At the request of Herr Oberst

[cpdeyoung]

October 24, 1941 : Large powerful units are sighted near Magnitogorsk, as we expected them to be, but we have more.

The Italians try to run, without outrunning supplies.

[cpdeyoung]

November 1, 1941 : We are at that stage where every battle has an excellent chance of defeating a Red Army unit, and probably destroying it. The enemy seems to be sending raw recruits against our veterans, and that can never bode well. In the South we are taking all the cities and resources, with the Soviets losing many, many production facilities each week. They have a very tough time getting units to resource sites.

[Anraz]

Chuck, what is the situation in Caucasus area? 

[cpdeyoung]

(Anraz, it is pretty sad for the Soviets. Only Baku and Puta are untaken. The Soviets have trouble getting to the resource hexes which are not a target for strat moves. The Germans were able to walk into Tibilsi, which was undefended. These are the end days for the Soviets. The cumulative loss of PP must be wearing on them. Germany has sent the allies home to defend their countries, and the Italians are backfilling the German positions. Time and distance are all that stops this campaign from ending.)

November 9, 1941 : Italy has four armored corps at Rijah. Germany is on the outskirts of Magnitogorsk.

And in the far north.

[cpdeyoung]

November 16, 1941 : The Soviets surprise us again by revealing more units, and stronger units than we expected. Divisions right off the train from the Far East were destroyed by troops at Orsk. Clearly this debouchment area must be watched carefully.

Italy attacks Rijah in strength, but it still holds.

[cpdeyoung]

November 24, 1941 : The Oberst says the arrival of the units from the Far East at Orsk reminds us that the high command has a difficult task in deciding our grand strategy. We are not going to have the rest of the world conceed our gains. We will have to defend them for a very long time, and face the West at some point.

Italy is about to defeat Saudi Arabia.

[cpdeyoung]

December 1, 1941 : The Soviets took a very large hit this week, and the Italians took Saudi Arabia.

The Finns are doing battle with the Red Army too. The Soviet Union is a steadfast enemy.

[cpdeyoung]

December 9, 1941 : The Soviets have lost about 2,987 SP, which must be at least 18,000 PP, and probably is much more. Their supply situation is terrible and will not improve. Except for weekly air attacks the West seems to have done nothing to aid the USSR, and this mighty nation seems to be doomed. Could they still have a surprise for us?

Italy makes progress in Iraq, and the Finns are able to successfully attack the weakened Red Army.

[cpdeyoung]

December 16, 1941 : We push north from Magnitogorsk, finding relatively powerful units before us, but we have the strength to push them back.

The Italians in the Middle East.

[cpdeyoung]

December 24, 1941 : The German defenses in the West are much stronger now, since units have been arriving from the East Front. Last week the combined fleets sunk two American battleships of the most modern design in the Northeast Atlantic where we maintain a blockade. Great Britain has caused us 62 SP losses at a cost of 211 SP, and almost all of their losses have been air SP.

The Italians will soon have to look for a new mission. They already have two significant forces in Russia.

[cpdeyoung]

January 1, 1942 : The Italians have capured Baghdad. Our troops slog through the snows after the Red Army.

As the new year starts eyes turn towards the unknown West.

[cpdeyoung]

January 9, 1942 : Grinding winter warfare.

[cpdeyoung]

January 16, 1942 : Italy sends troops to France, by way of Turkey which joined the Axis a bit ago. The Finns make progress, but winter slows everything down so much.

[cpdeyoung]

January 24, 1942 : A 13 SP L3 tank corps stands in Chelabinsk. We grind away.

The front in the deep north.

[cpdeyoung]

February 1, 1942 : This is a cold, cold month. The Oberst says we are planning for the Spring campaign, and the Soviet Union will be only one focus.

[cpdeyoung]

February 9, 1942 : As expected these are quiet times.

[cpdeyoung]

February 16, 1942 : The Finns are making some impressive progress, and the Soviets have quite a few units there.

[cpdeyoung]

February 24, 1942 : The Finns are doing quite well but probably cannot take either of the Soviet supply cities. Their own supply just does not reach.

[cpdeyoung]

March 1, 1942 : Even with the limited ability to do recon we can see 12 Soviet units facing the Finns. The Red Army takes the Finnish front very seriously, and the Oberst wonders why.

[cpdeyoung]

March 9, 1942 : Two very significant seiges began this week. One is important, and the other special because of the very long time and difficulty of reaching the city to besiege.