A musical global war AAR...

[Centuur]

Here is the weather report, while you can listen to Dutch Swing from Berlin and have a drive on the Autobahn:

Ernst van´t Hoff - Oh What You Said

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH9filqeu6o

[Klydon]

Good weather continues for the Axis along with the hot dice. Risky, but nice attack in the south to get the line cracked so you can flank it. The Russian has to be feeling a bit nervous now to a point. Lot of disorganized German HQ's however mean they are getting close to being done for the turn. It would also be nice to bag that 4 point Russian artillery in the north since it is flipped at the moment. Those can be a pain on the advance, but once gone, it is hard for the Russians to replace them in the early going when they are fighting for their lives.

In Manchuria, the open city of Vladivostok and a Russian Para invites trouble in the longer term. (Not to mention potential partisan bait). I know ground troops are at a premium for the Japanese however, but putting a factory at risk (with a resource right next to it) is well, risky. [:D]

I will be interested to see how things progress in the mountains of Iraq now that the Axis have come up against the Russian main defense line. The shame of it is having the Axis marine units there instead of someplace where they could pose a threat.

Have the supply bugs been worked out in that section of the map? I have not played the game in awhile, but when I was active with it, that section of the map was absolutely a bug ridden pain.

[Centuur]

Until now, supply is calculated correctly in the Middle East. It's a nuisance, but it is correct.

And you are right about Vladivostok. It's somewhat of a problem at the moment. Where are the city based volunteers when you need them [;)].

[Centuur]

July/August 1941, Allied impulse number 7:

In Washington, the skandal still give headlines in the national newspapers. The investigating committee has considerable problems getting documents out of Japan. The Japanese want a guarantee by the US that the declaration of war bill is being cancelled by the US government and that apologies are to be made. That seems to go to far for even Senator Taft. The President, having sacked his Foreign secretary, decides that with all that turmoil in Congress, it isn't wise to press for the passing of the Declaration of War Bill. No attempt for a declaration of war is made by the US this turn (even not against Germany/Italy).

Since there are a lot of things to do, the Allies don't pass (there was a 30% chance of the turn ending if they did). US takes a combined, CW a naval and the USSR a land action.

The CW uses Dutch convoys to close the gap in the Cape Verde Bassin. It also withdraws convoys out of the East Indian Ocean, since the oil fields in Palembang are now Japanese controlled.

Stavka concludes that the front is in danger of being broken. Repairs are needed. This weakens the front at other places, however, the turn is progressing and the Luftwaffe is slowly getting exhausted.

Here is: Red army choir - Song of artillerymen (Марш сталинской артиллерии)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hSTTPkp2x4

The Kiev factory is railed into Siberia. Positions in the Middle East are strengthened.

[Centuur]

In the USSR, Stavka tries to close the gaps in the frontlines. However, the repairing of the gaps lead to other places in the frontlines to become weak points. Will the line hold? That's questionable.

[Centuur]

In the USSR, Stavka tries to close the gaps in the frontlines. However, the repairing of the gaps lead to other places in the frontlines to become weak points. Will the line hold? That's questionable.

[Centuur]

Now, there are some who will question why the USSR didn't attack the 3-3 Rumanian INF which is sitting all by itself in the hex northeast of Odessa. This is a deathtrap. Consider: the USSR puts 21 factors against three. That makes the attack a +14. However, there comes the Luftwaffe, making it a 21 against six. Suddenly, you are looking at a +7. Next von Bock gives HQ support to the Rumanians, lowering the attack to a +5,5 (or Antonescu will do so, making it a +6,5). That gives quite a large chance on soviet casualties and the disorganisation of the attacking force. Sure, the Rumanians will probably die, but at what costs? “If you can't affort the worst result, don't attack”...

[Centuur]

The turn doesn't end (10% chance, die roll: 9).

[Centuur]

July/August 1941, Axis impulse number 8:

All Axis major power take land actions.

I had quite a laugh when I found this. The German propaganda. Look at the date and than see what the opening of the news of the week is...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRdLNtQ6SZw

A Stuka ground strikes the hex near Pskov,

[Centuur]

While somewhere south at the Belorussian Front, German guns open fire:

[Centuur]

And another Stuka strikes in the Iraqi mountains:

[Centuur]

A TERR out of Ethiopia enters Khartoum, since the British TERR from that country is now in Eritrea.

- This is a mistake. I should have withdrawn the British TERR, but I totally forgot about that one...

Some German Music: Henk Bruyns - Der fliegende Hamburger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psUe78J1hjM

Germany moves units into position to make attacks against Soviet units:

In Iraq, a hex containing three disorganised units is attacked. After some thinking, Koniev personally drives to the frontlines (HQ support). The Italian airforce support the attack. Koniev decides to use the assault table:

[Centuur]

In the Ukraine, another hex is under attack, supported by a Luftwaffe bomber. The Soviet airforce declines to give ground support, since a Luftwaffe FTR is within range and the USSR doesn't have any FTR's available. Guderian decides to call for the Blitzkrieg table:

[Centuur]

In Belorussia, another hex containing three disorganised Soviet units is attacked. A Russian artillery unit provides support in the hex. The Soviet air force, again, declines to intervene. Rommel decides to use the Blitzkrieg table too. With +14, why not?

[Centuur]

Von Bock reorganises a Stuka and a disorganised INF. This leaves no organised German HQ's at the frontlines. However, Antonescu and Prince Paul are available if the advance get underway later in the turn (however, that remains questionable, since the line still isn't broken...

Now: Japanese Music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gVMjV7N5Xw

Here is the Belorussian Front:

[Centuur]

The Ukrainian Front:

[Centuur]

The Middle East Front:

[Centuur]

The turn doesn't end (roll 9, 20% chance).

Some Swing out of Hungary now: Sándor Heinemann: Nem tudom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8M3tS7akTA

Here is the weather report for the next couple of impulses:

[Centuur]

July/August 1941, Allied impulse number 9:

The mess in US politics rages on and on... The Declaration of War Bill gathers in a drawer... Things aren't looking good for the government at all. German and Japanese propaganda make good use out of this by keeping informing the US public of more and more details out of the evidence found in The Haque. Even the US embassador in London has to be replaced...

Listen to: Charlie Kunz - "There I Go" Medley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vdEtoYJmMg

After carefull review of the situation on the map, the USSR decides it can't affort to pass. This means that the USSR takes a land action. The CW takes a land action too and the US and France pass (nothing to do).

The USSR is short on manpower at the western front. And since the Japanese are also slowly withdrawing units out of Manchuria, it is decided to railmove a unit out of that area towards the west.

Stavka concludes that the line is still holding. However, almost everywhere the reserves are being put into the frontlines. Question is: will the turn end before the Axis break through or not? Stavka gives the most horrendous order to his troops: “nothing is to be left to get into enemy hands. Not one vehicle, wagon, building or even a hand of grain should be left behind. If it can't be transported out, it needs to be destroyed”. The Soviet troops abide with this order. Villages, farmhouses, railroads, stations, small cities are full of destruction teams just before the tactical retreat of the Soviet forces...

The Belorussian Front:

[Centuur]

The Ukrainian Front: