Russia! Why not? (Morvael welcome)

[morvael]

Bridgeheads on the western side of the Sudeten Mountains around Olmutz and Mährisch Schönberg are expanded. Soldiers on both sides of the front know that the war will not be decided here, and simply try to survive the last weeks:

[morvael]

Tank armies sweep north-west and approach Berlin from the south. Bogdanov's 3rd Guards Tank Army is the first one to reach western suburbs of the German capital. Chernyakhovsky's 11th Tank Army covers its flank and tries to force a crossing over the Havel river, between Nauen and Potsdam. To the east, Katukov's 6th Tank Army occupies Zossen, where both the OKW and OKH had their underground headquarters. German central command structure is shattered. At the same time cavalry armies attack north, east of Berlin, forming the other pincer of encirclement. 7 German divisions are surrounded between Reppen and Rotherburg, along the Oder river. Infantry forces do their best to reach the capital of Third Reich, as unsupported tanks will be nearly useless in the upcoming street fighting. For now, the closest unit is 68th Rifle Corps from 44th Army (Konev's Front):

[morvael]

With Frankfurt and Fürstenwalde in Red Army's possession, Wehrmacht's Oder line is compromised. Divisions east of the river have no other choice but to fall back towards Stettin, with Timoshenko's and Popov's forces on their heels:

[morvael]

2nd Ukrainian Front commander, General-Leitenant Matvei Popov, improves his initiative (5). 9 light SU brigades are disbanded.

Strength:
men: 11 625 151 vs 3 130 817
guns: 205 692 vs 37 106
AFVs: 19 763 vs 9 769
aircraft: 21 718 vs 1 794

Trucks:
in units: 305 650 / 316 196 (96.66%)
in the pool: 195 822 / 202 508 (96.70%)
in repair: 172 328

Losses:
killed: 36 127 vs 8 137
captured: 416 vs 157
disabled: -8 090 vs 1 734
guns: 718 vs 645
AFVs: 1 125 vs 188
aircraft: 247 vs 47

Including:
in combat: 179 vs 29
from AA: 25 vs 1
on the ground: 0 vs 1
operational: 43 vs 16

[M60A3TTS]

Impressive that this game has been going on for 2 1/2 years.

[morvael]

This is just a post mortem [:)] We finished in January, but I'm slow at fulfilling my obligation to complete the AAR. 3 turns remaining.

[loki100]

doesn't look like Berlin is heavily fortified so you may be able to take it by direct assault once the infantry catch up?

[morvael]

3 divisions in heavy urban terrain are already a tough nut to crack, but even more so in level 3+ forts. I was surprised they weren't there, especially that even smaller towns had good forts before. Perhaps I have disrupted German fort building schedule by moving faster than usually, but I think only cpt flam knows the answer.

[cpt flam]

you are right, some cities got forts long time ago
at this moment all replacements go to rebuilding units destroyed
no more possibilities to do much
i even disband units for no real effect[:(]

[Peltonx]

Good game guys

[morvael]

Turn 191 (February 8th, 1945)

Mountain troops of 5th Shock Army reach Salzburg. The city is heavily defended, and won't be easy to take. 46th Army enters St. Pölten, and prepares plans to strike towards Linz. A lot of ground is taken north of Wien, towards Znaim, by the weary soldiers of 3rd Ukrainian and 3rd Baltic Fronts:

[morvael]

In a strong push, 1st Belorussian Front under Marshal Kirponos, advances south-west towards Brunn. His neighbour, 3rd Belorussian Front under Marshal Pavlov, is less successful, and fails to take Zwittau:

[morvael]

Even though it's middle of XXth century, and tens of thousands of mobile fighting machines made of steel fight along the front on both sides, there is still place for cavalry battles. XXIV Panzer Corps under Generaloberst von Schweppenburg, comprising of 24th Panzer and 8th SS Cavalry Divisions, force the 10th Guards Cavalry Corps to withdraw, and restore lines of communication with German troops surrounded along the eastern bank of Oder river. This victory is short lived though, as 9th Tank and 3rd Shock Armies close the gap further north, and this time the SS cavalry unit ends up on the wrong side. All other tank armies are engaged in the operation to encircle Berlin, but fail to accomplish this goal on time, leaving open the road through Nauen. The increased difficulty with which the Red Army advances can be attributed to the 6th SS Panzer Army that suddenly appears west of Potsdam, much to the chagrin of Soviet High Command. At least Potsdam, Oranienburg and Eberswalde are taken, forming firm anchors for future operations. Supply troubles mount for the leading 1st Guards, 2nd Guards, 5th and 8th Tank Armies, as the railhead at Liegnitz is far away, and the roads leading there are clogged by millions of soldiers and thousands of vehicles. 2nd Belorussian Front secures the south-western flank, while the armies of Konev's North Caucasus Front almost reach the outskirts of Berlin:

[morvael]

Lone German 122nd Infantry Division is the last enemy unit on the eastern side of Oder (discounting forces encircled to the south). The rest retreats behind the river, and it is a wise thing to do, as Stettin itself is in danger now, and the the path will soon be cut:

[morvael]

12th Army commander, General-Leitenant Kuzma Galitsky, is promoted to the rank of General-Polkovnik. 43rd Army commander, General-Leitenant Pavel Kurochkin, is promoted to the rank of General-Polkovnik. 9th Guards Army commander, General Armii Vasily Sokolovsky, improves his mech skill (5). 9 light SU brigades are disbanded.

Strength:
men: 11 775 170 vs 3 347 928
guns: 208 842 vs 39 259
AFVs: 19 105 vs 11 810
aircraft: 21 748 vs 1 895

Trucks:
in units: 314 996 / 325 829 (96.68%)
in the pool: 172 555 / 178 189 (96.84%)
in repair: 178 984

Losses:
killed: 39 790 vs 8 129
captured: 483 vs 208
disabled: - 5 992 vs 2 962
guns: 793 vs 678
AFVs: 1 177 vs 214
aircraft: 193 vs 58

Including:
in combat: 135 vs 36
from AA: 19 vs 0
on the ground: 0 vs 2
operational: 39 vs 20

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: morvael

Even though it's middle of XXth century, and tens of thousands of mobile fighting machines made of steel fight along the front on both sides, there is still place for cavalry battles. XXIV Panzer Corps under Generaloberst von Schweppenburg, comprising of 24th Panzer and 8th SS Cavalry Divisions, force the 10th Guards Cavalry Corps to withdraw, and restore lines of communication with German troops surrounded along the eastern bank of Oder river. This victory is short lived though,

wonderful stuff, so in the midst of inflicting utter destruction on the Reich, you've managed to find the space for some proper cavalry charges ...

[morvael]

The Cossacks Are Coming!

[morvael]

Turn 192 (February 15th, 1945)

Krems is captured by Romanovsky's 42nd Army. In Salzburg, tough as nails Belgians from the 27th SS Volunteer Division "Langemarck", led by von Mackensen, and aided by ex-commandos of the Brandenburg Panzergrenadier Division, slaughter Soviet mountain troops of Koroteev's 5th Shock Army by the dozen:

[morvael]

Victorious armies of 2nd Ukrainian and 1st Belorussian Fronts surround Brunn, while troops of 2nd and 3rd Belorussian Fronts enter Jitschin and Zwittau to the north. Road to Prague is weakly defended, if there would be any Tank Armies on hand here, Czech capital could be reached within a week:

[morvael]

Over a thousand Soviet tanks are lost in the eventually successful attempt to encircle Berlin, as nine tank armies duke it out with 6th SS Panzer Army, aided by regular Wehrmacht's divisions. Multiple hasty charges are stopped by German heavy tanks and Panzerschreck-armed grenadiers, but by the end of the week Oranienburg and Nauen are controlled by Rotmistrov's 1st Guards Tank Army. The hold on these two strategically important cities is tenuous though, and since desperate German counterattack is expected, the army is granted the right to call for assistance of the newly arrived 1st Polish Tank Corps, located in Potsdam. In the Frankfurt an der Oder encirclement 9 divisions are finally forced to lay down arms and surrender (6 Infantry, 1 SS Grenadier, 1 SS Cavalry and 1 Volksgrenadier). 1st Shock Army aided by 7th Breakthrough Artillery Division makes inroads into Berlin, though these attacks are only diversionary in nature, buying time for the riflemen of Maslennikov's 29th Army, Feklenko's 44th Army, Remezov's 59th Army, and Sovetnikov's 63rd Army to set up and prepare for mass-assault coming next week: