Defending Greater Germania 1942 - Includes combined WitW and WitE2 AARs

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report Aug 12th 1944 Turn 59
Army Group B

Normandy

While intense air battles were happening all over Germany and the Low countries at Normandy Allied air units were free to strike at will across the front with only ground based Flak units offering any kind of resistance, enemy bombers hitting military ground installations including air bases and unit Headquarters ( 7th Armee, I SS Pz Korps, LVIII Pz Korps, LXXXIV and LXXXVII ArmeeKorps ) also attacks against Rail centres, the enemy hoping to disrupt our communication lines.
Our front line was heavily bombed in a continued effort to soften up Axis fortifications, however the attacks were relatively ineffective as our defensive line remains intact and the enemy lost large numbers of planes due the large concentration of Anti Aircraft weapons stationed at the beachhead itself.

Army Group B 59b.jpg (517.97 KiB) Viewed 348 times

Air Battles WF 59 HQ 1.jpg (437.92 KiB) Viewed 348 times

Air Battles WF 59f.jpg (222 KiB) Viewed 348 times

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report Aug 12th Turn 59
Army Group G

There is heavy air battles over the island of Corsica as our air units from Italy are now committed to intercepting the convoys and bombing raids targeting southern France now that the enemy has opened a new front, until air units can be sent to southern France, the Italian Luftflotte Command and II Flieger Korps will have to widen there operations to both theatres.

Corsica 59.jpg (584.97 KiB) Viewed 346 times

Corsica 1.jpg (391.92 KiB) Viewed 346 times

With this new front opening in Provence region and virtually no Axis air units in any position to offer effective defence enemy bombers are striking at multiple installations freely particularly the rail network supplying front line troops, despite there attacks which have had only a limited effect morale amongst the troops is high, even without air support ground forces have managed destroyed several enemy planes.

Army Group G 59a.jpg (792.68 KiB) Viewed 346 times

Air Battles SF 59.jpg (199.09 KiB) Viewed 346 times

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report Aug 12th 1944 Turn 59
Army Group G

Southern France

The Allied invasion has begun after a prolonged Air and Naval bombardment enemy ground forces have landed along a 30 mile stretch of the French Rivera running south of Nice and including the capture of the port town of Cannes, the enemy established a beachhead despite determined resistance from units of the 19th Armee, General Rudolf Veiel has ordered all available forces to mobilise and to precede with all haste to the enemy landing site.

Army Group G 59d.jpg (605.14 KiB) Viewed 344 times

General Joachim Wittoeft's 148th Res Div deployed south of Cannes was forced back, outnumbered by superior Free French forces supported Naval gunfire.

Battles SF 59.jpg (129.25 KiB) Viewed 344 times

At Cannes itself there was heavy fighting as units of Feldherrnhalle Pz Grenadier Div battled US troops, there were heavy losses on both sides as street battles took place, Generalleutnant Eugen Meindl's II Fallschirmjager ArmeeKorps was eventually forced to withdraw from the town.

Battles SF 59a.jpg (126.47 KiB) Viewed 344 times

As battles raged at Cannes and further south enemy landings were taking place near Nice by US and Free French forces, elements of two German ArmeeKorps were defending the area but with overwhelming enemy numbers our troops were again forced back, both sides sustained heavy causalities.
The enemy attempted probing attacks towards Nice but the city is to well defended.

Battles SF 59b.jpg (128.86 KiB) Viewed 344 times

[tm1]

Mediterranean Front
Situation Report Aug 12th 1944 Turn 59
Army Group C / Army Group F

Intelligence Report Southern Italy

Recon planes operating from Castiglione Del Lago Air Base detected a small convoy sailing to Salerno, the ships arrived at the port where on sight operatives witnessed the debarkation of military personal and equipment, the unit identified as the Greek 3rd Mountain Brigade was then transported to the Allied base at Montecorvino.
Despite the front opening in southern France the Allies continue to build up there forces in Italy.

Greece 59.jpg (511.04 KiB) Viewed 343 times

Italian Front

Army Group C 59.jpg (560.63 KiB) Viewed 343 times

Air activity on the Italian mainland this has been greatly reduced except for the continued air operations against our troops stationed along the front line, the enemy maintains a constant bombing of Axis fortified positions hoping to weaken the defences to help create a breakthrough for Allied ground forces.

