Defending Greater Germania 1942 - Includes combined WitW and WitE2 AARs

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Western Front
Situation Report Dec 25th 1943 Turn 26
Army Group B

In France enemy air activity continues at a high level with bombing raids and air observation of Axis troop dispositions along the coastline, RAF Coastal Command was also in action despite bad weather in the channel, attacking Mercantile traffic operating from Brest to Le Havre.

Army Group B 26a.jpg (881.14 KiB) Viewed 957 times

WITW Air Battles WF 26c.jpg (108.85 KiB) Viewed 957 times

Cities Bombed 26.jpg (184.77 KiB) Viewed 957 times

WITW Industry.jpg (999.11 KiB) Viewed 957 times

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Italian Front
Situation Report Dec 25th 1943 Turn 26
Army Group C

On the Italian Front the Allied air attacks remain constant, the enemy focusing the bulk of there bombing of ground forces along the front, Armee and ArmeeKorps Headquarters were also targeted with large scale raids, the enemy also conducted air operations against Rome and airbases in the Umbria Region.

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WITW Air Battles IF 26.jpg (142.96 KiB) Viewed 956 times

WITW Air battles IF 26a.jpg (108.51 KiB) Viewed 956 times

15th Air Force this week also conducted more long range recon of Southern Hungary, enemy flights intercepted of fuel producing installations.

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Italian Front
Situation Report Dec 25th 1943 Turn 26
Army Group C

The Allies attacked once again trying to force a breakthrough along our defence line, at the Volturno River salient Balcks LXXXX ArmeeKorps and Feuerstein's LI Mountain ArmeeKorps taking the brunt of the attacks with both US 5th Army and Brit 8th Army launching 6 separate assaults, attacking South from Campobasso US VI Corps and I Can Corps armoured push was forced back by defenders heavily fortified in Mountainous terrain,a second assault by the Canadians resulted in the enemy taking heavy losses for no gains, the Allies followed up there third and fourth assaults this time with the Brit X Corps in support, the attacks this time on 3 fronts with massive artillery and armoured support make no gains.

Army Group C 26a.jpg (709.94 KiB) Viewed 955 times

At the same time Balcks men grimly hold there positions Feuerstein's ArmeeKorps comes under intense attack from 4 Allied Corps, massing over 130 000 men, ( McCreey's Brit X , Dawley's US VI , Bradley's US II and Allfrey's Brit V ) backed by over 500 AFV's our troops are hit on 3 fronts the enemy almost breaking through both sides taking heavy losses.

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The Allies continue to assault our lines as they open up attacks on the coast, lead by the Brit X Corps ( Mc Creery ) 75 000 men begin a direct push against the defenders at Grazzanise only to be thrown back by units of 2 SS Divisions guarding the town.
North of Gen Balck's men defending the Volturno defences units from both 5th Pz Armee and 10th Armee holding The Biferno River line are attacked the enemy attempts to force a crossing only to be pushed back again with heavy losses.

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Western Front / Italian Front
Situation Report Dec 1943

Battle Reports / Stat figures

IF Battles 26d.jpg (151.08 KiB) Viewed 954 times

WITW A Losses 26.jpg (200.95 KiB) Viewed 954 times

WITW Losses 26.jpg (198.44 KiB) Viewed 954 times

WITW Production 26.jpg (228.32 KiB) Viewed 954 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Dec 30th 1943 Turn 59
Army Group North

Still quiet in the extreme North 8th Armee remains on the defensive, the only activity for Axis forces is the arrival of the 132nd Inf div, on the enemy side Intel reports the movement of the Soviet 10th Tank Corps which has been redeployed to the area replacing 5th Tank Corps.

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South of the Rybinsk Reservoir FM Busch's 16th Armee remains entrenched behind its fortifications, no real fighting apart from a minor Soviet push, the Armee Commander impatient at the lack of activity while hearing news of Generaloberst Erich Brandenberger's victory at Vladimir where 9th Armee with Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland leading the way broke through Soviet lines and stormed into the City.

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Dec 30th 1943 Turn 59
Army Group North / Army Group Centre

With the fall of Vladimir 4th Armee now turns its attention towards Murom, Soviet forces are thin on the ground here at this moment, Soviet 4th and 8th Army's ( 1st Belorussian Front ) having very few troops able to offer any real resistance.

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On 4th Armee's Southern flank 3rd Pz Armee halts its own offensive towards Saransk as reports come in of Soviet troop concentrations advancing towards the front line, FM Reinhardt deciding to slow the advance until a clearer picture of the enemy
strength and deployment is known.

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Dec 30th 1943 Turn 59
Army Group Centre

The drive to Saratov by 2nd Armee remains on hold until both flanks can be cleared, Gen Salmuth's troops did capture the town of Morshansk unopposed and secured the large air base housed there, with the runways and base facilities intact the installation will be vital for forward air operations in the area.

