Units routing out of pockets

[thedoctorking]

In my solo game as the Axis, I just pocketed most of SW Front in the vicinity of Proskurov (didn't run fast enough as the USSR). Russians re-connected the pocket in their turn, but first thing in the Axis turn I re-established the pocket. Then, I began attacking the units inside with the follow-up infantry, seeing as their combat value was low since they hadn't gotten any supplies (other than airdrop) the turn before. Imagine my surprise as they routed, mostly outside the pocket. Now SW Front is mostly routed units back towards Kirovgrad.

Was this a result of my error in allowing the pocket to be re-opened temporarily? So they fled along the hexes I had conquered in that turn? Or can units just rout through enemy controlled areas and I kind of have to live with this? How do I work it to actually eliminate guys caught in pockets?

One clue, in another much smaller pocket that I created up in the Vitebsk area, where all the units were packed together with no place to retreat, when I attacked them, they surrendered. Is this the key? Push them back until they have no place to go and then they will surrender? Seems chancy, and invites gamy strategies like transferring every unit in a pocket to STAVKA control so they will be more likely to fail their morale check and rout instead of retreating (I'm assuming that's how it works?)

[Searry]

You have to wait a turn always before they surrender, if they surrender.

[thedoctorking]

No, I meant surrender during combat. Those guys weren't going to surrender for lack of supplies because they have a city in their pocket and also a little air resupply.

[Searry]

That's what I meant.

[Maximillian999]

You were right, you need to wait a turn after re-establishing the pocket, otherwise they just retreat/rout normally.

That's why it's so frustrating in the first few turns when you miss a lone cav division somewhere and the USSR breaks a big pocket.

[thedoctorking]

Ah, so you have to sit a turn and hold the pocket and then when you attack them they surrender instead of routing?

[Searry]

That's correct.