Defending Greater Germania 1942 - Includes combined WitW and WitE2 AARs

[tm1]

Western Front / Italian Front
Situation Report Jan 8th 1944 Turn 28
Stat reports

With no real ground fighting losses were relatively low, air losses were different matter.

WITW Losses 28a.jpg (197.91 KiB) Viewed 1290 times

WITW A Losses 28a.jpg (198.52 KiB) Viewed 1290 times

WITW Production 28.jpg (239.24 KiB) Viewed 1290 times

WITW Weather 28.jpg (234.33 KiB) Viewed 1290 times

[tm1]

Hi

Just a heads up
Did 3 turns Western / Italian Fronts Turns 27 / 28

Eastern Front Turn 60

regards

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 13th 1944 Turn 61
Army Group North

Kempf is finally given permission to advance, XXXVIII ( Herzig ) ArmeeKorps attacks to the Southeast engaging Red Army Units of 4th Shock and 58th Army while Erik Hansen's LIV ArmeeKorps drives straight for Vologda, with only enemy auxiliary and support troops defending the city it falls easily without any major losses to Axis forces.

AGN 61.jpg (1.18 MiB) Viewed 1082 times

16th Armee's drive gains momentum, Gen Paul Laux II ArmeeKorps supported XXXXI Pz Korps ( Mueller ) and X ArmeeKorps ( C. Hansen ) capture Kostroma encircling two Tank Corps in the process, this Northern push threatens 4th Shock and the 58th Army's line of retreat and II ArmeeKorps spearheads are only 30 miles from The Volkhov Fronts HQ at Luybim.
South of the Kostroma Battle Walter Wiess's XXVII ArmeeKorps has fought its way forward through heavy forested terrain to be only 20 miles from Ivanovo, here 3rd Ukrainian Fronts shattered Armies defend the city.
After his victory at Vladimir Brandenberger attacks towards Kovrov forcing back 5th Shock Army's 24th Rifle Brigade, Hilpert's XXIII ArmeeKorps now only 10 miles from the town.
Walther Graessner's XII ArmeeKorps ( 4th Armee ) goes on the defensive to covering Hilperts Southern flank as The Leningrad Front moves Tank and Mech units to block the Axis advance towards Murom.

AGN 61a.jpg (1.2 MiB) Viewed 1082 times

Battles 61.jpg (159.81 KiB) Viewed 1082 times

OB 61.jpg (311.06 KiB) Viewed 1082 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 13th 1944 Turn 61
Army Group Centre

The advance in The Ryazan region has slowed again as both 3rd Pz Armee and 4th Armee wait for enemy pockets to be eliminated further South, the city of Penza is approx 120 miles from the closest Axis unit Saransk even further the drive towards these cities could take a number of weeks.

AGC 61.jpg (1.2 MiB) Viewed 1081 times

Battles 61b.jpg (212.66 KiB) Viewed 1081 times

In the Tambov area after destroying a number of enemy units 2nd Armee supported by elements of the 3rd Pz Armee have been engaging fresh Red Army Units rushed to the front by 1st Ukrainian Front, Soviet armour pushing forward with virtually no Inf support have now been cutoff. While the trapping of 4 Tank Corps is welcome news clearing these new pockets will also further delay Army Group Centre's advance.

AGC 61b.jpg (1.12 MiB) Viewed 1081 times

Battles 61c.jpg (201.55 KiB) Viewed 1081 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 13th 1944 Turn 61
OKH

The decision to further slow Army Group Centre's eastward advance is also due to new operational and administrative changes, Gen Salmuth's 2nd Armee field strength of 61 Divisions subordinated to 5 ArmeeKorps has been overloaded for some time, and coordinating such a large force under one Armee HQ is eroding cohesion, to this end VII, LV ArmeeKorps part of 2nd Armee along with VI and XXIV Pz Korps will now come under direct control of OKH, FM Von Manstein on top of his overall duties of commanding The Ostheer has decided to take a more hands on approach. The new ad hoc formations duties to be centred around the defence of the Voronezh region.

