Barbarossa AAR

[HyazinthvonStrachwitz]

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Turn 41

4. August 1942


Another very successful turn.
But this is exactly what I need, otherwise I will remain at Orel until the D-Day begins.





I plan a very nasty surprise for the Royal Navy in 1943.





I have been asked what I am doing on the Finnish front.
That is fairly easy explain.
I don't have enough power to destroy an enemy unit (the Finnish Armeekorps do a point of damage per turn), and I don't want to risk anything.
So I just conduct attacks with a loss forecast of zero on my side and cause some damage.
So the AI has to refresh the damaged unit or attack me with under strength.
This is why nothing happenes up there.

In the south, I make a big step ahead.
It does not get visible in the image, but my bombers are responsible for the biggest part of the enemy losses.
My Tactical Bombers caused 5 points of damage to the Soviet Heavy Tanks, my Medium Tanks just one point.
Due to the swampy terrain, most Soviet units have low supply, and it will be relatively easy for me to destroy them.





Destroying the Mechanized means the Soviets have less offensive power on this part of the front line.
Definitely good news, as esp. the Hungarian units need a break.





The central part of the Red Army has been destroyed. From Orel to Kantemirowka, there are just two enemy units left, and these are encircled and without supply.
My bombers have destroyed a Soviet corps in Borisoglebsk, and the XXXIX. Panzerkorps occupid the empty town.

The situation looks very promising. I have already sent the Panzergrenadierkorps Großdeutschland to the north (Orel looks a bit weak), but there still four Panzerkorps and two Panzergrenadierkorps in this area.
It would be possible to start an attack on Stalingrad from two sides.
I will decide this after I know the reaction of the AI in Turn 42.

Also I have moved the Luftwaffe back to the south.
I need my bomberss for the attack on Noworossiysk in Turn 43.





Stalingrad is not far away. I have 7 or 8 turn until the winter comes, and it is possible to conquer the city previously.
I don't know how many units are in this area, but I will give it a try. I can imagine the eastern shore of the Don is completely crowded by enemy units, but I can still cease the attack when I think it does not work.
At the moment the enemy forces are weakened and in disorder.. I need to exploit this.





The Romanians had help from a German Tactical Bomber, otherwise they would not be able to make a single step ahead.
In Turn 43, my bombers will start a massive attack on Noworossiysk.
Conquering the town we be a major success, and Maikop can be conquered this year.





The DAK is advancing quickly. My tanks destroyed the Auchinleck HQ, and there is just a British artillery left.
I feel quite excited... how many troops does the AI have left in the Levant? Or does it concentrate on a D-Day in Spring 1943?





I accept this DE.
I need every garrison I can get.





Also, I get Industrial Technology Level 2.
My production is a 950 MPPs per turn now.

My diplomats report a success in Turkey.. 60% War Readiness at the moment.[/center][/font]

[HyazinthvonStrachwitz]

[font="Times New Roman"][center]Hi n0kn0k!

Thank you very much.
For me it is also an exciting match.[/center][/font]

[HyazinthvonStrachwitz]

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Turn 42 (AI)

11. August 1942





Without additional units, Tichwin would be under German control in Turn 43.
Good reaction by the AI.





This might not be the right time for a Soviet offensive, but the AI attacks.
Not the best idea, but it keeps me away from Tula.





I have seen a lot of Russian units moving.
I think the AI has given the order to occupy all defensive positions behind the Don.[/center][/font]

[dan456]

will a AT unit come to the aid of a unit being attacked by a tank, like the artillery?

[HyazinthvonStrachwitz]

[font="Times New Roman"][center]Hi Dan!

No, it won't.[/center][/font]

[HyazinthvonStrachwitz]

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Turn 43

18. August 1942


The situation in Russia looks promising.
I will conduct an attack on Stalingrad, and I am confident to conquer the city.
This will be a major blow to the Soviet NM.

Also there is good progress in the Middle East.





If I have good weather next turn, I will conquer Tichwin.
Time for strategic decisions.





Depending on the weather, I consider an attack on Tula.
This will make the attack on Moscow much easier in 1943.





I have gathered a massive amount of tanks in the north of the Soviet defensive line.
The the direct way from Morozowsk to Stalingrad is well defended and protected by rivers and fortifications.
Attacking the city from two directions will make the battle much shorter.





Taking Noworossiysk is the key to Maikop.
I am confident to conquer the oil wells this autumn.





The British resistance is crushed, and Palestine surrenders.
I plunder 27 MPPs.
Sooner or later I will control the complete Levant.
Just in time to bring the DAK back to Europe... I might need Rommel in Western Europe to counter the D-Day.





