Drang Nach Osten - Revisited

[hooooper_slith]

Judging by the screenshot, you don't seem to do much, or in fact any, reconnaissance. Do you find that it's not necessary?

[IdahoNYer]

Judging by the screenshot, you don't seem to do much, or in fact any, reconnaissance. Do you find that it's not necessary?

I'm a pretty casual player when it comes to recon. I'll do a bit from time to time, but right now, I don't want to tip my hand where a major offensive is coming. And frankly, right now, I just assume each river line has a level 2 fort on it and go from there.

You'll see more recon once I move 2nd and 4th Pz Armees up to the front in the next couple of turns.

[IdahoNYer]

U are strong in TULA/OREL AREA, whuts the target with 2nd and 4th panzer armies ? moscow south pincer?

Juret - 2nd Pz is the south Moscow pincer - I'll do an update shortly - life has gotten in the way of the game recently - and will try to lay out my summer offensive plans.

[IdahoNYer]

Turn 51; Jun 4, 1942........Clear

Clear weather arrives along the entire front - time to reduce the Stalino Pocket and set the final preparations for the Summer Offensive.

West and Northwest of Moscow, AGN's 18th Army and AGC's 3rd Pz and 9th Armies continue to drive deep wedges in the Soviet fortification belts protecting the capital.

18th Army's infantry attacks east from Kalinin, providing a springboard for XXXIX PzKps to drive east and around the Volga Res. One key attack against 2xRifle Divs fail, forcing the PzKps to push further east before heading south. This is just enough to prevent a linkup with LVII PzKps driving a spearhead eastward against stiff opposition. LVII PzKps finds a weak spot, but it's oriented south, toward 9th Army which is attacking east.

End result of these attacks are two Soviet Salients jutting west between the German spearheads - which are stretched thin, and unable to bring enough combat power to cut off the well dug in salients. Its a standoff for the moment.

I fully expect the Soviets to counter attack the now exposed German panzer spearheads - hopefully they will fail in cutting them off...

If we can hold the turn, there is a good chance we can cut off the Soviet salients - which is essential to resuming the attack toward Moscow.

[IdahoNYer]

South of Moscow, near Tula, the time has come to bring up both 2nd and 4th Pz Armee. To provide some room for the buildup, 2nd Army infantry attacks to widen the salient west of Tula. Soviets commit reserves well, but German infantry with engineer support push the Sovies back.

Recently arrived infantry from both Pz Armees take positions in the line, while the panzer rail and road march to final assembly positions behind the lines.

4th Army also conducts a preliminary attack north of Kalinin, taking a level 3 fort position before it can be reinforced.

Moving the panzers forward will definately "tip the hand" - not that it hasn't been painfully obvious that a major attack is building just west of Tula....

[IdahoNYer]

In the south, the main emphasis was on reducing the Stalino Pocket - accomplished by infantry from 17th, 11th, 1st Pz and the Rumanian armies. The pocket falls relatively quickly, without any surprises.

With most of the infantry tied up, AGS makes some preliminary attacks eastward. 1st Pz establishes a bridgehead across the Aidar River while 11th Army pushes against stiff (with reserves) resistance NE of Rostov.

Soviet forces still appear fairly weak here in the south, and I want to take advantage of it, before they can dig in and fortify - especially along the Don/Donets Rivers. However, neither 1st Pz and 11th Army is concentrated, and in need of a rest. Goal will be to destroy the Soviets west of these major rivers, and with some luck, the Soviets will attempt to hold west of the rivers until the Germans can concentrate and attack in force. Figure that will take about 2 weeks....

[IdahoNYer]

And for the monthy admin stuff.......

May was a good month indeed.....unexpected clear weather certainly helped!


Destroyed units reflect the sizable haul from the Stalino Pocket - over 30 divisions, including some valuable mountain divisions. Note the lack of armored units however. Soviets seem to be focused on transitioning the tank Bdes into Tank Corps - and keeping them in reserve for the defense as well as available for counter attack.

Now to maintain this each month this summer.....

[IdahoNYer]

Losses also reflect the effect of the Stalino Pocket - as well as the bitter fighting west and northwest of Moscow. German victories are not without casualties....

