Fall Weiss II - Barbarossa AAR

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With no reserves available, the Axis withdraw from Paris May 8, 1945.

[FOARP]

Great AAR. Really glad you extended. AI seems to be pushing you hard but I think if you can adjust the fronts a little bit, maybe send forces from East to West, you can still hold out for a tactical win. I love these desperate scenarios.

[crispy131313]

ORIGINAL: FOARP

Great AAR. Really glad you extended. AI seems to be pushing you hard but I think if you can adjust the fronts a little bit, maybe send forces from East to West, you can still hold out for a tactical win. I love these desperate scenarios.

Yes it's been fun trying to hold on for dear life!

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The Red Army has finally broken our defensive lines in Ukraine after having nearly encircled Kiev and launched a significant offensive on Dnepropetrovsk which has forced Germany, Hungary and Romanian forces into a fighting retreat.

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As the Red Army advances towards Warsaw and German territory from central USSR, Germany does what it can to protect our borders with our limited forces.

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The unit count tells the story; the Red Army has grown immensely in the face of what the combined Axis forces can muster.

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In what feels like a move more of desperation that an actual offensive (especially compared to my previous AAR) Germany prepares for an offensive in the West and possibly our last, spending much of my MPP over the next few turns to muster an experienced group; 2 Tank Armies, 1 Infantry Army and a HQ near the Ardennes.

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Germany has launched the offensive in Western Europe, which looks to be somewhat of a historical outcome as we find some initial success but face on insurmountable task in defeating the Allies anywhere in the West.

At this point both the Western Allies and the Red Army are displayed on one screen, the noose is tightening.

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The Axis have fought a highly successful retreat in Ukraine, destroying a number of advancing Soviet units in the process and have now begun to re-establish their positions behind another riverline.

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Rommel's expedition in the Middle East is over and is being sent back to Germany which is desperate for additional forces. The North Africa and the Middle East are not totally abandoned however, with a few Italian & German garrisons left behind as well as the Pro-Axis Syrian corps.

It is unlikely that the Axis will defend Ankara and it could be declared an open city as the Allies approach.

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The German offensive through the Ardennes and into Belgium inches forward as we also try to juggle defensive positions in the surrounding areas. Our positions near Netherlands feel extremely vulnerable right now.

Further south Italy continues the fight in French territory. I'm not sure how long Italy will last if the fighting enters Northern Italy.

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Germany is forced to retreat from Riga to shorten our defensive front, as the Soviets advance from every direction. The Axis air force is almost a non-contributor at this point in the war. The clock is ticking slowly, 22 more months to go to stay alive and force peace terms (win condition).

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In the West things remain sour, the slow but steady advance through the Ardennes was abruptly halted as the Allies are attempting a major offensive through Belgium and our offensive force was redirected with defensive orders to halt it. At the same time our defensive positions south of Luxembourg were destroyed exposing our HQs of which 1 was destroyed in addition to other units. The Allies are prepared to advance on the Westwall.

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Axis income, every point has counted right now.

Three sub (in picture) attempted to sneak back into port after the Axis have begun evacuating Norway. All 3 were spotted in destroyed by the Allies immediately.

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Atomic Bombs.

No worries of that over here in Europe, I suppose that is probably because of all the POWs. (Any explanation will do lol)

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August 2, 1945

The War Map. The Axis still control alot of territory, but is the Allies closing in on Berlin that is the real issue. For that reason we are pulling back from most of our outreaching territorial possessions and sending forces back to mainland Europe.

[FOARP]

Question: the base game has (I think) events that fire to give you Volkssturm units if invaded. Is there anything like that in Fall Weiss? Is there any added advantage to withdrawing into the Reich beyond shorter lines closer to your main centres of industry?

PS - personally, I’d say this is a win for you if you can even survive the next 6-12 months.

[John B.]

Very exciting AAR! I wonder if you can hold on to the end. It appears there are a lot of Italian units in Greece. Is that the navy or can they be redeployed?

[Elessar2]

Regia Marina I'd guess. Am surprised that the Allies didn't try any Med adventures, tho in the end they really didn't need to.

[crispy131313]

ORIGINAL: FOARP

Question: the base game has (I think) events that fire to give you Volkssturm units if invaded. Is there anything like that in Fall Weiss? Is there any added advantage to withdrawing into the Reich beyond shorter lines closer to your main centres of industry?

PS - personally, I’d say this is a win for you if you can even survive the next 6-12 months.

There are some units that trigger when retreating, they are not significant enough though that I would retreat to receive them. Among these are a few half strength German Infantry Corps which will deploy at Berlin when certain cities are re-captured by the Allies, Romanian Engineers when Ukraine is being re-captured, and when the Germans are really on the brink some Naval Infantry Divisions can be triggered by stripping the ports of supply. The only main one is when Paris falls Germany can spend a large sum of MPP to attempt an Offensive in Western Europe, but it really hampers the ability to reinforce the fronts as in this game is was at a cost of half my MPP roughly for 3 turns.

The real advantage of withdrawing is scorched earth and buying some time. When my supply was very disrupted and/or an Army Group was at risk it was better to retreat and regroup rather then a front collapsing and the Allies make huge territorial gains unopposed.