At Voronezh the enemy has concentrated a large force including Tank and Mech units which are only 50 miles from the city, with 2nd Armee's line stretched to the limit, XXXXVII Pz Korps ( 3rd Pz Armee ) has been sent to reinforce the Infantry in case of a enemy breakthrough.

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Battles 58d.jpg (215.28 KiB) Viewed 936 times

2nd Armee in battle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyTCGm4 ... ex=36&t=5s

Losses 59.jpg (395.97 KiB) Viewed 936 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Dec 30th 1943 Turn 59
Army Group South

In The Donets region there is very little activity with Axis forces preparing defensive lines, there seems to be little movement on the enemy's part also.

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The fighting on 4th Pz Armee's line seems to have died down for now with Red Army troops pulling back, seeing this unfolding Gen Schlemmer takes advantage and orders his Panzer's to push North then West to link up with Gen Gollnick's XXXXII ArmeeKorps cutting off 1st Guards Tank Corps.

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Production 59.jpg (379.12 KiB) Viewed 933 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Dec 30th 1943 Turn 59
Army Group A

Axis forces launch a number of counterattacks along the front line and in the process manage to trap a Guards Corps and 28th Tank Corps,but the picture does not look good with more Soviet armour being brought forward against our Infantry defending the line.
There is a major concern amongst Von Kleist's field Commanders sighting lack of manpower, some units are down to less than 4000 men with very little in the way of replacements arriving to make up lost numbers, the Panzer Div's are in no better shape as they are being used to plug the constant gaps in the line which are occurring on a regular basis as the enemy mounts these continual pushes.
Tank numbers are dwindling away through combat attrition and general breakdowns, some Div's are not even combat fit and are being forced to pull back from front line service putting a further strain on the front line units, with winter weather continuing to hamper supplies reaching the front in large volumes as well as the daily partisan attacks on rail lines which cause havoc and further reduce the resupply of our forces.

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OB 59.jpg (307.83 KiB) Viewed 932 times

Supply 59.jpg (363.4 KiB) Viewed 932 times

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Western Front
Situation Report Jan 1st 1944 Turn 27
Army Group B

1944 begins with several bombing raids by Allied air fleets in the Schleswig - Holstein region, large raids with upwards of 200 Bombers hit Oil, Fuel and Heavy Industry Facilities, damage is extensive but the enemy also pays the price with large aircraft losses.
The German Capital is attacked but the raid is small with little damage done, our air units where out in force and able to counter the enemy flights despite bad weather.

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Air Battles WF 27.jpg (118.28 KiB) Viewed 737 times

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Western Front
Situation Report Jan 1st 1944 Turn 27
Army Group B

The Allies attacked German Industrial facilities housed close to the borders of The Low Countries, two large raids flying across Belgium and Holland struck Duesseldorf and Cologne, here to our fighters forces were able to engage effectively and disrupt the bombing raids which reduced damage to industry.

The enemy air operations in France were more subdued this week with just some sporadic raids on a few air bases which resulted in some loss of life but little else.

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Air Battles WF 27c.jpg (131.7 KiB) Viewed 732 times

Air Battles WF 27d.jpg (130.82 KiB) Viewed 732 times

Cities Bombed 27.jpg (89.35 KiB) Viewed 732 times

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Italian Front
Situation Report Jan 1st 1944 Turn 27
Army Group C

This air war in Italy remains intense Allied bombers launching large scale operations against our ground forces holding the front line, there were multiple attacks against troops defending the town of Termoli, the enemy once again attacking Command posts in an effort to disrupt communication lines, while we were able to offer some fighter support to ground forces, the bulk of the air units were diverted to air defence of Rome and surrounding air bases as the enemy conducted a number of diversionary operations to draw our air defences to protect airfields.

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Italian Front
Situation Report Jan 1st 1944 Turn 27
Army Group C

A quiet week with no enemy assaults against our front line, this despite the continual bombing of our forces manning defensive positions on The Volturno Line, Intel believes Allied forces are regrouping and or reorganising in an effort to find a way to break The Axis fortifications in Southern Italy, what is troubling for Commanders is reports from aerial recon patrols the presence of a large Naval Taskforce at Cantania and the arrival of number of Free French units on Sicily at the port of Trapani. Could this be a prelude to a seaborne attack behind our lines.

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WITW Weather 27.jpg (240.15 KiB) Viewed 729 times

WITW Losses 27.jpg (197.62 KiB) Viewed 729 times

WITW A Losses 27.jpg (199.3 KiB) Viewed 729 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 6th 1944 Turn 60
Army Group North

Another week of inactivity for 8th Armee despite only 20 miles from Vologda and facing no enemy combat troops defending the city Gen Kempf receives no orders to advance.

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From his HQ at Rostov ( N ) FM Busch is finally given permission to begin an advance towards Kostroma and Ivanovo , Axis forces begin to move forward cautiously capturing Teikovo then Komsomolsk the enemy concentrating its forces here.
While 16th Armee pushes forward slowly Brandenberger's 9th Armee supported by Generaloberst Heinrici's 4th Armee makes steady ground towards Murom and Kovrov capturing Suzdal.
The Northern drive facing the remnants of 6 Soviet Fronts despite this German attacks brush aside enemy troops with ease.

