Why the Axis lost. Axis AAR

[warspite1]

August 1939

I thought I would do another AAR, this time as the Axis. As the Axis have a distinct disadvantage (or so it seems) and I have never played the Axis before, I will continue to play at Intermediate Level with no bonuses. All options are as per default.

[warspite1]

The Supreme Commander Of The Armed Forces.
Berlin.
31st August, 1939.

MOST SECRET
Senior Commanders only

Directive No. 1 For The Conduct Of The War

1. Since the situation on Germany's eastern frontier has become intolerable and all political possibilities of peaceful settlement have been exhausted, I have decided upon a solution by force.

2. The attack on Poland will be undertaken in accordance with the preparations made for Case White, with such variations as may be necessitated by the buildup of the Army which is now virtually complete.

The allocation of tanks and the purpose of the operation remain unchanged.

Date of attack: 1st September, 1939.

This time also applies to operations at Gdynia, in the Bay Of Danzig, and at the Dirschau Bridge.

3. In the west it is important to leave the responsibility for opening hostilities unmistakably to England and France. Minor violations of the frontier will be dealt with, for the time being, purely as local incidents.

The assurances of neutrality given by us to Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland are to be meticulously observed.

The western frontier of Germany will not be crossed by land at any point without my explicit orders.

This applies also to all acts of warfare at sea or to acts which might be regarded as such.

The defensive activity of the Air Force will be restricted for the time being to the firm repulse of enemy air attacks on the frontiers of the Reich. In taking action against individual aircraft or small formations, care will be taken to respect the frontiers of neutral countries as far as possible. Only if considerable forces of French or British bombers are employed against German territory across neutral areas will the Air Force be permitted to go into defensive action over neutral soil.

It is particularly important that any infringement of the neutrality of other States by our western enemies be immediately reported to the High Command Of The Armed Forces.

4. Should England and France open hostilities against Germany, it will be the duty of the Armed Forces operating in the west, while conserving their strength as much as possible, to maintain conditions for the successful conclusion of operations against Poland. Within these limits enemy forces and war potential will be damaged as much as possible. The right to order offensive operations is reserved absolutely to me.

The Army will occupy the West Wall and will take steps to secure it from being outflanked in the north, through the violation by the western powers of Belgian or Dutch territory. Should French forces invade Luxembourg the bridges on the frontier may be blown up.

The Navy will operate against merchant shipping, with England as the focal point. In order to increase the effect, the declaration of danger zones may be expected. The Naval High Command will report on the areas which it is desirable to classify as danger zones and on their extent. The text of a public declaration in this matter is to be drawn up in collaboration with the Foreign Office and to be submitted to me for approval through the High Command Of The Armed Forces.

The Baltic Sea is to be secured against enemy intrusion. The Commander In Chief Of The Navy will decide whether the entrances to the Baltic Sea should be mined for this purpose.

The Air Force is, first of all, to prevent action by the French and English Air Forces against the German Army and German territory.

In operations against England, the task of the Air Foice is to take measures to dislocate English imports, the armaments industry, and the transport of troops to France. Any favourable opportunity of an effective attack on concentrated units of the English Navy, particularly on battleships or aircraft carriers, will be exploited. The decision regarding attacks on London is reserved to me.

Attacks on the English homeland are to be prepared, bearing in mind that inconclusive results with insufficient forces are to be avoided in all circumstances.

Signed: Adolf Hitler.

[warspite1]

1st September 1939

So while I am aware of what the Allies have in this game, I know nothing about the Germans OOB or their research levels etc.

So first off I think a look at what is what is called for.

So the Germans have an initial advantage in Infantry Weapons and Advanced Tanks (vs the British not the French)

[warspite1]

1st September 1939

Case White - the plan

Geography seals Poland's fate. The German Army is split into two army groups. In the north:

3rd Army (von Kuchler) is the northern arm of the pincer, responsible for clearing a way to Warsaw from East Prussia.

4th Army (von Kluge) is responsible for destroying Polish resistance in the 'Corridor' and linking up with Army Group South's 8th Army (Blaskowitz), having stopped Polish units in the west of the country from retreating toward the Capital.

10th (von Reichenau) and 14th Army (List) are tasked with taking Warsaw from the west and south.


The bulk of the German Army is in the East. If the French attack, there is little to stop them on the Siegfried Line....

[warspite1]

1st September 1939

1st Army (von Leeb), devoid of armour, below strength and lacking much in the way of air support, is all that stands in the way of any Allied attack....

[warspite1]

1st September 1939

A shame the Germans do not get a CL counter.

The Kriegsmarine strength is as follows:

[warspite1]

1st September 1939

The attack begins with air attacks on the Modlin, Pomorze and Lodz Armies. Only the attacks against Lodz prove successful.