I have been waiting for this since a couple of months.[/center][/font]

[HyazinthvonStrachwitz]

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Turn 44 (AI)

25. August 1942


The AI has learned it does not have the power to attack at all theaters.
So it concentrates on weak points, and it uses a massive amount of Tactical Bombers.

I feel happy that most of my ground combat units in Russia have an experience bar, otherwise I would have had two lost units.





In the north, the Red Army does its best to cause some damage.
Fortunately, the Soviets suffer more than the Finns.

In the south, two new units are sent to Tichwin.
This might be a death trap.





Instead of attacking on a broad front, the AI concentrated on single units.
And it was just the experience bar that saved my unit.





I think I was lucky.. usually the 11. Armee would have been destroyed.[/center][/font]

[HyazinthvonStrachwitz]

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Turn 45

1. September 1942


As I did the usual statistics in June 1942, I said I need to decimate the Red Army. This was two months ago, and I destroyed 49 enemy units in the meantime.
I am pretty sure that the AI has 20-30 units around Moscow, and the area around Stalingrad is pretty crowded.
But also I can imagine that there are certain areas with less troops, and I think I found one.
The next months until December will be critical for the AI.
I will be able to advance and conquer a few resources.
But after the winter, the Red Army will be stronger than ever.

This is a bit of a parallel to the situation in RL in September 1942.
The Wehrmacht was marching to Stalingrad and El Alamein, and we all not the final result.
Of course my situation is much better than in RL.





There is nothing else to report.. no convoy raiding, no Strategic Bombing.
No news mean no bad news.





In the north, the Finns forced a Soviet corps to retreat.

In the south, Tichwin was conquered by the XXXXI. Panzerkorps.
The situation for the remaining enemy units is hopeless, and I think they will be destroyed by the Luftwaffe sooner or later.

So I have achieved a decisive victory in the north. Of course there is still fighting between Finnish and Soviet forces, but the Red Army will not break trough unless they bring artillery and bombers.
There are two alternatives how to proceed: I can garrison Wolchow and Tichwin with an Armeekorps each and operate the remaining forces to other theaters. Or I can order von Kuchler to conquer Petrozawodsk and attack the Soviet rear.

The second alternative would mean I can destroy all Soviet forces in the north, and the Finnish forces would be free for garrison duties. There is just one problem: it is already September, and I am pretty sure I will not be able to destroy the Soviets before the winter. This would mean I cannot operate von Kuchler to the west where I might need him to counter the D-Day.

I will decide in Turn 47.





The defense of Kaluga and Tula is weaker than I thought. If the AI does not bring more units, I should be able to take both towns before the end of the year.
So I should do something to catch the attention of the AI.





The attack on Stalingrad proceeds. In general I am very happy, but there are two concerns: my tanks don't have good supply, and the Luftwaffe has horrifying losses. But I need to cope with these problems.
If I can conquer Stalingrad before the end of this year, it will be a major step ahead.





To distract the AI, I let the Romanians occupy Maikop. Usually I would not do this, but it was the right decision.
A couple of enemy towns are unoccupied, and the AI will operate units into these. So it cannot reinforce Kaluga and Tula.
Exactly what I need.





Jordan surrenders, and Syria is freed from the Allied occupation... I just need to destroy the remaining planes.
This is getting devastating for the British Empire.





We haven't seen anything from the Regia Marina yet.
There is one reason: I think Italy does not have enough MPPs to use it in earlier stages of the war.
Since the conquest of Cairo, I have saved a few MPPs.
All surface vessels have been repaired and upgraded to Naval Weapons Level 1.

I will order the Regia Marina to Algeria next turn.
Mission: defend Algier.

You never know if this invasion comes, but if it comes, it will unhealthy for the Allied forces.





Almost 1.000 MPPs.
Maybe I can order some more Heavy Tanks.. I will need them in the west.[/center][/font]

[HyazinthvonStrachwitz]

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Turn 46 (AI)

8. September 1942





The Soviet units around Tichwin have very low supply, so they can just move a single hex.
Cannon fodder for the Luftwaffe.





Shame on me for the second time!
I did not pay attention, and the von Kleist HQ is badly damaged.
But there is a positive aspect: Kaluga and Tula are easy to conquer.





It is more than obvious: the Red Army is depleted.
A lot of units have been moved or operated, and this will make the final attack on Stalingrad much easier.[/center][/font]

[dan456]

what about Saudi Arabia? can it be invaded?

[xwormwood]

Yes, it can be invaded. Even though it is big desert, with lots of Partisan activities, so it is surely no fun to go in and stay there...

[HyazinthvonStrachwitz]

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Turn 47

15. September 1942


Another marvelous turn.
My troops approach Stalingrad and destroy a large number of enemy units.
The Red Army is currently not able to stop me.





