Drang Nach Osten - PBEM Russia 41 (German AAR)

[jjdenver]

[TURN4]
On the Finnish front the Finns just struggle to hold onto their gains. Frontline units are reinforced.

[jjdenver]

[TURN4]
AGN encounters very heavy Soviet resistance and large armored formations on the Novgorod highway - no attacks are able to be made.

[jjdenver]

[TURN4]
There is heavy combat around the Vitebsk bridges with the Soviets succesfully holding the bridges.

Farther south Orsha is assaulted by AGC and taken then panzers push into the suburbs of Smolensk.

On the southern flank of AGC, crossings are seized near Gomel setting up a hopefully rapid advance on Bryansk and Orel.

[jjdenver]

[TURN4]
AGS launches a massive assault on Kiev preceded by heavy artillery and air bombardment. The assault succeeds and Panzers move forward across the Dnepr, engaging in large armor battles on the east side of the river.

Dnepropetrovsk is seized by AG Southeast.

North of Parakop AG Romania assaults a river crossing then repairs the bridge but encounters what look like heavy Soviet defenses and a destroyed bridge at the Dnepr.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 5]
AGN engages in heavy combat with large Soviet tank formations SW of Novgorod, clearing the highway but leaving large Soviet formations intact north of the highway.

Demyansk is seized by an infantry corp but the situation is perilous because that corp will probably be cut off next turn by a nearby Soviet tank corp.

Air is staged forward to a hastily constructed airfield and an infantry corp also moves forward, prepared to relieve the Demyansk defenders if they are cut off next turn.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 5]
AGC seizes Smolensk in heavy street fighting. A Panzer thrust north of Smolensk makes progress but fails to seize a bridge.

South of Smolensk a tank army is cut off.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 5]
AGS races toward Kharkov.

AG Southeast sends a column north and successfully assaults Krasnograd on AGS's southern flank then turns back south again and heads toward Rostov.

AG Romania makes no progress, satisfied to construct some roads along the west side of the Dnepr and engage in air and artillery duels.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 6]
As I open the turn it's obvious that the Soviets have made some counterattacks and also met my air cover. It looks like I lost a lot of ground units but won the air battles.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 6]
AGN penetrates the Soviet line north of the Novgorod highway despite heavy Soviet tank formations but is unable to exploit far. However the combination of attacks near Novgorod and a thrust north from Demyansk (after reducing a Soviet armor kessel west of the city) cuts off the large Novgorod garrison.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 6]
A thrust by a panzer corp on the north flank of AGC seizes Rzhev and destroys many Soviet planes on the ground.

There is a large Soviet line dug in east of Smolensk but heavy fighting by most of AGC manages to break it by turn end.

Farther south Bryansk is seized by AG Tula.

The large Soviet losses inflicted by AGC the last 2 turns are difficult to overstate. It is hard to see how the Soviets will be able to muster a strong defense of Moskva after these battles.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 6]
AGS spent last turn marching east on Kharkov, and this turn is able to launch a series of heavy attacks around and on the city. Very heavy artillery and air strikes are made on the defenders of the city then three infantry corps assault the city center and take it. Panzer then exploit east seizing a bridge.

AG Southeast makes a lighting advance east, seizing Rostov and Voroshilovgrad including bridgeheads. This rapid advance is a heavy blow for the Soviet southern strategic situation.

AG Romania manages to cross the Dnepr for the first time after heavy fighting to gain a bridgehead.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 6]
Overall the Soviets took heavy losses in June and July but August and September saw very few Soviet losses. Now in October for the first time since July, Soviets take heavy losses again including about half of their remaining air force by my estimate.

[seille]

Your opponent has no idea what he´s doing......
Can´t see any serious defense to stop or at least delay you.
Looking at this AAR players could think the scenario is not to win for Russia.
But it is.

However, i like to read russia 1941 PBEM AAR´s [:)]

[jjdenver]

I prefer to continue until 1945 or until Russians take one of the German production cities. However my opponent does not feel that he can continue the game with any hope of winning so I have to accept a surrender. This AAR is done.

P.S. I feel like the scenario is pretty balanced. I have won as both sides in PBEM games now. Here is a link to an ongoing game where I'm Russia - not over yet but Russia is I think doing well.

tm.asp?m=1649732

[leehunt27@bloomberg.net]

interesting AAR, thanks for detailed map posts