OKH 61.jpg (1.06 MiB) Viewed 1080 times

Destroyed Units 61.jpg (370.22 KiB) Viewed 1080 times

Supply 61.jpg (360.28 KiB) Viewed 1080 times

Production 61.jpg (379.96 KiB) Viewed 1080 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 13th 1944 turn 61
Army Group South

The Southern sector of the front is confusing as Commanders readying there forces to counter enemy actions only to find the enemy withdrawing combat units to other sectors, the enemy has now redeployed the bulk of its troops to 4th Pz Armee's left flank as well as some back to the centre !

The feeling amongst Gen Wöhler staff is that the Soviet Command is disintegrating due to low morale and the loss of so many of there senior General staff leaving no clear orders for there subordinate commands to follow.

AGS 61.jpg (994.37 KiB) Viewed 1079 times

Leader 61.jpg (34.18 KiB) Viewed 1079 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 13th 1944 Turn 61
Army Group A

Here too the situation has taken a dramatic turn, Kleist's forces preparing to face an onslaught from Soviet armour now finds itself able to launch a limited offensive, almost 90 % of Red Army units redeployed out of the front line allowing 6th, 17th and 1st Pz Armies to advance on a wide front trapping several more enemy units and moving in some places up to 40 miles gaining further territory of the Kalmykia region, forward units now only 10 miles from Elista.

Army Group A 61.jpg (1.09 MiB) Viewed 1077 times

Losses 61.jpg (396.21 KiB) Viewed 1077 times

A Losses 61.jpg (389.74 KiB) Viewed 1077 times

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report Jan 15th 1944 Turn 29
Army Group B

Bad weather again this week but it didn't stop Allied air fleets at striking our industrial centres, V Weapon factories North of the Capital in the Mecklenburg region and on The Baltic Coast were attacked by large bombers formations, The Ruhr also also came under heavy attention with 3 huge raids with 2 night raids and a day attack by US 8th Air force, despite the huge concentration of our fighter forces in the area to counter the enemy attacks considerable damage was inflicted on our factories.

Army Group B 29.jpg (968.12 KiB) Viewed 1076 times

Air battles WF 29.jpg (145.12 KiB) Viewed 1076 times

Air Battles WF 29a.jpg (201.37 KiB) Viewed 1076 times

Air Battles WF 29b .jpg (174.09 KiB) Viewed 1076 times

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report Jan 15th 1944 Turn 29
Army Group B

In France Allied air attacks were again small, the enemy did manage to attack some airfields which did cause some fatalities but little else, there was some air recon of our grounds forces while out in The Channel there was some ineffective attempts to interdict friendly Naval traffic, losses on against enemy flights were also small as our own air units were unable to launch and intercept in coming enemy flights due to the weather.

Army Group B 29a.jpg (894.26 KiB) Viewed 1070 times

Air Battles WF 29c.jpg (123.18 KiB) Viewed 1070 times

Air Battles WF 29d.jpg (132.86 KiB) Viewed 1070 times

Cities Bombed 29.jpg (66.58 KiB) Viewed 1070 times

[tm1]

Italian Front
Situation Report Jan 15th 1944 Turn 29
Army Group C

In Italy the weather cleared for the better giving the enemy better conditions to attack Axis forces, massive bombings raids were conducted across the entire front, supply / communication facilities along with rail and road infrastructure were attacked also Allied air units conducted saturation bombing of our ground units in an effort to soften defence lines for ground assaults.
North of the front line the enemy launched a huge number of air operations throughout the week targeting airbases as far as the Tuscany region, Luftwaffe air units hard pressed to counter the constant raids, with this many enemy air incursions our forces were unable to intercept every raid, despite this our air defences did inflict some heavy losses on the attackers.

