Sturm und Drang : Axis Perspective

[cpdeyoung]

19450101 : The new year still finds the Reich, and all allies standing.

[cpdeyoung]

19450201 : Scramble to throw units in front of the Soviet Jugernaut.

[cpdeyoung]

19450216 : Near disaster in the East, and we are not out by any means. The enemy's power id immense. In the West our line is gone and we must switch to point defense. Big trouble everywhere.

[cpdeyoung]

19450301 : We really wonder about the pullback in the South. The allies have played their part and we do not want to abandon them to their fate. In truth though the Allies want us, Germany is their goal, and by defending best the Reich we probably make their task easier, although it may not appear so to them.

[cpdeyoung]

19450316 : A quiet turn and we did not waste it.

[cpdeyoung]

19450401 : We hold.

[cpdeyoung]

19450416 : Victory points at end of historical campaign. (edited to fix date)

James Ward, here are the numbers at the end of the historcal war. I believe these are correct.

[cpdeyoung]

19450416 : Post 2 : The map at historical end. Note the"hole" in the east as the Soviets prepare another suprise for us. Notice our Italians driving on Marseilles.

[James Ward]

An excellent job. While you will probably not "win" the game you did much better than historical.

[cpdeyoung]

19450501 : American probes approach the capital, and we pull back our still powerful forces in the field.

[cpdeyoung]

Campaign notes - the late phase - How different this total war is from the war of movement early on. The Americans are waging a war of movement, and we will drive into their left flank if the opportunity arises, but the Allies and Soviets are so slippery, and encirclement so unrewarding that there is little gain. The Germans learned in the First World War to avoid waging battles on two fronts and they need to re-learn it again. It is so hard to win a war where every success early on leaves one with a liability later on. The German nation was led by a government which made their enemies choose to wage a war to the finish, unconditional surrender. A shiver must have gone down the spine of every senior officer when this pronouncement was made. No way out but total victory, against practically the whole world. This daunting prospect should give the Axis leadership ample incentive to seek every innovation, to practice every skill, because 190 movement and combat cycles is a very, very long time.

Gary has fought well on both fronts, and he has coordinated his activity on each front to complement the other. His coup, the crushing blow was the play in April 1944, when he brought his American legions onto the continent. This is the primary task of Allied command and he pulled it off without sea control. The year since has been a hard one.

[Chocolino]

Congratulations. You found the secret of Axis longevity - and that against a very tough opponent. In a game of equally skilled opponents, I can hardly see the Axis doing any better than this. I believe your refusal to get drawn into the USSR was one key aspect. But you made sure they were sufficiently weakened early on.

His coup, the crushing blow was the play in April 1944, when he brought his American legions onto the continent. This is the primary task of Allied command and he pulled it off without sea control.

How do you think the Axis sea control affected his need to purchase STP constantly? Do you have any information on or can you quantify the average loss and the efficiency of you raiding the opponents supply?

[cpdeyoung]

19450509 : Raiding hurt them, but their command will have to quantify it. Some turns you could see the weakness reflected in their units in the field. They were weaker and moved less far.

This turn was a scramble.

[cpdeyoung]

19450516 : We still hold them back.

[cpdeyoung]

19450524 : The Italians may have more units on the map than the Germans.

[cpdeyoung]

19450601 : We are pulling back but with considerable order.

[cpdeyoung]

19450609 : Preparing the defense of north Germany.

[cpdeyoung]

19450616 : Seapower comes to our aid again as five whole korps are swiped out of an Allied pocket.

[cpdeyoung]

19450624 : Thirty four turns to go. The German defenses are in pretty good shape. Hungary in deep trouble. Romania and Bulgaria will hold for a while. Italy looks to be threatened in the East, but solid in the West. Spain is only being screened.

[cpdeyoung]

19450701 : The endgame begins.