Still half a million Soviet lost in a month - and pushing the Soviets over 3 million captured is sweet...very sweet...

[IdahoNYer]

Forces available.

German forces continue to expand due to reinforcements. Panzers strength only slightly expands despite fresh panzer division arrival - losses taken in the Moscow fighting negate the reinforcements.

Soviets show the first drop in manpower since October! That is welcome news, but it took a loss of 500k to drop the manpower 140,000. Thats going to be tough to duplicate each month! Of course, if we continue to seize manpower centers, we can push the Soviets to the edge...

[IdahoNYer]

Panzerwaffe strength actually drops - 10th Pz has departed to the west, and 24th Pz has just arrived. The drop can be attributed to the new 42 TOE. Still, its going to be hard for the panzer strength to increase now that the Summer Offensive is about to begin.

As an interesting side note, 18th Pz remains weak at only 73 tanks - despite being in refit, near its HQ in the rear for a number of months. Strange....

[IdahoNYer]

As for the long awaited Summer Offensive - this is the plan....

Moscow is the primary target for AGC. No surprise there.

3rd Pz Armee, supported by 18th Army to its north, will envelop Moscow from the north. Its offensive has really already started with the good weather - and has made good progress pushing through the Soviet fort belts. It will need about 2 weeks to "clean up" the salients it has created, and establish a bridghead across the Moscow-Volga Canal. Then it will strike south around the capital.

Meanwhile, 9th Army continues to presure the Soviets from the west - and assiting 3rd Pz with additional infantry as required.

2nd Pz Armee will be the key force south of Moscow. Pushing just north of Tula, its first priority is to encircle forces near Kaluga with 4th Army in support attacking north of the town. It will need to encircle these forces in order to get across the Oka River - if the Soviets pull back in order, bridging the Oka River may prove difficult. Tula will be enveloped between 2nd and 4th Pz Armee.

4th Pz Armee was to envelope the sizeable Orel Salient, but the Soviet have been slowly pulling defenses east - and out of harms way. We'll still attempt to envelope Soviet forces in this area with 6th Army in support, but it may be less of a pocket. 6th Army has already encountered some tough opposition, and is still fighting through fortified belts. Its going to be a tough, grinding fight.

As an alternate plan, especially if we fail to establish the Kaluga Pocket, 4th Pz Armee will support 2nd Pz Armee's drive on Moscow by protecting its right flank. This will leave 6th Army alone to push toward Voronezh from the north, and eventually link up with 1st Pz Armee coming up from the south.

2nd Army as well as the 2nd Hun Army will be used to protect the flanks and destroy encircled forces.

[IdahoNYer]

The AGS plan was originally designed to destroy Soviet forces in the Stalino area while AGC developed the situation in the Tula area.

With the weather cooperating, AGS already accomplished the destruction of the Stalino Pocket. So now what?

Focus remains the same - destroy the Soviet armies opposing it. Preferably west of the Don/Donets rivers - which hinges on the Soviets defending west of these rivers. That's the tough part - my bet is he may pull back. With Stalino lost, there really isn't any reason to hold west of the rivers.

Once I can reorganize for a turn or two, 1st Pz Armee will dirve for Boguchar and cross the Don near the city. With some luck, the Soviets will expect 1st Pz to drive on Stalingrad, but instead it will drive deep into the Soviet rear behind Voronezh, linking up with either 4th Pz Armee or 6th Army driving south from the Tamboy-Lipetsk area. The key will be driving BEHIND the Voronezh defenses. This should produce a major pocket by the first half of July.

Meanwhile 11th Army pushes to seize Rostov and create a bridghead across the Don.

With some luck, by August, Moscow has fallen and the Voronezh Pocket is established, allowing 1st Pz to shift southwards.

Thats a long way off, with a lot of "ifs" involved.

[janh]

Wow, what an update. Quite impressive how spring developed, random weather can also offer sweet fruits for Axis. 30 Divisions in the Stalino pocket, it almost feels like 1941 again.

Thats a long way off, with a lot of "ifs" involved.

