FITE2 EARLY START Loveman2 vs thomasharvey

[golden delicious]

ORIGINAL: thomasharvey

T145 11/8/42 After four turns of mud there is not much change. The Germans are holding. The Romanians and Italians in the south seem on their own. The Hungarian pocket is getting smaller. The winter offensive will start on turn 147 so things should change then.

This really illustrates the issues with big events occurring at fixed times in large scenarios.
1) What mud? The Soviet offensive was working its way through Romania, but that has to stop because of the first snow falling on warm ground outside Moscow? It doesn't make any sense
2) Presumably you now get a big shock bonus because it's Winter and the Soviets love fighting during Winter, but if anything you're now the one at the end of a long supply line, and no-one is adding vodka to their tank engines to keep the fuel from freezing. On home turf, I would expect Winter to be no problem at all for the Germans.

[thomasharvey]

T147 11/15/42 Here is a view of the northern front before the first combat. The area taken is with movement only eliminating his rear guards.

[thomasharvey]

T147 11/15/42 Here is a view from space before resolution of combat.

[thomasharvey]

T147 11/15/42 Here is a view of the northern front after all attacks. I think the Axis may have more defensive lines all the way to Berlin. Not many defenders were destroyed in this first turn of the winter offensive.

[thomasharvey]

T147 11/15/42 Here is a view from space after all attacks. Berlin is still a long way off.

[thomasharvey]

T148 11/18/42 Here is a view from space. The Germans pulled back again. I have surrounded some of the rear guards to destroy them next turn so there are no survivors.

Will the Germans continue their pull back until the Russians lose their elevated ground effects? They should, at least for the next two turns.

[thomasharvey]

T149 11/22/42 The first turn of the winter offensive shows a new German line. Berlin is now in view but Warsaw is not yet taken. There is still a long way to go if the Germans fight hard in front of Berlin. In the South I plan to form a massive pocket around the Italian forces and the Rumanians.

[thomasharvey]

T151 11/29/42 Here is a view of the Italian and northern Rumanian fronts. They are being destroyed in place from all directions.

[thomasharvey]

T151 11/29/42 Here is a view from space. Berlin is circled in blue as well as a gap in the Axis line in the south. The small white dots along the front were the attacks made by tanks, artillery and air power.

[thomasharvey]

T152 12/2/42 The Red Army is officially in Hungary.

[thomasharvey]

T155 12/13/42 The Germans now have a line from the Baltic all the way to Hungary.

[thomasharvey]

T155 12/13/42 The Italians have been eliminated. The Rumanians are now being mopped up.

[thomasharvey]

T157 12/20/42 Just when the Germans built a strong line from the Baltic to Hungary, a large breakthrough has taken place just north of Warsaw.

[thomasharvey]

T157 12/20/42 Here is a close up of Warsaw. Note the Soviet active rail line all the way to Warsaw. This will enable the Soviet offensive units extend into the Reich.

[thomasharvey]

T158 12/23/42 Here is a view from space showing the German line has broken and in full retreat.

[thomasharvey]

T158 12/23/42 Here is another view from space showing the southern front. The Rumanian front is nearly in a pocket.

[thomasharvey]

T158 12/23/42 Here is a close view of the Baltic front. The Germans will need to set up a new line before Berlin.

[thomasharvey]

T160 12/30/42 Here is a view from space for the last turn of 1942.

[thomasharvey]

T160 12/30/42 Here is a closer view of the Baltic front. Danzig is now in Soviet control. Berlin is now in sight!

[thomasharvey]

T161 1/3/43 Here is a view of the new line protecting the approach to Berlin