Fall Weiss

[Korpraali V]

Hi!

This is my first aar/dar in English. And have done just couple ones in Finnish before. So feel free to comment / ask / give tips. I could use some feedback. I'm using metric system but according to manual you can read them as yards if you want.


Long Campaign

Germany

Hq Waffen-SS Pz Btn ”Spieß” leading SS-Standartenführer von Witzmacher

I Waffen-SS Pz Co (Co Hq, 5 Plt.)
Pzkpfw-IIIe (Hq)
5x Pzkpfw-IIc
5x Pzkpfw-IIc
5x Pzkpfw-IIIe
4x Pzkpfw-IVc
2x Pzkpfw-IVc, Pzkpfw-IIIe

II Waffen-SS Mech Co (Co Hq, 3 Plt.)
-SS Co Hq, Sdkfz 251/1 HT
-3x SS Rifle sqd, MG34 MMG, PzB-39 ATR, 50mm Mortar, 4x Sdkfz 251/1 HT
-3x SS Rifle sqd, MG34 MMG, PzB-39 ATR, 50mm Mortar, 4x Sdkfz 251/1 HT
-3x SS Rifle sqd, MG34 MMG, PzB-39 ATR, 50mm Mortar, 4x Sdkfz 251/1 HT

III Waffen-SS Engineer Co (Co Hq, 3 Plt.)
-Co Hq
-3x Engineer sqd, FT Engineer sqd, MG34 MMG
-3x Engineer sqd, FT Engineer sqd, MG34 MMG
-3x Engineer sqd, FT Engineer sqd, 2x MG34 MMG

IV Waffen-SS Mortar Co (2 Plt.)
-Forward Observer
-6x 81mm Mortar
-6x 81mm Mortar

V Waffen-SS Mot AT/AA Plt.
-2x 88mm Flak18 AT
-4x 88mm Flak18
-5x Buessing-Nag heavy truck

2x Ammo carrier Sdkfz 252 LGM (from Cze)
12x Mule pack (for future)

[Korpraali V]

I Battle

3 September 1939 2000 Krakow
38 turns, visibility 300 meters
Germany Assault – Poland Defend

Support units

I Engineer Co
-Co Hq
-3x Engineer sqd, MG34 MMG
-3x Engineer sqd, MG34 MMG
-3x Engineer sqd, 2x MG34 MMG

II Engineer Co
-Co Hq
-3x Engineer sqd, FT Engineer sqd, MG34 MMG
-3x Engineer sqd, FT Engineer sqd, MG34 MMG
-3x Engineer sqd, FT Engineer sqd, 2x MG34 MMG

III Recon
-12x Recon team
-7x Stoewer 40
-6x Sdkfz-231 6-Rad
-3x Spec Ops

IV Artillery
-6x 105mm FH Bty
-8x 75mm FH
-Ammo dump


Operation Fall Weiß

We are part of the 10th Army on our way to Krakow. Two days ago we crossed the border and passed by Katowice. Now we are heading towards Krakow. We are to break Krakow Army’s main defenceline today. My battalion is attacking along the main roads. I got some artillery support, but because it’s already getting dark, there is no hope to get any air support. It can also have something to do with the rain...hmm... I took 2 Companies of engineers and lots of recon units to figure out Polish defences. Few spec ops are to help capturing backVH’s.

Area is open, four roads are leading to Krakow (two in north and two in south) and four others are on north-south axel, one on Polish side. There are two hills in front. One in north and one in the middle. There are at least three other hills back of the map on N-S line, partly covered with woods.

Front VH’s: 3 groups, 225 end of battle
Back VH’s: 2 groups, 100 end of battle

I decided to divide my force into two groups:
Northern roads – 2 Co Engineers, SS half Co, Pz half Co
Southern roads – Engineer Co, SS half Co, Pz half Co

I placed my Mortars and 75mm Guns around Ammo dump as front as I could without risking them. So they can support me at least 2/3 of the battlefield. Ammo carriers are to follow frontlines.

At first I’ll fire with every 81mm and 75mm at expected enemy frontline in front of my two spears. Then I’ll send few scouts to find out enemy positions and minefields. After that some smoke between the enemy and mines. Then massive and continuous bombardment at Polish lines. Support engineers are ordered to clear mines and break Polish frontline together with tanks. After that we’ll spread and destroy everything we’ll see and encircle Polish frontline in the middle. Mule packs and 88s are waiting for better days and longer sights.

Turn 1: Bombardment showed us some minefields. Good, engineers can start their run and smoke is ordered. North: Scouts found a bunker. South: found two Wz. 37s and machinegun.

Turn 3: Engineers are starting their work. Smoke covers them.

Turn 6: Engineers are still working. North: one clear line. Found 3 bunkers. Destroyed one.

Turn 7: 2 of 3 Spec ops are behind enemy lines. Spotted Hq!! ...and suddenly Polish troops start wondering why they can’t reach Hq for commands... Now to scout Polish rear. I don’t take the VHs yet. First hoping to find something juicy. North: destroyed another bunker and one 46mm GL. Infantry must be near. Starting to move forward...

Turn 8: My 75mm and 81mm have been continuously bombing Polish frontline, and now some units are running...more bombing ordered. Wonder why Polish artillery have been all quiet so far. That’s wery good to my engineers.

Turn 10: And now Polish have found their artillery. North: 100mm shells caused some casualties and little panic, but nothing serious. I’m finally through minefield and starting to attack Polish frontline. South: little by little...engineers are working too slowly. This takes whole winter before we are through. Now we have just one path. Not enough.

Turn 11: North & South: Finally through. I’m now pushing Polish frontline back. Trying to get breakthrough. At least one company of infantry on both fronts. South couple Wz. 37s and north couple bunkers (now clear) and TKSs. Rear: Spec ops found couple AAMGs and ATGs.

Turn 12: North: Breakthrough received. Combination of engineers and tanks were too much for the enemy. Polish frontline is no more. Found four other bunkers on the hill behind their former frontline. Smoked their wiew. South: Breakthrough. Destruction of Polish frontline was complete. Total panic. Soldiers running. This is slaughter. Over a company of Polish military is encircled and destroyed. Even one of my already moved MG34 killed with MP38/40 at least ten soldiers. Only thing that is slowering my breakthrough is a bunkerline I found also here. About ten bunkers. Smoke ordered. VH’s are mine both in north and south. Poland casualties are high: at least one company of infantry in north, two in south, platoon on light tanks, one ATG and three bunkers. All bunkers seem to have MGs and ATRs in their weaponry. Rear: Ordered mortar barrage on AAMGs and ATGs.

Turn 13: Argh! Polish artillery dropped a full load of 100mm over my northern troops. That hurts. Suffered some casualties and about two platoons of troops are retreating. Rear: Spec ops destroyed two pinned AAMGs, two pinned ATGs and found three bunkers in front of them and rear hills. There seems to be continuous line of bunkers through the line. Exeption is that in the middle there are two lines on bunkers. Northern and southern spears should have contact within few turns and then I’ve encirceled at least two Polish companies. I’m now starting to hammer them with my artillery. Scouts from north reached Spec ops. After couple of turns there should be some of my regular troops also to help with rear VHs. One halftrack run into bunkerhex and was destroyed along with SS-squad in it.

Turn 14: Polish artillery keeps smashing my men in north. Found some AAMG’s in the meetingpoint (Meetingpoint I chosed was behind Polish frontline in the middle of their area on N-S road) of both spears... they really were in wrong place in wrong time... too bad for them. Poles can’t make this anymore.

Turn 15: Polish main forces are surrounded. All VHs in front are mine. Half of the rear VHs are also mine. This will end soon. Engineers have destroyed many bunkers. Tanks and artillery are smashing Polish infantry in the ”motti” (Finnish word for encirclement). Most are not able to fight anymore. Afterall I still suffer some casualties on cleaning the motti. We are moving from every side and meter by meter tightening the room Polish have. We are actually pushing them towards their own minefield.

Turn 17: All VHs are mine, motti is almost cleared with low German casualties. Polish casualties must be huge. Tanks and few infantry units are just shooting with everything they got and that isn’t enough to get them all.

Battle ends. After darkness have covered the battlefield, two crews of Polish ATG’s retreat to tell about this defeat (naturally after destroying locks of their guns). Encirceled Polish troops were forced to surrender. Also crewmembers of the remaining two bunkers surrendered. Germans got about 250 prisoners from the motti. They also captured few machine guns and light mortars. Encirclement -tactic was wery effective.

The road to Krakow is now open, breakthrough is total. Germans occupied Krakow 6th of september.

Note:
SS-Untersturmführer Eberhart, leader of 3. Platoon of III SS Engineer Company – 11 kills!

German points: 6757 decesive victory
Polish points: 895 crushing defeat

German casualties: 144 men, 4 soft vechiles, 2 apc’s, 3 afv’s
Polish casualties: 1449 men, 38 artillery (>20 bunkers), 10 afv’s

[KNomad]

Lucky dog, I keep getting Defends for my first mission.