Yes, but your plan sounds very exciting and just as promising. Looking at the Soviet CV, entrenchment levels and Scar's dispositions, or just how unlucky he was in failing to stall your late winter and spring offensives, my gut-feeling tells me that Scar's already run out of any hope for a Soviet victory. Even without doing much recon I would now expect that there are no deep fort belts or such awaiting you. It may be more of a formal thing to play it out, i.e. unless random weather stops you, or you commit some series of major blunders.

Once you are past the ugly terrain around the Volga Reservoir, and broken thru the weak fortification belts around Tula, the pace will steadily increase and such will the gains. An Axis major victory may be possible at this stage, if not even quite likely. Scars best hope on the other hand is probably a draw. If I had to guess, by early October the Soviets will approach the diplomatic table in hopes of a cease-fire... Anyway, good luck with the offensives! Hopefully the weather doesn't throw wrenches onto the gear!

[juret]

nice update.

This how hitler IRL should have made hes case blue insteed of running around the caucasus with all the panzers

AGC looks in exellent position for the summer offensive. Will be fun to see whut damage they can make after moscow have fallen.

[Wuffer]

Stalin is praying now.


very difficult situation for the SHC, looking at the methodically German advange, I had no idea how they could save themselves from the destruction of their coherant frontline Kalinin-Rostow/don in the next weeks... apart of mud, of course.

This smells every bit like a huge german victory, a very big one.

[IdahoNYer]

Turn 52; Jun 11, 1942.......Clear with Mud in North Soviet Zone

Not a very positive development in the German offensive - mud in North Soviet Zone! That postpones everything for a week, allowing the Soviets to reinforce defensive positions.

So, AGN and AGC hold on to gains already won - two Soviet counter attacks are held prior to the mud. Air supply is used to bring in fuel and supply to the lead panzers northwest of Moscow.

AGS's 1st Pz Armee begins its drive toward the Don River, but gains only 30 miles against very tough opposition. This is attributed to the fatigue level of the Germans and effective use of Soviet reserves. However, the biggest failing is jumping the gun - I failed to bring up sufficient infantry first - they were still moving back from the Stalino Pocket. I was attempting to get across rivers before the Soviets could fortify them well - I lost the race - he had enough troops in reserve to bolster defenses, and withough enough infantry I had to commit panzers to attack - they pushed the Soviets back, but since they were attacking, they did not have the APs left to exploit.

Also noteable is the Soviet pull back to the Donets River line - smart move. Nothing to be gained by holding west of the River.

[IdahoNYer]

Turn 53; Jun 18, 1942.......Clear

Well, despite work doing its best to curtail this campaign, we're moving forward again....albiet slowly.....

With the clear weather, the German Summer Offensive is finally unleashed in all its fury! And it goes....fairly well...

NW of Moscow, going remains difficult due to tough defenders fortified in forested terrain behind rivers. Not the idea place to attack! However, steady progress is being made! On the negative side, we've encountered the fist Soviet Rifle Corps, dug in, defending the approaches to Moscow. Things just got much, much harder.....

18th Army, with the XXXIX PzKps assisting, establishes a bridgehead across the Moscow-Volga Canal, and links up with the 3rd Pz Armee isolating 4 divisions. Unfortunately, a key attack to reduce a Soviet position on the Volga Res. fails, leaving the bridgehead very exposed.

3rd Pz Armee makes fair progress battering down Soviet defenses with the LVII PzKps, which advances 20 miles, isolating another 4 divisions and establishing another bridgehead across the Moscow-Volga Canal. While the bridgeheads are important to continue the German advance north of Moscow, isolating the 8 divisions, if held, will eliminate a serious thorn in the German lines - and probably penetrate the primary defensive belts in this area. Their fall will also allow 3rd Pz Armee to finally concentrate.

9th Army limits intself to taking a level 3 fort jutting into its lines which will facilitate future operations.

[IdahoNYer]

Centered in the vicinity of the Soviet city of Tula is the German Main Effort....which opens up according to plan with solid results despite very heavy Soviet defenses which committed numerous reserves, including Tank Corps to bolster defenses.

All German armies open up the attack with infantry assaults to eliminate forward Soviet fortifications, key attacks also being supported by preliminary Luftwaffe ground attacks.