Army Group C 29.jpg (711.59 KiB) Viewed 1065 times

Air battles IF 29.jpg (140.6 KiB) Viewed 1065 times

Air battles IF 29a.jpg (119.75 KiB) Viewed 1065 times

WITW Production 29.jpg (226.45 KiB) Viewed 1065 times

[tm1]

Italian Front
Situation Report Jan 15th 1944 Turn 29
Army Group C

With the weather clear this week this gave the enemy the chance it had been waiting for, attacking virtually right across the whole front line, South of Campobasso LXXXX ArmeeKorps was attacked by 5 Allied Corps Balck's men contained the first attack but Gen Allfrey's Brit V Corps leading the attack supported I st Can, Brit XIII, US II and Brit X pressed through another assault against the line Axis Units were forced back. While Balck's men were fighting to hold ground, on the right flank Feuerstein was facing the same situation as a simultaneous attack was taking place with Dempsey's Brit XIII along with parts of Brit X , I FF, US VI and FM Montgomery directing units under 8th Army control in the battle, LI Mountain ArmeeKorps was simply overwhelmed and Allied units crossed the Volturno River in force, German units fell back to the secondary defence line and began to dig in.

Army Group C 29a.jpg (621.14 KiB) Viewed 1063 times

Battles IF 29.jpg (167.36 KiB) Viewed 1063 times

Battles IF 29a.jpg (169.26 KiB) Viewed 1063 times

Battles IF 29c.jpg (151.18 KiB) Viewed 1063 times

[tm1]

Italian Front
Situation Report Jan 15th 1944 Turn 29
Army Group C

Emboldened by there success Crerar ( I st Corps ) supported by Brit XIII launches an armoured assault against our troops still holding positions along the river the 338th Inf supported by Hube's Panzergrenaders and the 71st Werfer Regiment blunt the Allied attack inflicting heavy losses and forcing The Allies to pull back there armour, at Grazzanise Von Arnim's SS troops once again halt Bradley's attempts to take the town, a second attempt to take the town by Bradley is thrown back, Dempsey's ( Brit XIII Corps supporting ) Brit 6th Armoured Div is severely mauled by 10th SS Panzer Div.

Army Group C 29c.jpg (100.9 KiB) Viewed 1059 times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeCBr_G ... WL&index=1

71st Werfer Regiment in action

Battles IF 29d.jpg (142.13 KiB) Viewed 1059 times

Battles IF 29f.jpg (155.43 KiB) Viewed 1059 times

Battles IF 29e.jpg (148.15 KiB) Viewed 1059 times

[tm1]

Italian Front
Situation Report Jan 15th 1944 Turn 29
Army Group C

Heavy Fighting on The Adriatic Coast with The Allies once again threatening the key town of Termoli, McCreery's Brit X Corps supported by elements of the Brit XIII and US VI launch a huge artillery barrage followed up by a direct assault on the town, the defenders well positioned in the heavily fortified town resist the assault leading to Hube's 3 Regt / 16 Panzer Div together with the Inf launching a counterattack against huge odds surprising the enemy and forcing them back, after regrouping The Allies launch a second attack this also fails with both sides suffering heavy losses.

Army Group C 29b.jpg (85.17 KiB) Viewed 1057 times

Battles IF 29i.jpg (143.99 KiB) Viewed 1057 times

While the battle for Termoli is taking place Dawley's US VI Corps launches two attacks hoping to punch through our lines but these are easily countered, in the central sector of the line McCreery once again tries to force a crossing, backed by Bradley and Allfrey Allied forces try to cross the river and push towards Isernia where Von Arnim's HQ is based, despite superior numbers our troops hold there positions the Allies failing to push them back and take the river crossings.

Battles IF 29g.jpg (152.24 KiB) Viewed 1057 times

Battles IF 29h.jpg (154.48 KiB) Viewed 1057 times

[tm1]

Western Front / Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 15th 1944 Turn 29

Battle and Stats Reports

Heavy losses for both sides on the ground.

