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

[Toidi]

The recent success definitely boosted morale of my troops around Moscow and they held a few times. The resistance was overcome, but STAVKA guess is that plans of OKH have not been carried out as intended.

Situation below:

[Toidi]

The troops at Leningrad did not show that much elan as those at Moscow... Or maybe it is due to the bad supply, fatigue and lower ammo levels? Or maybe the Germans just go lucky with x4 multiplier?

Whatever the cause is STAVKA is not happy with Tolbukhin who did not sent any reinforcements to the city despite having rifle brigade in reserve status... Or maybe it was due to the river crossing and thus not enough MP?

Whatever the reason, STAVKA concluded that Tolbukhin disappointed with the second battle. Zhukov opposed slightly that there was no error made in defense, just the Jerry was too strong, but this view is the minority view.

[Toidi]

Stavka managed to make several encirclements of German troops. Those should hamper supply and slow the offensive down...

Also, the vulnerable SS division got encircled and routed. The other tank division did not (not enough MP).

As we wanted to report good news to the troops in Moscow to boost morale, we made a small offensive against Romanians in the south. The encirclement there may hold (ok, it is not very likely, but it will require some effort to free those troops, and maybe some emergency help from the German mobile forces).

[Toidi]

Leningrad has fallen...

Though it took 3 attacks... I don't blame Tolbukhin too much, OKH really wanted Leningrad...

[Toidi]

The rest of the front was not too bad. There is an encirclement around Moscow, but that was almost taken into account as a delaying strategy to hold the capital (though, unfortunately, it seems to be tight). To my surprise, the Romanians just withdrew and left the troops, instead of fighting for them...

[Toidi]

All the forces in the south were cut from supplies, I guess as expected. Issue is that next turn they will get connected, but will not move out... And later on we have only turn 17 and mud... May be difficult for OKH, but maybe those guys can be saved...

As for Moscow, I guess no frontal assault is in mind of OKH, so I did not pile troops there...

In the north situation is a bit similar, but those infantry can easily be saved, maybe with a little help from mobile forces which were just moved towards Moscow.

Situation after turn 15 below:

[Toidi]

Stavka meeting was much more relaxed this time. Finally everyone started to believe that Moscow will not be taken... And the latest maneuvers by OKH, in the view of likely rain in just two weeks were best summarized by Zhukov: "They took insane risk"

Despite maybe 50000 troops taken into custody in Leningrad, the spirits were definitely high.

[Toidi]

The encirclements will most likely be more trouble for the OKH than for Stavka

My moves below:

[Toidi]

Also, being in a really good mood, STAVKA launched some small offensive in Crimea region:

[Toidi]

The only quiet moment was when an awkward toast was made: to the memory of courageous defenders of Leningrad...

but well, it is difficult to have full success in each and every front...

[Toidi]

In the view of the forecasted rain (more than 80% chance) STAVKA started to celebrate. Moscow held, as well as Stalino and Zaporozhye. Additionally, some divisions are encircled and some Axis troops seem to be overly extended and in danger.

Situation below:

[Toidi]

In Crimea it is likely we will encircle one more Romanian division:

[Toidi]

In Finland, 4 divisions are likely lost:

[Toidi]

The final position of armies below. It is highly likely that some Axis tank, motorized, infantry and cavalry will be destroyed during mud turn.

In Moscow we celebrate, made a huge military parade and sent additional stock of vodka and Shampanskoye Igristoye to shops! Atmosphere of celebration is widespread!

[Mike29]

Our congratulation! "Shampanskoe igristoe"? ))) Nice knowledge of Russian drinks, but this just misinformation of NKVD. )) According information from "ABVER" STAVKA drank "Kindzmarauli" (red Georgian wine, Stalin's favourive).

Well, It was epic battle. Hoepner was in time, but unfortunately Guderian was too late (Seems that 700 000 lost in Great Ukrainian pocket weren't vain), they (me) could not close "Tula pocket" and made another mistake running to fast to Ryazan and Oka river. Defense in Nothern sector was also too strong. Taking into consideration bad weather expectations, OKH decided to avoid risks and postpone advance to Moscow until 1942. Battle of Moscow is lost but war is continues.

[Toidi]

ORIGINAL: Mike29

Our congratulation! "Shampanskoe igristoe"? ))) Nice knowledge of Russian drinks, but this just misinformation of NKVD. )) According information from "ABVER" STAVKA drank "Kindzmarauli" (red Georgian wine, Stalin's favourive).

Well, It was epic battle. Hoepner was in time, but unfortunately Guderian was too late (Seems that 700 000 lost in Great Ukrainian pocket weren't vain), they (me) could not close "Tula pocket" and made another mistake running to fast to Ryazan and Oka river. Defense in Nothern sector was also too strong. Taking into consideration bad weather expectations, OKH decided to avoid risks and postpone advance to Moscow until 1942. Battle of Moscow is lost but war is continues.

My feeling is that in summer '41 you overextended your forces few times... Also, you are brilliant tactician and great encircler but sometimes I had a feeling that this tactics does not fit into big plan. Unfortunately, '42 is all about encirclements, so I expect troubles... Huge troubles...

In the end, I think the biggest mistake you made is that you should never allowed me to evacuate my forces from the Pripyat marshes... But whole offensive in the south started badly for you with the leaky Lviv pocket (I opened it only just) and the mud came in not the most fortunate moment... Still, if not for the evacuation of Pripyat marshes, from where I got like extra 10 divisions, you would get much less troubles in the south. This is also why the huge pocked did not destroy my army totally (but almost)- some of the units there were from the Pripyat, and those are usually lost in the first few turns...

Apart of the encirclement, the most difficult bit for me was when you raided through my units in marshes around Pskov to finish the encirclement and when you got the single rail hex east of Leningrad. If not for destroying this rail, I probably would be able to fight much longer for Leningrad, or maybe even hold it... My other mistake was not evacuating Kharkov T34 in time and getting just a single KV from Leningrad...

On the bright side, I am still happy with the evacuation of armaments - there are still shortages, but the amount I have should allow me to build a proper offensive in '43 and hopefully resist you somehow in '42 [that may be devilishly difficult with your tactical skills, but I will do my best]. I expect to lose most of the manpower I still hold during '42 I'm afraid - and if alongside the manpower I will lose significant part of the army, that may flip the game in your favour.

[Mike29]

Yes, you summed up precisely results of summer campaign, and they are near historical excluding Leningrad. In my opinion your biggest mistake of the summer - you send your elite units to save little Pskov pocket (and just increase this pocket) instead of defense Staraya Russa and Tihkvin. I was lucky near lake Ilmen, but even one unit near Tikhvin might save Leningrad. Then I sow some kind of panic in North. You already bring a lot of units to Tikhvin, but why you left Luga line?

But all your next moves in North and center were near perfect. Mud in the South and my risky strategy broke my plans in Ukrain, and Guderian was late to Moscow being engaged with the Great pocket. But generally I am satisfied with the results, and this game still has intrigue for 1942.

[Toidi]

Mud turns were more entertaining than usual, but it does not mean they were action packed. Nevertheless, some of the Axis units surrounded on turn 17 has surrendered. There were also some fun in the very north... We had some snow in the central zone, but OKH did not attack.

Anyway, situation before snow (theoretically) should hit below.

[Toidi]

In Finland STAVKA managed to cut of the Finns for a while. Unfortunately our units are so weak that the cut off Finns are stronger and no attack is possible...

I never before got odds 0:0 but well...

STAVKA is prepared for a last push by the OKH in the snow that is coming. Also, it is slowly building reserves for the winter offensive.

[Toidi]

Snow turns were a bit less entertaining that usual. OKH decided to withdraw, to the previously prepared fortification. STAVKA was worried about last minute encirclement so proceeded very carefully.

Most action happened in the Moscow area where OKH left a screen of infantry brigades and it has been decided that it is a good target for harvesting wins.

The turn before the blizzard, before any moves below (all the relevant data included on screen):