1.04 The Wolf and the Bear (no Gids)

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 19. Snow! What a relief. Much better than mud. Much better than that muck, and a little cold will not hurt our soldiers. Overview of the entire front before German moves Turn 19, October 23 1941.

There are two big pockets of isolated Soviets, at Poltava in the south and at Vyzhni Volochek in the north. Then there is a smaller pocket west of Moscow. Some Soviets were also isolated near the isthmus to the Crimea, where we turned the tables on the offensive-minded local Sovs.

Some German units are cut off here and there, but that will easily be fixed now that the pesky mud is over.

[Tarhunnas]

And to complete the picture in the statistics field, here we have a view of Soviet production turn 19, showing armaments and trucks. Screen shot graciously provided by STAVKA.

BTW what does the minus in the armaments pool mean?

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 19, approaches to Crimea after German moves. It seems Ivan has wrong footed himself with his offensive, discomfiting for us as it was. 17th army has really turned the tables on the Sovs. Isolated Soviet units have been eliminated, and the way into the Crimea is open, while remaining enemy units north of the isthmus are in a precarious situation.

[Tarhunnas]

And an overview of the rest of the southern part of the front. The Poltava pocket is almost eliminated, the haul in prisoners and material is enormous. The Swedish troops in the SS Wiking division are especially pleased, as the name Poltava will from now on be associated with Russian defeat, much like Tannenberg.

On the rest of the front, the situation is stabilized. The offensive in the Donbass has ground to a halt, as infantry support was diverted to handle the Crimea situation, and the panzers themselves are not strong enough to continue alone (or willing, considering that the weather can shift any time, we don't want more cut off panzers).

[Tarhunnas]

And a closeup of the Moscow region after German moves. In the western suburbs, Soviet units still put up a fanatical resistance, but we expect to be able to surround the remainig defenders in the western parts of the city during the upcoming week.

The two panzer divisions at Ryazan have been extricated from their plight, but are somewhat the worse for wear. I really am a little too audacious with the panzers sometime, I have to learn from that.

Construction of winter defenses has started behind the front, forts being built in suitable localities.

Meanwhile off map to the west, AGN has finally managed to put a panzer corps on trains, and it is heading south. I am starting to wonder if it will arrive at AGS in time to make a difference, or if it should maybe be sent to winter in Germany...

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 20. October 30. Mud again!

Map of central part of the front. Enormous numbers of enemy units are appearing! The central sector of the front is showing signs of overstretch. Whenever there is a gap between two of our units, the enemy ooze through! This is causing great problems, as it isn't easy to counterattack them in the mud. Map before German moves.

[Tarhunnas]

Not much happening due to the mud. Poltava and Vyzhni Volochek pockets are finally eliminated. Some local attacks here and there. Here is a picture of the rail situation at the central front. Looking rather good! We expect to start through service to Moscow soon. [:D]

[Tarhunnas]

The Crimea. The mud stops us from resolving the situation once and for all, but three German divisions are poised to break into the Crimea next turn, and the Soviet fortifications at the eastern exit are gone...

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 21. Mud all over except in the far south.

I spend most of the turn reorganising and bringing up the pocket-cleaning divisions. The mud makes that a real chore, no one is getting anywhere fast. And Soviet ooze through is a major pain in the ***.

At the Crimea, things took an unexpected turn. The prepared German assault was repulsed and came to nought. Instead, the Rumanians showed a (rare) burst of energy and valor and broke through at the western entrance!

[Tarhunnas]

Guards divisions can be dangerous! The best thing is too root them out as soon as you spot them. If allowed to multiply, they can be a real inconvenience.

BTW another unexpected success for the Rumanians.

[Tarhunnas]

Panzer group 1 takes advantage of the good weather and makes a smallish pocket at Taganrog. One does what one can...

[Tarhunnas]

Losses after turn 21. We are sniffing at the four million mark! But success comes at a price; Axis losses are not insignificant!

[Tarhunnas]

Production turn 21. Unfiltered. Truck numbers BTW are 131 (132).

[Tarhunnas]

The OOB Turn 21.

[Mynok]

You actually outnumber him in tanks! Well done! Certainly a function of destroying those tank factories.

