To run or not to run... Toidi (Sov) - Mike29 (Axis)

[Toidi]

In Moscow, not much could have been done, but one motorised infantry got isolated:

[Peltonx]

I think he just lost a Panzer division up north.

He is all in on that big right hook by Leningrad. If you stop that hes in trouble.

You need to brake open that huge pocket in center and just run back, delay as best you can.

If you stop the right hook and brake pocket open Mikes in trouble and might not take Leningrad or Moscow.

Game is very much on a knifes edge.

Good luck.

Pelton

[Toidi]

And in the south... well, bad reckon for me - the southern edge was held by Romanian troops, I probably could cut him off there... Still, some parts of the ring won't get any supplies...

[Toidi]

ORIGINAL: Pelton

I think he just lost a Panzer division up north.

He is all in on that big right hook by Leningrad. If you stop that hes in trouble.

You need to brake open that huge pocket in center and just run back, delay as best you can.

If you stop the right hook and brake pocket open Mikes in trouble and might not take Leningrad or Moscow.

Game is very much on a knifes edge.

Good luck.

Pelton

Never, never underestimate Mike

[Peltonx]

Before last turn you had the upper hand and was doing better then normal from north to south.

Turns 1-7 are the flashy turns, but the money turns are from 10-13.

Pelton

[Toidi]

As it was, Mike did manage to connect to all overextended forces...

The turn as I got it:

[Callistrid]

Start evacuate Leningrad. The eastern way is open, but the german spearhead could close next turn.

Around Moscow start building a defensive line, and attach several construction brigade to the front HQ-s. However, you will lose the city before the mud will arrive.

[Toidi]

28th of August... Very, very challenging time. The forces around Leningrad were withdrew to the city; Maybe it was mistake, but at least they will fight for the city...

The big encirclement in the south hold this time...

Moscow defended by a weak line... On the other hand I am rather happy Mike went for Kalinin instead of attacking Moscow immediately... This turn he should not have any fuel there ...

Situation after my moves below:

[sorry for white strip in the middle; I do not have any other screenshot to fix it...]

[Toidi]

Callistrid, thanks for your suggestions...

Well, I moved the units around Leningrad; maybe it was just too cautious, I still don't know... As for evacuation of factories, there are 8 ARM there... and those are lost as the rail is cut As for Leningrad itself, I want to fight a bit more... sure, it will fall, but every turn I hold Leningrad is the turn those infantry around is not going towards Moscow.

As for Moscow, well, line (kind of) is there. And reinforcements are coming to make a heroic defense...

[Callistrid]

I belive would be better to give up Leningrad when you can do that.

On south why you concentrate a big number of soviet div west from Dnepropetrovsk? They are unusefull there.

Don't concentrate 3 division on Kharkov.

[Callistrid]

On the german side I start move the div's to the Moscow front, and protect the line with some german regt. The future of Leningrad will be determined on the forest of east Leningrad. If the german pz could capture the Onega way he won the battle.

[Mike29]

Thanks for AAR. Very interesting and dramatic game. I am sure it should be long.

Regarding Kalinin - i simply forgot to move this division back at 4 squares, the initial target was to loot Kalinin and go to take briges of Lama river. They had enough movement points. Of course division commander was executed.

[Mike29]

Also thanks for advice Callistrid. As you may know, this AAR posted with delay of some turns, so I will not run before the locomotive as we say in Russia. Regarding AGN I just want to say that reaching Onega is a good idea but complicated and expensive to do, especially taking into consideration difficult terrain and heroic defense under command of Toidi. My basic target is just to broke railway as far from Piter as I will be able.

[Toidi]

So, the September came... The month of hope for Soviet Union, after tragic August...

The situation before my moves below:

[Toidi]

In September '41 I realised that the scenario I was most worried about, which includes, but is not limited to knocking on the door in the early morning and farewell from JS may actually not happen the next day...

Anyway, Moscow defense starts shaping up, Leningrad will hold for few more turns, armies in the north will not get surrounded... only I did not manage to open the pocket. My fault, not enough bombing on the unit - I had the delusional idea of air supplying the encirclement, which was, of course not possible (the encirclement is still too large).

Nevertheless, things are looking better than even a week ago...

[Peltonx]

Its going to be really hard for you to recover from the big pockets he got in the center.

If you lose Leningrad and Moscow I think your blizzard O will be weak which will lead to a really good summer for Mike in 42.

Good Luck.

Pelton

[Toidi]

I kind of agree with you. However, on the other hand in the south there is a lot of manpower to compensate a little bit. It is turn 12 and I am still in Dnetropetrovsk & Zaporozhye... There is some manpower in Doneck and Rostov (not that much but still) to compensate a little bit. Of course, *if* I somehow manage to hold those...

[Toidi]

Second week of September...

Situation in Leningrad worsened a bit... Still, the attack on Pushkin was quite brave, I would say.

On the other hand, suspiciously quiet in the north of Finland... I guess Mike simply forgot to issue orders there...

[Toidi]

And the general picture Stavka obtained is below...

Germans attacks were held 13 times out of 78 (15 surrenders). This is much better than before...

[Toidi]

Stavka decided that some faith needs to be seeded in soldiers minds after failed defense of Pushkin and spreading rumours of immense fall of Leningrad. Therefore, we counter-attacked. After multiple bombing attacks the Red Army encircled and routed enemy tank division close to Moscow!