Global War Solitaire

[yvesp]

In China, the communist clean up the house.

[yvesp]

Not much to say about the German retreat.
Italy and Japan have even less to do ; still Italy is trying to muster a counterattack on the disorganized American stack. It requires the German armored div to succeed and use the Blitz table.

Meanwhile, the allies continue their advance. But it is much less shiny than in the previous turn!
Bad rolls and bad choices have spoilt the summer!

This is the West Front at the start of the 3d allied impulse.
As one can see, most units are now under the safety of the fortifications, for what it is worth.
Some units are still slowly retreating,at the pace of the Headquarters...

[yvesp]

The Russian front is weaker as it looks.
It is good for Germany that there are fortifications behind rivers!
Some units feel lonely there...
The depth is shallow, and this front could crumble. However, this would require Russian forces in much better shape than they are now, attacking with such a penalty.

[yvesp]

Italy at the start of the 3d allied impulse.
Not much happens there, both side being too weak for any serious action.

[yvesp]

In Germany, now that the German air force is almost fully depleted, while their own air force is still valiant, the Commonwealth launch an attack and pierce the weak defense. The armored units breakthrough inside Germany, within reach of an undefended Berlin!
If allowed to proceed, they could destroy a host of disorganized air units, and more generally be a large problem. This will prevent Germany from taking a pass action the next impulse!

[yvesp]

In France, the British fail an easy combat! That is costly.
Hopefully, Bitish headquarters are not far and still unused.

[yvesp]

The americans take their chance will a sole landing in Anzio.
It is good that it succeeds. The American idea is now to possibly attempt an assault on Rome anyway. We shall see.

[yvesp]

The Russians capture Belgrade and Budapest (not shown ; result was a 20) ; this tires the southern army which has almost run to its course for the turn. Still, they have done an impressive job.

[yvesp]

In Poland, the Russians try to pocket the results of their previous attack? Unfortunately, Rumstead will escape again! This time,out of reach...

[yvesp]

In China, the cleanup goes on.
And there is no reason to be in a hurry: it is costly.

[yvesp]

Even the nationalists to their share (attack weakness option on.)

[yvesp]

The West Front at the start of the 4th axis impulse in July 44.
It is clear that Germany cannot afford to pass this impulse: too risky, for a 30% chance of end of turn.
But it would be well that the turn ends quickly, so Japan and Italy, which a=have nothing compelling to do, will pass.

[yvesp]

In Italy, just one more unit that could attack Rome.

[yvesp]

And in the East front, the Russians now face the German fortifications.
Problem: how to get through them ?

The only good news is that the German army is streched to its maximum. There is no unit that is not necessary somewhere.

Whie Italy could provide units, this would anyway be false security, should it fall unexpectedly!

[yvesp]

The right choice at the right moment!
If both japan and Italy had not passed, the turn would not have ended yet!

[yvesp]

Losses are small for a summer turn!
They are still too heavy for Germany.

But the turn was short, and the allies botched it!

[yvesp]

So so...

Finally I gave an unfair advantage to Germany by coming back on that breakthrough in the forest (read above.)
There was an itch: the mechanized units were advancing along a railroad, which would have let them advance two hexes and nively pocket 6 German units. Some would have escpaed, some have been destroyed anyway ; but overall the turn would have been very different, with possibly US units having advanced behind the fortification lines.

Well, it doesn't matter: just lets pretent the die roll was not as good as it was actually : yes, sometimes so much hangs on a roll! As a matter of fact, on a different carpet bombing roll, Italy would have surrendered too.

But that's Wif: you have to use your best rolls as well as possible, and learn to deal with the consequences of bad rolls...

Anyway, now September 44 has arrived, and it is full of rain and storms!
Not a nice weather to waste an offensive chit on.

[yvesp]

With bad weather, nothing much happened in the first impulse: Germany, Italy and Russia shuffled some units, CW and USA took a naval.

With storm weather, what else to do ?


And Japan did even less: it cannot even seriously consider moving its fleet, which is mostly out of fuel. It will require at least one more turn to get enough fuel to consider moving.

This is the Wets Front at the start of the 2nd allied impulse in Sept 44.
Yes, this time the allies got the initiative : not that it does them any good...

When Belgium and France were liberated, all German fortifications miraculously disappeared. Lets says it will correct the blunder made when I restrained from doing the breakthrough... And I'll try to rememeber there was a fortification...

[yvesp]

The east front at the start of the second allied impulse in Sept 44.
Here, the weather can't now really be expected to be fair, no ? So the Russians are anyway going to try something.

Zhukov is pulling some magic out of his pockets...

[yvesp]

Italy at the start of the second allied impulse.

The weather is good.
It is a good bet to say that something will happen there!