Air Battles IF 59.jpg (219.49 KiB) Viewed 343 times

The Balkans

With Allied bombing in The Balkans worsening on a weekly basis and the damage to Oil and Fuel facilities increasing OHL Command has instructed the Air Command to reinforce Rumanian air units struggling to counter the US 15th Air Force actions.
Elements of five fighters units have been sent, the 64th and 65th fighter Escadrila's to Bucharest while the Brasov air base has been reactivated and 3 units stationed there.

Balkans 59.jpg (621.13 KiB) Viewed 343 times

[tm1]

Italian Front
Situation Report Aug 12th 1944 Turn 59
Army Group C

The Allies open up this week with major operations almost across the entire front with 14th Armee on the Volturno line under heavy pressure after facing five assaults from the enemy.

Army Group C 59a.jpg (543.14 KiB) Viewed 341 times

Volturno Line

On the coast LXXXX ArmeeKorps comes under attack from US II Corps and Brit V Corps, launching a two pronged attack with massed armour however Gen Balck's troops contain the first push, regrouping the enemy attempts a second, attacking on two fronts with units striking directly towards the entrenched in SS troops while other elements of both Corps attempt to force a crossing just north of Grazzanise.

Battles IF 59.jpg (281.2 KiB) Viewed 341 times

North of the LXXXX ArmeeKorps fighting the Allies mass elements of five Army Corps for an assault on Kuebler's men, with the 6th South African Armoured Div leading the charge nearly one hundred thousand men supported by 1300 Artillery pieces open up on the defenders, the enemy initial push gains inroads but a counter attack by 15th Panzer Div halts the Allied advance, Italian troops positioned in Mountain top fortifications are able to maintain a constant rain of fire on the advancing enemy Infantry.
The US 1st Armoured Div is brought up to support the advance but is forced back.

Battles IF 59b.jpg (606.46 KiB) Viewed 341 times

Disaster for troops of the US 51st Combat Engineer Battalion attempting to bridge a section of the Volturno River

Volturno river.jpg (103.87 KiB) Viewed 341 times

[tm1]

Italian Front
Situation Report Aug 12th 1944 Turn 59
Army Group C

Biferno / Adriatic Sea line

British 8th Army launches direct frontal attacks on a 50 mile front hoping to find a weak point and punch through 5th Pz Armee and 10th Armee's defences and create a breakthrough.

Army Group C 59b.jpg (528.19 KiB) Viewed 339 times

South of Isernia troops of Hube's XIV Pz Korps defending the Rail line that links to Campobasso come under heavy attack from four Allied Corps, a breakthrough here would allow the enemy to push forward without having to cross the river on the right flank or push over mountains on the left, the initial assault by over 70 000 men supported by 1100 guns and over 250 tanks gains some ground but Hube's 9th Panzer Div stops any further advance, a second attack is also halt.

While fighting for control of the rail line is taking place a joint Polish / British and Canadian assault is made to cross the river northeast Campobasso, our forces here including 164th PzGren Div are able to hold the enemy at bay.

Battles IF 59g.jpg (579.99 KiB) Viewed 339 times

On LI Mountain ArmeeKorps sector of the line the British assault on the river defences had some success with the enemy pushing forward and gaining some footholds along the Axis controlled side of The Biferno, German reinforcements were able to push the attackers back across the waterway and reestablish control of the northern bank.

Battles IF 59k.jpg (137.69 KiB) Viewed 339 times

Further north in Staube's LXXIV ArmeeKorps sector The Allies massed over 900 hundred tanks on a 20 mile front, two Allied Corps struck south of Termoli with 60 000 men despite the odds and 16th Panzer Div only able to field 64 Panzers both attacks failed and the attackers suffered heavy losses.

At Termoli itself US and Polish armour clash with 12 SS Panzer Div's entrenched Tiger and Panther A's in cross river firefights as enemy Infantry battle for control of access points to the city, the enemy makes two attempts to push into Termoli both beaten back.

Battles IF 59l.jpg (561.49 KiB) Viewed 339 times

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report Aug 12th 1944 Turn 59
Army Group G

Southern France

General Gustav von Vaerst .jpg (96.23 KiB) Viewed 336 times

With the Allied operational intentions clear General Gustav Von Vaerst ( Army Group G ) orders full mobilisation of Walther Hahm's 1st Armee, all units are to precede with all possible haste to the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region and assist General Veiel's 19th Armee crush the enemy landings at the town of Cannes and surrounding beachhead , furthermore units station in northern Italy are now released to Army Group G's control, Joachim Witthoeft's ArmeeKorps is now advancing to the enemy landing site to support Axis operations.

Army Group G 59b.jpg (568.49 KiB) Viewed 336 times

Reports from forward units along the front line of the enemy landing sites indicate more Allied landings have taken place including the US 7th Army Headquarters which is has now moved from the Italian Front, Intelligence indicates that the Army is still Commanded by US General George S. Patton , also US VI Corps command has now established itself at Cannes and more Free French forces were landed during the week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruNnQ4dsZK4


Captured enemy footage of US 36th Infantry Div

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report Aug 12th 1944 Turn 59
Army Group B

Normandy

Disaster At Dieppe
At Dieppe German Coastal Artillery including Heavy Naval Guns open fire on an enemy troop convoy which has moved into range to disembark enemy forces, several troopships are repeatedly hit despite the enemies own Naval units attempting to counter our Artillery barrage.
General Adolf Kuntzen's ( LXXXI ArmeeKorps ) hastily deployed troops from the 349th Inf and 704th Lt Artillery Brigade open fire with there medium and heavy guns inflicting more damage on the convoy, after a number of attempts to land troops the Allied convoy withdraws, observers indicate 3 or more troop ships were sunk with other damaged averting a second landing at Normandy.

Army Group B 59c.jpg (777.01 KiB) Viewed 336 times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpG2DOc ... WL&index=5



While the actions north of Dieppe are taking place the enemy attempt to retake St-Valery continues as Hodges US 1st Army with British support assault LXXXII ArmeeKorps throughout the week with 2 major pushes that fail to dislodge Sinnhuber's 26th Panzer Div and supporting Infantry.

Battles WF 59.jpg (271.11 KiB) Viewed 336 times

On 7th Armee's front the main battle unfolds as Hodges masses 4 Army Corps in an effort to smash through Herr's defences and breakout towards the Seine River, huge tank clashes ensue along with Infantry assaults against Axis defence lines, after a week of heavy fighting the Allies call a halt.

Battles WF 59b.jpg (271.43 KiB) Viewed 336 times

Battles WF 59d.jpg (255.52 KiB) Viewed 336 times

[tm1]

Western Theatre / Mediterranean Theatre
Situation Report Aug 12th 1944 Turn 59

Losses / Production / Supply

WITW Losses 59.jpg (322.74 KiB) Viewed 336 times

losses are high for the Allies including the Convoy carrying the 3rd Can Div attempting to land near Dieppe

WITW Production 59.jpg (204.93 KiB) Viewed 336 times

WITW Production Phase 59a.jpg (402.88 KiB) Viewed 336 times

WITW Supply 59.jpg (148.01 KiB) Viewed 336 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report Aug 17th 1944 Turn 92
Army Group North

LIV ArmeeKorps continues to make its way northeast via rail, as 8th Armee recommences its forward advance towards the city of Kirov, XXXXI Pz Korps ( 16th Armee ) is covering Kempf's main drive along the Gorky / Kirov rail line.
2nd Baltic Front armies are virtually non existent apart from support units which offer no real resistance.

AGN 92.jpg (859.19 KiB) Viewed 178 times

Across the rest of AG Norths front the situation remains very quiet for most of the week until aerial recon reports Soviet armour moving from the direction of Melekess, the two enemy Tank Corps advancing in columns towards Ulyanovsk Hans Schimdt's IX ArmeeKorps prepares for battle with 18th Panzer Div ordered to mobilize.

AGN 92a.jpg (806.89 KiB) Viewed 178 times

German armour from 18th Panzer Div crossing one of the newly constructed bridges over the Volga river at Ulyanovsk as reports of Red Army tanks are only 30 miles from the city.

River Crossing.jpg (154.2 KiB) Viewed 178 times

Attrition 92.jpg (73.57 KiB) Viewed 178 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report Aug 17th 1944 Turn 92
Army Group Centre

In the Central Volga Uplands region activity along the front is quiet the enemy concentrating its remaining forces in defence of the new Soviet Capital with the occasional recon probing of Axis defences, the main area of enemy operations are in the south which is being dealt with, Von Kluge content to sit tight with Berlin's attention mainly focused in the west.

AGC 92.jpg (698.38 KiB) Viewed 178 times

On 2nd Armee's front the encircled Soviet 21st Tank Corps fate was sealed, the unit wiped out in a matter of days, Axis forces then withdrew back across the river as more rain falls in the area.

