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And the allies still have enough organized units to continue the attack.

In the South, the Amercians slowly open the way and remove the units sent to slow them down to buy time.

And now the British try to do the same kind of attack that the german failed at the start of the turn: If they succeed (success being measured by a result of 'retreat'), they will manage to surround the two most advanced German corps, giving them a big advantage for the next turn. The itch: Manstein has at last rejoined this part of the front and reorganized all units.

The British attack fails, at no cost.

On the sixth impulse, the map become quite confusing!

The Germans try a double attack.

The second will be a catastrophe should the first fail.

Idea: repulse the paratroop holding the supply to the two advanced, and now out of supply, british corps. If successful, these units will be unsupplied and the second combat will be at much better odds!

And while the German air power has long been depleted, the British still finds bombers to send in defense. But the result is there: the paratrooper is destroyed.

Even then, that combat is no cakewalk! Combining the air defense and the armor advantage held by the British, the odds are not as good as expected. Indeed,if the first combat had failed, this combat would have been hell for the Germans!

As they are surrounded, the British choose assault: if they are to go, better not to go alone!

At the end of the turn, the losses are severe!

Germany pays a high toll, larger than their production : the first time this happens since the war began. The British are close second, especially if we don't forget all the damage suffered by the fleet. But most of the fleet damage is of little importance: the British have too many cruisers anyway...

As usual, the USA are barely scratched.

France at the beginning of September 43

East Front at the beginning of September 43

Mandchuria at the beginning of September 43

Northern China at the beginning of September 43

Southern China at the beginning of September 43

Excellent game.

War operations had stopped almost everywhere: a sudden streak of bad weather had once again put a halt to most serious military actions. Of course, troops still moved into position, fleets crossed the oceans and so on ; the occasional artillery rounds would happen. Just to show that war had not halted. Stalin was in his office, watching the rain falling. Vasilievski entered ; he had been summoned. It was good that he had good news! The red army was absolutely ready and war could be declared. He waited, while Stalin was nervously tapping his fingers, then turned. “I thought we were almost ready to attack the nazis two months ago!” He snapped. Vasilievski felt the storm coming. Excuses would not do. “But we are ready now! Send the order!” Suddenly Stalin laughed! This was unexpected, and Vasilievski felt a shiver pass through him. “Read this and get to work now!” barked Stalin. “Molotov gave it to me thirty minutes ago, while you were waiting. Now, get out!” Vasilievski did not read the note. It's content was obvious and he hurried to Stavka.

As he entered the building, a general called him: “the Germans are attacking our troops on the front!” He said “thousands of planes are reported to bomb the lines and headquarters. Considering the campaign against France, we expect the armored units to follow up very soon against our shocked troops.” Vasilievski continued to walk ; his survival hang on the outcome of this. If the troops survived well enough... He had also learned that the Americans had had some problems in the Mediterranean, and that the Japanese had bombed their fleet in Manilla. The axis seemed to be reacting strongly this fall ; were the reports about the supposed axis weaknesses too optimistic ?

As the days passed, the news were not as bad as expected, and Vasilievski began to believe he would keep his head. The Germans had indeed tried to pierce the front on three places and succeeded in repulsing the Russian troops with some heavy damage. Planes were destroyed that could not even take off. This was then followed by an attempt to capture Minsk, but this failed. Overall, the front had held rather well. In three places, the Germans had advanced by one hundred kilometer and that was all. The weather had certainly been in their favor: Rain had been falling heavily these weeks, and the largely motorized German troops were not comfortable.

In the west, thing had been rather calm compared to the previous months. Germans as Allies had taken some time to reorganized their front, none wanting to take the risk of the large attacks that had occurred in the previous months. Still, their had been some fighting in the center of France, nothing really serious, and the Americans pushed the German front back a little. More worrisome, the British had again advanced along the coast, helped by the heavy presence of the fleet. This put them in contact with Rouen and the Seine. Paris was not far, and Pais was an important city as well as the symbol of Germans victories.

The real action that had occurred had been a new, and this time successful, assault by the Russian troops on Mukden. This had cut the Japanese front in half, and, more importantly, had turn the allegiance of Mandchuria. This was bad news for the Japanese who now had no choice but ask peace from Russia. Talks between Stalin and Tojo were underway. This action did much to restore
Vasilievski in the eyes of Stalin.

Once more, the axis ha succeeded in wrestling initiative from the allies. That's good because the weather cleared over Manilla. With their fleet still at sea (a good way to have a naval presence while using little fuel!), albeit in the zero box (which is useful since it protects convoys too), the Japanese use an air action and sortie most of their carrier planes on a port attack. Fighters stay at sea, since the Americans have not sent any in the Philippines.

The anti air does some damage, but most of the planes get through! Too bad (for the Japanese) that surprise was not achieved!

A carrier is bottomed, an old cruiser sunk. Other units are disorganized: this is sufficient to prevent any serious action from the US fleet for the current turn.

On the other hand, the US have what they want, at some cost: the japanese fleet is pinned down in the China sea area and it can't afford to go play anywhere else.

The Americans still have enormous amounts of material to land.
This time, the British fleet sorties. It is daring the Italian fleet to come and intervene. Of course, the Italians won't move!

There are also reinforcements coming from the atlantic!

Destroying units on their transports is much cheaper that doing the same thing on land!
As in the previous months, the air battle rages over the West Mediterranean.
But now, with the previous turns tolls, their are less available fighters.