Global War Solitaire

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This attack succeeds in gaining one hex.
That will glue up the German units in the south.

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The November 43 turn has at least come to its end.

It was hell for the axis.

Japan has lost Manchuria and Korea, and is routed in China were it will likely lose many more units in the next turns.

Germany has been shaken by the amount of losses it took, one and a half it's production.
While the east front holds steady, the west front is in a very awkward position again, that will require more retreat, for those units which can. Everything could happen there.

The allied losses are unsignificant considering the amount of troops they already have in France. The one itch is the loss of the two paratroopers, which were probably rashly engaged... They will be missing. Regrest ? no. If their attack had succeeded, the German position would likely be impossible.

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France in January 44

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East front - norhtern part - January 44

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East front - southern part - jan 44

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China - January 44

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Italy - January 44

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The thaw did not last long. After a period of rain in the end of December, January saw extreme weather settle. Blizzard blew wide and large, storms plagued the oceans, snow was even seen in Egypt... This was a rather good thing for the axis which used the cover that nature offered from the now vastly superior air force to move their forces into better places. It was also expected that at least in the west, things would calm down a little and give some well earned respite to tired troops. In the East, things were not so sure. In Manchuria and Korea, the war with Russia was over, and Japan could now concentrate on salvaging whatever it could in China.

That winter was peculiarly severe. Storms were followed by snow or blizzard, and this occurred up to the end of February. Russians mostly stayed put after failing an attack near Minsk, while British and Americans were sheltering themselves. The planned invasions on Tripoli had to be aborted, so bad was the weather. The only significant military action occurred in Rumania, were the Russians advanced significantly, breaking Antonescu and threatening Bucarest which would likely soon be captured. Overall, this was a welcome relief for the axis powers. However, the bad weather did not prevent long range bombers from bypassing the air defense based in the Ruhr and go bombing cities in the core of Germany. With American, British and Russian bombers coming from all sides, the loss was significant. In addition, Hitler ordered fuel to be stored for future weeks: all the reserves had gone by now, eaten up by the heavy fighting of the previous months. And Ploesti would probably soon be captured. These events and decisions had severe consequences on the German production,which fell by about 40%. On the other hand,there had been so few losses that most would go again into increasing the army size to better resist the oncoming onslaught.

In China, the Japanese continued to retreat, while the Chinese took their place and tried to cut supplies wherever they could. And despite the presence of both Japanese and American fleets in the China sea, once more no naval combat occurred, and Japanese merchant shipping was not affected. Such luck could not hold long! The Americans landed on Iwo Jima, which was capture despite the involvement of the Imerial Navy both with battleships and air units on carriers. This advance was seen with some wariness, as the Bonin island were in range of Japan and there were sore memories about the bombing raids by the Russians. These were now leaving the far East, having signed an uneasy peace with the Japanese: there was little more to gain, and the Chinese would care for themselves,or so thought Stalin, who needed the troops in Europe now.

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An attack on Tripoli under the rain.
It can be considered as a success, even though the city is not captured.

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In Poland, Germany resists well, helped by the weather.
Indeed, German lines are now strong, most units being at least partially shielded by rivers.

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In Rumania, Antonescu could not resist the Russian advance.

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And this opened up the way to an attack on Bucarest.
This would fail, but it is clear that Rumania cannot hold long!

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All sides take a well earned rest before the summer 44 expected allied assault.

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France in March 44

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Italy in March 44

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The Russian front in March 44

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Rumania in March 44

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The far east in March 44

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There seemed to be no end to that late but horrendous winter. April still saw snow, blizzards and storms plaguing the military operations. This was not to displease the axis powers: Fleets failed to meet again in the China sea, while land actions were slow and inconclusive. The allied tried to mount an invasion of Italy, but bad weather was retarding it. Overall, these were again two months lost to the allies.

Still, there was a major event in the fall of Rumania to the Russian army. This would have a major impact as the Ploesti oil fields changed hands. From now on, the amount of oil available to the axis would be 60% of its past production. With reserves already gone, this had a double impact: all the current production now went to reserves, in previsions of future actions, reducing the amount sent to the factories ; and the numerous headquarters, motorized, mechanized or armored units of the Wermacht, or bombers and fighters would now have trouble in fulfilling their missions: there clearly was not enough oil for everybody, and tough choices would have to be done.

A second event was the capture of Tripoli. While the city was itself unsignificant, this terminated the presence of Italy in North Africa. They still kept Ethiopia and Erythrea, where the allies did not seem willing to go. But that seemed to be a severe loss of face to Mussolini who had more trouble than usual defending his policies. It seemed that Yugoslavia and Greece were worse less than a bit of desert...

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A Russian attack under the snow. The result is rather bland, with an unsignificant retreat of German troops.