4th Army effects a very narrow 20 mile wide penetrations displacing a Soviet Corp with a level 3 fortification, and 3xRifle Divs with level 2 forts. This allows XXXVI PzKps to push forward another 20 miles to reach their objective of the the Oka River. This was simply bulling their way forward, heavy fighting all the way - no exploitation possible; lucky to reach the bloody river!

2nd Pz Armee, attacking north of Tula, also encounters heavier resistance than expected. One of the three opening attacks is held due to reserve commitments, and only by committing XXXXVII PzKps in a deliberate attack opens up the line. This allows XXIV PzKps to get into the Soviet rear, exploiting to the Oka River and effecting link up with 4th Army, closing the intended Kaluga Pocket - trapping an estimated 2xTk Corps and 17xRifle Div. With XXXXVII PzKps forced to conduct a deliberate attack, and the need to close tight on the Pocket, XXIV PzKps does not push as deep eastward as envisioned, but still, the gains meet requirements - breaking open the Soviet defenses and pocketing Soviet forces around Kaluga.

4th Pz Armee, supported by 2nd Army infantry, does not fare as well. Like 2nd Pz Armee, only 2 of its initial attacks succeed, and XXXXI PzKps is committed to break through - the difference is that here, the Soviets 2nd echelon defenses also frustrate the German attacks - forcing more deliberate attacks, slowing progress. Soviet unit density is also greater here (which surprised me - I'd figure the heavier Soviet defenses were north of Tula). LVI PzKps finally breaks through, but its 19th Pz is held up twice which leaves its 6th Pz vulnerable to isolation - and not locking down the Orel Pocket. Totenkopf pushes all the way to effect linkup with 6th Army isolating the Soviets to the west - but this is only a temporary measure - There is no solid inner or outer cordon.

6th Army's attack also has difficulties. Again, Soviet reserve commitment is effective, and one resolute Soviet defenses position holds, preventing XXXXVI PzKps from breaking through the Soviet defenses. Only Totenkopf's 30 mile dash makes this attack even remotely successful.

I fully expect 6th Pz to be isolated after the Soviet moves - with luck, I can regain contact, and re-establish a pocket here. While taking territory and cities are importand, the focus is to destroy the Soviet formations. I think the cordon around the Kaluga Pocket will hold - the challenge here will be to reduce it, and keep 2nd Pz Armee moving NE - and across the Oka River. With alot of luck, success here in the next turn could be re-establishing the Orel pocket between 4th Pz and 6th Armies, and compromising the Tula defenses - setting conditions for another pocket in that vicinity between 2nd and 4th Pz Armies. Lots to be done....

[IdahoNYer]

AGS continues to face heavier than expected resistance.

Really surprised with the amount, and depth of the Soviet defenses here. Figured after the Stalino Pocket, the Soviets would be pretty thin on the ground south of Voronezh. Not so. Not by any means...

11th Army masses two infantry corps and storms Rostov with surpsingly few casualties. Once taken, the city is handed over to the Rumanian 3rd Army - with some German infantry attacked of course....

1st Pz Armee attempts to push to Boguchar, and establish a pocket between its XXXXVIII PzKps on the left, and its other two PzKps on its right. XXXXVIII PzKps' attack never really gains momentum as 17th Army infantry fails to open up the shoulder of the penetration. I decide to pull the PzKps back rather than push forward with heavy loss. Of course, as soon as I decide to do this, III PzKps manages to break through the Soviet defenses after XIV PzKps defeats the Soviet fort lines. Although a breakthrough seems to be at hand, exploitation is impossible due to the amount of Soviets and not enough German infantry to hold the shoulders, let alone establish any cordon. Not going well here.....

Still, we are pushing toward Boguchar - while I'd like to pocket Soviet units - and will continue to attempt to - the real objective here is to establish conditions for a Voronezh Pocket by getting 1st Pz across the Don River. There is rish here....I'm depending on both the Rum 3rd and 4th Armies to hold flanks now, as well as the Hun 2nd Army deployed west of Voronezh. And the Italian 8th Army is enroute by rail. I need all four of those armies to free up German infantry, but that definately invites risk! As long as I retain offensive momentum, the risks are minimized. If the Soviets can stall the offensive - things will get dicey in a hurry!

[juret]

talk about attack all over the front

1,2,3,4 pz armies all attacking

The tula area devolping very well for u.