Solitaire Barbarossa - A Beginner Stumbles East

[Chocolino]

The Point of this AAR is to show how a complete beginner approaches the Barbarossa scenario. Given this preamble it should be clear that what you see here should not be taken as a role model on how to approach the scenario. Still - I could imagine that another beginner may find it helpful to see a whole game evolve (including all dumb mistakes...).

I will try to go into much detail during the first few impulses and then ease off as we go. I hope to learn from this myself since writing a summary will make you think more about what you do (hopefully...maybe...). And perhaps somebody will occasionally make a helpful suggestion .....

[Chocolino]

Optional Rules: Novice Set (true to the spirit of a beginner AAR - so no Divisions, AA units, ART units or 2D10 table etc)

Will play both sides - which sometimes requires a bit of schizophrenia

[Courtenay]

Welcome to the game!

One piece of advice: Do not use the quick start set up. The Russian set up in it is abominable.

[Chocolino]

Thanks for taking a look at this.

I did not use the quick start - but not sure if my self-made setup is any better.....we will see.

[Chocolino]

MWiF comes with a saved game that you can restore and which includes the full setup. As Courtenay just pointed out in the post above it does not enjoy a good reputation (for the Russians). I did my own setup but for all I know it may be worse ....

Also, since "unit scrapping" is not part of the Novice rule set, you will see older, outdated units in the setup pool. But in my case, after choosing the newer units first it appears that certain quotas were fulfilled so that the most obsolete units did not make it on the board and presumably went back into the force pool so that I can enjoy building them later...

This is the map (northern part) after setup. I placed the Luftwaffe as close to the front as possible. Since I expect the Germans to move forward they should not become exposed by a future withdrawal. There are usually 2 land units underneath the planes but I am not sure how to switch the view to make the land units come up top.

I have put a convoy into the Baltic to transport resources from Sweden. There is no escort which I regret in hindsight.

The Russians have mostly a single line but because of setup requirements (e.g. 10 units are required within 2 hexes of the Romanian border) and because I have garrisoned Leningrad there were not enough Russians to complete the line at the Lithuanian coast.

[Chocolino]

The Russians have to setup first and this allows the German to focus on a few points without the Russian being able to react immediately. As a result the Russians are spread more or less evenly while the Germans have placed most of their stronger units north and center in this particular setup.

Furthermore, the Russians have willingly abandoned the hard fought Bessarabia in order to defend behind the Dniester. The Russians have placed some of their armor in this region. While the armor is actually in the front line the Russian expect no very strong attack there so that it can be withdrawn when needed - almost as a mobile reserve.

This is the southern half of the setup.

[Chocolino]

Weather is fine in all regions (I believe this is guaranteed for the first impulse of this scenario). But there is a chance for bad weather in the future.

[Chocolino]

Next the Russians have the chance to call out their reserves - and I see no reason not to do that. However, all units arrive disorganized in Russian cities - which means they cannot do anything for the rest of the turn unless you manage to re-organize them (which is not easy or likely to happen - more on this later). Some units are assigned to specific home cities (Militia) and the Russians used the remainder of the reserve to start a second line from Pskov to Gomel from where they can advance next turn if necessary.

After this the Germans have the chance to politically align either Finland or Hungary. (You can align the other one a turn later - so the decision is not too hard). It appears Finland won't be able to do much until the German arrive on the scene so we pick Hungary for now.

[Chocolino]

The new German allies fill the gap in the line.

[Chocolino]

Now the setup is over and the main part with alternating impulses starts. Germany chooses of course a land action.

Germany is also the proud owner of a valuable Offensive Chit. The chit can be used for a variety of benefits and to know when to use it and for what benefit requires probably much more experience than I can possibly have.

If Germany used the chit now it would gain some significant one-time boost in its upcoming offensive. Given that we are at the brink of Barbarossa and need to break through that sounds attractive. But it can also be used to organize HQs (to name just one alternative use). HQs become disorganized when they organize regular units but can do so only a very times depending on their bracketed stat. Having disorganized HQs can get you in all kinds of trouble I found out.

So perhaps better wait for now .... (sounds very indecisive even to me ...)

[Courtenay]

ORIGINAL: Chocolino

MWiF comes with a saved game that you can restore and which includes the full setup. As Courtenay just pointed out in the post above it does not enjoy a good reputation (for the Russians). I did my own setup but for all I know it may be worse ....

Yours wasn't worse. You didn't allow a first turn overrun.

However, it isn't good. You didn't use your zones of control. You don't have to have a continuous line if the enemy is not adjacent to you; he has to stop when he moves next to your units. Thus you can have two units per hex with a vacant hex in between, which makes the job much harder for the opponent, particularly when you put the defending units in good defensive terrain, and leave the clear terrain in between vacant. As it is, the Germans will attack on either side of your best units, leaving many of them trapped by German zones of control.

[Chocolino]

Understand - that sounds like very good advise and will come in handy in future games. Thank you!

Actually in the following battles (that I will report on shortly) the Russian line turned out to be not too robust....

[Chocolino]

No Port strikes or Naval Air action.

Because of choosing a land action the Germans have only 4 air actions for the impulse. Also planes can do only one action per turn and then become disorganized. So the air actions have to count.

Hence the Luftwaffe strikes just two hexes that they have identified as weak points for land attack. The goal is to disorganize the enemy which provides significant help in upcoming land battles. The Germans keep the FTRs back and don't escort since I believe the German FTRs are close enough to intercept if the Russians intervene with their fighters. (The northern hex is out of range for the Russian fighter I believe).

[Chocolino]

Curiously I did not see a chance to let the Russians intercept. I expected the fighter LaGG-3 NE of Brest to be able to. First I thought I clicked too fast but then on second thought I remembered that this is part of the "surprise" effect in impulse 1 after a DoW. Good for the Germans.....and it will have a disastrous outcome for the Russian fighter in the near future since his grounding means he cannot re-base away from the front.

The historical Russian leadership at this time of the war was not universally admired but they can be glad that they did not have me instead....

As a result, the German fighters stayed at home, too and the Stukas did their thing - and very well they did it. Both attacks succeeded.

[Chocolino]

The second ground strike ....

[Chocolino]

Rail Move: 2 units move from Berlin to Warsaw and Koenigsberg.

[Chocolino]

During land move, the Germans infiltrate the northern Russian flank and close in to the disorganized 6 mot near Brest.

[Courtenay]

ORIGINAL: Chocolino

Rail Move: 2 units move from Berlin to Warsaw and Koenigsberg.

This was a mistake. Rail moving disorganizes a unit, so these two units will not move farther this turn. The two units rail moved about eight hexes each, or what they could walk in two or three impulses. The turn should last that long, so these units would have been better off walking.

(I hope you don't mind my commenting on your game. I am trying to be educational. I absolutely do not want to drive you from the game!)

[Chocolino]

Land Combat: The Germans realized that they also had a good probability attack in the south and declared 3 attacks. They had the choice of CRT for all 3 combats and choose the Blitz table for each.

Here is the first.

[Chocolino]

This resulted in an overrun which sealed the fate of the unlucky LaGG-3 Russian fighter which was destroyed under the tracks of an onrushing German Panzer.

Fighters are precious. This should not have happened with a bit more careful setup. The Russians are getting a bad deal here form the start. But perhaps a good example of how not to play ....