1.04 The East is Red II (no Jajusha please)

[Tarhunnas]

A new 41-45 GC server game, non-random weather. Me as the Soviets and Jajusha as Axis.

Overview of the front after German turn 1. The Riga gambit and the big Lvov pocket. I think I see more panzer divisions in the south than should be there, so I suspect the Germans have sent some units of 3 panzer group down south. The Lvov pocket cannot be broken.

[Tarhunnas]

The Bialystok pocket on the other hand... there is a unit in the pripet marshes that has just enough MPs to clear a path to the surrounded units. This will create som trouble for the invaders, and perhaps buy me a turn. Every turn that the German infantry is delayed is a big bonus. It is the combination of panzers and infantry to clear a path for them that is really dangerous.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 2. Overview before Soviet move.

Various pockets here and there, but it's about what can be expected. Note that the Germans have not yet bothered to take the nortern port in Courland, which means my troops there are still in supply. In the south, there seems to be more pressure than normal, and the panzer count is high. There are definitely some panzer divs from AGC down there!

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 2. North and center after Soviet move. I am building up the Pskov position. Delaying the Germans here for a couple of turns is vital to the defense of Leningrad.

Note that the pocket southest of Riga could be relieved. Even though they will undoubtedly be surrounded again, it will cost time for the German infantry. It seems the Germans are a bit sloppy with their pockets at times...

Further south it is the time for the traditional eastern Belorussia checkerboard festival. Note also that I put the routed units to start digging defenses on the landbridge. Routed units will dig I have discovered, so they might just as well do something useful while they recover from shell shock under the firm but benevolent guidance of our commisars.

[Ketza]

Saving those 6 divsions by the port is a nice development for you.

[Klydon]

Axis are close on their opening, but need some work on it yet. Not taking the ports is a killer. If you are going to send extra units from PG2 south, then you need to bag that armor to the SE of B-L and he didn't do that either. Also need to thicken the wall on the salient in the middle.

I think manage to make him pay for every mistake he has made so far and the difference in the speed of advance for the Germans is dramatic. Nicely done!

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 3. Overview before Soviet move.

No big advances in the north and center, which is good, it gives me time to dig, which is the russians best weapon in 1941. The Germans have cleaned out the pockets in the north, and reduced the Courland force. Some heroes of the motherland are still holding out in the Bialystok pocket!

I think I have to watch out in the south though! There are two panzer forces there, one to just to the south of the marshes and one at Proskurov, and there is a sizable force of infantry up front to open holes for the panzers. This could turn nasty unless proper precautions are taken...

[Tarhunnas]

ORIGINAL: Klydon

Axis are close on their opening, but need some work on it yet. Not taking the ports is a killer. If you are going to send extra units from PG2 south, then you need to bag that armor to the SE of B-L and he didn't do that either. Also need to thicken the wall on the salient in the middle.

I think manage to make him pay for every mistake he has made so far and the difference in the speed of advance for the Germans is dramatic. Nicely done!

Yep. The key to Soviet defensive success is to make the most of any German mistakes. A mistake in closing a pocket can mean one more turn to live for those units, or the need to kill them unisolated, which will lower the losses for the Soviets. Every turn the German infantry is delayed means one turn there is no danger of a really serious penetration up front, and in the end when it adds up it may mean a couple of turns grace for Leningrad or Moscow. In a way, this game is not very forgiving of even small mistakes. The consequences can make themselves shown many turns afterwards.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 3. I evacuate a tank division from the Courland bridgehead to Leningrad. The others will stay and keep the German infantry occupied.

I have another idea for creating mischief for the Germans that I am not sure what effect it will have. I barricade myself on the island of Osel (which is the German/Swedish name, cannot remember the Estonian one, which is unpronouncable anyway) with two units. Hopefully they can keep at least one German infantry division occupied for a couple of turns, but I am a bit worried they will be out of supply when Tallin falls. Not sure about that, but I guess I will see.

