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Eastern Front
Situation Report March 4th 1943 Turn 16
AG Centre : The Rzhev Salient

With the Salient almost cleared of Soviet troops 9th Armee now has more forces to push forward against the shattered remnants of The Northwestern Front, an assault by a Panzer Div supported by our Infantry routes a Guards Tank Gorps.
While this is happening 2 Soviet Fronts, Bryansk and Moscow Defence Zone launch a counterattack against 3rd Pz Armee positions forcing back our troops at Gzhatsk.

Our celebrations are short lived at Orel as more Red Army Forces begin to arrive, The SS Panzer troops already battered and exhausted Marshal once more for battle, South of 2nd Pz Armee The enemy brings forward even more including the defeated Guards against the embattled 2nd Armee, already close to breaking General Von Salmuth calls for reinforcements to shore up the gaps in the line and bolster defensive positions.

Two Korps from 16th Armee are being rushed South to aid the beleaguered Armee. With the situation worsening for 2nd Armee FM Von Kluge sends a urgent message to The Fuhrer asking for permission for a general withdrawal from the Voronezh area.
Von kluge receives a chilling reply " NO RETREAT "

Eastern Front
Situation Report March 4th 1943 Turn 16
Army Group B / Don

On the Southern Front what was looking like another Axis disaster with the destruction of the exhausted and demoralized Axis Allies has turned into a reversal of fortune as the enemies lack of co ordination,command and control has led to several enemy units encircled by our Allies, Italian / Romanian forces rallied to turn the tables on there much powerful foes.
This is a morale booster for the troops and bitter pill for the enemy to swallow.

More good news further along the line as The Soviet attacks against 6th Armee falter giving it time to destroy the final 2 Guards CAV units trapped,after being almost destroyed at Stalingrad then pursued relentlessly across the Russian Steppes, 6th Armee exacts some revenge against the pursuers.

Eastern Front
Situation Report March 4th 1943 Turn 16
Army Group A

The timely arrival of 17th Armee troops has stiffened German defences in The Caucasus,1st Pz Armee can now face the enemy on equal terms, with Commanders confident that the enemy will retake no further ground.
Soviet attacks were lite and easily held, morale is lifting.

On The Black Sea Front here too 17th Armee has dug in as the mud season approaches and The Red Army appears to be reluctant to attack our strong positions, the soldiers seem in high spirits, with secure supply lines, all seems well for the moment.

Eastern Front
Situation Report March 4th 1943 Turn 16
Stat Reports

Huge losses this week for The Soviets both with there land forces and air units, of course this comes mainly from destroying there trapped units and also attacking heavily defended areas with strong fortifications.
Bad co ordination resulting in there spearheads being cutoff helped us gain many valuable trucks and other equipment we so desperately need.

Our production figures climb with encouraging figures for our units in terms of fuel, ammunition and supply, we continue to keep our units fully battle supplied.

Again despite the good news above the enemy's ground forces are still around the 5.5 million mark on the field, still not a good picture for us.

North Africa
Situation Report 9th March 1943 Turn 18
Libya

Fighting continues as The British launch massed attacks with there armoured forces against The Axis line,Rommel now in Tunisia sends a Mech Regt to reinforce the defenders, this is the last unit that can be spared as The Allies have heavily reinforced there Army in Tunisia.
Southern Tunisia

Mostly quiet here except for an attack by US forces at Kasserine Pass which was easily dealt with resulting mainly in enemy losses.

Northern Tunisia

The Allies have now built up the forces and launch attacks along the coast and in the Le Kef and Thala regions, both attacks were held as 5th Pz Armee is strongest here, but I don't really have any reserve apart from one weakened Italian Div and a couple low strength Battalions.

North Africa
Situation Report March 9th Turn 18
Stats Report

Allied aerial bombing was lite for a change, still more than half the front line units copped a pounding from enemy bombers.
Loss figures for both the Axis and Allied Turns are deceptive since I launched one attack only which got the better of the enemy our losses were lite, the Allied turn shows us getting hammered, most of these were from the Libya attacks which was understandable. We actually suffered less losses on the Tunisia front, so losses were about even and we were ahead in Tank losses.

AAR Notes
At the beginning of this AAR I wrote that certain outcomes and also events that might play out would determine the direction of the campaign ( AAR ) well this moment has come.
Many Events took place in March of 1943, two standout for me in regards to this game that may have a divergence in the timeline going forward.

North Africa / Eastern Front
Situation Report
March 9th 1943

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l59KdE ... WL&index=5

Eastern Front
Situation Report March 10th 1943
Ukraine / Germany

Rommel Arrives at Führerhauptquartier Werwolf to see Hitler and persuade him to evacuate Axis forces from North Africa, with the almost near disaster at Stalingrad only just being averted by the quick thinking from Commanders in the field.
The Ostheer already jaded by the setbacks in The Caucasus, with this in Rommel's mind,the loss of his own Armee could have a devastating effect on the morale of The Wehrmacht.

In a fiery 2 hour meeting Hitler refuses Rommel's request, ordered to return to North Africa Rommel boards a plane that first takes him to Berlin to see his family,on his arrival he his greeted by High Ranking Officers and invited to a meeting.

Eastern Front
Situation Report March 11th 1943 Turn 17
AG North

18th Armee operations against the defenders at Leningrad continues as Soviet troops caught outside The Fortresses are isolated and destroyed, on there right flank the Armee prepares for a armoured counterattack by the Volkhov Front.
Kempf's Armee pushes forward meeting only slight resistance from the enemy, the Russians start to dig in at Vyshny Volochek.

At Peno the last Soviet units are destroyed in the pocket by 16th Armee, preparations for the link up with kempf's Armee further North are now put on hold as another crisis for Army Group Centre unfolds,16th Armee is all but reduced down to one Army Korps with the rest being rushed by rail as reinforcements to the Kursk region.

Eastern Front
Situation Report March 11th 1943 Turn 17
AG Centre

Due to the bulk of 16th Armee's troops being redeployed South 9th Armee's Left flank is now somewhat weakened and as such the offensive has slowed somewhat, also in part by a renewed assault by enemy troops against 3rd Pz Armee and 4th Armee.
Heavy attacks by two Soviet Fronts threaten a breakthrough towards Vyazma, six Soviet Armies including 6th Guards Army launching assaults towards Gzhatzk, Temkino and Yukhnov, 3rd Pz Armee puts up determined resistance.
Army Group Centres position is made even more tenuous as The Soviets launch a second offensive South of the Moscow battle, here 2nd Pz Armee comes under renewed pressure being forced back almost to the city of Orel.
However a even bigger crisis looms as the enemy smashes through 2nd Armee lines, forcing the Armee to fall back in disarray towards Kursk and belgorod, with only 4 battered Divisions standing in the Soviets way of taking the city, 10 Divisions from 16th Armee are rushed South and are suborned to 2nd Armee as it fights to hold kursk.

This Soviet offensive not only threatens the Central front but also The Hungarian Army on the Right flank is now also in danger of being encircled and destroyed.

XXXXVIII Panzer Korps Commander Ferdinand Hiem is dismissed after comments spoken by him regarding the military operations of the war in Russia are being undermined by political interference.
FM Von Kluge sends a urgent message to Hitler at his Headquarters at Vinnitsa for a conference with The Fuhrer at Army Group Centre HQ at Smolensk.



Notes:
For Historical context.

Rommel did fly to see Hitler on March 9th 1943 about evacuating Axis Forces from Africa

also

During Germany's Eastern campaign, Adolf Hitler lived mainly at FHQ Wolfsschanze (near Rastenburg, East Prussia) but he stayed at FHQ Werwolf three times:

16 July to 30 October 1942: The weather was hot, up to 45 °C (113 °F), and the bunkers were humid. Hitler caught severe influenza, with a temperature running up to 40 °C (104 °F). In this condition, he gave his fateful Führer Directive 45, splitting Army Group South into two parts in a bid to reach both Stalingrad and the Caucasus oil fields simultaneously. The Directive was the main cause of the eventual defeat and destruction of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad and the German Army's subsequent withdrawal from Southern Russia to a new front near the Soviet city of Kursk.
19 February to 13 March 1943: to observe Field Marshal Erich von Manstein's Kharkhov offensive in the wake of Germany's defeat at Stalingrad.
27 August to 15 September 1943: to observe the unsuccessful defense of Kharkhov.

Eastern Front
Situation Report March 11th 1943 Turn 17
Army Group B

With another disaster appearing to be unfolding on Generaloberst Model's left flank his Axis Allied Armies hold firm and counterattack resulting in the destruction of the trapped Soviet spearheads, and there by blunting there Offensive for the time being.
Battered Italian and Romanian Forces hold the Aidar River line with the enemy holding back its forces for the time being.

In the Donbass region the enemy resumes its push against both 6th Armee and 4th Pz Armee, launching more heavy attacks, the German line barely holds as Paulus's Armee is spread thin across a vast amount of territory trying to cover any breakthrough by the enemy, the Armee now reduced to half its original size, Hoth's 4th Pz no better off as units are taken away from it at this crucial time.

Eastern Front
Situation Report March 11th 1943 Turn 17
Army Group A

The relative quiet from the last two weeks is broken as The North Caucasus Front launches a new assault against 1st Pz Armee, with the fortunate arrival of 17th Armee troops the Soviet attacks were contained and countered,the Axis Line holds firm, the enemy sustains heavy casualties.
More good news on The Black Sea Front as 17th Armee finally captures Tuapse, giving us another port to resupply our forces,though our forces here are spread thin the terrain is ideal for defending, with our Mountain troops leading the way.

Eastern Front
Situation Report March 11th 1943 Turn 17
Stats Reports

Despite the dire situation on the 2nd / 2nd Pz Armee Front the enemy has paid huge prices for there assaults against our forces both on the ground and in the air, there armoured forces took huge losses.

Supply is still quite good with no real problems.

Eastern Front
Situation Report March 11th 1943 Turn 17
Stats Reports

The weather is getting better all the time as the days pass in March which can only help increase our resupply of the entire Army.

There does not seem to be any major production shortages at this time, though our truck situation could be better.

We continue to whittle away the enemy's on map forces, our own Armoured forces do not look good.

Eastern Front
Situation Report March 13th 1943
AG Centre : Operation Spark



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvbwcLd1S0Y



Back up video for the original since now its no longer available



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk_kqmt ... L&index=88









Notes for historical context

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Spark_(1941)

Eastern Front
Situation Report : 0500 Hours March 14th 1943
Minsk


Found North East of the City of Minsk

Germany
Situation Report : 0600 Hours March 14th 1943

With the backing of Field Marshal Rommel, who gains the support of FM's von Rundstedt, von Manstein and Generaloberst Heinz Guderian.

Field Marshal Erwin von Witzleben speaks on Radio Berlin and announces

The Führer Adolf Hitler is dead!

An unscrupulous clique of party leaders alien to the front has attempted, under the exploitation of this situation, to betray the hard-struggling front and to seize power for their own selfish purposes.
In this hour of greatest danger, the government of the Reich has declared a state of military emergency for the maintenance of law and order and at the same time has transferred the executive power, with the supreme command of the Wehrmacht, to me
Any opposition to the military power of enforcement is to be ruthlessly crushed.
In this hour of highest danger for the Fatherland, unity of the Wehrmacht and the maintenance of full discipline are the uppermost requirements.
That is why I make it the duty of all commanders of the army, the navy and the air force to support the holders of executive power in carrying out their difficult task with all means at their disposal and to guarantee the compliance of their directives by the subordinate sections. The German soldier stands before a historical task. It will depend on his energy and attitude whether Germany will be saved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW747PAxKNs

Germany
Situation Report 14th March 1943
Operation Valkyrie

As The Ersatzheer under the new Command of General Friedrich Olbricht and Oberst Albrecht Mertz von Quirnheim ( Chief of Staff ) move to secure Berlin against any possible resistance by the old regime. Units take control of the Government quarter first, most of the former Government surrender, however some with there supporters refuse and sporadic fighting takes place.
In Vienna, Prague, Paris and other Capitals across occupied Europe regular and reserve units of the Wehrmacht move quickly to secure control to counter any organised opposition.


The Ersatzheer begins to consolidate control of Berlin.
Acting on Witzleben's instructions Rommel and Manstein fly to the Wolfsschanze Headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia,there using there popularity and Rommel's old unit ( Fuhrer Begliet ) to gain control of the situation and avert any chaos that might ensue among the Officer Corp.
With authority by the new Commander in Chief, Von Manstein replaces Kurt Zeitzler and again takes control of OKH headquarters.

Manstein Begins to issue new orders to all Commands and Field Units on the Eastern Front.

North Africa
Situation Report March 16th 1943 Turn 19
Libya

Despite the political turmoil in Germany and mainland Europe fighting continues in North Africa,PanzerArmee Afrika prepares for the next round of attacks by 8th Army.
The Axis situation getting worse by the day as more Allied Infantry move up to support the armoured assaults, the position along the coast has been weakened as I have had to leave troops guarding the right flank in case the enemy tries to swing around the main defence line and come behind us.


This gives the enemy a chance to concentrate attacks on a single part of the line knowing that there is no reserve to counter them. Also does not allow me any chance of moving troops back to rest and refit.


A brief respite for the troops is broken with another assault by the enemy

North Africa
Situation Report March 16th 1943 Turn 19
Tunisia

In the Southern Tunisia relative quiet after the Allied defeat at Kasserine Pass, Allied forces in this sector of the front are stretched thin with very little armoured support, combined with good terrain making it easy for The Axis to hold.
This also allows me more time to hold 15th Panzer Division back to rest and refit.

North Africa
Situation Report March 16th 1943 Turn 19
Northern Tunisia

With the Northern part of the country once again receiving strong rain fall, 1st Army ( BR V / IX and US II Corps ) launch an all out armoured attack against The Ital XXX Corps, greatly outnumbered the defenders fall back from there Mountain positions, this is one of the Allies rare wins during this campaign so far, The Allies emboldened by this and hoping to open a wider gap in the line to push units through the Mountain passes and advance towards the country's capital Tunis.
As US and British Infantry begin to move forward, reinforcements in the form of The Italian 1st " Superga " Inf Division with a Tank Destroyer Bat and units from The Weber Korps including the 501 Heavy Panzer company counter the Allied assault.
The Allied assault is held and Axis Troops close up any breaches in the line.

While the fighting intensifies on the ground with Losses to both sides continuing to mount. The Allied Air Force now focuses on heavy direct assaults on my ground forces to weaken my defence line.