Return to Smolensk and Beyond, IdahoNY vs Scar

[IdahoNYer]

The losses screen:

Germans are approaching 3 million to the Soviets approaching 8 million. Aircraft have 5000 German against 40,000 Soviet.

I expect German losses to really start increasing now that I'm in 1944. The Soviet Steamroller will be much tougher to stop this year!

[IdahoNYer]

And finally some production figures.

plenty of panzers available - pools stocked with PzIVHs, Panthers, Tigers, StGs - you name it. The only shortage is in tank destroyers. I've set the majority of infantry divisions to 60%-70% across the front since early 1943 and have managed to maintain some small pools of rifle squads without having to disband too many units. That's with having about 100, 000+ men in fortified units across the front as well. Not bad.

I was going to disband the LW field and some security divisions, but haven't . The Security divisions have been kept busy chasing down partisans, and the LW field divisions have proven quite capable. I probably could afford to disband some RR repair units, but each time that thought crosses my mind, the partisans tear up lots of rail and I need them.

As the Luftwaffe is pulled west, I can probably afford to disband some airbases and Luftwaffe HQs in 1944. Same with Rumanians who remain next to useless. Hungarians do pretty well, especially when given some German "corsets".

[IdahoNYer]

And here is the frontline in Jan 44. Soviets maintain pressure on AGN with Rifle Corps based attacks - enough to keep the pressure on, but not going to breakthrough. AGC's front develops a crisis from the new broad front attacks against 4th Army - no breakthrough, but no adequate reserves either. This is going to be a problem! The major Soviet thrust, right through 17th Army's AO and tearing a gap between AGB and AGA, remains the major threat.

[IdahoNYer]

While no major breakthroughs occured in AGN's AO, the first major operational withdrawal takes place.

In front of Leningrad, the Soviets continue to pound through the "Volkov Line" - taking one hex, but failing twice to take another. Still grinding forward at a terrible price.

The persistent attacks at the boundary of 16th Army and 9th Army continue to make slow forward progress, despite the two PzKps trying to hold them back. The one Tank Corps observed in the area was routed back in the counter attack, but nothing the Germans have will move back the advancing Rifle Corps - so that was never tried.

What this attack does, combined with increasing pressure on AGC, is force 9th Army to abandon some 20 miles of fortified terrain to the Soviets without a fight - something I've really resisted doing! Have no choice here. While I think I can contain the attacks in AGN's area, I'm not as confident in AGC's area now that 4th Army is taking it on the chin.

With the Soviet main attack still moving forward towards the Dniepr in the south, any assistance going toward AGC will have to come from AGN - so we're going to start to pull back toward Rzhev.

[IdahoNYer]

Here's where another crisis looms. While 3rd Pz Armee has been able to hold off - or at least contain - the pounding the Soviets have thrown against it, the massive 60 mile wide offensive against 4th Army is a major concern. While the Soviets have not broken through, the Rifle Corps have forced 4th Army out of its best defensive positions and are poised to shatter the line.

Behind the Rifle Corps are some armor units - not sure exactly what, but it looks to be a major effort here, and 4th Army only has on PG Div, moved from XL PzKps, as a reserve. Not good is an understatement.

The plan is to start pulling back towards the Bryansk-Vyzma Line which isn't exactly ready. Besides the line not being ready, this much of a withdrawal will jeapordize Orel and points south still being held in strength by AGB.

Not sure there is much I can do here other than pull back and hope for the best. I'll bring some panzers down from AGN, and I have 18 Pz coming up from near Orel.

Bottom line - this ain't going to be pretty....

[IdahoNYer]

Here is where it remains "In Doubt"...screen shot showing major combats, but after the German moves.

The Soviets muscled forward, pretty much right through XXXXVI PzKps and remaining infantry of 17th Army, isolating GD and 1Pz Div in the process. Supporting attacks along 1st Pz Armee's eastern flank made progress, but did not break through.

The German response pushed the Soviets back, routing 5 Tank Corps in the process and re-establishing a line. The cost, however is high. XIV PzKps is brought down from north of Kharkov to hold the shoulder, as LVI PzKps is badly fatigued and being hard pressed.

2nd Hun Army and 4th Pz Armee are basically intermixed from north of Belgorod to near the Dniepr Bend - with the predominate panzer concentration south of Kharkov.

17th Army and 1st Pz Armee are just as intermixed at the point of Soviet penetration, with all the infantry of both armies at the breaking point. The panzers are likewise very, very fatigued.

