Moscow in a Minute: ToxicThug11 (Axis) vs KB2003 (Soviets) Grand Campaign

[ToxicThug11]

Good afternoon everyone.

Today I will be sharing my German experience in WITE2. There are no rules. Let's start with the T1 Pocket:

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We manage to pocket Bialystok & herd the units in the south into a pocket. Roughly 1 million men are in these pockets.

The important thing to note: Most motorized and panzers in 2nd Panzer Army have not moved. This means instead of wasting CPP and fatiguing our tanks, we will be able to use admin movement next turn, which means more CPP and less fatigue for the capture of Smolensk.

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Total Soviet losses for Turn 1 & 2 are 1 million men, 6000 AFVs.

[ToxicThug11]

The enemy temporarily encircles and counterattacks our Panzers.

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"The shaft of the Arrow had been feathered with one of its own plumes. “Alas!” it cried, as it died, “We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction.”

This foolhardy counterattack allows me to pocket many important Soviet divisions, including their best starting tanks, giving me heaps of captured trucks.

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Army Group South encircles many enemy formations with ease.

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A massive pocket is herded nearby Veliky Luki which will prove to be a major headache, tying down an entire corps as the enemy breaks the encirclement into rough terrain throughout turn 3 and 4. It also means that we must shield the FBD towards Leningrad.

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[ToxicThug11]

Two panzers are dispatched towards the Gomel area, routing an army & preparing to seize the city.

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This will undoubtedly unhinge the Soviet Southwestern Front, however it is two less panzer divisions for the Battle of Moscow. I decided that it is preferable to encircle the Pripyat Marshes and advance towards Chernigov & Kursk, in order to continue our initiative on all fronts.

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The Battle for Vyazma will be a short one. The majority of the Western Front has been destroyed & is reforming. Rain begins to fall on the path of Army Group Center, and with rain comes mud.

[ToxicThug11]

Turn 5:

Army Group North, though starved of supply to favour AGC and preserve trucks, finally smashes through powerful Soviet forts in rather rough terrain. Although reaching Luga T5 is not impressive, we have not exposed our units to unnecessary AFV and truck attrition.

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The ultimate goal is to butcher 200,000 Soviets per turn to prevent them from forming a coherent defense at any point in the frontline.

I detail the next phase of my operation (the capture of Novgorod and Vyazma) to the General Staff.

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The Soviets got very unfortunate in a series of battles, mostly in Turn 3 / 4 / 5 where their Tank reserves activated to be utterly smashed by German motorized divisions.

In other battles, simple scouting attacks led to Soviet tanks shattering like egg shells in trade for a handful of Panzer 35(C).

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[ToxicThug11]

Despite calls to "rest", our General Staff forgets that the Fuhrer knows best.

Attachable RFSS Brigades, L.A.H Brigade, Grossdeutschland, the Fuhrer Begleit, SS Batallions, all Pioneers, all Werfers, our rested Stukas, bombers, and the Special Purpose Battalion have been waiting their entire lives for this moment (with 100CPP).

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At Vyazma, the enemy attempts to form a coherent defense which is frustrated by severe attacks. Vyazma is seized with massive Werfer and Pioneer support!

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Army Group North begins an extremely complicated assault on prepared Soviet infantry. Infantry regiments with SS mountaineers attached brave the rough terrain and break up Soviet forward positions, Panzer regiments begin smashing weakened Soviet formations up to Novgorod. Finally, upon reaching Novgorod, we assign all available assault pioneers, heavy artillery & werfers to crack open the city.

There are two motorized divisions at Tallinn which force the Soviets to keep a presence along the entire frontline, spreading the Soviets thin. These divisions are rested and two infantry divisions will soon catch up, fully rested and prepared to breach the line there.

[ToxicThug11]

We have liquidated 1.7 million Soviets due to their forward defense and tendency to counterattack our Panzers. This has yielded many trucks and will provide the bread and butter for our capture of Moscow.

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This turn, Kiev is seized aswell as Cherkassy which will allow us to proceed towards Kharkov. The Soviets are being whittled down. The capture of major cities so early will dent Soviet manpower production massively.

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[ToxicThug11]

Operation Eisenhammer commences and proceeds to smash more Soviets on the road to Moscow.

Kaluga is seized.

Facing the Wehrmacht is three combined fronts forming on a defensive line tethered to the Nara river line, which bars the road to Moscow. The Moscow Front consists of an estimated 1,150,000 men, 2,000 tanks and 7,000 guns. The VVS has suffered appalling losses of some 12,000 aircraft, however an estimated 1,200 Soviet planes are now at Moscow since massive material was withdrawn from the South to defend Moscow. These are the cream of the Soviet crop, MiG fighter interceptors, LaGG-3 fighters and Yak-1 Fighters aswell as IL-2 comprise the bulk of Soviet air strength at Moscow.

The Luftwaffe does NOT control the sky wherever it appears and is taking rather heavy losses. Nonetheless Stuka and bomber groups flies many sorties, destroying many artillery pieces and disrupting Soviet defensive efforts.

Dovator's Cavalry raiding causes awful headaches, lunging towards our rail lines and attempting to sow panic in AGC. Many important Infantry divisions must be diverted to halt these suicidal Cavalry raids before they become a real threat for our supply.

The next few turns will be crucial in deciding the fate of Moscow and the German army.

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Another minor pocket is liquidated in the South, we continue our advance unhindered towards Kharkov until a huge routed Soviet army is spotted by recon. We divert to pocket this.

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[ToxicThug11]

Minor offensives are launched by Army Group North, with the ultimate goal of routing Soviet armies and the intention of (eventually) encircling small concentrations of heavily dug in Soviet divisions. The original plan to seize the ports supplying Leningrad are simply not possible due to increasing Soviet reserves and horrendous terrain, so we instead focus on minor encirclements and cracking Soviet divisions. The enemy wisely relocated some Southwestern & Southern Front divisions to Leningrad, so fighting is hard fought, especially as rain will come again next turn.

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Logistics here are especially terrible and we rest our mobile formations. The Bolsheviks wisely uses Cavalry to raid and force me to divert forces away from actually useful tasks. He has already destroyed two depots here. AP expenditure is becoming an issue.

Later recon also reveals that the cities on the outskirts of Leningrad are only defended by what seems to be unready Naval brigades and other assorted second rate troops. This will be decisive in cutting off the city & dooming all Soviets on the left side of the Neva.

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1st Panzer Army lunges towards Kharkov, discovering a Fortified Unit beginning to entrench and a brigade which are swiftly shattered by our pioneers.

The last hope of a coherent defense in the South is encircled.

Vorwärts nach Osten, du stürmend' Heer!

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[ToxicThug11]

Soviet defenses stiffen on the Nara river. Recon reveals a defense three to five divisions deep towards Moscow.

We decide to drive further north, where the defenses are a bit thinner, on towards Kalinin, and although this will severely stress our truck fleet and logistics...

There is method in this madness.

The weakened Motorized Regiment holding the swamp nearby Rzhev will act as bait. If the Soviets attempt to break out of the encirclement with their units from Rzhev, they will be surely exhausted and stuck, considering that they must deliberately attack over a river. Our infantry division is set to reserve and a Flak 88 SU assigned to the Motorized Regiment.

The trap is laid, now we wait.

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[ToxicThug11]

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The Soviets have taken the bait! They lose most of their AFVs in the assault, become disrupted and exhausted from Stuka strafing, and you can visibly see their CV drop, despite more divisions being on Rzhev now. For a cost of 20 guns and a few trucks, this Soviet "victory" will lock him in place at Rzhev.

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Note that these are not our final positions.

[Beethoven1]

It is worth noting that temp motorization used here means that this game is not really reflective of balance in any games where temp motorization is house ruled out (or limited to not include movement into enemy territory).

[jasonbroomer]

The Axis seem to be all over the Soviets, lovely to see!

[ToxicThug11]

Fuhrer Directive 35:

1.

Army Group North is ordered to complete the liquidation of the Leningrad Front immediately. To this end, specialist pioneers, elite battalions and heavy siege guns have been allocated to this area. 3,000 guns of all calibers are ready to use.

a.

The deadline for the capture of Leningrad is September 1st. Upon the capture of Leningrad and destruction of the Soviet Leningrad Front, 4th Panzer Army and 17th Army are to relocate to Moscow.

b.

Supply priority of Army Group North shall be increased to allow them to achieve their goals with ease.

2.

Army Group South shall, after destroying all remaining Soviet Armies nearby Kharkov, relinquish the 1st Panzer Army and 6th Army to support the drive on Moscow.

a.

Army Group South is advised to move with caution and take great care to rest as they advance upon Stalino & Sevastapol.

b.

Attention to superb supply & not wearing out truck fleet (unnecessary movement / advances)



Upon completion of all objectives, Operation Typhoon shall commence and deal a knockout blow to the Soviet Union.

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[ToxicThug11]

Operation Kugelblitz commences to the sound of thousands of guns. Infantry expertly pushes aside heavily fortified Soviets & 4th Panzer Army exploits to the fullest. Finally, the Leningrad outskirts are reached.

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The enemy did not seem to expect us striking so deep so fast.

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Walter Model takes command of all Siege Mortars, Werfers and Pioneers in the area and prepares to commit all available Infantry DIvisions to Leningrad.

Tactical Recon reveals two moderately fortified, medium strength Soviet divisions in Leningrad.

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Leningrad falls due to clever Pioneers, liberal usage of artillery & STUKA support. Finally, it seems, we are on the road to a swift victory in the east.

The Fuhrer awards Walter Model the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds for the capture of Leningrad. Superior rations & supply has been dispatched to Army Group North as a reward for slugging through horrendous weather and tenacious Soviet resistance.

[ToxicThug11]

The Fuhrer orders Operation Typhoon planning to begin.

It is important for proper supply and blizzard shelter that the cities of Tula, Rzhev and Kalinin are captured, along with Torzhok & Vishny Volchek. This will allow us to defend a reduce line along rivers & rough terrain. This rough terrain will require only regiments to hold instead of full divisions.

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Ewald Von Kleist - 1st Panzer Army is ordered to take positions at Tula and prepare for a crossing

Heinz Guderian - 2nd Panzer Army is ordered to cut the Zagorsk rail line out of Northern Moscow

Hermann Hoth - 3rd Panzer Army is ordered to cut the Noginsk rail line going east out of Moscow

Erich Von Manstein - 4th Panzer Army is ordered to act as a strategic reserve to be committed at the Fuhrer's approval

[ToxicThug11]

The situation at Rzhev is dire. Despite the newsreels of a victorious Wehrmacht shattering all Soviet resistance, the Wehrmacht is being worn down. Half of all trucks are being repaired. One third of all panzers are being repaired. 25% of the Wehrmachts AFVs have been destroyed in the savage fighting for Leningrad, Kharkov & Rzhev.

Some divisions sit at 20% toe. The 19th Panzer Division has lost half of its men and is down to 30 working AFVs.

Significant Soviet divisions have been tied down at Rzhev, consisting of three full armies, with Cavalry preparing to launch diversionary raids on our supply & communication lines from Smolensk and Vyazma.

With the utter collapse of the Soviet Southwestern Front, we must be cautious of the fact that all newly raised Soviet divisions & material will be committed to Moscow.

Once Leningrad falls, the remainder of the Soviets shall retreat through the heavy woods back towards Moscow. We have no option but to allow this, as pursuing them would be futile in the horrendous weather and terrain on shaky supply.

Therefore, we must be prepared for 2 million men at Moscow, 22,000 guns & 4000 AFVs.

[ToxicThug11]

Through enormous efforts, Kalinin is captured & the Soviet army is reduced by approximately 360,000 men, 5000 guns & 500 AFVs.

Despite the previous orders to carefully preserve our truck fleet, Heinz Guderian orders the immediate capture of Torzhok and Vishny Volchek by his 2nd Panzer Army.

While planning stated that this should be left to the infantry, three Soviet armies are now trapped between armoured pincers and Infantry advancing up the Valdai Hills. In the next week, Rzhev should fall & the entire Northwestern Front shall be destroyed.

[ToxicThug11]

Army Group South reports a lack of organized resistance as the Battles of Kursk & Kharkov draw to an end. With the victories at Leningrad and Kharkov, it is time to get in position for an assault on Moscow.

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While Stalino is heavily fortified and has two armies defending it, OKH decides to focus on the repair of rail in the area and issues a "halt" order. Overzealous generals in the past had "charged" into the cities of Zaporizhzhia and Dnepropetrovsk, getting cut off and becoming torn up by counterattacks. An advance on Stalino will resume sometime in October.

1st Panzer Army is dispatched to Tula while FBDs begin repairing the rail to Kursk, with the final goal of repairing the rail line to Orel and Tula. This means that Kiev should be able to send freight to AGC.

Though slow, our advance into Crimea is unstoppable.

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[ToxicThug11]

Once a ring of steel is formed around Moscow, Army Group South shall (depending on weather) advance on the industrial powerhouse of Stalino. Our new frontline will be centered around the defense of dual track railways and roads. Force multipliers like light woods, rivers, cities & urban will be taken full advantage of. In some areas, we have already reached this frontline. Divisions are ordered to halt on this line and begin entrenching for the winter.

[tm1]

Once a ring of steel is formed around Moscow, Army Group South shall (depending on weather) advance on the industrial powerhouse of Stalino. Our new frontline will be centered around the defense of dual track railways and roads. Force multipliers like light woods, rivers, cities & urban will be taken full advantage of. In some areas, we have already reached this frontline. Divisions are ordered to halt on this line and begin entrenching for the winter.

@ToxicThug11 you have been reported for having excellent artwork done on your maps

In all seriousness they look great, as for your Blitzkrieg offensive, impressive most impressive particularly capturing Leningrad, I look forward to seeing how the battle of Moscow progresses, it looks for all accounts a forgone conclusion.

Hoping to see you trap a million Red Army Troops in this " Ring Of Steel ", The Germans trapped that many in the Vyazma encirclement in late 41.