In the Eastern front, combats occurred only in Ukraine and, surprisingly, in Finland. For now, the front line is holding up, but it is quite fragile in Belarus where Soviet troops have probably recovered enough to soon launch an offensive.
In other news, the defense of the Homeland against Allied bombers is getting very difficult to sustain. For now, all fighters’ units are grounded, in no shape to interpose themselves. In Norway, a local offensive pushed back British troops. The attack was made only to gain a better position in this very static front. At sea, the Azul Group is now again hunting defending Spain’s honor…
During the period, two panzergrenadier corps were lost, one in Spain and one in Eastern Poland. The situation in the East is turning into a rout. The utter chaos at the front will explain why some battle maps were lost in the retreat when command cars were ambushed and therefore our troop’s positions can not be shown explicitly; OKH is trying to figure the positions out.
In the East, no more Axis troops are left in Belarus’ 1939 borders as all retreated into Poland and Lithuania. Riga and Tallinn were evacuated and OKH is trying to plug a hole between Lithuania and Warsaw. The XXXIII Infantry Corps, almost encircled, decided it was not worth trying to go around Soviet troops and tried instead to push West through them, but failed. OKW now considers the corps lost as it had to be abandoned. Some ground attack aircrafts were also lost when Soviet spearhead troops overran their airfield.
In Ukraine, the retreat continues and become even more urgent with the developments in Poland. In Finland, the government removed all the troops still in recognised Soviet territory and from now on will only defend its 1939 borders. Rumors has it that Helsinki is trying to negotiate something with Moscow through its embassy in Stockholm.
In Spain, American troops broke through the Axis line in the North of Madrid. A small counterattack managed to plug the hole, for now. After much consideration and very strong and vocal interventions by Franco, OKW decided not to evacuate Madrid just yet. OKW might regret its decision…
In Greece, the front is still stable, but Axis troops have a hard time covering all the routes to Sofia.
In other news Italy was bombed both in the South and the industrial North, as was France. Berlin also refused to provide extra economic aid to Italy for its triumphant but battered fleet. Only oil is still sent to allied countries with the exception of Spain, also getting some material lend-lease.
In Spain the Americans again pushed thought the line and again were pushed back, partially at least, but not before destroying the 201st Security Division that had second line duties. Sadly, for the division, the second line became the only line for a while.
Further South, the 50th VolksGrenadier Corps near Madrid was also destroyed when the British retook the previously lost terrain. Axis attacks took back, again, the position. Like in all theatres, the Axis is waiting and hoping for the rainy season to start early.
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In Poland and Eastern Prussia, the Soviets seemed to have stopped major battles probably to recover, destroying only the already encircled XXXIII Infantry Corps. However, Soviet troops did rush through the gap in between Prussia and Warsaw, forcing a repositioning of German troops further West. For a short while OKH considered a counterattack to try to cut-off the Red Army spearhead but decided against it. The chances of success were probably low and the chance to keep it closed even lower. But the chances of putting German troops at great risk, were quite high.
In Ukraine the retreat continues, even Odessa, the last major Soviet city still in Axis hands, was evacuated. OKW was worried that the Soviet units now Northwest of the Pripyat marshes might turn South to-cut off the retreat in Ukraine, but OKH reassured OKW that this was now under control. Also, the Soviets are probably more interested to continue West or to try to pocket our troops in Eastern Prussia. Sadly, the 60th VolksGrenadier Corps had to be abandoned in the marshes, not able to retreat fast enough due to a shortage of trucks.
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In Greece, Axis troops, especially Bulgarian ones, are trying their best to slow down the Allies.
In other news, Italy was severely bombed again as were, more moderately, France and Germany. Germany’s garrison in France (and Benelux) is probably as its lowest since 1941, with about a third or so of units that where still there at the start of the year now sent in other theatres. However, Allied troops seem committed elsewhere, few are in the United Kingdom and the season will soon turn inclement for amphibious landings. And OKM is please to report the entry into production the type XXVI U-boat. OKW mumbled something about it been nice but too late…
Looks like you've done a good job of turning Spain into WWI. I'm impressed at the magnitude of the Soviet advance. Will it take him a couple of turns to repair the rail lines to get supplies flowing?
John B. wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 12:21 am
Looks like you've done a good job of turning Spain into WWI. I'm impressed at the magnitude of the Soviet advance. Will it take him a couple of turns to repair the rail lines to get supplies flowing?
My guess is that he needs the rail repaired and also his troop were probably tired (and even more so because of the rail been too far). I can only hope I can still slow the tide long enough for rain to kick in. Two to four turns depending on our respective luck! Quite intense now, but I have (and I hope he has too) quite a lot of fun.
Let's see if the Axis dam can hold the Allied water...
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Its pretty cool to see how close to historical advances the Eastern Front is at this point. Looks like the USSR is a little behind in the south but almost right on target in the north/center.
Most of the action occurred in Spain and Greece with the Eastern front been abnormally quiet again. In the air, Italian and Germany industry was punished again, with Italy getting the brunt of the bombing. Italian industry is struggling to keep up especially in view of the disastrous year its land forces have had so far with around 20%, or maybe even more, of those forces been destroyed.
On the Balkan front, the Allies destroyed a Bulgarian division to link up again with most of their troops in Thessaloniki. However, a British armored corps remains isolated and cut-off from supply in Eastern Bulgaria. Axis forces in the area are not in shape to take advantage of the situation, but this should still slow down the enemy. Like in all sectors, the Axis hopes are for inclement weather soon.
In Spain, the Allies tried to cut-off Madrid from the North, but Axis units counterattacked and re-established the line by taking back the all-important hills near the city while Vichy North African authorities sent another division to Spain to help with port protection. However, Axis commanders in the area are mostly worried about the two American airborne corps identified near the front. Like in all sectors, the Axis hopes are for inclement weather soon.
In and near Poland, German troops are protecting Eastern Prussia and Central Poland trying to establish a coherent front line. A small counterattack pushed back two Soviet armies with the hopes that the Red Army might now either have to launch it next attack directly with Tank or Mechanized Armies rather than softening up our defenses with their expendable riflemen conscripts, or attack on the better protected flanks instead of the more exposed central sector in between Prussia and Warsaw. Like in all sectors, the Axis hopes are for inclement weather soon.
In Ukraine, almost all units are now out of the country, wit the notable exception of the 60th VolksGrenadier Corps cut-off in the Pripyat Marshes and expected to surrender soon despite orders to the contrary. Retreating German corps are mostly joining in for the defense of Poland but a few will help the Hungarian and Romanians to defend the entrances to their respective countries. Overall, the Soviet Union, as defined by its 1941 borders, is now completely evacuated by Axis troops with very view exceptions. Like in all sectors, the Axis hopes are for inclement weather soon.
In Spain, another corps was lost in combat in Northern Spain. Our comrades in arms of the CII Corps were overrun by superior forces. In central Spain, Allied forces pushed back the 1st PanzerGrenadier and once again took back the all-important hills North of Madrid. However, the Italians Alpini held back their own position South of the city. Axis forces were in no position to mount a counterattack this time, especially with the weather turning for the worse. OKW also believes that Allied supply in Spain is at beast mediocre.
The decision to postpone the evacuation of Madrid, especially with the rain slowing down operations, was again… postponed, prompting a furious response by Rommel wondering if German war decisions were taken by Franco! Berlin did not answer.
In the East, on the Northern Polish Front, operations were very limited, but a strategic hill was taken by the Red Army in Eastern Prussia. OKH ordered some limited counterattacks in Poland proper to push back Soviet troops away from the main defense line.
Further South, on the Southern Polish Front, operations were also limited with only some small attacks occurring near the Polish-Hungarian border. In the Pripyat Marshes, the 60th VolksGrenadier Corps still holds. Rumor has it that the corps commander might be negotiating a surrender with local Soviet commanders. OKW ordered the Corps to fight to the end. OKH did not relay the order for some reasons…
