Europe 44 v6.0 - Mark Stevens (Allies) vs sealclubber (Axis)

[sealclubber]

Italian Front - End of Turn:

Axis force re-encircle one of the previously cut off Allied corps and some brigades. These forces are destroyed. Panzer and panzergrenadier forces form up on the new frontline and push their way south into Pescara. Rome and Pescara are Allied reinforcement points. With these cities under Axis control, the Allied position in Italy is precarious...

[sealclubber]

Eastern Front - North/Center - Start of Turn:

The Red Army continues its attacks everywhere, including re-establishing contact with its cut off army. However there are plenty of Panzer divisions in the area and OKH is no longer overly concerned about its ability to extract Army Group North.

[sealclubber]

Eastern Front - North/Center - End of Turn:

In the north, most of the previously cut off Soviet Army is destroyed. Panzers also spearhead an assault to throw back Soviet forces that could threaten to encircle Army Group North. In the center, Panzers counter-attack to maintain the front along the Brest-Litovsk <-> Minsk road.

[sealclubber]

Eastern Front - South - Start of Turn:

The Red Army continues its tour of the Transylvanian Alps this turn. All elements of Army Group South are released this week. The Axis forces here are strong enough to fight it out with the Red Army, but they are poorly deployed and the Red Army is unhinging the line with its push through the mountains. The Red Army has also left itself vulnerable north of Cernauti. OKH ponders the situation and its response...

[sealclubber]

Eastern Front - South - End of Turn:

Ultimately, OKH decides to withdraw and effectively abandon Romania. 6 Army and 4 Rum Army pull back en masse towards Bucharest. The Axis units will setup defensive positions in the Transylvanian Alps and the the Romanians will make a last stand at Bucharest.

The Red Army vulnerability north of Cernauti will be left unexploited.

[tcarusil]

Thanks for the reply. I know what you mean. I have so many bits and pieces of graphic mods cobbled together in my AltGraphics file I could not tell you what I found where. Was hoping maybe your's was all from one source.

TomC

[sealclubber]

If you like I can just compress my entire graphics folder (minus the scenario specific sub folders) and send that to you... PM me if interested.

[sealclubber]

T7 - August 3, 1944

The Soviet Ukranian Fronts give chase to Army Group South. Elsewhere the Allied advance begins turning into more of a grind with limited movement.

French Front - Start of Turn:

The Allies seize Caen this turn and strongly occupy it. Caen is now permanently lost to the Axis. 15 Army has been released by OKH and should bolster the defences with the aim of keeping the Allies boxed in as long as possible.

The Commonwealth has taken such heavy losses in Italy that OKH expects the Americans to carry the weight of the breakout effort. Reserves will be allocated appropriately.

[sealclubber]

French Front - End of Turn:

15 Army joins the defence. OKH feels relatively secure in France at this point in time.

[sealclubber]

Italian Front - Start of Turn:

The Allies attack Rome again and fail to dislodge the stubborn Axis defenders. They also reshuffle their defence against the threat of an Axis breakout from Pescara, which is wise since that is precisely what OKH has planned...

[sealclubber]

Italian Front - End of Turn:

Axis forces attack in the west and east. In the west, the goal is to relieve the pressure on Rome by removing the Allied flanking bonus. In the east, the Axis attempt to collapse the weak Allied forces in the area threatening the entire Allied position in Italy. The Allied forces remaining here are exceedingly weak. Although Axis forces are exhausted, they expect little opposition and prepare to roll southwards towards Salerno and Foggia... perhaps beyond.

[sealclubber]

Eastern Front - North/Center - Start of Turn:

The Soveits continue to pressure Army Group North and Center, but cause less retreats than in past weeks. OKH plans to continue its withdrawal in these sectors to its "Ost Wall". The main priority is to shorten the line as much as possible, build up a panzer reserve and fortify.

[sealclubber]

Eastern Front - North/Center - End of Turn:

Army Group North is forced to execute a more rapid withdrawal to avoid a serious extension of the frontline.

Army Group Center continues it slow, fighting withdrawal.

[sealclubber]

Eastern Front - South - Start of Turn:

Two Soviet Fronts give chase to the fleeing Axis forces. Although Soviet forces are quite mobile, OKH is confident it will reach the Transylvanian Alps where the armies will turn and make a stand to delay fighting on the Hungarian Plain for as long as possible.

[sealclubber]

Eastern Front - South - End of Turn:

The Rumanians dig in around Bucharest to await the onslaught. 6 Army and German elements of 4 Rum Army setup a defensive position. Running battles between Soviet cavalry divisions (fresh off their mountain tour) and Axis forces take place on the Hungarian Plains.

[sealclubber]

T8 - August 10, 1944

Allies press in France, Russia and the Balkans. In Italy, an unexpected turn of events.

The Allies also sneak into the port of Danzig, undefended as it was.

*Note to future players of this scenario - the Finns withdraw when Allied units get _near_ Riga... likewise the Romanians withdraw when the Red Army gets _near_ Bucharest... my last stand in Bucharest was wasted because the Romanians withdrew before the Red Army attacked the capital.

French Front - Start of Turn:

The Commonwealth attacks eastwards and forces the Axis defenders back, including a fresh corps from 15 Army (now with less than 35% of its equipment and useless for a few weeks). Allied firepower is harsh.

[sealclubber]

French Front - End of Turn:

Axis forces counter-attack and re-establish the line, sure to be broken again soon.

[sealclubber]

Italian Front - Start of Turn:

Fresh Allied reinforcements start appearing - two full strength, completely fresh corps. This is bad news and unexpected - OKH thought no further Allied reinforcements would be able to arrive. Given the state of Axis units in Italy, there's little chance of this offensive going much further without significant risk from Allied counter-attack.

OKH calls off the offensive. Ultimately the attack inflicted major losses on the Allied forces in Italy. Some territory was recaptured and the Allies will need to fight for it a second time. This is not the outcome hoped for, but in the balance of things it was a worthwhile venture. The Axis position in Italy is secure at least to winter and hopefully longer.

[sealclubber]

Italian Front - End of Turn:

OKH opts to withdraw to a more defensible line. The terrain in central Italy is favourable for defence but the coastal plains are the vulnerable points. Anchoring these parts of the line in major cities (Rome and Pescara) will significantly improve the staying power of the Axis position.

The Luftwaffe retreats to the Fatherland for rest, refitting and redeployment in force to the Eastern Front.

[sealclubber]

Eastern Front - North/Center - Start of Turn:

AGN will need to halt its withdrawal while a significant formation is in reorg. The Red Army pushes in various places, but nothing overly concerning.