AGC 92a.jpg (732.45 KiB) Viewed 178 times

Battles 92.jpg (152.34 KiB) Viewed 178 times

Troops from 10th PzGrenadier Div and the I/Lehr Mixed Flak Battalion on watch as they guard one of the few intact bridges captured at Syzran.

Volga Line 3.jpg (163.85 KiB) Viewed 178 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report Aug 17th 1944 Turn 92
Army Group South

On the southern front more Red Army Tank units begin to make contact with the Axis line but no offensive action by the enemy as of yet, the 18th Armee remains on the defensive, at Stalingrad there is no sign the trapped garrison is willing to surrender either, however the supply situation has improved significantly and a third rail link to the Stalingrad region is almost complete.

AGS 92a.jpg (768.78 KiB) Viewed 178 times

With the Red Air Force all but suppressed in the south truck supply convoys are providing a much improved level of replenishment for front line units.

German Supply Convoys.jpg (79.7 KiB) Viewed 178 times

Factories 92.jpg (74.84 KiB) Viewed 178 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report Aug 17th 1944 Turn 92
Army Group A

No sooner had Von Kleist's forces destroyed the last enemy incursion towards The Lower Volga region more Red Army Tank units have been detected driving towards 1st Pz Armee and 6th Armee lines, with no Infantry unit support or air power this latest Soviet assault seems doom to failure.
Hermann Breith orders IV ArmeeKorps and XXXX Pz Korps advance and cutoff a large enemy tank formation travelling along the Caspian Sea coast while the rest of Army Group A holds there positions for now.

Army Group A 92.jpg (697.18 KiB) Viewed 174 times

OB 92.jpg (306.96 KiB) Viewed 174 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report Aug 17th 1944 Turn 92
Statistic Data

Losses / production / supply

Losses 92.jpg (394.2 KiB) Viewed 174 times

Production 92.jpg (384.95 KiB) Viewed 174 times

Supply 92.jpg (364.69 KiB) Viewed 174 times

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report Aug 19th 1944 Turn 60
Army Group B

For the second week in a row Luebeck, Lueneburg and Hamburg are targeted again the enemy bomber forces numbering around 100 hundred aircraft, Josef Kammhuber's I Jagd Korps operating from airbases in the Netherlands offered heavy resistance to the Allied raids which cause little damage.

Army Group B 60.jpg (754.82 KiB) Viewed 174 times

The main air battles in northwestern Germany take place over The Ruhr region and surrounding areas as German fighter units battle against large scale enemy recon and bombing raids, our forces inflicted large losses on the enemy bomber formations however they are still able to inflict heavy damage on production facilities at Duesseldorf and Wuppertal.

Air Battle WF 60.jpg (680.04 KiB) Viewed 174 times

South of The Ruhr enemy air activity targeting city centres along The Rhein River, the enemy attacked Cologne on two nights during the week while Bonn was bombed by nearly 500 aircraft in a single raid, damage was considerable.

Army Group B 60a.jpg (692.09 KiB) Viewed 174 times

Air Battle WF 60f.jpg (200.41 KiB) Viewed 174 times

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report Aug 19th 1944 Turn 60
Army Group B

Pasde Calais

Army Group B 60b.jpg (701.26 KiB) Viewed 174 times

Throughout the week In northeastern France the enemy launches large scale bombing raids on our V - Weapon sites and Rail facilities, damage is heavy due limited air units covering that sector of the front.

Air Battle WF 60h.jpg (601.77 KiB) Viewed 174 times

Normandy

The Allies continue there bombing of our units at the beachhead front line as well as conducting a massive saturation bombing operation of Road and Rail infrastructure in a 50 miles radius surrounding the landing site,more strikes are targeted at Headquarters Units resulting high losses for the enemy.
Paris is also targeted by bombers attempting to knock out rail infrastructure in the French Capital to interrupt the delivery of supplies and munitions to the front lines.

Air Battle WF 60n.jpg (208.31 KiB) Viewed 174 times

Air Battle WF HQ 1.jpg (452.26 KiB) Viewed 174 times

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report Aug 19th 1944 Turn 60
Army Group G

Corsica

Corsica 60.jpg (397.36 KiB) Viewed 174 times

large air clashes continue over the island of Corsica as Axis air units attempt to intercept enemy bomber operations in southern France, despite the heavy losses the enemy bomber formations are able to push on and strike at there objectives.