With pressure building, 1st Pz Armee begins pulling back its infantry on its eastern flank - this will jeapordize the extreme southern portion of the line, and risk a Soviet breakthrough towards the Crimea. But it can not be helped - at best we'll keep the Soviets east of the Dneipr - all else is "negotiable"

I just hope his armor is just as fatigued as the panzers are - if he has fresh armor uncommitted, he'll achieve his breakthrough.....

[IdahoNYer]

Turn 135; Jan 13, 1944......blizzard

Appears we drew a little respite from Soviet Hordes for the turn - not nearly as much offensive activity across the front. And that's a good thing as the German army is pretty well fatigued and depleted right now.

In AGN's area of operations, Soviets continue to slowly hammer their way closer to Leningrad through 18th Army's positions, but casualties are heavy, with at least a 2-1 loss ratio in our favor. Still ground is gained, and we fallback to the next position, 10 miles to the rear. One which is not nearly as well fortified as the previous one....

Soviet pressure against AGN remains strongest near the boundary of 16th and 9th Armies - some German units are pushed back, but lost ground is retaken by a swift counterattack by XXXIX PzKps against a Rifle Corps. The retaken ground is only held by weak trip-wire units; depleted divisions intended to slow any major attack down, not stop it.

9th Army continues its slow withdrawal from the gates of Moscow. No real direct pressure yet, but with heavy pressure to the north and south, there is no alternative.

With alot of luck, AGN can stall the Soviets long enough east of the Lake Ilmen - Velikie Luki Line until spring - AND keep the Soviets from assalting Leningrad. Tough odds....

[IdahoNYer]

Of all the sectors of the front, pressure remained high against AGC. 3rd Pz Armee continues to take a pounding from massed Rifle Corps attacks, but the Soviets are paying a fearful price. Sadly, I think they can afford that price.

4th Army continues to contain, albeit barely, the Soviet Rifle Corps attacks south of Kaluga. Surprisingly, no Soviet armor was sent in to break the door wide open. This has allowed me to bring up the Feldherrnhalle PG Div to 4th Army's sector, and 11st SS PG is also enroute - all assuming the Soviets will unleash the tanks in short order. I will probably activate 3rd SS PzKps and bring Totenkopf down if the Soviets attempt to exploit.

In the mean time, we'll continue to fallback slowly as long as we can, while holding on to Orel to the south - had to abandon Kaluga which was taken just prior to the 41 blizzard and held throughout - it is a bitter blow to the OKH morale (me).

[IdahoNYer]

South of Kharkov, the Soviet pressure relaxed quite a bit. They MUST be tired too - can hope, right?

While the pressure on 1st Pz Armee was maintained, it was also contained, and no major thrust was launched toward the Dneipr. LVII and XXXXVI PzKps took advantage of this "lull" and attacked into the northern portion of the Soviet salient, forcing 4xTk, Mech and Cav Corps to withdraw after losing over 350 tanks to the German's 75 or so. Hopefully that attack will keep them just a bit off balance.

While this realitively small victory may help disrupt the overall Soviet timetable, the overall German situation remains critical. Although I pulled off 11PZ and 13PZ to refit, the Panzerwaffe is still badly in need of a rest - and remains the only viable force capable of either defending or counterattacking effectively. German infantry in the Soviet attack zone is in bad shape - few units remain over 10,000 effectives and some are closer to 5,000 - with experience dwindling across all units.

Still, the Soviets haven't reached the Dniepr yet, and three still strong PzKps bar the most direct route. Worse case scenario is that the Soviets open up a major offensive north of Kharkov. As long as his main thrust is concentrated east of the Dneipr bend, there is a chance the panzers can still parry the blows and keep him off balance.

Unfortunately, spring is still a long way away.....

[IdahoNYer]

Turn 136; Jan 20, 1944....Blizzard

Soviets continue their heavy pressure - its at the breaking point in some areas.

18th Army continues to attempt to hold the Volkov Line as best it can. Despite four Soviet attacks, only one is successful. Maybe it is a sign they are becoming fatigued? One can hope.

[IdahoNYer]

Soviet pressure keeps pounding the boundary between 16th and 9th Armies, despite having both XXXIX and LVII PzKps in the area. Against the stacked Rifle Corps, its just not enough. Soviet losses are heavy, but they continue to advance. We've got to hold here to allow the 9th Army to pull back from the gates of Moscow - a slow process. With heavy pressure against 4th Army across from Tula - the Soviets could potentially try a major encirclement - of both 9th Army and 3rd Pz Armee. It would be a longshot, but feasible if I try and hold too far east. Will try and ensure that doesn't happen.

In the meantime, we'll just try and contain this attempt to breakthrough between the two German armies.

[IdahoNYer]

Soviet pressure keeps pounding the boundary between 16th and 9th Armies, despite having both XXXIX and LVII PzKps in the area. Against the stacked Rifle Corps, its just not enough. Soviet losses are heavy, but they continue to advance. We've got to hold here to allow the 9th Army to pull back from the gates of Moscow - a slow process. With heavy pressure against 4th Army across from Tula - the Soviets could potentially try a major encirclement - of both 9th Army and 3rd Pz Armee. It would be a longshot, but feasible if I try and hold too far east. Will try and ensure that doesn't happen.

In the meantime, we'll just try and contain this attempt to breakthrough between the two German armies.

[IdahoNYer]

While 3rd Pz Armee continues to be pressured by massed Rifle Corps attacks, the 4th Army's frontline is broken open by massed attacks. This is the breakthrough the Soviets have been hoping for against AGC - and this will definately hasten 3rd Pz Armee's withdrawal!!

[IdahoNYer]

With no real infantry reserves to plug the gap, and no massed panzers available to readily counter attack, 4th Army has no choice but to give ground and delay the Soviets until panzers can be massed. To that effect, III SS PzKps is activated and begins to form with FH and 11 SS PG, SS Totenkopf brought down from 3rd Pz Armee and 18th Pz up from behind 2nd Army. XL PzKps with 5th and 19th Pz Divs is pulled out of the line from west of Kaluga, protects 3rd Pz Armee's southern flank, and prepares to counter attack. To the south of the breakthrough, III PzKps is brought up from 6th Army to 2nd Army - only the 4th, 16th, and 17th Pz Divs are in need of replacements, and won't pack too much of a punch.

Still, its the best we can do right now - the font of 3rd Pz and 4th Army is now "fluid" - as retreating has prevented a solid front line, but rather a series of fortified locales to slow the Soviets while the bulk of the infantry pulls west.

We'll see how well that works....

[IdahoNYer]

Still no Soviet activity from Orel to south of Kharkov - not what I expected.

South of Kharkov, things remain "in doubt". 4th Pz Armee has two PzKps fully engaged here now to stem the Soviet attack's westerly direction - along with 1st Pz Armee's XXXXVI PzKps. The remainder of 1st Pz Armee slowly pulls back in the south - under heavy pressure.

While the panzer formations are tired, they are not in bad overall shape. The infantry however, is another story. They are badly attritted, fatigued and are about ready to break. Very few remain defensive capbably without support. Offensively capable, very, very few...

I'm counting on that the Soviets are as badly fatigued as the Germans - at risk is a breakthrough south to the Sea of Azov or opening up the attacks to take Kharkov.

We'll see...

[M60A3TTS]

It seems like this game has slowed down a bit.  I hope you keep it going, it's my favorite AAR given all the effort that you've put into it.   

[AZKGungHo]

This is an AWESOME AAR - please keep it going if you can!!

[IdahoNYer]

Turn 141; Feb 24, 1944....Blizzard

Game has been progressing slowly....AAR even slower. Feb has been a steady series of attacks against AGC and AG-A in the south. Soviets continue to grind toward Leningrad - slowly, but steadily.

The greatest crisis has been against AGC - Both 3rd Pz Armee and 4th Army have been reinforced, but are still bordering on collapse.

Attacks against AG-B south of Kharkov have slackened, with the emphasis shifting south against AG-A towards the Sea of Azov.

Overall, we pray for mud. In the meantime we delay in AGC and hold east of the Dniepr Bend in the south.

[IdahoNYer]

18th Army continues to defend against massed Rifle Corps west of the Volkov River. The Soviet progress is slow, but painfully steady. One or two hexes a turn will be enough to liberate Leningrad before summer. Not much can be done, just defend and exact a 3-1 price in loss for each hex gained.

[IdahoNYer]

Pressure against the boundary between 9th and 16th Army has slackened a bit in the last few weeks. I expected a more powerful push toward the Valdai Hills, but this never materialized. Apparently most of the Tank Corps have moved elsewhere - likely further south.

In any case, we've been able to delay the Soviet advance a bit better than expected, which has allowed both 9th Army and 3rd Pz Armee to defend/delay further east than anticipated - and that is a major victory at this point.

Still, 9th Army is about ready to pull out to the west in a hurry - any week now......

16th Army has been the bill payer for crisis expanding near Smolensk - it has pulled a Pz, PG and an infantry Div south in the last two weeks.