Revanchism in Europe (PBEM gwgardner vs Chocolino)

[Chocolino]

6-5-42

This is the same area after the German turn.

Using their last reserves, the Germans were able to cut off the Russians at the base and then force the surrender of the rest. All other breakthroughs were also sealed.

The irony of the situation is that we caused more losses to the Russians (200+) during this defensive action than in any of the previous attacking turns.

[gwgardner]

Your staff must not be serving you well if you have to 'remember correctly.' Too much schnapps at OKW?

You need to look at Stavka. More political comissars were sent to the front after the failed paradrop.

[Chocolino]

ORIGINAL: gwgardner

Your staff must not be serving you well if you have to 'remember correctly.' Too much schnapps at OKW?

You need to look at Stavka. More political comissars were sent to the front after the failed paradrop.

Schnapps - a time honored source of encouragement in all armies. The situation warrants it.....

[Chocolino]

6-19-42

The Allied build up in North Africa. More than necessary to conquer Algeria for sure. Where will they go next?

Algiers is still holding out for now, though. But our perimeter is shrinking.

At the East Front both sides seem too weak to attack meaningfully - but strong enough to defend. There are battles raging but the overall situation does not change much - hence no new picture.

[Chocolino]

7-3-42

The Allies have partially withdrawn from Denmark. We still don't have the port of Frederickshaven, though. That means we have unitsd tied up here for more weeks when we could use them at the East Front.

[Chocolino]

7-3-42

We have to fight back another Russian break through near Rzhev. You can see its initial extend from the shaded hexes. These attacks turn out to be costly for the Russians - but they apparently feel that they can afford it.

[Chocolino]

7-3-42

The Allies go about their business in Algeria very methodically - the Italians all deserve medals for their extended defense of the capital. The Axis is glad to occupy such a formidable force for so long.

[gwgardner]

ORIGINAL: Chocolino

The Axis is glad to occupy such a formidable force for so long.

These are merely extended training exercises.

[Chocolino]

ORIGINAL: gwgardner

ORIGINAL: Chocolino

The Axis is glad to occupy such a formidable force for so long.

These are merely extended training exercises.

We wish the Allied soldiers a very relaxing (and extended) R&R at Algerian beaches.

[Chocolino]

7-17-42

Denmark is again Allies-free. There was just a lone Canadian corps remaining that had received the unfortunate task to remain behind.

These freed up German troops are needed elsewhere urgently. Hopefully the Allies don't occupy us again somewhere unforeseen in the near future.

[Chocolino]

7-17-42

The Algiers perimeter is shrinking another few hexes....but it is still there.

[Chocolino]

7-17-42

The most shocking news however comes from the East Front where the Soviets have breached our defenses in a 2 hex wide sector in force SW of Kursk. This was aided by the huge Soviets air fleets and - presumably - "encouraged" by the many political officers that they claim to have sent to the front.

Germans troops could for the first time not cut off the base right away but managed only to restrict it to a single hex. The Russian 4-8 mech corps in the shaded hex resisted our efforts in meeting behind the Russian attackers.

We are not in the depth of winter but in summer '42. If this is a sign of what is to come then we are in deep trouble.

[AlvaroSousa]

Cool

[Chocolino]

7-31-42

Algiers has finally surrendered and with it an important VP hex. A lone Italian units fights still in the back-country but we expect contact to break off soon. So this will be likely the last transmission from Algeria for the remainder of this game.

[Chocolino]

7-31-42

The major Soviet summer offensive has been largely contained by now. Several Russian units have been destroyed and some are now isolated but surrounded. We will need to deal with the remaining protrusion in the front line next week.

German summary: A costly Russian enterprise. But it has taken the initiative away from the Germans and can hence be seen as a success.

[gwgardner]

ORIGINAL: Chocolino



German summary: A costly Russian enterprise. But it has taken the initiative away from the Germans and can hence be seen as a success.

Stavka is fully aware that it is only July, so is not expecting the powerful buildup of German troops especially in the north to go unused. The Leningrad Front is on high alert.

[Chocolino]

8-14-42

Order is fully restored in the threatened sector and all isolated Russians did surrender. While that is good news the Germans fully realize that they are supposed to be on the offensive at this time - being "victorious" in defensive combat alone does not cut it.

But as a nice side effect - the overall strength of the Soviet army has been reduced from around 3000 to 2400 as a result of the costly break-throughs. But this figure is still 60% higher than the Germans which are at around 1500 and have to fight the western Allies as well.

[Chocolino]

8-14-42

Speaking of the western Allies .... After Sicily and Denmark their latest target is Marseilles. They have defeated the Italian corps holding the city and the Axis has dispatched a group of good quality units to contain them. The railroad limits did not allow us to send more in a single week.

Marseilles is in difficult terrain to counterattack. So it is unlikely we can resolve this situation in similar fashion as before. But it goes both ways and will also hinder any Allied attacks.

[Chocolino]

8-28-42

The Allies pour more troops into Marseilles. This looks serious now. German defenders move up to the front line after being railed in last turn. German HQ realizes they need yet more units to contain this landing.

At the East Front we trade one hex for another but no significant change in the overall front line during all of '42.

[Chocolino]

9-11-42

More German troops arrive on the scene. We can force the surrender of a British and an American land unit since they have no retreat option in the crowded beach head. We also catch/interdict a bomber while landing/unloading in Marseilles harbor, destroying it in the process. While the Allied beach head did not really shrink much they suffered some losses at least.

The Russians on the other hand shattered a German mech. corps at the East Front - which is active but still static on the larger scale.