Crossroads: Axis Perspective

[Chocolino]

February 16th, 1944

Our Italian tank in the Caucasus risks to be cut off by few mobile USSR forces if it continues further north. I also penciled (not very accurately I'm afraid) the current East Front onto a historic chart for comparison purposes. While the Axis in the game did better than historic in the West and North Africa, we did not achieve anything in the East and Scandinavia. The good news is that the rapid collapse of the German front lines in '44 will have history catch up with us - unless we crumple in similar fashion during the next month in our game.

[gwgardner]

Nice graphic!  Good work.  Very interesting that the game tends to mirror historical results, especially in terms of the big push in the Balkans in '44.

[Chocolino]

March 1st, 1944

After a long time (October '43 iirc) The US Navy takes to the seas again where it is met enthusiastically by the Axis combined fleet. At the moment the Axis Navy is the only branch that can report victories. In all other areas, we are retreating.

[Chocolino]

March 16th, 1944

We feel the Axis does not have to proof anything any more. It is now for the Allies to come and reconquer what we have taken earlier. We are happy with the situation as it is. We are still waiting for a major US Invasion.

[Chocolino]

April 1st, 1944

All quiet again in the Atlantic. The tension is palpable though.

On the East front, the Russians attack the weakest spot of our line. The Bulgarian units stationed there used to be second line units and became involuntarily first line units (we lost the initial first line units earlier). We practice defensive play.

[Chocolino]

April 16th, 1944

We are just at the start of the '44 campaigning season and are happy for every quiet move now. In Romania all parties have just repaired damage from previous rounds.

[Chocolino]

May1st,1944

The only noteworthy thing is a troop transport in the North Sea that we intercepted. How many are there in total and where are they going? The time for a US landing on the continent must be coming closer.

[Chocolino]

May 9st, 1944

The Russians upgrade to L4 armor.

[Chocolino]

May 16th through June 9th, 1944

Absolute quiet. We prepare for the Western assault that is for sure coming.

[Chocolino]

June 16th to July 1st, 1944

After a long break, suddenly a major naval engagement takes place in the North Atlantic. The losses are about equal and we are lucky not to loose more since we have split our navy for reasons that now with the benefit of hindsight appear incomprehensible. The only bright side is the sinking of an amphibious transport. We will inquire about the nature of the unit but may not find out until after the war. Interestingly, the amphibious units were accompaigned by transports as well.

The USSR also prepares for a new vector on Berlin. This time strong tank units assemble near Kaunas. We brace ourselves for the worst.

[Chocolino]

July 9th, 1944

The Soviet attack in the North unfolds. But the American landing that we expected in unison is still not taking place. Did the last sea engagement with the loss of the amphibious unit discourage the Americans? The Axis command believes they are still controlling the seas.

[Chocolino]

July 16th, 1944 - only repair on both sides

July 24th, 1944

The battle for the Atlantic is heating up. A sizable American fleet challenges the Axis supremacy of the seas. I did not capture this battle correctly but losses were heavy on both sides. If anything, the Axis was at a slight disadvantage. It looks as if the USA strives for control of the seas before attempting a landing.

In northern Poland, the USSR destructs another German Inf Corps. We counterattack and destroy a Russian L4 tank corps. We have heavy losses as well but hope that this will slow down the steam-roller for a few turns.

[gwgardner]

Forgive me if you said this already, but do you have Level 5 artillery?  I don't believe I ever saw such powerful German infantry before.

[Chocolino]

ORIGINAL: gwgardner

Forgive me if you said this already, but do you have Level 5 artillery?  I don't believe I ever saw such powerful German infantry before.

Sorry that I didn't say much about the Axis research effort. Unfortunately there wasn't much to brag about. The Infantry is L4 and tanks will soon be as well. They look strong since Germany has reached doctrine level 5. Some infantry has leaders as well though I am not sure if they are visible in the latest picture. However, when pitched against USSR L4 tanks in open country, the Infantry feels not nearly as strong as one might expect.

Since I didn't have the 50% PP odds in this game, I had to go very easy on research, typically one light bulb only - some zero.

[Chocolino]

August 1st, 1944

The summer comes to a close soon and we are under pressure form two sides. We loose a multiple of our annual income in shipping in the Atlantic where the US together with some Allies fights for control of supply routes. Before counting the losses, the German Admiralty was actually convinced to have lost this sea battle, but it turned out to be about even.

The Russian summer attack is in full swing and each turn costs at least another hard to replace infantry corps. But we are still holding the line and have a few reserves. But the call for Wunderwaffen is becoming louder - unfortunately the German research labs are still completely underfunded.

[Chocolino]

August 16th, 1944

The seas have calmed down as both sides lick their wounds and restock naval equipment. But the Axis will not be able to compete with American spending in this area.

On the northern portion of the east front, both sides exchange volleys and pick off Infantry that is more or less defenseless against multiple armored attack in the plains. We are still holding our ground and lost only a very few hexes south of Kaunas but the inequality in resources will show eventually. Of course we decline the option of a daring dash through the gap created in the Russian line. This is a sure-fire way of loosing quickly since it is not 1939 any more.

It is calm on all other fronts.

[Chocolino]

September 1st, 1944

Recovery and repair at land but a large naval engagement in which we have finally lost the control of the Atlantic Ocean.

[Chocolino]

September 16th, 1944

As we approach fall '44 we are still holding vast territories and an American landing has not happened yet. German researchers a proud to announce that L4 armor technology is available now and we can match the USSR troops in this aspect again. We have upgraded a good portion of the armored force.

[Chocolino]

October 1st, 1944

The American must be still busy preparing his next move. The extended German Vaterland is so far free from US attacks. Near Kaunas attrition battles with the USSR continue that however lead to little immediate geographical gain for the USSR. So far we can always refill the line. Now it is a race against time.

[Chocolino]

October 16th, 1944

As the time for the final defense of Germany draws closer, we consider Bulgaria more expendable. We plan to transfer more of the stronger units placed there to stiffen the defense of East Prussia and Poland. Since most of the USSR forces are not in Romania any more and in light of the recent inactivity here, Infantry may suffice in any case for the time being.

The US sends a few of the subs of its minor allies to probe the whereabouts of our fleet. We pick them up but reveal our position in the process. (Well there aren't too many options to place the Axis fleet anyways). But we are very glad to report the still unchanged status-quo of the German Reich, still ranging from the British Isles in the Atlantic across central, western and southern Europe to North Africa and the Levant plus Turkey. When and where is the opponents strike coming as winter is approaching fast?