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THE SITUATION:
Summer 1942:
Victory Points
Leningrad- in German hands
Moscow- burned to the ground by German troops in ’41 and recaptured by the Russians
The entire German panzer force has crossed the Dneipr, smashing and shattering Russian divisions slowly but surely on its way to Kharkov & Stalingrad. Odessa remains in Russian hands; thus the rail line through Kiev is the only rail line to supply the thirsty Pz-IIIj’s. Infantry Korps straddle the line but only a few have crossed the Dneiper to support the panzers.
The Russian air force has been bombed to the point where it cannot provide much resistance without new production.
WHAT HAPPENED:
The Russian player seized the opportunity to ruin the German ’42 offensive in one swift stroke-- by striking the one supply line along Kiev-Zhitomir from the safety of the Pripyet Marshes. In one turn around 8-10 German Korps were at SL=0 and the air force was scattered, unable to immediately provide serious resupply. Russian armies moved into to trap the Panzers on the east bank of the Dneiper SW of Kharkov. See the screenshot.
A Rumanian panzer and cavalry division, quickly equipped with Tiger tanks (who woulda thought my first allocation would be to the Rumanians!) fights with weak Luftwaffe divisions to try and restore the supply lines. After several turns, half the Panzer divisions, resupplied by air, limp back across the river to relative safety. 3 Infantry Korps are cut off and destroyed east of Kiev, as are 1 Rumanian panzer korps and 2 strong Panzer Korps west of Kharkov. Eventually the Rumanian infantry, Luftwaffe troops and a Tiger panzer division sack Odessa.
LESSONS LEARNED:
1) Obviously, keep more than one supply line open to a front. Don’t leave Odessa unconquered as the German player—finish it off right before blizzard in November when your offensive runs out of steam.
2) The Luftwaffe must maintain air supremacy or at least enough strength to get bombers/transports through to air resupply hedgehogs through the winter.
3) If you are fortunate enough to have surrounded enemy armies, especially Panzer Korps, finish them off right away and bring in all available fighter coverage..
4) If your key Panzer Korps are cut off in '42 or later, don’t hesitate a turn or two, hoping to restore the situation. Get them outta there! And get the fighters and air transports in en masse right away.
AFTERMATH:
10 German Panzer & 10 Infantry divisions destroyed in the pocket west of Kharkov along the Dneiper. The other 15 or so Panzers and some infantry survive to wreak havoc on the Russian line through winter ’42-’43.
German casualties: About 10k squads, 2k AFV’s.
Russian Casualites: About 15k squads, 2k AFV’s. Several Tank Armies were lost in the encirclement process, as the hunters became the hunted.
As of February 1943 though the new Tigers & Pz-IIIh's are coming back to the Ukraine and Belorussia with a vengeance!!