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Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 3 (Axis)

Ground Strike: The attack starts badly but the Stukas eventually get into their stride.

Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 3 (Axis)

Rail Movement: A unit is railed to Odessa
Land Movement: von Rundstedt in the south completely loses his nerve. Despite express orders from the Fuhrer, he orders a general withdrawal all along the front. Hitler is apoplectic - but that's nothing compared to his state of mind when he hears that the Prussian aristocrat has ordered Kharkov to be an open city.....

In the north, while von Rundstedt gives up hard won valuable prizes, von Bock attacks some swamp land...


Don't worry Gerd, we're sure the Fuhrer will understand....

Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 3 (Axis)

It's 2:1 +2. With little likelihood of changing the odds in this god-forsaken terrain, the aircraft stay grounded. With two German fighters on hand the Soviets bombers do like-wise.

Fractional odds take it to 3:1 +2 and the Soviets choose a Blitz. The Germans have had some decent luck on the ground throws so far, and while they are due a crappy throw, equally if their luck continues (and they have a +2) then the Soviets will have very little in and around the capital.

So I hope my rationale makes sense to Ormster...

A 6(8) is thrown. The Soviets lose nothing but all units are shattered (I do not convert).

The Germans cannot move into the swamp.... Another throw higher than halfway for the Germans - and it didn't give the Soviets the retreat that they were hoping for. Still, all three units will be coming back again next turn and so long as Moscow is not reached then this wasn't a bad decision from the Soviet perspective - of course assault would have been better.....[8|]

Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 3 (Axis)

Air rebase: The three rebases are completed - one bomber in the north and two fighters in the south.
HQ Reorganisation: von Rundstedt does what he should have done last impulse and reorganises the newly arrived 6th (SS) Panzergruppe and a bomber wing.

The Soviet Union relocate dome forces North towards Moscow. In the South the forces retreat slightly. The air force also relocate some fighter capacity to the Moscow sector.

The Autumn rain finally arrives.