Soviet Breakthrough

[Loammi]

Hi Guys, Merry Christmas. Need some help with Sov breakthrough.I'm an experienced player but never been able to achieve a clear breakthrough against German lines, only been able to push them back. I build 3 inf corp stacks, 3 art stacks with mech, tank and cav in ready to exploit but can only achieve retreats and shattering sometimes. Often can attack with 2x3 inf corp stacks against a single spot when the angle of attack is right.

What's the secret sauce to bust open the German front for '41 style sweeping attacks in '44 for the Sov's?

[JoeLewis]

In my experience you will rarely get the Germans to mass rout and create huge breakthroughs ala 1941. German units are still very strong in terms of morale and equipment even as their manpower declines. You are better off launching frequent attacks all along the line and trying to encircle a few divisions at a time wherever you see a salient or bulge into your lines.

[Seminole]

The key is in guiding the retreat to the extent possible of enemy units.

Check out my last AAR and the Winter Offensive to see it in action, but basically when you force a retreat you want to be able to advance a unit that will guide the retreat of the adjacent unit before you attack it (units try to retreat away from any contact with the enemy).

This will allow you to create a larger breech in the enemy lines that exploitation units can then traverse without the ZOC movement penalties.

Soviet MPs are limited, and their enemy ZOC costs are high, so you're lucky to have a unit that can move four hexes into enemy terrain.

Keep in mind that cavalry pay -1 normal ZOC costs, so they excel as units to squeeze into the cracks so your next attack will force the enemy the direction you want, instead of falling back in a broad line.

[Loammi]

Thanks guys, good feedback.