For the TsAAR! - A veteran Russia-only AAR

[FOARP]

Hello! After a break away from SC I'm doing a new one of my single-country AARs highlighting the flexibility of SC's war game system. You can see here for my previous Serbia-only AAR and here for my Austria-Hungary one.

The rules for a single-country AAR are simple: in as much as is possible, I'll let the AI control the other countries. Diplomacy and convoys are obvious exceptions to this rule, as are situations where allied units come on to my front. The difficulty level is set at "Veteran" which gives the AI quite a big (but not overwhelming) advantage.

In this AAR I'll be playing as Tsarist Russia in the 1914 campaign. My plan is basically the historical one - a mass offensive into Eastern Prussia and Galicia with the goal of drawing away as many Austro-Hungarian and German troops as possible. The difference here is I'm going to try to simply encircle strong-points rather than mass-assaulting them directly.

[FOARP]

8 August 1914, East Prussian Front - The advance goes smoothly, the main point of concentration being the advance on Marienburg with subsidiary attacks aimed at encircling Gumbinnen and Johannisburg. Of course advancing in this fashion, going around strong points without reducing them, makes me vulnerable to a counter-attack, but I'm gambling that the Germans simply don't have the troops for such an effort with their massive offensive in France.

[FOARP]

8 August, 1914, Galician Front - The Russian advance goes well, with Tarnopol and the Galician Oil Fields already in Russian hands. Diversionary attacks are also made near Krakow and Przemysl, whilst a Russian corps has also reach the gates of Lemberg whilst another threatens Kolomea and Stanislaw. This is certainly an attack that the Austrian Emperor cannot ignore!

[FOARP]

22 August, 1914, East Prussian Front - German forces hastily cobbled together a defensive position near Marienburg but a couple of lucky attacks on the German Reserve infantry corps holding the line to the East of the town broke the German position enabling Russian forces to cut off Eastern Prussia from the rest of the Reich. Meanwhile the offensives around Gumbinnen and Johannesburg also continue well.

What can the Germans do if they lose Eastern Prussia? But whilst the forces entrenched within East Prussia remain in place the Russians are highly vulnerable to a counter-attack, so let's not count our chickens before they hatch!

[FOARP]

22 August, 1914, Galician Front - The Russians have now encircled Lemberg, destroying a weak Austrian infantry corps in the process. Russian forces stand along the river Dnestr: I have the option of building a defensive line here or crossing the Dnestr to attack the Carpathian passes. Supplies are likely to be problematic without good infrastructure links across the river but I decide it's worth applying the maximum pressure.

Austrian forces have staged a single-corps counterattack into Poland occupying Radom. This is unfortunate but my forces quickly cut them off and the net result is likely to be an Austrian corps permanently destroyed.

[FOARP]

5 September, 1914, East Prussian Front - This turn has primarily been about consolidation and digging in, though Russian forces destroyed a German HQ unit near Allenstein. No sign yet of the feared German counter-attack.

[FOARP]

5 September, 1914, Galician Front - A Russian attack on Tarnow is beaten off with heavy losses, Radom remains in Austrian hands but probably not for much longer. The crossing of the Dnestr has been carried out and my forces are now dug in on the east bank with the river behind them.

[Platoonist]

Having solely played the Russians many times in War in Europe I will be following this thread with interest. Hopefully your AI Allies won't let you down on the Western Front.

Udachi! [8D]

[FOARP]

19 September, 1914, East Prussian Front - The Russians have captured Marienburg and have begun reducing the isolated garrisons of Allenstein, Johannesburg, and Gumbinnen. A strong line has now been built up along the Vistula delta opposite Danzig that should hold against anything but the most determined German attack. Next turn should see the fall of at least two German garrisons.

[FOARP]

19 September, 1914, Galician Front - The Austrian corps encircled at Radom has been destroyed. On the other side of the balance-sheet Russia forces have been pushed back from Tarnow and Krakow, and a German advance threatens Lodz. Resistance seems to be stiffening in this sector, and the advent of substantial German forces cannot be far away.

