Fall Weiss II - Barbarossa AAR

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A look at the strategic map mid summer, as well as some strategic decisions. I will not be rolling the dice for the chance of another Soviet Winter, and the timeliness of these reinforcements that are being re-directed to the Eastern Front are perfect as our front lines are incredibly stretched.

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German forces in Kursk have been completely cut off by the Soviet counter offensive. German Tanks are massed at Orel but overall our defensive positions are somewhat thin in Central USSR.

In the North, Finnish forces attempt to cut off Soviet supply South-West of Leningrad.

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In the Mediterranean the elusive British Carriers were finally engaged, they had been very effective up to this point, noticed by their 2-3 experience.

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Unit counts and Axis Income - Aug 42'

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With most of the known British fleet in the Mediterranean sunk at this point, part of the Italian Navy is set to patrol near Algeria for possible Allied landings. The majority of the heavily damaged Italian Navy is returning to port however.

Along the Eastern Front, the Soviet have recaptured Kursk and are threatening our supply lines near Moscow. The Italian Army has sent reinforcements to protect Army Group South from the possibility of a Soviet offensive from the regions near Kursk.

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Iraq has surrendered, and the Syria has been occupied by the British. The DAK which is attempting to advance on Alexandria and Cairo find the region heavily defended and fortified by the Western Allies.

In the East the Soviets have made a breakthrough east of Smolensk, cutting of the German supply line. I had only the turn earlier reestablished the supply line to the Eastern part of the Moscow front and Army Group Center could have fully pocketed. However the Axis counter offensive from Orel established that supply line and also delivered a striking blow against the Soviets were advancing from Kursk.

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In the North, Finland is forced to retreat back to Leningrad after failing to cut off Soviet forces with a joint offensive with the German Army. Finland has lost most of the Soviet territory it had earlier captured east of Lake Ladoga.

Army Group Center is attempting to dig in near Moscow despite the severed supply line with Smolensk. The Soviets have multiple Tank Corps severing the rail/road connection with now immediate German ability to respond. The Red Army is also beginning an advance North of Smolensk towards softly defended Velikiye Luki.

In the South we have more success, Germany has won the 3rd battle of Kursk, and it is the 3rd time the city has changed sides. The Axis have thus far been unable to press into either the Caucasus or Stalingrad, the main objectives of Fall Blau, our summer offensive. The entire 42' offensive in the East has been a disaster with only limited gains and could be the doom of Germany.

[John B.]

Very happy to see you back. I really enjoy your AARs!

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Winter has set in in Russia and German morale is at an all time low. The Soviets are unlikely to be outright defeated given the Axis' inability to drive into the Caucasus region and disrupt the endless flow of Soviet MPP and troops, nor have we been able to shorten the front, at anytime the war could be fought on multiple major fronts thanks to the looming risk of an Allied invasion of occupied France.

Our objective for 1943 is to force the Red Army behind the Don River, capture the major supply source of Voronezh and eventually drive on Stalingrad. With the Red Army divided in the South, Moscow will be the only other major front which the Soviets could launch a major offensive and will allow the Axis to divert forces to the Western Front as needed.

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It does not appear that the Allies will be launching an amphibious invasion in North Africa (Algeria) and Germany is no longer satisfied with only the income from the Vichy Collaboration policy, thus Germany has occupied Vichy France. The income is sorely needed.

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Now in late spring 43' in the East the Germany begins its offensive towards Voronezh with multiple Tank Cops and Armies, the Soviets are flashing Anti-Tank III units on the approach which is worrisome. Axis technology is becoming stagnant as I poor almost all resources into our forces to try to maintain out positions in Russia, refusing to retreat in almost any region.

In the North we have finally pushed the Soviet defenses south of Leningrad into poor territory, but just further South the Red Army attack on Velikiye Luki is ramping up and could see the Soviets capture the city and break out.

In the South near Rostov the situation appears impossible for the Axis at this time, The Soviet manpower is never ending.

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Rommel and the DAK have made gains in Eastern Egypt but supply issues are significantly hampering, and the Allies have complete control of the sky.

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The Axis have poured everything into the Eastern Front to avoid giving up territory back to the Soviets, Western Europe is ill defended and the raiding of Atlantic Convoys have entirely ceased.

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Turkey is also dangerously close to joining the Allies, I've poured diplomacy into Turkey over the past 6 months but the Allies are determined to open up a new front in the Balkans.

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The Axis which at one point seemed immune to destruction (only 1 ground unit destroyed as of May 42') have taken heavy losses on the Eastern Front. Though our losses pale in comparison to the Red Army.

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It's a desperate fight to capture the Soviet supply bases along the Don River and shorten the Soviet offensive lines. Despite it appearing so achievable each turn the Red Army throws more and more forces into harms way, which are often destroyed before end of turn screenshots so it is a bit elusive to capture the struggle.

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Axis income at the beginning of summer 43'. Germany has switched to a war economy for a much needed boost in military income. Our industry is extremely reliant on foreign trade at this point, Turkey's eventual entry into the war will be a double hammer as I'm collecting Chrome from the nation valued at 30 MPP per turn.

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Finnish and German forces have linked up near Leningrad, pocketing a handful of Soviet units and potentially freeing up some of the Axis Army in the near future.

Army Center simply holds their vulnerable defensive positions near Moscow meanwhile Smolensk is coming under heavier attack. The town of Velikiye Luki has fallen to the Red Army and the Soviets are poised to put more pressure on the regions near Smolensk.

In the South we are edging ever so close to capturing the Soviet supply bases along the Don River which I think now is critical to victory.

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The Western Allies make a surprise amphibious invasion in the Netherlands! I honestly did not expect this and now am forced to defend Western Europe.

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Upcoming are a series of screenshot from July 43'. This is the turn I'm admitting that there is no chance of a decisive victory this round, and I am likely only to have a chance to win a minor/marginal victory by dragging the war on long enough to come to peace terms.