[Tarhunnas]

ORIGINAL: Mynok


You actually outnumber him in tanks! Well done! Certainly a function of destroying those tank factories.

Thanks! The factories might be a part of it, but OTOH if I hadn't destroyed them, they would have been moved and still not be fully online, only producing at a low rate. IIRC the historical Germans outnumbered the Soviets in tanks at the start of Operation Typhoon, at least in the AGC sector.

I think the effects of factory destruction will be long term and not show themselves until after a couple of months, maybe in the spring.

[Tarhunnas]

OKH Situation evaluation, Turn 21. November 6 1941.

It is now time to evaluate the orders and assesment given on turn 17.

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas

PLANS AND ORDERS
The objectives for the rest of the campaigning season are:

GENERAL
Before onset of the winter storms, our troops shall have reached the line Leningrad - Kalinin - Moscow - Ryazan - Voronezh - Rostov, and have established deep and prepared winter defenses, utilizing any population centers for shelter.

Hmm... that line was maybe a tad overoptimistic. More on that below.

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas

AGN
Eliminate the Vyzhni Volochek pocket. Establish winter defenses on the ordered line.

Objectives achieved.
Grade: Passed!

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas

AGC
Finish reduction of the enemy in the Moscow area. Help AGS in securing the Voronezh area before winter.

Enemy is still holding out in Moscow. As for the Voronezh area, we will forget that.

Grade: Failed!

New orders: Eliminate enemy forces still holding out in the western suburbs of Moscow. Establish winter defenses on the line Kalinin - Moscow - Tula - Bryansk. The Ryazan bulge will be evacuated to free up troops.

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas

AGS
Relieve Kharkov. Encircle and destroy the Soviet South Front. Cooperate with AGC in securing the Voronezh area. Push forward and capture the rest of the Donbass and Rostov. Establish defenses to ward off any threat from the Crimea.

Kharkov relived.
Soviet South Front encircled and destroyed.
Securing the Voronezh area - no.
Rest of Donbass secured but Rostov not reached.
Crimea - might end up with Crimea partially in our hands. Well done!

Grade: Passed!

New orders: Prepare winter defenses along current front. Secure a line along the Mius and some buffer space in front of the Stalino three if possible. Clear out the Crimea if possible, but do not risk units cut off. Beware of Soviet landing behind our lines, especially at the isthmuses.

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas

REDEPLOYMENTS
In order to facilitate the above, AGN will as soon as practicable, and at the latest when mud starts, send at least half of their armored forces to AGS to strengthen the offensive potential of AGS and enable AGS to complete their tasks. Finnish troops, freed by the loosening of Finnish restrictions on deployment after the fall of Leningrad, can fill out the holes created by the departure of much of the armor of AGN.

All panzer corps from AGN now loading or already on their way to winter quarters in Germany. The troops are jubilant!

Another passed for AGN.

Map of the front after German turn 21. Yellow lines denote areas of overstretch with major Soviet ooze through problems. The weakness in these areas is mainly an effect of concentrations to support offensive thrusts and substantial forces being delayed clearing out pockets. The bad weather has made redeployments difficult. However, regrouping is in progress, and we expect the weaknesses in these areas to be rectified shortly.

The double blue line marks the intended front after withdrawal from the Ryazan bulge.

At present, the 16th Panzer Division near Taganrog has the honor of being the easternmost division in the German army!

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 22. 13 november 1941. Snow all over the front.

Good! Now we can get things done!

Up north, the Finns have discovered that Soviet units have been sneaking around trying to cut their supply. The Finns take a swift revenge.

[Tarhunnas]

In the center, some progress is made north of Moscow, but the Soviets are still holding out in the western Suburbs. Evacuation of the Ryazan bulge is underway.

Also regrouping of the infantry divisions is mostly accomplished, and command structure sorted out. Weak sectors with ooze through problems have been reinforced. Construction of rearward defences is going on, but rather more slowly than expected.

Central part of front after German moves turn 22.

[Tarhunnas]

And the South after Axis moves turn 22.

The Taganrog pocket has been switly eliminated, and the Mius is reached.

On the Crimea, Axis forces break through on both the western and eastern isthmuses. If the weather holds, we will be able to establish a firm foothold on the Crimea.