Fall Weiss II Western Theater - Axis AAR

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The DAK capture a border town in Iraq, destroying a British Infantry Corps in the process. There is still significant resistance in Iraq from the coalition of Allied forces. Each Axis nation spent it's full MPP on reinforcements. German reinforcements for Fall Blau (summer offensive) arrived near Warsaw and were immediately sent to Warsaw, we also deployed two new German Infantry Armies which were in que, which are destined for Moscow and Rostov most likely.

In the Atlantic the convoy battles continue. A Canadian Destroyer Flotilla was sunk by combined assault by Italian and Vichy French warships along the Middle East convoy, while a German U-boat group was sunk near Norway by the British.

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Near Lake Onega, a Finnish Infantry unit was nearly (but still will be) destroyed, and has prompted a retreat of the Army back into Finnish territory. Germany has increased the convoy from 22 to 33 MPP per turn to assist Finland.

Near Leningrad, an overstretched Soviet breakout towards Narva was attacked which left the forward Tank Army cut off. The Luftwaffe remained grounded once again from bad weather, I hope to have the opportunity to siege Leningrad shortly.

Army Group Center is being battered by the sheer numbers of Soviet Tanks, which is stalling the offensive, but we still manage to inch forward and make the entirety of Moscow a front line city.

In the South reinforcements are still pouring in as we attempt to press into the Caucasus this summer.

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The Allies continue their retreat back into Iraq in the Middle East. At sea an American Destroyer in sunk in the Southern part of the Atlantic map. German U-boats are still operating everywhere and Italian, Spanish and Vichy French surface vessels continue to operate near the Portuguese Isles, but the majority of the Italian Navy is still in port slowly in repair, the heavy contingent of Italian forces on the Moscow front have been swallowing MPP. The German surface vessels, few as they may be, remain safely in port.

Germany technology takes a big step forward this turn, all related to aircraft as we achieve Advanced Fighter III, Ground Attack Aircraft III, Long Range Aircraft II, and Anti-Air II. The timing could not be better as the Luftwaffe took heavy losses in the most recent battle in the skies over Leningrad, I suspect the Soviets may have already achieved Fighters III via breakthroughs.

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Along the Eastern Front we one again reach the gates of Leningrad, destroying the cut off Tank Army that had forced the retreat. The Finnish on the other hand fare not as well in the North, being forced to retreat back to Finnish territory from the Lake Onega region, a Finnish Infantry Division was lost in the battle.

Near Moscow we hold our positions near the front line city of Moscow, 2 Italian Infantry Armies and a Hungarian Division were sent to the front, as well 2 Medium Bombers and Fighters are now in the theater. Previously Air support was nearly non-existent.

In the South we break the Soviet defensive line South of Rostov, capturing a town for forward supply and reinforce Rostov with 2 new German Infantry Armies (via production que), and a new Romanian Infantry Corps. We also capture the town of Morozovsk en route to Stalingrad. Sevastopol also fell this turn to the Romanian Army which will soon be sent to help March on Stalingrad.

2 German Infantry Corps were destroyed this turn, and some other units down to 1-2 strength. The Soviet Army finally has some punch. Those German Infantry Corps were above my build limit, so they will not be able to be rebuilt. German manpower is not unlimited.

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The Axis destroy 2 Allied Infantry Corps and an American Tank Corps in Iraq. I am feeling extremely pinched on MPP and the Iraqi oilfields are within sight. Supply shortages in Spain is going to knock my MPP down in both Portugal and Spain for a few turns as well. German income has plateaued for a few turns, and Axis losses are outpacing income. The good news is that the Soviet losses are much higher and their unit count if falling.

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Leningrad is cut off Soviet supply lines, and the Gustav Gun is ready to wreak havoc on the city. Attrition warfare continues near Moscow, despite the lack defense of the capital it's a deathtrap until I can push the Soviets back a bit more. Near Voronezh the Franco HQ was nearly destroyed by a Soviet Shock Army which was destroyed by counter attack.

In the South Germany captured the Kantemirovka which was a key supply center for the Soviets on the Norther Flank of the Don River, which should allow the drive on Stalingrad to commence more easily. South of Rostov we smash the Soviet lines and are ready to drive on Maikop.

Germany deployed 2 new Fighter Groups on the Eastern Front as well.

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Germany seizes its first oilfield in the Middle East and continues it's pressure on Allied forces, destroying a British Infantry Corps and Tactical Bomber. German income gets a boost after finishing preparations for Fall Blau (150 MPP for 5 turns). We decide in favor of sending Tanks to Romania, which will allow me to increase my Tank Corps over and above the German limits. Switzerland is only 6% Axis leaning right now.

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After being besieged for only 1 turn Leningrad is quickly occupied. This is good news as the Eastern Front is becoming extremely difficult to advance in other regions.

The Germans manage to destroy the defenders in one half of the city of Moscow, however lack the movement points to take the city. Germany and Hungarian forces continue to drive Northward toward Tula to stablize the Moscow Front as the Axis is very extended in this region, a number of Soviet Tank Corps and Shock Armies are destroyed this turn which should aleviate some of the pressure off the Italian Army which was struggling to hold back the Soviet offensive West of Tula.

In the South the Soviets are stubbornly dug in behind the river lines, and are pushing Southward from the Don River even without a major supply source.

The Soviets destroyed a number of units along the Eastern Front this turn, including 2 Infantry Armies, an Infantry Corps and Division. None were able to be repurchased, my excess MPP were spent on a second chit in Industrial Tech, we had only managed to pull in 750 MPP last turn due to decision events/supply shortages in Spain.

