John Lee's 'great war' Entente vs MP9090 as Central Powers

[gwgardner]

Dec 20, turn 21

Signs point to Italian entry into the war on the side of the Entente, within the next few weeks. That will certainly increase pressure against Austria-Hungary, however it doesn't directly or immediately help the Entente position in the west, where reinforcements remain scarce.

GHQ has finally acceeded to the British demand that that BEF must be withdrawn from its salient, before being isolated by the continuing German pressure against the flanks. Loss of the BEF would mean the collapse of the western front.

[gwgardner]

On the Eastern Front, Stavka has ordered a resumption of the offensive southwest towards Glawice. The intent remains to cut off the Austrian forces to the east from supply lines from Austria, thus hopefully making their positions north of the Carpathians untenable.

Chenstakov has fallen to 5th Army. 9th and 10th Armies are pushing foward along the flanks of 5th Army.

[MikeJ19]

Gary,

Looks like you are having fun. Thanks for sharing.

[gwgardner]

The scenario is indeed fun. No weather effects, but on the other hand also no air or navy to fiddle with, which I like. I see you're getting a good dose of post-WW2 warfare. Kudos on that.

[MikeJ19]

Gary,

Thanks. It is fun playing against Larry. Like you, his approach is very interesting.

Enjoy your game!

[gwgardner]

Jan 3, 1915 turn 23

On the Western Front, the Germans are relentless in their drive on Paris. Even with the withdrawal of the BEF from the St. Quentin salient, the Entented lines are not strong enough to hold the Germans when they concentrate their forces.

Since reserves are non-existent, GHQ is contemplating a pullback to the Siene, to release some forces for the defense of Paris.

[gwgardner]

On the Eastern Front, the battles for Chenstakov continue, with the city changing hands twice already, because the Russian armies have not been able to invest the city with anything more than advanced cavalry.

Intelligence shows that the Germans are reinforcing their Austrian allies in order to blunt the Russian offensive.

[gwgardner]

The Serbian army has regained it's original defensive lines protecting Belgrade. Austrian forces along that line remain weak, but there is little that Serbia can achieve from attempting further offensive operations at present.

Perhaps if Italy, or even Romania, were to enter the war, the Serbians could work with them to seriously upset Austrian plans.

[Cfant]

Witcraft! What a dark sorcery is this??? How did the Germans manage to reach Paris suddenly? Hope the lines will hold. Funny, that Serbia has taken Sarajevo and no Austrians anywhere. That's a problem with purely operational games. Such a situation would have had massiv consequences in Austria. But no national moral in TOAW, so it doesn't matter if Monte Negro takes anything - except Vienna and Budapest, I guess.

[gwgardner]

ORIGINAL: Cfant

Funny, that Serbia has taken Sarajevo and no Austrians anywhere. That's a problem with purely operational games. Such a situation would have had massiv consequences in Austria. But no national moral in TOAW, so it doesn't matter if Monte Negro takes anything - except Vienna and Budapest, I guess.

Fog of war. The Austrians are there, but not in strength.

The scenario needs some editing, to add events, decisions, weather. It's fun, nevertheless.

[gwgardner]

Jan 17, 1915
turn 25

Eastern Front
The 11th Army has formed near St Petersburg and entrained for the front, to join the offensive driving southwest towards Gliwice. With the help of German reinforcements, the Austrians continue to hold onto the vital rail and roads hub at Chestakov.

Western Front
For two weeks the Germans have made no major attacks, and appear to be reorganizing their lines. GHQ has ordered a series of spoiling attacks at perceived weak points in the German salient pointing towards Paris. Their lead elements have been driven back 20 miles.

Indian and Aussie troops have arrived from Marseilles, and will go straight to the front.

[gwgardner]

Jan 24, turn 26

Morale in the West is low, not the least at GHQ. Casualties have been horrendous, and there are few reinforcements. Meanwhile the Germans continue to bring new divisions into the fight for Paris - six new divisions have been identified being brought in by rail to the front.

The stark truth:

[gwgardner]

The offensive against the German flank has not drawn German forces from their own offensive near Paris.

[gwgardner]

The Russian offensive towards Chenstakov-Gliwice has new life with the arrival of 11th Army, but it is on its last legs with the exhaustion of other forces.

[Cfant]

wow, the german rail is intact already. Looks grim. But it seems Paris itself is a fortress hex with 500% defense bonus. Should be like helms klam. Hopefully some cavalry will arrive in time to save it...

[gwgardner]

Feb 7 1915, turn 28

On the Eastern Front, the Russians have entered Chestakov again, this time in force. The offensive towards the rail line linking Austria to easter Galicia must continue.

Meanwhile, Stavka has to address the building German/Austrian force pushing towards Lodz.

[gwgardner]

In France and Belgium, the Germans have briefly halted offensive operations, but they continue to build up strength north of Paris. It is expected that they are merely in a reorganization phase.

[gwgardner]

Middle Eastern Force, not content to limit their actions in defense of Palenstine, have teamed up with Admiralty, to push for some action directly against the shores of the Turks, or somewhere along the Adriatic.

So far this idea is meeting stiff resistence both in the War Ministry and from Anzac and India.

[gwgardner]

Feb 28, turn31

All quiet on the Serbian front, but the three hotspots of action continue near Paris, Lodz, and Chenstakov.

It's mostly a defensive action now for the Entente, as replacements are scarce.

[gwgardner]

The West

The Germans are getting reinforcements, and every week bring new or transferred forces to the battle for Paris. If rifle squads can't be found, the Paris defenders will eventually be ground down.