Solitaire Barbarossa - A Beginner Stumbles East

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Turn 3 / Impulse 1:

The Russians start to integrate their new units into the front and fall again a few hexes back.

The situation in the north:

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And the south:

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Turn 3 / Impulse 3 (Axis):

The Germans walk up new arrived units from Germany - but in the rain it is a slow process. HQs strain to provide supply to front line units and often fail. German attackers move up to the Russian lines but there are no attacks.

However, the weather clears for Impulse 5. This is the situation at the start of the 5 impulse (or end of the 3rd).

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The situation at the beginning of the 5. impulse in the south

[Centuur]

A slower press forward but being able to move and fight again in the next impulse is always better than getting disorganized due to movement. Especially early in the turn. If the weather clears next impulse (which it did in your game) your disorganized units can't move and fight that impulse.

So next time, accept the slower press forwards (or backwards). If the weather clears, your units will have the necessary movement points to reach the enemy's position and can fight (or you can run away from out of the dreaded Stuka's short range).

[Chocolino]

Thanks for the comment - I think I did get two German units disorganized because of movement - but it was an oversight on my part and not done intentionally. When I noticed it several phases later and I did not want to rewind the tape and redo it and decided to live with the consequences of not paying enough attention.

I believe the disorganization was caused by moving when out of supply during the rain.

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Turn 3 / Impulse 5 (Allies):

The weather is fine.

The Russians railed in some reinforcements from Eastern and Far East Cities. They made a few front line adjustments. But there was either no need to fall back yet or units were disorganized from previous fighting and refused orders to fall back.

Turn 3 / Impulse 6 (Axis):

The Germans moved up once more and engaged two Russian hexes - one in the north and one in the south. The Luftwaffe conducted no ground strikes since one of the two defenders in each hex was already disorganized. This is the northern attack plan:

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And v. Rundstedt's maps in the South:

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The Luftwaffe flies in all available Ground Support. (Especially the attack near Minsk requires some help.) There are still several Russian bombers available to provide ground support themselves. But the Luftwaffe is confident to derive them back before then can affect ground combat.

However, the Luftwaffe overestimated their capabilities and while German bombers could provide support, the German fighters failed in their mission near Minsk. One of two Russian bombers did provide ground support resulting in undesirable attack odds.

The air combat near Minsk:

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The air combat in the south was more successful for the Luftwaffe but not as critical as the one near Minsk. The Russian air force lost another bomber unit.

The Russians considered the wisdom of using unescorted bombers but decided that given the short time frame of this scenario it does not make sense to wait until fighters become available again very late in the game. So they may as well use them now.

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Ground combat near Minsk was ugly but considering the odds the Germans got off lightly.

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The ground combat in the south was successful for the Germans:

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As we are approaching the end of the turn the Germans also railed in some slow units that started the turn in Germany as reinforcements and did not make much progress so far.

Also, the Italian corps that so far helped pin down 2 Russian armies in the Pripet Marches was replaced in this role by a German Militia. This freed the Italians to join the main front.

This is the situation in the north at the end of the turn:

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The situation in the south. German planners think about how to best take Odessa which is defended by two fairly strong Russian units. But perhaps they just bypass it. (Have to review the rules here - not sure how to go about it or what game mechanics are available to the attacker).

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Turn 3 / Impulse 7 (Allies):

Near Riga, the Russians have to fall back to prevent German units that have infiltrated the lines free access to Estonia. However, it will make Riga more vulnerable.

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In the Ukraine, the Russians defensive line looks healthier. But the units here have to defend in open terrain and are generally weaker and won't last a sustained offensive.

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Turn 3 / Impulse 8 (Axis):

The Axis gathers its forces for a last effort for this turn and try to take Riga as well as break through in the Ukraine. Two hexes are attacked.

The first is Riga where the Luftwaffe provides heavy ground support. German fighters can destroy the last organized Russian bomber who heroically tries to prevent the fall of the city.

Air Combat at Riga:

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The attack on Riga is successful:

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Luftwaffe ground support in the Ukraine is unopposed and this attack is also a success for the Germans:

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Three more Russian land units could be destroyed by the Germans and the Russians defenses become very weak while the width of the front widens that the few remaining Russian units have to hold. Russia must hope for bad weather and the turn to end soon.

The situation in the North at the end of Impulse 8: