When to pocket/encircle?

[MarkShot]

How do you decide the trade off between destroying RA units, and time lost to do it?

Thanks.

[Jango32]

Turn 1 and turn 2. After that, WW1 grind.

[AbeMuc]

Turn 1 and turn 2. After that, WW1 grind.

I disagree on this one. Pockets and encirclements are standard procedures well into autumn 1941. And later in Spring 1942.

[Jango32]

Admittedly it depends on the opponent, but the more experienced the Soviet opponent the more pockets become a recipe for disaster for the Axis. WW1 grinding though is guaranteed to work and usually lead to at least 150k Soviet casualties per turn.

[Jango32]

Here is an example against an experienced Soviet opponent (not my game, it is Veterin's) who expected pockets and instead got WW1 frontal grinding:



This is turn 57.