Cor 1.jpg (575.62 KiB) Viewed 174 times

Southern France

Army Group G 60.jpg (656.57 KiB) Viewed 174 times

Once the enemy bombers are able to move out of our fighter range from air bases in Italy there is currently little in the way to disrupt there ground attack operations other than Axis combat units own Flak units which manage to inflict considerable losses on the enemy formations.
Even with the losses enemy bombers press home attacks striking at supply and communication lines and interdict our troops as the advance towards the Beach head.

Air Battle SF 60.jpg (437 KiB) Viewed 174 times

[tm1]

Mediterranean Front
Situation Report Aug 19th 1944 Turn 60
Army Group C / Army Group F

Italian Front

Army Group C 60.jpg (646.28 KiB) Viewed 174 times

While most of the enemy bombers are now concentrated on operations in southern France there is still a sizeable force operating against our forces in southern Italy, conducting large scale attacks on the Volturno line, front line units from both 5th Pz Armee and 14th Armee also attacked was the rail network which resupplies Axis troops.
Isernia was targeted the town housing the command Headquarters of both German Armies and General Hube's XIV Pz Korps.

Air Battle IF 60.jpg (233.27 KiB) Viewed 174 times

The Balkans

The Rumanian Oil and Fuel Facilities still remain a high priority for The Allies over the course of the week seven large scale raids were mounted, however the raid on the Capital Bucharest by 200 hundred bombers centred on heavy Industry, damage was minimal.

Army Group F 60.jpg (572.8 KiB) Viewed 174 times

OB 60.jpg (163.56 KiB) Viewed 174 times

[tm1]

Italian Front
Situation Report Aug 19th 1944 Turn 60
Army Group C

This week sees The Allies once again launch large scale operations across the Axis defence line, concentrating the bulk of there armour against 5th Pz Armee and 14th Armee in an effort to smash through our entrenched positions, on the Biferno line 8th Army concentrated its amour on certain sectors of our river defences, there intention to find a weak point to exploit.

Army Group C 60a.jpg (593.05 KiB) Viewed 168 times

Volturno River Sector

The opening attacks by three Allied Corps on Balck's ArmeeKorps are contained with the enemy losing many tanks trying to force a river crossing, a second attack spells more losses as German armour counters the assault.

Further north 14th Armee is subjected to the biggest Allied attack of the week, a massive armoured push by parts of seven Corps south of Capua sees three divisions of Kuebler's LXXXXVII ArmeeKorps facing 120,000 thousand men, the initial attack makes some ground but good defensive terrain stalls the drive, the enemy launches a renewed attack on the line which is easily stopped.
A third smaller assault against 14th Armee defenders also ends in the enemy being forced back to the own line.

Battles IF 60.jpg (858.03 KiB) Viewed 168 times

Biferno River Sector

On the southern end of the Biferno line covered by Hube's Panzer troops Canadian, Polish and British forces begin to assault the defences with a large armoured force the attack makes some ground but the tanks get bogged down attempting to cross river points and are forced back.

While Hube fights to hold the centre of the Axis line the Allies begin there assaults on 10th Armee smaller in scale to other operations down along the front line, fighting is bitter as both sides throw everything into the battle.
At Termoli the enemy decide on launching an Infantry attack, 50,000 thousand men move forward in an effort to overrun Straube's men and push them out of the town but with only a small force of tanks supporting the attack fails as 12 SS Panzer Div counterattacks.

Battles IF 60g.jpg (862.92 KiB) Viewed 168 times

A hidden German Panzer moves out of its concealed position under a rail bridge at Termoli to drive back enemy Infantry.

Panzer.jpg (115.09 KiB) Viewed 168 times

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report Aug 19th 1944 Turn 60
Army Group B

Normandy

Army Group B 60c.jpg (610.54 KiB) Viewed 167 times

At St-Valery the Allies launch fresh assaults throughout week, British and Canadian troops managing to push within 300 feet of German defence lines before being forced back, a second and third attempt at breaking LXXXII ArmeeKorps entrenched positions also held.

Battles WF 60.jpg (408.71 KiB) Viewed 167 times

With Infantry attacks taking place on 15th Armee's front Hodge's US 1st Army main effort is directed at Dollmann's 7th Armee, Allied armour pushes out from the beachhead to clash with Herr's Panzer's in a series open terrain battles while US Paratroops and Infantry engage our PanzerGrenadiers, over the course of the week the Allies make six attempts to break 7th Armee lines.

Battles WF 60c.jpg (777.71 KiB) Viewed 167 times

WITW Supply 60.jpg (134.58 KiB) Viewed 167 times