AAR - Infanteer on the Ost Front

[Infanteer]

After the fall of Kiev, Colonel General von Kleist spent the next week widening his breakthrough. As forces of 1 Pzr Group push north and south, 6 and 17 Army, making good time across the steppe, fill the gap. Soviet defenders at Zhitomir are cut-off while Proskurov falls and the lead elements of 17 Army approach Vinnista. The Soviets, recognizing the importance of the bridgehead across the Dnepr, have rushed forces to prevent it from being widened. However, 14 Pzr Div - as the spearhead of AGS - has been moved across and has a firm grip on the east bank. They will need to hold out as the infantry push to the Dnepr.

[Infanteer]

Finally, the Soviet resistance to the south appears to have collapsed outright. There is minimal enemy infront of 11 Army and apparently nothing between the Romanians and Odessa. It appears that all attention is being focused on Kiev to the north; the risk may have paid off!

[Infanteer]

The first month of operations seem to progress extremely well. Except for a hickup experienced by 3 Pzr Group, significant gains were made towards the operational objectives. In 5 weeks of fighting, the German forces inflicted approximately 1 million casualties on the Soviets with a loss of only 100,000. A 10:1 ratio is pretty good. Aircraft losses at 500:5000 is about the same. This should set the Germans up for success in the next months fighting.

[Infanteer]

Here is the destroyed unit summary, which is also good news for me. The losses begin to drop during the final week as all the pockets are liquidated and the infantry Armies attempt to make ground to regain contact with the Soviets.

Up to this point, the plan seems to be working. I haven't noticed too many issues except that the Panzers appear to outrun their supplies after a week or two. I try to always keep them within support range of the HQ and keep the HQ in the "light" area within rail distance, but this isn't always possible.

As for attacking, I generally use deliberate attacks by the Infantry and hasty attacks by the armoured forces. This approach seems to work.

I'll stop here for now and see what you folks think - I'll fire another month up later.

Inf.

[gids]

good start and nice AAR ,creating some nice opportunity at smolensk
although ,your airforce not to far behind the lines?,panzerdivisions to spreaded to make a good breakthrough against that carpet of russian divisions,keep it up ,did you use buildup or will you use it?

[Infanteer]

Thanks gids. I haven't used HQ buildup - infact I don't really know how to use it or when it should be used. That's part of the reason I'm putting the time into this AAR - this game is so complex that I'm hoping to learn things as I bumble through the campaign. This is only my second time playing a full campaign.

A few things I don't really know or use much (which may cost me):

1. I don't use HQ buildup;

2. I don't really play with air doctrine at all or use the Luftwaffe for anything but interdiction and ground support (aside from the first turn when I bomb the airfields)

3. I don't split divisions - although from reading many of the threads here, that isn't a bad thing

If anyone has advice on how to fine-tune the playing style I'm all ears. Now, let's pound out the next month of fighting!

[Infanteer]

With all going to plan, the offensive continues in the waning days of July. In the north, 16 and 18 Armies meet up with the next line of Soviet resistance. 18 Army crashes over the Soviet defences north of Lake Peipus, preparing its move on Leningrad. 16 Army has linked up with 4 Pzr Group and is assisting with the push over the natural barrier of rivers to the south of Lake Ilmen. The route appears clear to start moving North.

Finally, to the rear, 2 Army begins to arrive. As Leningrad has been afforded the first and primary strategic target, this Army (consisting of 2 Corps of 4 Div each) was allocated to AGN for its move on the city. It will be tasked to screen the area south of Leningrad while 18 and 16 Armies move in from the west and east, respectively.

[Infanteer]

In the area of Smolensk, 3 Pzr Group is taking the week to replenish itself after its ordeal. The arrival of 9 and 4 Armies to the north and south of the city has started to put pressure on the reformed Soviet line. In an effort to keep the Soviets off balance, Guderian pushes 2 Pzr Group hard to the south of Smolensk, blowing a whole in the Soviet defences. Exploitation of some sort can occur in the following week.

[Infanteer]

South of Smolensk, 4 Army has pushed over the Dnepr and is beginning to form a screen to the south of the two Panzer Groups - this will likely become their primary task in the next phase of the campaign. Their job will be to pin down as many Soviet defenders in the central areas as possible, preventing them from strengthening the area around Moscow or Leningrad. Progress of clearing the Pripet Marshes has reached about 50%.