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 6th 1944 Turn 60
Army Group Centre

While 4th Armee continues to push North towards Murom the 208th inf captures Kasimov, the advance in this sector is slow due to weather and terrain, IX and XLIII ArmeeKorps making around 10 miles in some areas only.
3rd Pz Armee has recommenced the advance on Saransk, both LIX and LIII ArmeeKorps making solid ground as it brushes aside a number of enemy rifle brigades, 3rd Ukrainian Fronts armies lacking any armour are pushed back up to 30 miles.
On the Southern flank of LIX ArmeeKorps 2nd Armee captures Vernadovka and begins to encircle Red Army units.

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With the arrival of XXXXVII Pz Korps ( 3rd Pz Armee ) to support 2nd Armee's central drive, Axis forces sweep forward overrunning enemy lines and cutting off enemy troops before they can escape, 1st Ukrainian Front's 60th Army is overwhelmed by our troops as we advance upwards of 50 miles in some places.

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Battles 60c.jpg (175.98 KiB) Viewed 723 times

Losses 60.jpg (394 KiB) Viewed 723 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 6th 1944 Turn 60
Army Group Centre

The Southern wing of 2nd Armee's advance here is not as far as the other two sectors, XIII, LV and VII ArmeeKorps are facing a much stronger force from 3 Soviet Army's ( 5th Shock, 4th Tank and 57th ) with resistance heavier here Commanders are maintaining a uniform front with Panzer Units ordered to remain in contact with the Inf units rather than push ahead to far and leave troops vulnerable to enemy counterattacks by Soviet armour.

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A Losses 60.jpg (391.38 KiB) Viewed 722 times

Leader 60.jpg (30.77 KiB) Viewed 722 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 6th 1944 Turn 60
Army Group South


2nd Ukrainian Front continues to build up its forces along AG South's front lines, with more reports reaching Otto Wöhler of more enemy troop concentrations at Stalingrad, with part of 2nd Armee and AG South units strung out along a 160 mile line defending a major rail network, the Soviets have massed 6 Tank Corps supported by a large number of Inf units, orders are given to dig in and prepare for a possible enemy attack.

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The fighting on 4th Pz Armee's central front appears to have ended at this time giving the beleaguered troops a brief respite however the enemy has shifted the bulk of its forces to the Armee's right flank, 4 Tank Corps and 3 Mech Corps now massing for an assault.This new threat a major concern for Hoth as the 22nd Panzer Div being the only armour defending the right flank and very few other units in reserve.

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 6th 1944 Turn 60
Army Group A

The fight for The Caucuses remains constant with bitter fighting right along Army Group A's operational lines, the Soviet Union continues to resist despite the massive losses inflicted on there forces and the territory lost, the enemy concentrating most of there efforts in the South, Stalin determined to retake the oil regions and reestablish a land link with the Western Allies in the Middle East.
Every week Intel reports new or reconstituted Tank and Mech formations arriving at the front, forward units along the line have identified 14 Tank and 4 Mech Corps, even with the timely arrival of 18th Armee to reinforce the line the enemy has a 3 or 4 to 1 superiority in AFV's, with troops levels low in his combat units the AG Commander is concerned that the current territory held maybe untenable and maybe forced to give up the hard fought ground.
Some good news though the encircled 1st Guards Rifle Corps has finally surrendered and the enemy has so far failed to extricate the two trapped Corps cutoff by 1st Pz Armee.

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Western Front
Situation Report Jan 8th 1944 Turn 28
Army Group B

The weather in the Channel and Western Europe turns even worse this week, despite this the enemy did mange to launch a few large air raids with major centres hit damage ranged from minor to medium in some city industrial facilities, our V Weapon industry and launch sites came under attack for the first time, however with the weather so bad air losses on both sides were high.
In France again due to terrible weather the enemy launched only sporadic attacks with virtually no damage inflicted luckily as most Luftwaffe units were unable to launch and intercept the enemy.

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Air Battles WF 28.jpg (143.49 KiB) Viewed 718 times

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One of the enemy raids on our V Weapons Factories

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNdpxi9 ... WL&index=6

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Italian Front
Situation Report Jan 8th 1944 Turn 28
Army Group C

The weather in Italy was no different and the was a dramatic reduction by Allied bombing of the front line and of our lines of supply, what attacks by the enemy that were conducted were against rail facilities which did have some effect , Rome was targeted but again the weather made it impossible for the enemy to make any impact, our air defence was also impeded by the bad weather but what units managed to get airborne did have a telling impact on enemy air raids.
The Allied raids suffered heavy losses for little gain this week.

The weather conditions also had huge effect in the ground war with the enemy not launching any major operations against our forces defending the Southern front line, much to the relief of Commanders and the troops on the ground this brief respite allowing the troops to rest and reorganise after last weeks heavy fighting.

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