Za Rodinu Soviet AAR (No Axis)

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 39, STAVKA ORDERS

OVERALL

The greedy fingers of the fascist thrust are curling inwards. It seems this is developing into an ambitios scheme to encicle the whole of our front west of Voronezh. But we will not fall into that trap again. A whole winter of ideological training has learnt our troops the value of retreating to fight another day.


NORTH

As usual, keep current positions. Move back into the hxes vacated by the Finnish attacks. Try not to leave unready units in the line if it can be avoided!

STAVKA nicked a couple of divisions from the VV-line and sent south to meet the major Axs offensive.

CENTER

The center is continuing to retreat south of Tula to avoid encirclement. A deep carpet has been established southwest of Tula to absorb the shock of the next step in the evil enemy scheme.

SOUTH

Withdraw from the Kharkov bulge immediately and establish a line along the green line in the map below. You should strive to have a triple line on all parts of the front, but especially important to establish at least triple lines around the enemy spearhead, see map! Numerous STAVKA reserve divisions have been sent to the area to help. Also, withdraw a couple of hexes south of the bulge, we do not want to be trapped against the sea if the enemy changes direction.

Do not worry about withdrawing, there is nothing behind your front that we cannot afford do lose. All industry west of Stalingrad is gone since long.

On the Crimea, continue the fighting retreat to the isthmus.

Stalin. Shaposhnikov.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 39. The Tula-Voronezh area after Soviet moves.

[Tarhunnas]

To Commander of the Southern strategic direction.

STAVKA pulled 2d Shock Army out of line last turn and put it as a local reserve (secret Soviet experiments in parapsychology and precognition led STAVKA to belive an enemy swing to the north was coming.)

Use 2d Shock as a nucleus and move them to block the enemy spearhead in the direction indicated on the map below. They will probably be the only units that have moves to go there. Let 2d Shock take command of STAVKA reinforcemets already moved in to the area up to its capacity.

[Tarhunnas]

The southern part of the front after Soviet moves.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 40 before Soviet moves.

The enemy offensive has once again changed direction. In the north, they are now making a lunge for Moscow, while the southern prong has contented itself with chewing off a few Soviet divisions. It is clear the fascist hydra is aimlessly throwing its weight around in fury, showing its nature like the deperate beast it is.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 40, STAVKA ORDERS

OVERALL

The northern fascist prong has changed direction towards Moscow. The western strategic direction will concentrate to defend the capital. In the South, we have once again to pull back.

NORTH

As usual, keep current positions. Move back into the hexes vacated by the Finnish attacks. Try not to leave unready units in the line if it can be avoided!

STAVKA again took a couple of divisions from the VV-line and sent south to meet the major Axis offensive.

CENTER

The center is concentrating to prevent the enemy reaching Moscow, while industry is being evacuated. Withdrawals have been made to the West of Moscow to free up forces.

SOUTH

Withdraw all your forces to the blue line marked in the map and connect to the southern flank of Kalinin Front. Try to establish at least a triple line around the enemy panzer bulge. Write off the surrounded divisions. Do not worry about withdrawing, we have plenty of room down there to retreat.

On the Crimea, defend the isthmus at Ak Manay.

Stalin. Shaposhnikov.

[Tarhunnas]

The OOB. Soviet strength have increased but slightly since last time. Worrying. We need more troops! German infantry strenght has increased a lot, but I suppose that is reinforcements. OTOH, the Germans seem to be burning up their tanks.

Note that Pavlov is still alive!

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 41, STAVKA ORDERS

OVERALL

The heroic defense of the valiant defenders of the Motherland has eviently shown the invaders that they will pay dearly for the sacred soil of Mother Russia. While heavy attacks were experienced this turn, they were mostly straight frontal attacks, and nothing dramatic happened. Next turn will be mud.

NORTH

As usual, keep current positions and plug the holes. Some reinforcement divisions are on their way to replace the ones taken earlier by STAVKA.

CENTER

Creeping up on the enemy to maximise attrition while building up deep defenses.

SOUTH

Well done in resistíng the brunt of the Fascist spring offensive! Time for some well earned rest. But STAVKA estimates that when summer comes, the main enemy effort will again be in the south.

Creep up on the enemy line with a screen to maximise attrition, but keep the bulk of your forces back and dig a main defense line along the green line in the attached map. Also try to build a secondary defense line along the light blue line. STAVKA forces, including two reserve armies, will prepare positions further back.

On the Crimea, everything seems quiet. Continue to strengthen the defenses.

Stalin. Shaposhnikov.

[Flaviusx]

Tarhunnas, you should consider sacking Shaposhnikov for Zhukov, man.

[Tarhunnas]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

Tarhunnas, you should consider sacking Shaposhnikov for Zhukov, man.

OK, I'll think about it. Building tank brigades and creating armies take all the AP right now. Not to mention I will have to start creating Tank Corps soon.

[Tarhunnas]

The western strategic direction after Soviet moves.

[Tarhunnas]

The Red Army counterattacks in a few selected spots just to let the Hitlerists know they cannot afford to let their guard down, even in quiet sectors. Mixed success, about 50% retreats, but we can afford 2-1 casualties. They can't.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 42, STAVKA ORDERS

OVERALL

Mud is here and should continue for 5 weeks according to the usually very reliable state weather forecasting bureau. In general, prepare deep positions and sort out the command structure. You can now turn on refit for all units that need it. Look out for favorable opportunities to attack lone regiments or strength 1 units. We want to generate casualties, and reminding the Germans that they have to hold all of their front is a useful thing in the long run. One or two failed attacks is no big deal. Even a failed attack will generate no more that 2-1 losses, and we can live with that.

NORTH

Nothing special here.

CENTER

Did one successful counterattack against a lone German regiment!

SOUTH

Continue to strengthen the defenses. Your armies are a little intermingled, this is a good time for sorting that out.

There is a lone regiment west of Kharkov that you might want to try to attack.

Stalin. Shaposhnikov.

[Tarhunnas]

The southern part of the front turn 42.

[Tarhunnas]

Things have been quiet for a while, partly due to mud and partly due to holdups. However, here is the front at turn 46. The next turn will be clear, so we can expect another panzer thrust. OTOH we are now at the traditional time of year when the weather switches between mud and clear avery other turn, so probably any German attack will not be too extensive.

Panzer concentrations have been identified south of Moscow and at Kursk. Probable enemy intentions are shown by pink arrows (why is there no way to draw a dotted line in paint?). The earlier panzer concentration in the South cannot be seen, which is worrying. Is it hiding down there or has it been redeployed?

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 46, STAVKA ORDERS

OVERALL

Next German turn will be clear, and we can expect the fascists to hit us hard! We have to brace ourselves for the onslaught. Double lines in the north and at least triple lines south of Moscow, preferably with spaced defense behind.

As far as possible, only unready units are to be put on refit. I want as many units as possible in ready state.

NORTH

We do not really expect a heavy attack here.

CENTER

A mega-carpet is protecting Moscow. We will see if the enemy goes for Moscow or turns southeast.

SOUTH

Withdraw to defense lines roughly along the orange lines on the map below to avoid encirclement. Continue to strengthen the defenses. At least triple lines!

It was not possible to reassign the army at Rostov, I guess it has to be on the map one more turn.

Stalin. Shaposhnikov.

[Tarhunnas]

OOB on the verge of clear weather.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 47, STAVKA ORDERS

OVERALL

As expected, the Germans attacked in three panzer prongs, one at Kursk, one near Boguchar, and the offensive south of Moscow is continuing. Nothing really dangerous, but the breakthrough at Boguchar has the potential to be embarrassing.

NORTH

Continue to hold the front.

CENTER

The Moscow attack is not really that threatening, and is well contained.

SOUTH

Withdraw to defense lines along the orange line on the map below to avoid encirclement. Shift units to contain the enemy spearhead at Boguchar, as many layers of units as possible.

42d army at Rostov has been turned over to your command.

Stalin. Shaposhnikov.

[Tarhunnas]

Situation at the start of the Soviet turn 49. Nice move by our opponents!

[M60A3TTS]

I was wondering when the Southwestern Front would find itself in a predicament. They always seem to draw the wrong kind of attention.

To what extent if any are the fronts overloaded? The arrival soon of the Voronezh Front will help.