[Tarhunnas]

In the north and center it is checkerboard with a solid backup line behind rivers. Digging is in full progress at the landbridge. The quiet and serenity of a Russian summer is broken by the sounds of shovels and the whips of the commisars. The RKKA is in place to serve and protect the inhabitants of the Rodina!

[Tarhunnas]

In the south, I have pulled back some, and the defense is based on multi-checkerboard backed by defended river lines. Not so strong as in the north though. I am a bit apprehensive about this, I know that defenses like this can be punched through using the right techiques. Well, I press F12 and hope for the best...

[Tarhunnas]

Almost forgot to tell - a tale of unsurpassed heroism! Soldiers of the Workers and Peasants Red Army have managed to annihilate a Rumanian armored division! Let this be a warning to the perfidious hyenas that follow in the steps of the fascist invaders! All we ever wanted from Rumania was a little talk about border adjustments, and the first chance they get, their burgeois leaders decide to stab the peace loving Soviet Union in the back. This is what they will get!

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 4.

In the north, the panzers try to sneak through the swampy pass between the lakes. Luckily, I had put 2 or 3 units there, so they got stuck in the middle. I seal them off with a double line on the eastern side. Hopefully, it will take a turn or two for them to extricate themselves. Actually, that was i nice try, sometimes I have garrisoned that pass with just a NKVD regiment or so, and had I done that this time it might have ended badly.

Map after Soviet move.

[Tarhunnas]

In the center, there are two massive panzer thrusts, one straight up the landbridge. It punches through my checkerboard and a double line of red carpet but apparently runs out of steam just as my defence runs out of units! Phew! Those panzers can be nasty.

The northern thrust is aimed roughly at Velike Luki. I regroup and seal off as best I can.

We still hold the Dnepr, even the Berezina actually. I keep some units there to occupy the German infantry, but it will soon be time to fall back to the Dnepr.

To the east, off the picture, intense digging is going on at the Vyazma-Rzhev line and in front of Moscow.

[Tarhunnas]

And the south. Not much happening really. I was afraid something was coming, but the Germans are mainly rolling forward, bagging a few units here and there. I arrange a combination checkerboard, backup line and general mess-of-soviet-units-trying-to-be-in-the-way defence.

A bright spot! We beat up the Romanian armored division again!

Just to let them know that will happen every time they show up on the line!

[kevini1000]

Hey how do you get the small city map names and factory icons like see in some AAR maps?

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas

The Bialystok pocket on the other hand... there is a unit in the pripet marshes that has just enough MPs to clear a path to the surrounded units. This will create som trouble for the invaders, and perhaps buy me a turn. Every turn that the German infantry is delayed is a big bonus. It is the combination of panzers and infantry to clear a path for them that is really dangerous.

[Tarhunnas]

ORIGINAL: sath

Hey how do you get the small city map names and factory icons like see in some AAR maps?

It is a mod by Redmarkus. See: tm.asp?m=2755516

[Aussiematto]

Have to say Tarhunnas you have this won . The trick now will be to make sure you have just enough in Leningrad, less than you'd normally need, so as to ensure reserves south. 

[Tarhunnas]

ORIGINAL: majeloz

Have to say Tarhunnas you have this won . The trick now will be to make sure you have just enough in Leningrad, less than you'd normally need, so as to ensure reserves south. 

I am not so sure at all! It's only turn 4. Anything can happen, really. The panzers can pull a nasty surprise anytime! As the Soviets in 1941, I am always a bit apprehensive when I open up the turn, any turn can be one of those "OMG! [X(]" - turns when you find 20 of your divisions surrounded. There are weak spots in my lines, there always have to be for the Soviets in 41. It is mostly a matter of taking risks and judging your chances, and sometimes you guess wrong.

[Tarhunnas]

As I am too busy to do my turn today, I have invited my opponent Jajusha to read the AAR at this point and make a comment from the German perspective.