Here is an excerpt from comments of a German General Staff officer in the German Army transportation division. It was originally published in 1953 under the supervision of the US Army Historical dept.
B. Highways
1. Background of the Existing Highway Net
In 1941 European Russia did not have a highway net comparable to those in western European countries. The few roads which existed had only a limited capacity and apparently had not undergone any appreciable change in construction or lay-out during the past 100 year3, a condition due primarily to the relatively small demands of peacetime traffic. There were two types of roads:
a. the long, straight thoroughfares intended for commercial and military traffic, which usually followed the valleys of the larger rivers and connected cultural and industrial areas;
b. the unimproved roads which had developed through constant use of the same route connecting small settlements with nearby fields and forests,
2. Condition and Capacity of Roads
In contrast to the former Baltic States, where paved roads were common, the roads in European Russia had paved or asphalt surfacing only in and near large cities and industrial centers. The only road which had been bui1t according to western European standards and which was given constant maintenance was the Minsk - Moscow highway. The Germans designated this highway as Army Group Canter's "Rollbahn.”
The terms "Trakte" or "Greter" were used to refer to those through roads which cut straight across country and were often more than 100 yards wide. In summer these roads were extremely dusty. After a rain or thaw they became so mired that they could not be used by wheeled vehicles. Deep gullies cutting across these roads were particularly troublesome. Attempts to overcome the effects of weather by digging drainage ditches or by rolling were of little help because the roads did not have a hard top.
In an effort to overcome mud and snow the Germans often improvised wooden or ice roads. Wooden roads were constructed by laying down ribbons of planks spaced the width of the vehicular tread. Ice roads made use of frozen bodies of water or were fashioned by pouring water over deep snow. The use of corduroy roads and the tremendous amount of labor needed to construct them will be described later in this study.
Here is a location to the full study:
https://www.allworldwars.com/Comments-o ... onclusions
As for the scenario, the only improved road on the map of significant length is the Minsk to Moscow highway which would be accurate. There are improved roads in cities and industrial areas.
Comments on the current scenario:
The speed of the Russian advance could only occur with rapid supply from rail repair following the German summer of 41 offensive. This was possible following the total destruction of Army Group Center in the winter of 41 using the shock effects provided to the Red Army. I also ignored the southern areas as you can see in the postings. Both sides have very little recon ability so the Germans are in the dark about where the Russian reserves are. Only a few token Russians were in the entire south for the first year of the war. All power was directed towards Minsk and beyond.
In the summer of 42 the Russian offensive was paused due to more shock effects provided to the German Army. I was planning to finish off the Germans with a final winter of 42 offensive using more shock provided to the Red Army. However, a problem occurred. I forgot to trigger the theater option of the 42 winter offensive on the first turn it was available. I thought maybe I lost it all but the scenario information seems to indicate it is available for 2 turns. So, I triggered it on the second turn it was available. Only some of the effects of the 42 winter offensive were started. I had an increase in supply radius along with an increase is supply stockpile. Two "140% chits" were listed as additional theater options and the German Army was in shock on the first turn of this winter offensive by 80%. The big problem was there was no other Russian positive shock that was advertised in the documentation. There are supposed to be many turns of positive shock similar to the 41 winter offensive but there were none other that the two "chits."
On the next turn I triggered the first chit thinking maybe that would trigger the other shock turns but NO! It did trigger one turn at 140% but none on subsequent turns. The German army smartly withdrew just before I could use the 140% turn! I got nothing significant on that first turn. So now I knew there was just the one Chit left and nothing more related to shock. The German army recovered from 80% shock in one turn as advertised.
So now I had to do something!! I decided to keep this secret until now hoping the German Army would at least be intimidated by shock that might be there. I charged forward as best I could and tried to bypass German units. Finally the German Army noticed it could and did stop my advance. The German army dug in another strong line I could not break. So, as in the start of the first winter offensive, I packed in all the units I could from the entire map in several layers deep up against this strong German line and then executed my last chit. The German Army did not notice my 140% shock this time for some reason and stayed put. My last 140% shock attack was done with maximum effect including placing the Red Air Force forward on the previous turn. There were over 200 attacks, again destroying most of Army group center. The rivers and swamps were frozen which aided attacks and importantly movement.
In several turns my attacks and movement pushed the line well west of Minsk where I was stopped again. By then I had enough troops to send some to the south. My rail repair units got busy and went all the way to the black sea trying to stretch out the Axis forces. Rumania refused to surrender despite losing their surrender cities. The Rumanian Army will all have to be eliminated to the last unit. Rumania will probably not change sides nor will Bulgaria.
Now the Russian rail repair units are repairing 3 different lines to the west but they all go through Minsk before branching out. By avoiding rail repair south of the Pripyat marshes and having multiple victories on the battlefield against the German Army, Berlin is only 13 hexes away from the forward Red Army units in early 43.
Regarding having extra trucks in inventory, I do not think this made any difference. The bulk of the Russian units are rifle divisions and brigades. Those units are entirely on foot. There are no trucks at all in the inventory of infantry regiments. I had to make do with that.
Now, back to the front.
