The great Leningrad pocket strategy

[DanishPosh]

Here is a strategy to win the 41 campaign as the germans against the AI.
Basically the goal is to take Moscow, Leningrad and Gorki.
This is done by launching a single strike against moscow in 41 to either take it or at least stand at the gates before the blizzard sets in. Survive the winter and then comes the trick as you can read below.

1941: Basically advance to this line:
Finns dont need to do much. Just advance to the old border lines and wait.
Germans: Narva-Pskov on the west side of the lake. Only 2 corps are needed here to the north of the lake. Use 18th army and transfer all other corps to other armies.
Pskov-Demyansk-Moscow in a more or less straight line one hex above the rail line (to make rail transfers possible here).
Moscow-Vyazma-Smolensk-Mogilev-Minsk. The marshes will make a brake in the line. The key cities to hold are Vitebsk and Pskov as they will ensure supplies to the frontline units near Moscow. There should be enough german corps to hold this line.
South of the marshes, hold a defensive line from 35.32 through Tarnopol to 32.38. This line can be held by german and italian corps.
The 4th Rum army will hold a defensive position along the Prut river. This line is pretty secure since the russians will only be able to attack it at supply 1.
The 3rd Rum army and the hungarians are used as security forces along key railways to fight partisans.
Keep some panzer corps near Vitebsk and Pskov and leave the rest near moscow.

1942: If Moscow is still in russian hands, conquer it by first encircling it. Then swing north to capture Vologda while in the meantime the finns move westward to cut off the Karelian railway. Now all the russian units in the Leningrad area will be unsupplied. Now Close the pocket completely by moving further north from Vologda while the russians will be surrendering en mass around Leningrad as the germans and finns press on. Leave the rest of the eastern front alone until the pocket is cleared of russians.
At this point it doesnt really matter if you still have time before the winter to reach Gorki or not because during the winter you will have enough units to form a double defense line all along your fronts. Comes 1943 move straight for Gorki and the games is over.

I have never completed this strategy cause I started it with vers. 2 and have now moved to vers. 3. But in that games I was in March 1942 at the positions explained above.
I really think this is the easiest way to take Leningrad.
Any comments or thoughts are welcome.

[DanishPosh]

I guess found it a lousy strategy.
oh well...

[Ed Cogburn]

Originally posted by DanishPosh
I guess found it a lousy strategy.
oh well...

Nothing wrong with the strategy, its just that the AI is easy to beat for just about everyone.

[DanishPosh]

I guess you're right m8.
Thanx

[Greg J]

You got to do something to make playing against the AI interesting. But it is too tempting to try and take Leningrad early.

I decided to take Stalingrad in the 42 scenario, before taking Moscow, which made for an interesting game. I originally meant not to take Leningrad in this game, but again was tempted to first explore for weaknesses and once I found them, exploited them all the way to Leningrad.

[MikeB]

Starting from June 41.
Focus upon the rail lines SUPPLYING Leningrad. ie.
to the east of Leningrad.

Advancing through Demyansk and the marshes is not easy...and likely requires the contribution of ignorance of danger...from your Russian HUMAN opponent.

Why fight entrenched well supplied Russian troops in front of Leningrad...when you can turn all those combat troops into so much dog food(which your horses need).

Unfortunately, even with the capture of Leningrad...I have not captured Moscow and indeed, have been on the strategic defensive since my airforce somewhat disappeared in June 42.

I suppose the double saves(double production, double entrenchment, double supply) for Aug 10 through Sept 30 1941
did not help my effort.
Also, the 15 hex retreat to avoid combat as German defensive mush in Blizzards of 41/42 also somewhat defeated the purpose.
AS at Dec 42 though, i still OWN Leningrad...which is providing Resources at least.


Cheers.
Mike B

[DanishPosh]

Originally posted by MikeB
Starting from June 41.
Focus upon the rail lines SUPPLYING Leningrad. ie.
to the east of Leningrad.

That exactly the point of my strategy.
Leave Leningrad alone until it is unsupplied.
In my strategy, as much as 1/3 of the russian army will be unsupplied and ripe for picking.
Cheers