Return to Smolensk and Beyond, IdahoNY vs Scar

[IdahoNYer]

Turn 131; Dec 16, 1943....Blizzard

Soviet offensives seem to slacken a bit this turn. A bit surprising, maybe we are giving them pause....

Along the vaunted "Volkov Line", the Soviets succeed in reducing the isolated German infantry division, which, as it was in supply due to the port, routed "safely" back to German lines through over 30 miles of Soviet lines with hardly any additional losses (this must be fixed guys - they should be gutted!!)

9th Pz counterattacks the lead Soviet Rifle Div which occupied the remnants of the Lvl 4 fortifications. This should allow some time to build up the fortifications guarding Leiningrad, but not much.

A German and Finnish IN Div is brought from the Kannas Army into Leningrad to bolster its defenses. Sooner or later, fighting will take place for the city. With some luck, after the rivers melt.....

[IdahoNYer]

A bit further down the line, 3rd Pz continues to take some pressure. 9th Army, however, got some respite as LVII PzKps was not attacked.

3rd Pz Armee's XXXXVII PzKps was actually pushed back 10 miles, but with heavy cost. Hitting the PzKps head on will not give the Soviets a breakthrough!

In XL PzKps area, the Soviets, as expected, freed up their two isolated Rifle Corps, but their attack against the XL PzKps was repulsed with heavy loss.

Overall, the Soviets can expect a tough slog through some of this fortified areas as the Rzhev Line is being fortified. With 2xPzKps blocking a direct approach, and another PzKps holding the northern flank, attacks coming from the Moscow area north, should find the going tough.

The weakest area of the front for AGC is just to the south however, opposite Tula in the 4th and 2nd Army's area. Hopefully the Soviets won't pick up on this....

[IdahoNYer]

At the southern end of the line, the pressure also slackens - at least for now. With XXXXVI PzKps and XXXXVIII PzKps available, 1st Pz Armee's position is much stronger than it was a few weeks ago. Still a massive threat looms opposite the Hungarians and 17th Army. When the Soviets pull the trigger on this offensive, this will be the crisis point of the entire front!

[IdahoNYer]

Turn 132; Dec 23, 1943......Blizzard and Snow

Soviets continue to widen their offensives across the entire front. In some areas, panzer divisions act as the "fire brigade" putting out fires and hopefully keep the Soviet Bear off balance. In other areas, we just need to grind out and take it.

Here in 18th Army's area, we grind it out. With only one Pz Div, the 9th Pz, there isn't much else to do. Against stacked Rifle Corps attacking along a narrow front with no room to maneuver, there is nothing to do but inflict casualties and gradually pull back.

Soviet attacks grind forward toward the prize - Leningrad.

The city is fortified, but not all areas have reached fort level 4 or 5. With the Volkov line penetrated, we can only make it painful for the Soviets, delay the inevitable as long as possible.

The question is: Will he drive on toward Leningrad to take the city, or drive past Leningrad towards the Luga River to isolate it from AGN first? Hopefully its the former - the latter will be much more difficult to contain.

[IdahoNYer]

While 8th Army's area remains quiet, the front erupts between 16th Army and 9th Army. Was hoping that LVII PzKps defensive efforts had worn down the Soviet attacks, but that is not the case.

Soviet tank corps exploit and pound the 18th PG Div back over 30 miles while opening up a 20 mile gash in the line between 16th and 9th Armies.

Now the good news is that I left XXXIX PzKps in the line with 16th Army. AND, the panzers of LVII PzKps were not badly battered in the Soviet attack. So as the Soviets attack west over a NARROW penetration, its time to take a bit of a risk and attempt to cut off and isolate the Soviet tankers.

XXXIX PzKps will attack from the north while II Korps holds the north shoulder of the attack. LVII PzKps will add 22nd Pz from 3rd Pz Armee and attack from the south.

[IdahoNYer]

And the result of the attack: Success!

At least for the time being.....

LVII PzKps (3xPz, 3xIN) attacks from the south, pushing the Soviets back while XXXIX PzKps (3xPz, PG, IN) drive from the north. One Soviet tank corp withdraws east, while two are isolated. Heavy, but not catastrophic tank losses for the Soviets - about 300 vs 60 or so German. XXXIX PzKps is reinforced after the action, by stripping 8th Army of its panzers to watch over the isolated Soviets.

Taking a pretty large risk here by isolating - but did not have the combat power to try and rout the two isolated tank corps.

This could become dicey very quickly if Scar succeeds in driving to the isolated tankers - which is about a 50/50 shot at least.....

[IdahoNYer]

While AGC's frontage has quieted somewhat over the last few weeks, an ominous rumbling is heard in 4th Army's area.

The commitment of XXXVII and XL PzKps has stabilized 3rd Pz Armee's front considerably - so much that Soviet armor looks to have been withdrawn. With the increased activity in Armee Group A, the GD PG Div will be moved by rail south. 3rd Pz Armee's two PzKps are still capable of conducting counterattacks, but against massed rifle corps, the panzers will just be ground down if they are left in the front lines too long. So we'll likely give ground here shortly.

Soviets begin knocking at 4th Army's door with massed rifle corps. The Soviets have a large force near Tula and east of Orel which, if fully unleashed, will cause this entire portion of the front to explode. Really depends on how strong that force is, and right now, I'm not really sure.

So for the time being, the Bryansk Line is available as a fallback, although it is not fully constructed. XL PzKps will be the "fire brigade" to respond if things get hot here - panzers are starting to get a bit stretched....

[IdahoNYer]

Soviets unleash the main event!

The largest concentration of Soviet tank forces penetrate the 17th Army. 1st and 2nd Shock Armies with apparently 1st Tank Army exploiting slice through 17th Army - some 9xTank Corps, 2xMech Corps, 4xCav Corps and numerous Rifle Corps rumble west. One key supporting attack - the resolute defense of the 223rd IN Div - with timely reinforcement by 25th Pz - hold the northern most attack. While one Jager Div is isolated in the initial thrust, the front isn't broken wide open - there is a chance.....

Fortunately, LVI PzKps (2xPz, PG) was brought down behind Kharkov from 4th Pz Armee and is available to attack. 1st Pz Armee has two PzKps (totalling 4xPz) and the 25 Pz is in the area. Although vastly outnumbered, the Soviets are attempting to exploit their success - and vulnerable to counterattack!

[IdahoNYer]

Using the narrow corridor held by the 223rd In Div, LVI PzKps slices into the Soviets from the north, while XXXXVI PzKps strikes them from the south. Once the initial attack goes in, the XXXXVIII PzKps is brought up to finish off the job.

All goes surprising well. XXXXVI PzKps with 25th Pz added mauls the two Tank Corps holding the narrowest part of the Soviet penetration. LVI PzKps has a tougher time, and even a Hungarian armored Div is brought in - in a tough fight, 2xTk and a Mech Corps are pushed east. This effectively isolates the lead two tank corps and a mech corp. XXXXVIII PzKps, along with any available panzer that the other two PzKps can muster, administer the coup de grace to the cut off Soviets - no chance to hold an isolation here!

The end result is over 800 Soviet tanks destroyed, the cream of the Soviet tank arm mauled, and the line re-established. 3xTank Corps and a Mech Corps are routed, hopefully they won't recover immediately. The cost isn't cheap - over 275 German panzers are taken out, and while the line is re-established, it isn't exactly strong.

LVI and XXXXVI PzKps are spent for the turn and defend pretty much in place. XXXXVIII PzKps redeploys a bit to the SE to await the next Soviet thrust.

The Soviets are focused on getting across the Dniepr while its frozen - this might delay that a bit....then again, it may not.....

[sveint]

Very nice read. Will be interesting to see how this turns out.

[Kronolog]

Great AAR. If the soviets would opt to go past Leningrad, are you going to leave any German divisions in the city itself or are you going to leave it to the Finns? Or perhaps if it's possible to extract Germans from Finland via the sea (?), then I suppose it wouldn't be a problem having them cut-off.