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Germany via decision sends U-boats to the Black Sea at a bargain rate. Mosul is captured in Iraq, with the goal of capturing the northern oil fields next turn. Italy invested 2 chits in Swiss diplomacy (Germany has had 2 invested for a while) to help keep Switzerland Axis leaning. The U-boat campaign continues successfully in the Atlantic.

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In the North both Finnish and German forces close in on the remaining defenders of Leningrad. One of the two Tank Corps in the area were sent to the Rostov front via rail.

Near Tula (South of Moscow) another strong Soviet offensive reinforced with more Tanks and Shock Armies commenced towards the Italian held front lines which amounted to multiple destroyed Italian units. A joint Hungarian and German counter attack south of Tula sucesffully destroyed 2 Soviet HQ and ancillary units.

Along the Stalingrad/Rostov front the Soviets have pushed back the Germans from the Don River near Kantemirovka, nearly cutting off the German Infantry Corps within the town. The offensive into the Caucasus is severely stalled and I may have to change direction towards solely Stalingrad.

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The Moscow Front has suddenly collapsed with the destruction of the 4th Infantry Army and 10th Panzergrenadier Mechanized Corps which held the flanks of our offensive on Moscow. The war of attrition on the Eastern Front has not gone well thus far in 1942.. not sure I can afford to retreat!

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Germany captures the Northern Oil fields in Iraq, as Italian forces begin the attack on a rather lightly defended Baghdad. At sea despite pretty good results in naval combat we are far from gaining the upper hand against the massive Royal Navy. A large number of Axis naval units are in port in disrepair.

[John B.]

Wow, I did not expect the Soviets to be able to bounce back like that!

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ORIGINAL: John B.

Wow, I did not expect the Soviets to be able to bounce back like that!

It was a sudden turn of the tide at Moscow for sure!

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Germany has closed the Leningrad Pocket, we had already been bleeding troops out Army Group North, but most noticeably a large wing of the Luftwaffe will be largely free to reinforce either Army Group Center of South.

At Moscow we carefully decided not to retreat, or transfer significant forces from the Southern Theater and rather went for an all-out counter-attack with the units available. The counter-attack was successful in that we captured Tula which was a Soviet supply center South of Moscow, and destroyed a number of Tanks and forward units, and cut off a few divisions. The Soviet front line has thinned, but a large contingent of Soviet Armour remains in force Near Tula. Will the Armour retreat towards Moscow or attack?

In the South the Axis launch a massive attack against the Soviet defensive lines, but we remain outflanked from the North where the Soviets have recaptured Kantemirovka along the Don River. I hope to where down the Soviets significantly with this massive offense and swing towards Stalingrad to capture the strategically important city before year end.

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Fighting continues around Baghdad. Most action still remains in the East, where Axis losses are piling up. Germany expects to lose some U-boats in the next turn in the Atlantic after stumbling into Allied destroyers.

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Especially fierce fighting ensues on the Moscow front, Soviet Armour re-captured Tula last turn but the Axis have fought there way to complete encirclement of main Soviet force along the Moscow Front. If they are unable to be relieved this will be an absolutely decisive battle! Tula only had 1 supply point and with the besieged rules will be reduced to 0 on it's turn. These units are completely cut off!

In the South the Soviet line has been split between the Caucasus and Stalingrad front, which will allow for alot more strategic maneuvering by the Axis. Things are taking a very positive turn for the Axis right now.

In the North Finland begins a fresh offensive towards Lake Onega.

Significant MPP were spent upgrading the Luftwaffe this turn. Germany only has a handful of units in que but we did receive a few units via the decision to send reinforcements to North Africa or the Eastern Front.

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Staving off disaster, The Soviets were successful in relieving the Tula pocket! Germany lost a Panzer Tank Corps, as well as another Tank Corps near Moscow that was destroyed by Soviet Anti-Tank weapons which I did not even see in the area. 3 German Tank Corps were destroyed in recent turns but I can only re-build 1 due to build limits, I have not invested in Tank Production yet to increase the build limits so these losses definitely hurt. The Soviet defense of Tula has been a thorn in the Axis offensive against Moscow all summer! To make matters worse the Soviets boldly have cut the rail towards Moscow with more Soviet Armour attacking from the Northern sector of the battle, the situation is looking worrisome. If Kaluga which is Italian occupied, was not firmly in Axis hands our supply would have been severed along the entire front.

The Soviets have launched a limited offensive against the limited Spanish defensive positions near Kursk and Kharkov. This attack looks much less devastating then it would have to be but they did manage to destroy a Spanish Infantry Army, the biggest downside is that the Spanish units are proving very expensive to reinforce.

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In the Middle East Baghdad is liberated after months of fighting finally nears an end in Iraq.

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The Battle of Tula finally comes to an end with German victory! The Soviet Armour is near completely destroyed and Tula and surrounding area is well covered with Axis forces. The Axis have formed a sold line about 25 miles from Moscow and have settled our supply (rail) lines.

The Spanish Army have cut off a number of overextended Soviets near Kursk and Kharkov and more southwards the German and Romanian Army's have shattered the forward defensive positions en route to Stalingrad.

All along the Eastern Front the Luftwaffe is in tattered shape, I have finally overextended my hand and lost a Tactical Bomber in the skies near Leningrad, I am going to be forced to invest a lot of MPP into the units soon.

Lots of good news on the research front, Germany achieved Advanced Tanks IV, Industrial Tech III and Finland achieved Command & Control II. With access MPPs German repurchased a Tank Corps, and Italy invested in Anti-Air I.