GC 41 2ndAcr (G) vs Kelblau (S) No Kelblau

[PeeDeeAitch]

What sort of recon is he flying over you?

[CarnageINC]

Wow, what a missed opportunity for him, your a very lucky man.  Wish I was as lucky [8D]

[2ndACR]

He is flying zero recon over any of my front. None at all.

[PeeDeeAitch]

If no recon, then move the panzers to the cities in the south and wait for the snow - see if you can do anything in those turns.  It doesn't matter if you do well or not, because the panzers can recuperate back on the railheads during the mud and off-on mud turns until full clear in the spring/summer.
 
He is resting all winter, not getting better. You will have rested and powerful panzers when the snow hits, massed in (likely) 2 masses of 2 panzer armies.

[randallw]

Why wouldn't he at least move up and dig in at more westerly locations?  It won't be as much digging time of course, but leaving all that empty ground....

[2ndACR]

Once snow hits, I plan to close the distance with his forces with my infantry. Basically re-occupying my buffer zone. And repairing what ever rail needs to be repaired. Now that basically all the rail to my rear is fixed. Some swamp needs fixed, but I have repair units out the rear sitting around.

I am thinking about shifting all the Panzer Armies towards the Gomel/Kiev area. I am thinking that I will stay in my defense line in the north and center but stretch out with single div per hex behind level 4/5 forts. That should allow me to concentrate the 6th Army, 17th Army and 2nd Army to blast thru his line for all the armor to pour thru. I will strip them of all Pioneers and some Stug units. These will be sent to my southern front. I might even shift 11th Army up to help out and hold the line with my Romanians behind level 4/5 forts in the far south.

I have no idea, he stayed right where he was when I pulled back to defense lines. This is all new to me and nothing like I expected. So I am sort of at a loss.

[PeeDeeAitch]

Maybe he is roleplaying Stalin being kidnapped by aliens?

[2ndACR]

He says he is trying not to do anything I would be expecting. LOL.... I just don;t get it though. Not a single shot fired all blizzard except me crushing partisans. Wants to try a new defense strategy. Well, it is new, no one has seen it yet. We will see if it works in his favor come summer. I have my doubts.

[PeeDeeAitch]

Well, not steamrolling through the frozen German defenses is not expected, I give you that. 
 
He was in a quite good position, overall. I think had he really pressed, built up some unit experience, and pushed you back to defensive terrain at least for 1942, he could have set himself up really well. As it is, you get a 2nd year of offensive campaigning.

[Klydon]

Well, if you want to roll the dice a bit on the surprise part of it (if you can be ready in time) perhaps go with a quick center strike to pinch out the troops between 1 and 2 during the snow turns. Your lines are close enough you can sort of look to creep up and hide your armor in the trees/swamps as well hopefullly. After that, you can redeploy and go south to wipe that mass out after the mud is gone. This is perhaps risky, but does hopefully have some element of surprise for him.
 
Should you wait for good weather (nothing wrong with that), then I would see about going with 1 group at 1, 2 groups at 2 and a group at 3. One group at 2 goes north  the other south. Talk about huge pockets, but that may be a bit too much perhaps. The groups for the south between 2 and 3 would obviously have to be bigger than the groups for the north pocket.

[2ndACR]

I don't think I can be ready for the snow. All armor is still in blizzard quarters. I am planning a Spring/Summer offensive. I need to get my infantry back up to snuff. Some got hit pretty hard by the winter and they will need to be up to strength if I want them to hold the north and center. Just trying to get my game plan set up so I can start the shift etc.

[Klydon]

Understood on that. Just figured I would toss it out there anyway. [:D]

[PeeDeeAitch]

You could really fool him. Pull back to Poland and build the Ostwall!
 
That 500 miles of no mans land would be interesting...

[2ndACR]

No problem

Turn 36

We are almost at the end of the blizzard turns. I just now hit 1 million casualties. All of 4th Panzer Army is now in Germany/Poland for refit. I have removed 12 pioneer bn's and about 14 artillery units from AGN/AGC area. They are now in OKH awaiting re-assignment. I ran out of rail points. Once 4th Panzer Army is ready, I will probably send them to Kiev area. 2nd and 3rd Panzer will move down towards Gomel area. I will start shifting my infantry around to cover the north with single div in each defense hex. That should allow a slinky effect towards the south.

Man, this is a huge movement of troops. LOL

[randallw]

I suspect his grand plan may be an attempt to perform the Spanish Inquisition.

[karonagames]

Just one thing you need to be aware of, if he is basing his line on Major Rivers, then there will be a couple of turns when ice is melting and they are more difficult to cross, but the first turn of snow all the rivers should still be frozen so he won't get the defensive benefit. Make sure you get close enough to hit hard.

[randallw]

Comrade Stalin would never have approved of this defensive plan.

[2ndACR]

Turn 37

Still blizzard. 4th Panzer army still in Germany/Poland going thru refit.

That is all there is to report

[MrLongleg]

ORIGINAL: 2ndACR

Turn 37

Still blizzard. 4th Panzer army still in Germany/Poland going thru refit.

That is all there is to report

You are sooo lucky ! My opponent was throwing everything he had including the kitchen sink at me and it is April 42 and the Germans are still licking their wounds - can't even dream of a major offensive yet. Your army should be a mean and efficient juggernaut coming out of the Blizzard.

[Ketza]

Maybe he is busy in real life with a new girlfriend.

It happens!