Good job! [8D]

[robot]

Very well done. Lots of information as well. Enjoyed reading it very much. Keep them coming.

[Korpraali V]

Thank you!

KNomad: It is amazing how often Polish seems to attack. In reality I don't know did they have more than few serious try. Either the probability calculation must be wrong or we both just usually have bad luck. This time I was lucky to have assault/advance missions.


II Battle

I changed three ATRs, three 50mm Mortars and three Mule packs to Spec ops. Also changed one extra MG34 from Engineer company to FT Engineers. Now I have two platoons of Spec ops.

IV Jagd-Kommando (2 Plt)
5x Spec Ops
4x Spec Ops


1st October 1939 1900 Lodz
37 turns, visibility 200 meters

Germany Advence – Poland Delay


Support units:

I Recon
3x Stoewer 40
4x Recon team

II Artillery
150mm FH Bty
7x 105mm FH Bty
6x 81mm Mortar (+ 12 mortars I already got [8|] )


Operation Fall Weiß

The war in Poland is practically over. However there are still isolated resisting units which are not willing to surrender. We are ordered to destroy one resisting pocket. German troops occupied Lodz 8th of september. One regiment of Polish infantry were isolated with hopes that they will surrender soon. That didn’t happen and now we are to clear remainings of that regiment. They are on the move and shouldn’t be dug-in, says the hq. We’ll see...

Area is quite open. Map is small. Between our lines through map goes small easy crossable river. There are two bridges and I’m going to use them as much as possible. Want to keep my vechiles running and crossing the river is a risk. In the middle of the map goes east-west road. From the middle southern edge of the map there comes railroad that goes east through Polish lines and comes back in north making > kind of turn. Bridges are in middle and south, both in Polish side – have to figh for them too. Center of Polish area is small village and after that comes north-south line of three hills. Central hill is open, northern hill is covered with woods and southern is open itself but there’s a forest in front of it. BackVHs are in front of southern hill and on top of central hill. Weather is awful: thunderstorm. But as I learned in basic training long time ago, weather means nothing, just a little difference on clothing. So we’ll go.

Front VHs: 3 groups, 15 per turn
Back VHs: 2 groups, 100 end

Battleplan is simple. Main forces starting positions are from center to south. First scouts are to find out Polish defencelines, they are going to have some 81mm and 105mm barrages on them and then my armors will start to break the line. After breaking the line my troops will spread and move to N, NE and E. First goal is village in center of Polish area. At the same time my troops will split to rumble Polish lines in north and to conquer hill back of the village. I just have to take care, that my men won’t take all backVHs and end the battle too soon. I want DV.

I’ll send my Jagd-Kommando platoons on a special mission behind enemy lines. First platoon is to pop up around southern backVHs, take them, keep them and kill some Poles. Second platoon will pop up in the village and try to help main forces to capture it. If there are lots of defenders, I’ll need my FT engineers.

At start my mortars around ammo dump will fire some lucky shots in Polish area. They can actually fire continuously through fight, cause they have plenty of ammo around ammo dump. They are placed as front as possible.

Turn 1: (First 81mm barrage destroyed at least one Platoon Hq and took some casualties. Good work boys!) Polish frontline found. That cost me one Stoewer and probably will cost one scout team too. I’m ordering my artillery to turn all tubes to this line and wait turn or two results. Then we’ll attack.

Turn 4: Artillery is doing fine job, Poles are running. Think it’s partly because of the weather: they couldn’t hear artillery firing, they just saw explosions [X(] . Polish 100mm artillery is trying to find us, but goes wide. We are going in to inflict more chaos. In south my Stoewer went next to Polish machine gun and 100 meters away from two infantry squads. They didn’t saw it! In the center another Stoewer went to middle of Polish forces and no one shot at it. Polish central line is in panic. Tanks and halftracks start to move and shoot everything they see. Polish frontline is in full retreat. Some troops are shooting back but most are just running. One Wz. 37 retreated from my Pz-IV to west! Right in front of my main force and is now resting in pieces. One of my halftracks run into same hex as two Polish squads. Suddenly they started to shoot it. Halftrack and SS-squad in it were destroyed. Aryan... perhaps, but certainly not immortal... and at this time not too wise either. Most of the troops went over the bridges, some went over the river and some are still waiting their turn. I’m redirecting mortar fire in front of my troops and 105/150 fire little further.

Turn 5: My men continue pushing Polish frontline back. They must have destroyed platoon and company hqs of entire battalion. Soldiers are running. Their plutonowies (sergeants) can’t stop them, they are running too. Southern hexes are ours. They were on the river and Polish line was right after that river like whole Polish front seems to be. My troops are now facing their second line. This line can be tough because it haven’t been bombarded wery hard. They are fighting back. Lost one of my ammo trucks for a squad that my troops hadn’t noticed. I took it too front. And one Pz-II lost it’s tracks due to an assault which had 1% change to success! We’ve pushed them back for about 300-400 meters.

Turn 6: Central VHs are now in German hands. Still have to go forward carefully. Polish are firing back in both flanks. In the middle there is now hole in defenceline. Stoewer goes to find out how deep it is. Destroyed few light tanks and armored cars (Wz. 37, TKS) and lost one Pz-II on Polish second line. First Jagd-Kommando found it’s way to target and spotted three ATGs on rear hills. They are going to have a barrage of 105s and 81s on them.

Turn 7: Polish lines in middle and south are broken. Northern units are still fighting. All frontal VHs are mine and I’m entering village next turn, with or without Jagd-Kommandos support. My artillery have fired continuously their lines and surely made defenders’ job hard.

Turn 8: My lonely Jagd-Kommando destroyed one ATG and spotted 75mm gun on southern hill. Others are still on their way...lost? The village was empty, but righ behind it before the hill my tanks found some 37mm ATGs and 75mm infantry guns. Destroyed two ATGs and one 75mm gun but losses were high: one Pz-III damaged and one engineer squad was destroyed. I’m soon ready to climb on the hill in the middle. In south platoon of tanks have now reached the forest and are heading towards southern hill. In north my tanks and infantry are on E-W line fighting about one company of Polish infantry. Enemy is resisting but slowly withdrawing. Ordered artillery barrages to both south and central rear hills and to north.

Turn 9: On central hill my Jagd-Kommando destroyed two 37mm ATGs, while tanks and infantry took out one 75mm gun, four ATGs and one 40mm Bofors. And between southern hill and southern back VHs (in front of hill in the forest) there is at least two ATGs and one 75mm gun. VHs on top of the central hill are mine but how many guns they still have?

Turn 10: Over ten Mortars and guns shot southern hill, and now my tanks and infantry destroyed six ATGs, two 75mm guns and one 40mm Bofors. Special mention for SS-Untersturmführer Heidrich, whose SS-rifle squad on by itself on southern hill destroyed two ATGs, one 75mm gun and assaulted TKS after losin one man – in one turn! North: My troops keep pushing Poles back. They are making some resistance and I’m loosing too many men. There are few squads which have only three men left. I lost another ammo carrier and found three hiding units behind the lines: crewmen, mg and rifle squad. They are now history but were nasty surprise. When my troops crossed the river, they went few hundred meters inland after retreating Poles. Then they turned north and hit Polish line few hundred meters north from crossing place. So those few units remained in hide. You live, you learn – sometimes it just costs something... Found Hq but wasn’t able to destroy it yet. Couple other J-Ks found their way to targets which were already German hands. What took so long? Or were we too fast?

Turn 11: Destroyed Hq. Finished Polish resistance in north. This should be over soon.

Battle is over. Polish regiment is beated. This time I didn’t try to encircle enemy. Their regiment was already encircled and hasn’t surrendered. We just had to beat them completely. Most surprising thing was that our hq was right: Poles hadn’t dugged-in. They were on the move so we were able to break their lines with low casualties.

Remaning crews of four 75mm guns and two 37mm AT-guns fled to surrounding forests after destroying their guns. Polish resistance is almost ended. Soon Poland will be a peaceful province of Germany. Operation Fall Weiß is over.

Fall Weiß (2 battles) medals:
Eisernes Kreuz I class:
-SS-Untersturmführer Eberhart, leader of 3. Platoon of III SS Engineer Company – 22 kills
Eisernes Kreuz II class:
-SS-Oberscharführer Klein, I SS Panzer Company (Pz-III) – 15 kills
-SS-Untersturmführer Heidrich, leader of 1. Platoon of II SS Rifle Company – For destroying
3 guns and one light tank in one turn (13 kills)

We have received new armor type: Pz-IVd with better side armor and one extra MG. I’ll change first tank platoon Pz-IIs to them. If France and Britain are going to start real fight, we will need them.

German points: 10615 decesive victory
Polish points: 1945 crushing defeat

German casualties: 115 men, 4 soft vechiles, 1 apc, 2 afv’s
Polish casualties: 2239 men, 26 artillery, 11 afv’s