[Ketza]

Nice counterattack!

[IdahoNYer]

Kronolog - great question, hadn't really thought that far ahead. I have a few German infantry divisions with the Finnish Kannas Army, they will probably stay north to defend Finland.

I guess I need to consider what to do with the Finnish IV Corps which is part of the German 18th Army - they probably need to get back to Finland.

My question to anyone who might know, if Leningrad is re-taken by the Soviets, are the Finns restricted by the no attack line again?

[IdahoNYer]

Turn 133; Dec 30, 1943......blizzard

Overview screen shot showing the Soviet progress at the end of 1943. The dike burst this turn in the south against Armee Group A - major Soviet penetration between 17th Army and 1st Pz Armee. Elsewhere, many of the Soviet attacks were held. Heavy casualties to both sides. Despite the "success" along most of the front the German infantry divisions are being ground to dust, even while holding some pretty good fortified positions.

With no hope of a spring thaw any time soon, I can only hope that the Soviet Bear tires of the losses and gives me a pause to regroup. Otherwise, despite effective panzer "fire brigade" counterattacks, we're going to have to consider a major withdrawal which, once I abandon the fortifications, could turn into a rout if he pursues agressively.


Some areas, such as near Bryansk, have a fortified line established. Most do not. This, if nothing else, will be interesting as hell.

[IdahoNYer]

AGN actually has some significant success this turn.

18th Army held a Soviet attack for a change - perhaps the Soviets are getting a bit fatigued?

16th Army held off Soviet relief attempts and the heavily reinforced (at the expense of 8th Army's XXXXI PzKps) XXXIX PzKps destroyed the two isolated tank corps. The Soviets launched three relief attacks, all of which were repulsed. XXXIX PzKps needs a rest - at least the ability to pull some elements to teh rear to rest and refit.

9th Army's LVII PzKps also held off relief attacks, was pressed back, but did not break. The Soviets have pretty much cleared the fortified zone in the PzKps sector, which means if he continues to press here, he will penetrate. I'm going to have to pull the panzers off the line - against the Rifle Corps they can't hold and will be ground down. The tough part is that the remainder of the 9th Army line is fairly stable, in fortified positions. If the LVII PzKps area has to fall back, everything east will also have to fall back.

Hoping the bloody nose of losing the two tank corps can induce the Soviets to look elsewhere to push west....probably not.

[IdahoNYer]

AGC has so far been able to parry the Soviet attacks. The first big attack of the winter was rebuffed by 3rd Pz Armee due to reinforcing its panzer strength. However, now that only Rifle Corps seem to be pressing the Pz Armee, the panzers are slowly being withdrawn - most notably GD heading south last turn.

The pressure against 4th Army is more serious as it has a whole lot less to defend itself with - both in troops and fortifications. We'll continue to plug the dike as long as possible, but a fallback to the Bryansk Line is likely. That "line" isn't much north of Kirov either, so I'm not anxious to fall back - which would also likely to force the abandonment of positions to the south holding Orel and Kursk - largely quiet up to now.

I think, think being the key part, that most Soviet resources are heading south against Armee Group A and still threaten Armee Group B. If he doesn't considerably reinforce against AGC - especially with significant tank elements - I have a chance to hold him here. Or at least gradually delay west in front of Moscow.

[IdahoNYer]

And now the main event - screen shot showing the results of the Soviet turn, before German moves.

Scar finally gets his long awaited breakthrough - in the one place I never figured he'd be able to pull it off. The Soviet Juggernaut bowls over some very significant combat power - if he can break through this, he can do it at will anywhere!

Half of LVI PzKps is pushed back to the north. XXXXVI PzKps is at the center of the breakthrough and ripped apart - half of it, 1SS Pz and 11 Pz (two of the most powerfull divisions on the front) are routed towards the Dniepr, while remainder of the PzKps, 25 Pz and SS Mot Bde take refuge in fortifications. XXXXVIII PzKps' 13 Pz holds 4 of 5 attacks before withdrawing in good order. This probably limited the damage from total catastrophe to mere breakthrough......

Holding attacks on 1st Pz Armee's infantry to the east push them back, but do not breakthrough.

Best as I can figure, he's got about a dozen or so Tank Corps running west through a 40 mile wide by 80 mile deep gap through 17th Army's area. Plus Cavalry, plus massed infantry. Not a good picture.

Worse, is the only "fresh" division I have is the railed GD from 3rd Pz Armee. Any counterattack will have to be done with the panzers that just got rolled over....not a good prospect.

On the positive side, his lead tank corps are definately in exploit mode and spread out - perhaps vulnerable if I can scrape together something of these 3xPzKps I have in the area.

At all costs, I'm going to try and steer him away from the Dniepr Bend - even at showing a potential "opportunity" to encircle 1st Pz Armee against the Sea of Azov. But to do that, I have to blunt this attack....somehow...

[IdahoNYer]

And the resulting carnage.......

GD moves by rail to within 20m of the front, de-trains and joins the intact portion of XXXXVI PzKps (25th Pz, SS Mot) to act as the main effort in the attack. It's the best I can scrape up, while maintaining some semblence of frontage SE of Kharkov. LVI PzKps (2 SS and 1 Pz), holding the shoulder of the defensive line, open up with a spoiling attack against 2xTk Corps to batter them a bit and force them to retreat. About 120 tanks are destroyed in the limited attack. Both Pz Divs then pull out to follow XXXXVI PzKps attack and await the next Soviet thrust. XXXXVI PzKps, with almost 100 Tigers in support, rout one tank corps and then force two more to retreat - one deeper in the pocket, one to the east. At this point, they are played out. XXXXXVIII PzKps (13 Pz, 14 Pz, 16 PG) attack from the southeast, routing 2x Tk Corps and forcing another to withdraw east. Both PzKps link up some 30 miles to the east of the now isolated 2xTk Corps. Battered infantry formations form a cushion if the PzKps are forced to withdraw. Anything I can bring up, including Rumanians (yes, I'm getting THAT desperate!) form the inner cordon on the isolated Tank Corps.

Lastly, I pull SS Wiking off the line at Belgorod, rail it south, and place it under LVI PzKps to assist in "holding the shoulder".

At best, I can stave off the next round of Soviet attacks and destroy the isolated tank corps - and thereby maybe convincing Scar that I have unlimited resources and my fire brigades can patch up any penetration.

The truth is not quite as optimistic. These last few weeks have ground down not only infantry, but the panzers are showing wear. They need a rest. The front from north Kharkov to Orel is about as ripe for attack as it can be - only 2xPzKpz remain in that vital stretch of frontage.

Well, the front is plugged, patched and re-established. For now. How long will it last?

Not long, I'm sure.....

[Q-Ball]

Nice AAR as always. I would be interested in seeing production figures. Also wondering what you might be doing to keep the manpower strength up in terms of disbanding units.

The Germans have some units you can cannibalize for Manpower; the RHG Sec HQs are probably long gone for you, but the Army Airbases are good candidates, and LW Field Units, maybe. As you get pushed out of Russia, the FBD units and Security Divisions are probably candidates to get disbanded. Honestly you probably don't need 5 FBD units right now; maybe not any.

The Romanian Army has alot of extra Airbases IMO that are good candidates for Manpower. Also the Anton Army Group HQ; probably you have to wait until AGS split, but you are there at this point

[IdahoNYer]

Turn 134; Jan 6, 1944.....blizzard

Welcome to 1944!!! And the Germans still well inside the Soviet Union. Time to take a look at forces available for the start of the year.

Overall, not doing to badly. We've got 3.2 million Germans, not including allies vs just under 6 million Soviets. Better than I expected.
AFVs are also not too bad with the Germans having over 7000 to the Soviets just over 8000. The airpower is ridiculous, some 3000 to 26,000 but there isn't much I can do about that other than keep the fighter strength as high as possible.

Overall, not bad...