German 43 Offensive?

[thedude357]

I am playing a bitter end game as the axis against human opponent, and things are going somewhat well. It is currently SEP 42. Front line Leningrad-Moscow-Tula-Saratov-Stalingrad-Krasnodar. I have captured tons of industry (2/3 T34 production gone, KV1 factory in Leningrad as well) I wish I could count how many AP and HI I destroyed easily (if you know a way tell me). Soviet OOB is very low, under 5 million men and a good 250k isolated north of Leningrad and I have more AFVs...but he has a hell of a lot more aircraft.

My question is, is a 43 German offensive actually doable? Has anyone pulled this off? Or is Red Army 2.0 such a huge boost that it is strictly defense only for the Axis?

[Stelteck]

5m soviet army is not an army, it is merely a symbolic garnison, attack !!!

Destroy manpower center and encercle a lot more soviet troops. Just keep some reserve to fend off some potential counter attack.

You could probably win the game with victory point by going defense and doing nothing for 100 more turns, but is it really fun ? And the führer will not like it.

[vonik]

5 M Red Army is just a minor annoyance especially if you hold a front as far as the Volga .
From what you say, there must be a mother of all salients if the Reds still hold Tula .
Just crush them !

[thedude357]

In the words of Bill Murray "I don't play defense."

I have captured Tula already and Tambov. I got Penza as well but gave it up as my line was too thin. So I am thinking this is possible but we will see Red Army 2.0 and what limitations it gives me.

[VigaBrand]

1 on 1 the Red Army 2.0 isn't that strong. So if they are only at 5 million men, you could attack with no worries.
Critical will be above 7 million men.

[Cavalry Corp]

I will post my summer 43 offensive shots here - I am planning one - regardless. Its June 3rd 43 waiting for 2 clear turns ten off we go...
I noticed one big thing... In July you get the Mot Divs upgraded to PZG which is good but you also loose units end July as the get withdrawn plus all the Italians go so a summer offensive has a narrow window. Probably late June to end July - task is to destroy as much as possible then...

[EwaldvonKleist]

Will be interesting whether you can achieve something decisive in this time.

[Cavalry Corp]

I have posted a short AAR - offensive is just starting - Kursk will fall.

[EwaldvonKleist]

Thanks, the thin frontline at Kursk really invites the Germans

[Cavalry Corp]

Oh yes

[EwaldvonKleist]

Very good pocket, you should post it in the AAR though (and include the picture in a way that it is shown in the post so you dont need to click twice to see it)
If he has a few mech/tankkorps at hand I think it is possible to open the pocket by well sequenced attacks, at least for one more turn.

[Cavalry Corp]

It says the files are too big to embed. I use the windows snip they are not big at all try again... oh it works now