WITW Losses 29.jpg (200.26 KiB) Viewed 1056 times

WITW A Losses 29.jpg (198.64 KiB) Viewed 1056 times

WITW Production 29.jpg (226.45 KiB) Viewed 1056 times

Ground Attack 29.jpg (135.22 KiB) Viewed 1056 times

[tm1]

Italian Front / Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 16th 1944

At Army Group C HQ Gen Zeitzler reviews the current situation and while The Allied breach of the outer defensive line is concerning his forces were able to regroup and reestablish the secondary defence line blocking any Allied breakthrough, however manpower and armour replacements are severely low and with the main line being breached there is growing concern among the Generals staff that more troops are needed to reinforce the defences, the General sends an urgent communique to his superior, at OKW HQ after reviewing the report FM Rommel sends a message to the Army Group C Commander that troops cannot be spared at this time from Western France but will consult with the Commander in Chief FM Von Witzleben.


Jan 18th 1944

Rommel meets with Witzleben

Jan 19th 1944

Top secret Communique sent to OKH HQ

FM Von Mainstein reads the communique requesting that combat units that can be spared be made available for transfer to the Italian Front.
Replying to the request the Field Marshal informs High Command that The Ostheer is currently engaged in major offensives across the entire Eastern Front but will make available any and all units that can be spared for release to the Italian theatre.

Jan 21st 1944

FM Manstein.jpg (47.77 KiB) Viewed 1052 times

At OKH HQ ( Kursk ) the FM along with senior staff assess the current strategic situation along the Eastern Front.

After consultation with his staff Manstein reports to High Command 3 divisions can be spared but requests they be returned at the soonest possible moment.
Manstein releases the 15th and 17th Inf Divs along with the 9th Panzer Div, orders are given that these units are to redeploy with all speed to rail embarkation points for transfer to the Italian theatre.

15th Div.jpg (57.81 KiB) Viewed 1052 times

15th Div Part of XVII ArmeeKorps defending Chertkovo is ordered to redeploy to Voroshilovgrad.






17th Div ( LIII ArmeeKorps ) stationed at the town of Chuchkovo is given orders to move to Ryazan for transit West.

17th Div.jpg (50.75 KiB) Viewed 1052 times

9th Panzer Div which was preparing to advance with other units of XXXIX Pz Korps on Murom receives orders to withraw to the rail head at Shatura for embarkation to Italy.

9th Panzer Division.jpg (49.73 KiB) Viewed 1052 times

[tm1]

Italian Front / Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 22nd 1944

Priority Communique from OKH Command to Army Group C Command

Three Divisions from Eastern Front released as per orders OHL Command, units should arrive in Germany by no later than Jan 29th then redeployed to Italy the following week.

General Henning von Tresckow
Chief Of Staff OKH

Eastern Front 1.jpg (199.18 KiB) Viewed 1051 times

Eastern Front.jpg (288.06 KiB) Viewed 1051 times

Eastern Front 2.jpg (100.25 KiB) Viewed 1051 times

9th Panzer Div.jpg (72.52 KiB) Viewed 1051 times

Advance units of 9th Panzer Div arriving at the outskirts of the town of Shatura for departure West.

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 20th 1944 Turn 62
Army Group North

The Offensive in the North continues as 8th Armee captures Sokol and Gryazovets, LIV ArmeeKorps links up with X ArmeeKorps and cuts off parts of the Soviet 58th and 4th Shock Army, the enemy being able to extricate some of its forces out before the trap could be closed shut.

AGN 62.jpg (1.11 MiB) Viewed 892 times

GeneralMajor Vinzenz Meuller ( XXXXI Pz Korps ) establishes a defensive line at Kostroma allowing Hansen's X ArmeeKorps to advance towards Lyubim forcing The Volkhov Front's Command HQ to make a hasty retreat, as this operation is taking place further South XXIII Armeekorps captures Kovrov. 16th Armee's drive towards Ivanovo continues as Weiss's XXVII ArmeeKorps prepares to attack both flanks of the city's defenders, 5th Jaeger Div only 10 miles from Shuya and threatening to overrun the 6th Guards Army HQ which is virtually undefended.

AGN 62a.jpg (1.21 MiB) Viewed 892 times

Battles 62.jpg (257.2 KiB) Viewed 892 times

Battles 62a.jpg (201.05 KiB) Viewed 892 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 20th 1944 Turn 62
Army Group Centre

Across the central front in Russia Von Kluge's forces make large gains despite bad weather and hard terrain, with Gen Graessiner covering his left flank Hans Schimdt's IV Armeekorps sweeps enemy forces aside and captures Murom,18th Panzer Div takes control while Schimdt's Inf covers both flanks of the Panzer's.
South of 4th Armee's position 3rd Pz troops push forward gaining up to 40 miles in there drive towards Saransk.

AGC 62.jpg (1.18 MiB) Viewed 891 times

In the Penza / Saratov region 2nd Armee supported by elements from 3rd Pz push forward, several enemy units from 1st Ukrainian Front are encircled, despite the weather conditions Axis Panzer forces are able to make a rapid advance and overrun Red Army Units, the enemy to slow to withdraw its forces.

AGC 62a.jpg (961.15 KiB) Viewed 891 times

Losses 62.jpg (398.16 KiB) Viewed 891 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 20th 1944 Turn 62
Army Group Centre

On the Southern wing of AG Centres operations the 4 Soviet Tank Corps trapped by 2nd Armee and 3rd Pz Armee the previous week are destroyed the enemy suffering large losses, XXXXVII Pz Korps does make some small gains in the sector but orders are given for the unit to halt any major pushes as the unit needs to rest and replenish for further large scale operations.
There is also a threat on the units right flank by the Soviet 13th and 41st Army's which are moving forces forward to the XIII ArmeeKorps sector, Hermann Plocker's Inf are spread thin in an effort to cover Gen Lemelsen' ( XXXXVI Pz Korps ) supply lines.

AGC 62b.jpg (953.83 KiB) Viewed 890 times

Battles 62b.jpg (163.48 KiB) Viewed 890 times

Battles 62c.jpg (182.37 KiB) Viewed 890 times

Battles 62d.jpg (162.45 KiB) Viewed 890 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report Jan 1944 Turn 61
OKH Command

The Soviet Offensive

While FM Manstein is in the process of organising his combat command Soviet forces attack, 2nd Ukrainian Front's 6 Armies ( Coastal, 1st Shock, 41st, 43rd, 57th and 60th )launch an all out assault towards Voronezh, Kursk and Belgorod Red Army units smash through Axis lines, the enemies deceptive tactics of moving troops from one front to another these past weeks has worked, taken by surprise Soviet Tanks punch through at Rossosh Gen Hell's VII ArmeeKorps is overrun and forced back opening a 50 mile gap between Gen Volckamer's LV ArmeeKorps on the left flank and VI ArmeeKorps ( Hans Jordan ) and XXIV Pz Korps ( Otto Von Knobelsdorff ) on the right.

Soviet Turn 61.jpg (647.09 KiB) Viewed 886 times

Battles 61k.jpg (148.3 KiB) Viewed 886 times

Soviet armour then turns both North and South and attacks Volckamer and Knobelsdorff, initial attacks from Gerasimenko ( 41st Army ) and Remezov ( 60th Army ) are held but Volckamer's troops are attacked again and pushed back, the General orders his men to fall back to Bobrov.

Battles 61i.jpg (170.07 KiB) Viewed 886 times

South of Rossosh Tolbukhin ( 57th Army ) attacks XXIV Pz Korps forcing Knobelsdoff's infantry units to fall back to the new defence line set up by VI ArmeeKorps at Kantemirovka, enemy attacks continue throughout the rest of the week with the gap in Manstein's Command widening to 100 miles.

Battles 61l.jpg (258.23 KiB) Viewed 886 times