The German plan is to surround – and effectively neutralise - the Polish armies, while sweeping forward toward Warsaw. As a result of the focus being on territory, only one army and one cavalry brigade are destroyed.

4th Army

The Frontier Guard Command in Pomerania set out to surround and cut off the Pomorska Cavalry Brigade in the ‘Corridor’, while to the south II and III Corps neutralise the Poznan Army. In a stunning display of incompetence, III Corps runs headlong into the Poznan Army and suffers serious casualties. However, II Corps pushes south at Bydoszcz and encircles the defenders of Western Poland. This allows the panzer and motorised divisions of XIX Corps to race east, just falling short of capturing Torun.

3rd Army

Good progress here. I and XXI Corps isolate the remnants of the Modlin Army, which was heavily attacked by 3rd Army, and halt on the north bank of the Bug.

8th Army

The infantry of 8th Army are used to smash the Lodz Army and then X Corps act as the western pincer to cut off the surviving Polish forces in this sector.

10th Army

The eastern pincer for the surrounding of Lodz is the armour of XVI Corps. The lead elements of 4th Panzer Division just fail to take Lodz itself however. 10th Army and XI Corps surround the Krakow Army.

14th Army

The plan here was to push past the Karpaty Army, using VIII and XXII Corps, supported by a Slovakian Corps. Progress is naturally slow in the Carpathians. To the west the 14th Army are used to attack the 10th Mechanised Brigade, which is badly shot up.

[warspite1]

1st September 1939

At sea the Fuhrer gets cold feet and orders Raeder to send the two pocket battleships, Deutschland and Graf Spee, home. Hitler also gets a little nervous at the thought of Deutschland being sunk - and asks for nominations for a new name for the panzerschiffe.

Wolfpack Hartmann is ordered south and Prien is ordered to the North Atlantic.

[warspite1]

8th - 15th September 1939

Reinforcements
None

MPP Expenditure

Germany - none
Italy - none

[warspite1]

8th - 15th September 1939

This is what we want to see!

[warspite1]

8th - 15th September 1939

I think the obvious thing to do is say No here and wait for Student's unit to get up to strength.

[warspite1]

8th - 15th September 1939

Donitz receives his orders - but is distinctly unimpressed with the number of boats he has to carry out those orders with.....

[warspite1]

8th - 15th September 1939

No idea about Sea Lion yet - but suspect I won't...

[warspite1]

8th - 15th September 1939

I didn't get a combat loss summary for some reason. Oh well, here is a MAS instead.


What did I ever do to the Canadians to make them hate me so?

[warspite1]

8th - 15th September 1939

The largest unencircled formation is the Prusy Army at Kutno. The Luftwaffe therefore give this unit – which is blocking the way to Warsaw from the west – most of its attention.

4th Army

With the Prusy Army in a demoralised state, 4th Army push southeast, completing the Polish units’ destruction. The Frontier Guard are ordered southeast to destroy the remnants of the Modlin Army, while XIX Corps races to the south of Warsaw to prepare for the assault on the city.

3rd Army

XXI Corps crosses the Bug and attacks the Narew Corps that is defending the approaches to Warsaw from the northeast. I Corps follows up the attack, forcing the Polish unit to retreat away from the capital. 3rd Army are then free to start the attack on Warsaw itself from the north of the city.

8th Army

XX Corps helps to finish off the surviving units of the Lodz Army and 8th Army occupies the city.

10th Army

The 10th captures Radom and pushes on, encountering the remnants of the 10th Mechanised Brigade, which it destroys. On its left flank the armour of XVI Corps, in conjunction with the Luftwaffe’s remaining strength, obliterate a Polish Corps southeast of Warsaw. Warsaw suddenly looks very vulnerable....

14th Army

This force completes the destruction of the Krakow Army and captures the city of the same name. The encirclement of the Karpaty Army is completed. They won't be coming to Warsaw's aid.

[warspite1]

22nd September - 3rd October 1939

The British Army arrive on the continent.


Gamelin inspects the entire BEF

[warspite1]

22nd September - 3rd October 1939

Our new found friends, the Soviets, attack the Poles...


Well, regardless of his dubious political beliefs, at least this man had the courage of his convictions - unlike many Communists who swallowed Stalin's self serving nonsense.

[warspite1]

22nd September - 3rd October 1939

Reinforcements
None

MPP Expenditure

Germany - Nothing
Italy - Nothing

[warspite1]

22nd September - 3rd October 1939

The panzerschiffe continue to make their way own (so far undetected), while all four wolfpacks are at sea.

On land, Warsaw falls - and I hope that is sufficient for Poland to surrender.

[Malor]

Warspite,

I'm looking forward to enjoying your Axis AAR. I've not played that side yet and was planning to do so next game. I'll probably wait a few days to learn what not to do from this AAR. [:D]

Good luck!

Malor