I have made a decision. Von Kuchler will not march to the north.
I will refresh and upgrade my units, and some will be brought to over strength.
The Luftwaffe will support the Finns, and destroying one or two units should be enough help for them.
But the biggest part of the Army Group North will be transferred to France.





There are not many Soviet units around Wjasma, so I ordered my units to attack.
And they experience a quite nasty surprise: the enemy has introduced Infantry Weapons Level 3!
I feel lucky that the troops around Stalingrad did not have this.

Kaluga and Tula have been conquered.
This will make 1943 much easier.





Please remember I destroyed the Soviet HQ in Turn 45 that was responsible for the supply of all Soviet troops in the west of Stalingrad. No HQ, less supply.
This is why I was able to destroy these units quickly.
My troops suffer higher losses than in in previous battles.
Usually I send my bombers first and finish the badly damaged enemy off with ground units.
But the Luftwaffe was badly damaged in Turn 45 and 46, so I needed to refresh it.
I want to take Stalingrad before the Rasputiza starts, so I need to be quick and could not wait on the Luftwaffe.





I think I will attack Tikhoretsk in Turn 49.





I am pretty sure the AI will operate the remaining air units back to the UK in Turn 48.





I have been asked an interesting question by a forum member.
Playing the game in a kind of historical mode, I cannot know that there will be an Allied invasion in North Africa. This actually caught the OKW by surprise, and theoretically it should catch me by surprise.
I will send the Regia Marina back to Italy and let the AI conduct its invasion... if it decides to do so.
This is not Multiplayer.. it is just a Beta AAR.

Let us see what happens.





This will help me a lot in Western Europe.[/center][/font]

[HyazinthvonStrachwitz]

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Turn 48 (AI)

22. September 1942


Rainfalls start... the first sign of the Rasputiza.
The Soviet High Command will be happy about this.





It will take time to bring all units to maximum strength... and also I need to upgrade the tanks.





Maybe I can take Wjasma before year's end.





At least I have good weather in the south.[/center][/font]

[HyazinthvonStrachwitz]

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Turn 49 - FINAL TURN

3. Oktober 1942


Stalingrad has been conquered by the XXXXVII. Panzerkorps, and most enemy units around the city are destroyed.
I do not expect a counterattack.

Also my operations in the Levant came to a successful end.





This will make the defense of Western Europe much easier.





The loss of the mechanized unit is a severe blow to the Soviets.
They will not be able to defeat the Finns.

Heeresgruppe Nord will be transferred to the west.
This is why I eqipped them with Anti Air Level 2.





My old attack plan (Unternehmen Hurrikan) will start in spring 1943.
Heeresgruppe Süd has four Panzerkorps and two Panzergrenadierkorps at the moment.
I will operate a couple of them to Tula, accompanied by some bombers.
This should be enough to take Moskau until Summer 1943.





Eight attacks were necessary to destroy the defenders of Stalingrad.





This is important for my further operations in the Kaukasus.
Noworossiysk will have a railway connection to Berlin.





I will transport the Afrika Korps to Western Europe.
The artillery will be operated to Tula.
The remaining Italian forces will march to Baghdad and free Iraq.





The Panzerkorps Afrika has seen a lot of action.





Page 2





I want to have Turkey on my side as soon as possible.





Dann mal Prost!





This is the final post of this AAR.
I have received new orders from Generalfeldmarschall von Cater:
prepare to start testing the Multiplayer feature.
I will need to install a new version on my PC, and my saves will no longer be compatible.

I still use an old Beta version, and a lot has changed since then.
And today is the release date, so it is the right time to end this Beta AAR.

I hope you all enjoyed it... I did for sure.[/center][/font]

[apec]

Hi HvS,

thank you again for the AAR. I found a lot interesting hints in it that I will try to replicate in my games.
I look forward to see a multiplayer AAR in the future. [:)]

best regards,

[Benedict151]

Thanks HvS
As apec said your AAR was very informative ... I now need to remember some of your advice and suggestions to use in my games!

A most enjoyable and helpful set of posts

regards
Ben Wilkins

[GavCol]

Likewise many thanks HvS.....like many I checked your updates daily and enjoyed the comments and reasons behind your moves.
I noted your caution, being aware of your reluctance to expose yourself to the Russian juggernaut.

Meant that I was slightly disappointed as I wanted to see the ai give a beating to a good player.....and your/Hubert's posts made me think this would happen---but you were too good.
Once more thanks for the time and effort- made me look forward to today

[Josh]

Thx for writing your outstanding AAR HvS [:)]

[Boroda1959]

Many thanks from me too. A very informative AAR that convinced me that this is a game for me

[taffjones]

Hello HvS
As many have said above thank you for your AAR.
Now the game has released I will be trying to replicate some of your tactics, especially your Naval strategy.
I look forward to your multiplayer AAR's