. In the meanwhile, the XIX Panzer Corps will stay put ready to be shipped out at short notice if necessary.

In other news, the LI Corps sent to Italy after been severely mauled in early October in the USSR, will not be overhauled. OKW has decided that it will be put to better use by been split into its core divisions (each now at brigade strength in truth) and sent to Baltic ports to act as deterrents against amphibious operations.

[Nirosi]

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Germans troops near the Mareth Line, Tunisia.

[Nirosi]

Comando Supremo has requested that its forces in Ukraine be brought back home for Italy's defense should the Allies dare to assault over the Mediterranean.

[Nirosi]

November 19th, 1943 (End of Axis turn)

The last two weeks were very quiet with no action except some raiding of Allied lend-lease to the Soviets.

In Finland, the front has not moved since a year and a half. Both sides seem happy with the situation. German cavalry was sent to the area as a cheap semi-mobile alternative better fit for the terrain, but German horses are finding it hard to adapt to Finish Winters.

[Nirosi]

In the Northern part of the Soviet Union, the front has finally calmed down after a couple of months of battles resulting in the destruction of two German corps. For now, OKH can hold the line and a least one infantry corps is on its way to relive the German panzer at the font and pull them back as a strategic reserve to counter-attack any attempt the Soviet might make during the Winter.

[Nirosi]

In the Southern part of the Soviet Union, some maneuvers are made to replace the Italians (pulling back home) by German troops in the East of the Pripyat Marshes. Once the operation will be finished, German troops will be in charge of most of the front with the exception of the Kiev area defended by Hungarians and some sectors in the South under Romanian control. Two groups of mobile corps in reserve are near Dnepropetrovsk and Kiev.

[Nirosi]

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In Greece, OKW expects a standstill for a while and three German mountain corps near Athens (and a VolksGrenadier corps further West), are keeping the Allies in check. A Panzer Corps (the XIX) is still in the area but could depart on short notice for any front where it might be needed. In any case, OKW does not intend to keep that corps in Greece past January unless things start to deteriorate in the area.

[Nirosi]

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In Tunisia, the Allies seem reluctant to push further. OKH and Comando Supremo are very happy about that as the German line is strong but has no reserves or solid fallback positions should it be breached. Also, the Regia Aeronautica is relatively strong over the battlefield, giving Axis troops good hopes to repeal easily the first few attacks and making Allied landing behind the lines dangerous.

[Nirosi]

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Comando Supremo believes that Italy is adequately protected, with some exceptions, and that the Allies would probably not attempt a landing before having closer bases in Tunisia or Albania, for example, as some Italian bombers are also protecting their national coasts for now. By Spring, some extra corps, either newly mobilised or coming back for the USSR, should be available to increase defenses to a better level. OKW has also dispatched a few coastal divisions to help the Italian forces. The only rapid reaction force are the 8th PanzerGrenadier Corps based near the Etna and ready to intervene in Sicily and Calabria, and the 4th PanzerGrenadier Corps, recovering near Rome and ready to defend central Italy. The Italian surface fleet and submarine fleet, that both have distinguished themselves in the last years, are also intact and kept in reserve ready to intervene.

[Nirosi]

In France, Belgium and the Netherland, German defenses are quite potent, despite the lack, for now, of quick response forces. With the weather forbidding any Allied landing in the area until about April, German troops in France could be used as reserves to be sent to other places if needs be. However, OKW is very reluctant to do so because once removed, it could become very easy to forget to send them back or to replace them before Spring. And although, according to Abwehr, the Allies have no sizable force in the UK for now, things could change very quickly by April with the high mobilisation capacities of the Americans. An army HQ is also been mobilised to take control of the troops in Northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

[Nirosi]

In Norway, OKW also expects a standstill for a while. Plans are being made to replace the LVII Panzer Corps there with four or five divisions split into two corps that are now been mobilised. OKH is arguing in favor of an exchange of troops between France and Norway, which would also give the forces in France a small quick response force. OKW is considering the request. The repatriation of the two paratrooper’s corps has also ben discussed. However, the priority is lower due to the weather not been kind to such missions for a while.

[Nirosi]

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In Germany, Allied bombers are still causing trouble while OKL is doing it best to make them pay. However, things sill remain difficult until we get better fighters, expected in early January with some luck. Some extra anti-air defenses arriving in a few days should help a little in the meanwhile. Our U-boat force is now back at home. Eight flotillas remain operational and should go back hunting soon. After a difficult start, they have performed very well, either against merchant shipping or enemy warships, since then. We are very proud of them, risking an horrible death to help win the war.

[Nirosi]

December 3rd, 1943 (End of Axis turn)

Severe bombing Germany was reported in Germany. More anti-aircraft defenses were deployed in an effort to better protect our cities. Air operations were also reported in Greece and Taranto against Axis troops there. Could the Allies eventually target Apulia? Just in case, an Italian corps back from Ukraine was deployed East of Taranto and the Germans promised to send better equipment to the coastal division South of the city.

There was Allied movement in Tunisia to attempt outflanking the Axis line and gain a better position to attack the German corps there. Axis response was to bomb Allied troops to cause confusion hoping that their supply lines are overextended.

[Nirosi]

December 17th, 1943 (End of Axis turn)

In Tunisia the VII Corps was severely mauled by allied troops and retreated in disorganised order. A counterattack by Italian and German troop pushed back the enemy, but the position could not be reoccupied. In view of the touch and go situation, an infantry corps that was to be sent to the East, was instead sent to Tunisia where it arrived in Gabes, surprisingly with no interference from the Allies.

Two panzergrenadier corps in Italy could also be available to be sent. But after much debate, both OKW and Comando Supremo decided against it. Of course, they could probably slow down the Allies there considerably, but on the other hand, Allied forces are very numerous in the area and there is therefore a risk that they could be lost over the next few months, leaving the Italian mainland more vulnerable.

[Nirosi]

In the Soviet Union, the LII Corps had to retreat after heavy fighting and heavy loses on both sides, both on land and in the air. The VII Panzer Corps was also forced to fall back a few days latter and will need some rest.

OKH prepared a counterattack at first and started to soften the enemy with air strikes. But advanced recon reported strong defenses on the enemy side, and it was estimated that heavy loses would be taken attacking in this weather. Therefore, OKH decided to stay put for now and let the bear weaken itself first… hopefully.

In other news, the Kirov group was sunk after yet another recurring, but still glorious, battle in the Baltic. Other groups on both sides suffered moderate damage. In the last months, German sailors have gained much respect for their Soviet counterparts skills and sheer determination.

Strategic bombing continued over Italy, Germany and… Bulgaria!

[Nirosi]

German soldier near Smolensk waiting for the Soviet next move...

[Nirosi]

Meanwhile Romanian oil fields keep producing as best as they can to provide for the Axis war machine...

[Nirosi]

Coastal units in Sicily with, for the moment anyway, outdated equipment.