[FOARP]

ORIGINAL: Platoonist

Having solely played the Russians many times in War in Europe I will be following this thread with interest. Hopefully your AI Allies won't let you down on the Western Front.

Udachi! [8D]

Spaseba! Nancy has already fallen and Verdun may also fall, but at least Belgrade remains Serb. I've got to think that taking East Prussia away from Germany should slow them down a bit.

[FOARP]

10 October, 1914, East Prussian Front - Allenstein and Johannesburg have fallen, Gumbinnen is close to falling, and Tilsit and Memel are now isolated. Along the Vistula Russian forces have been beaten back near Thorn but the main line still holds, though significant German reinforcements are now arriving on this front. The game is still a race between capturing the German fortresses of the area and a German counter-attack that can only be a matter of weeks away.

[FOARP]

10 October, 1914, Galician Front - Tarnow has fallen! But on the other hand two Russian infantry corps have been destroyed in counter-attacks in the Dnestr bend and Russian forces have been driven back again near Krakow. I am considering a withdrawal from the western bank of the Dnestr to have the advantage of the river-line, though in the end this means a longer defensive line. German forces are now present in significant numbers of the Austrian front and further counter-attacks can be expected.

I have diverted the three mountain corps of the Russian army to the Caucasus. Turkish war entry may be expected any moment now and they will likely be needed there.

In terms of technology, I have added one chit on trench warfare, one on infantry weapons. As of yet I have no artillery or artillery research, both of which are desperately needed for next year.

[Platoonist]

Seems like you have good momentum towards "Mitteleuropa" so far.

I know the naval war is something of a sideshow for Mother Russia, but do you have any offensive plans for the Baltic and Black Sea fleets or will you be keeping them close to home?

[FOARP]

ORIGINAL: Platoonist

Seems like you have good momentum towards "Mitteleuropa" so far.

I know the naval war is something of a sideshow for Mother Russia, but do you have any offensive plans for the Baltic and Black Sea fleets or will you be keeping them close to home?

Mitteleuropa was the German proposal, I'd rather have the Tsar's Slavic union!

But I think you may be right - the Germans have momentum on their side despite my victories.

EDIT: regarding the navy - no, my concentration will be entirely on land unless a major target of opportunity presents itself. The naval war just costs too much for too little gain.

[FOARP]

7 November, 1914, East Prussian Front - The pace of the war seems to be slowing. The German Corps encircled at Gumbinnen has been destroyed and that entrenched south of Johannesburg is on its last legs. Including the garrison corps at Tilsit the eventual haul of German units destroyed in the this action is likely to be five infantry corps and an HQ. I would be happier about this if it were clear that I will ever be able to afford to re-form any of the Russian corps I have lost so far but at present the combined requirements of research and reinforcement of existing units absorbs all of the my resources.

No sign yet of the feared German counter-attack.

[FOARP]

7 November, 1914, Galician Front - A significant German counterattack is now forming towards Lodz. My forces are dug in and at least not totally weakened, but it remains to be seen how the Russian infantry man withstands the German attack.

[FOARP]

5 December, 1914, East Prussian Front - Like a thunderbolt the German forces launched a determined attack, destroyed the dug-in corps holding Marienburg, crossed the Vistula and captured the town. I am now sceptical about the ability of the Russian forces to stand up to German attacks - we may have to consider withdrawals to preserve Russian forces whilst they are upgraded and refitted. Tilsit and the fortifications south of Johannesburg remain in German hands.

[FOARP]

5 December, 1914, Galician Front - Stanislaw has fallen into Russian hands but elsewhere the Germans are appearing in force along the line. I am sure of the Russian forces being a match for the Austrians but less sure that they are a match for the Germans.

[FOARP]

2 January, 1915, East Prussia - A new year has dawned but brings mixed fortunes for the Russian forces. The German advance destroyed another Corps near Marienburg and further withdrawals seem the only viable option. Tilsit and the Johnnesburg fortress remain surrounded but their garrisons still hold out. I intend to do the utmost to prevent the Germans relieving Konigsburg but breaking into the fortress seems impossible without artillery that my forces do not yet have.