[Infanteer]

In the Southern Area, clearance of the large remnents of the fleeing Soviet forces continues, with 17 Army reaching starting to regain contact after clearance of the Lvov Pocket. The bridgehead across the Dnepr is expanded to include an entire Corps of 1st Pnr Group.

[Alikchi2]

Excellent work so far, sir. You're rolling them up.

I'm especially eager to see what happens next in the center.

[Infanteer]

In the South, 11 Army is regaining contact with a rapidly withdrawing Soviet Army. The Romanians move, unopposed, towards their objective of Odessa.

[Infanteer]

As the fighting rolls into August, the Soviets appear to have caught their breath in the north. 18 Army pushes on the Luga River, the last obstacle prior to Leningrad. 4 Pzr Group and 16 Army have met a stiffened line south of Lake Ilmen. Field Marshal von Leeb gives the two armies the week to prepare for a determined assault. 2 Army has arrived in Pskov and is preparing for its push from the South.

[Infanteer]

At Smolensk, an attempt at a pincer by 2nd and 3rd Pzr Groups was detected by the Soviets in the city who promptly withdrew. Although not ideal, as they will live to fight another day, the continuous pressure of the Pzr Groups seems to be keeping the Soviets off balance, unable to form a cohesive defence. I'll take what I can get - the city is left open for 9 Army to march into (as an aside, this is what I alluded to earlier, I can't seem to isolate enemy units too well; perhaps a HQ buildup would have given me the resources to close the pocket at Smolensk?)

[Infanteer]

In the Bryansk region, 4 Army's screen begins to take shape. These units are weak, but are committed to covering 4 Army - as my units spread out, it takes 2-3 Soviets to cover 1 of my Divs, which, every turn, route or shatter the opposition in front of them. This screen will be a slow march forward, serving the dual purpose of protected AGC main thrust (2 & 3 Pzr Groups and 9 Army) towards Moscow while also snapping up territory towards Bryansk.

[Infanteer]

In the area of Kiev, the breakout from the Dnepr bridgehead has begun, with 1 Pzr Group smashing 20 miles into the defenders and beginning to feel another breakout in the offing. To the south, 17 Army continues pushing to the Dnepr against scattered opposition. The entire Army advances upon a narrow 30 mile front - although it doesn't have the mobility of a Pzr Group, it is acting like a wrecking ball to breach into any lines of resistance. This tactic seems to work well if the other Armies can cover the frontage. Surprisingly, the Hungarian mechanized forces make their debut by forming a significant pocket east of Vinnitsa!

[Infanteer]

In the Odessa region, 11 Army's march continues while the Romanians pierce the Dnestr and begin their investment of Odessa's defences, which are assumed to be significant.

[Infanteer]

As mid-August approaches, the fighting around Leningrad appears to be at the tipping point. 18 Army has smashed through the defences on the River Luga to the southwest of Leningrad, unhinging the general defence of the area. This should make 2 Army's job a little easier as it begins pushing north to Novgorod. 16 Army and 4 Pzr Group continue their preparations for their assault and breakout to the north. The next weeks fighting will be decisive for Army Group North!

Also of note, security sweeps along the Estonian coast have revealed some Soviet forces that were missed in the sweep - an annoyance, as an Infantry Div from 18 Army will have to be detached to assist the Security Div. As well, not in this image is the Finns, who have pressed up to their no move line on both sides of Lake Lodoga - they would sure be useful if they could continue pushing from the north, but the Finnish politicians have craftily avoided become too committed in this war while the outcome is uncertain.

[Infanteer]

At Smolensk, the pocket closes. Although most units escaped, 2 tank Divs and a Mech Div, all strong units were trapped and their fate sealed. Not bad. Smolensk falls without a shot as 2 and 3 Pzr Group prepare for the next thrust. As well, 9 Army has captured Veliki Luki, clearing the difficult swamps north of Smolensk - it'll be easier marching to Moscow now!

To the south (off the image), in the Gomel/Bryansk sector, their isn't much movement in 4 Army's screen.

[Infanteer]

At Kiev, von Kleist has achieved his third breakout of the campaign - he is truely putting Blitzkrieg theory into practice, having covered 1/3 of the distance to his ultimate objective of Kharkov and it's tremendous factories in a single week. He'll have to be careful and work closely with 6 Army as their are respectable Soviet forces to the north and south of his breakthrough. To the south, 17 Army's wrecking ball is making its way to Cherkassy to form a second bridgehead.