1.04 The Wolf and the Bear (no Gids)

[Tarhunnas]

In the south, the advance towards Kiev continues. I had planned a more southerly prong towards Chernigov, but with the mud, I continue straight towards Kiev. A little unimaginative maybe, but with the advance in the center there may be an opportunity here in a turn or two...

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 6.

In the far north, the Finns are advancing. By judiciously attacking only each other hex and pushing infantry forward into the gaps, the Finns can make some pockets even without armor!

[Tarhunnas]

Here is an overview of the North and center after German moves turn 6.

On the approaches to Leningrad, the advance is slowing down. Soviet forces on the road straight to Leningrad prove to be well entrenched, and I don't have the MPs to cross the river and make deliberate attacks. Instead the panzers follow the route of least resistance (which can sometimes be good and sometimes bad) and move up to the coast. As Tallin is stormed at the same time, any Soviets west of the spearhed are isolated. Unfortunately, air recon suggests the are is mostly empty, but we can undoubtedly increase the prisoner haul by rounding up a number of the local peasants...

In the center, things are going well. As a result of last turns pocket at Smolensk, the advance is almost unopposed. The lead panzers push weak opposition aside and roll into Ordzhonikidzegrad (the suburb of Bryansk) to find the factories still in operation!
Actually, this is a bit embarrassing in that the OKH plan envisaged a concentration on Leningrad at the expense of the Moscow thrust, but as things are developing, the central thrust is proving the most successful.

[Tarhunnas]

In the south, the soviets are giving ground. We more or less bludgeon our way east and reach the Dnepr south of Kiev. A number of small encirclements, but nothing decisive.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 7.

In the north, 4th panzer group finds a weak spot in the enemy lines and punches through, cutting Leningrads rail line connections. The Industry in Leningrad will not move anywhere.

[Tarhunnas]

In Byelorussia, it seems the people does not love us, but instead engage in acts of wanton sabotage! This is worrying! Not that they do not love us, that's ok, we don't love them either. In fact we are planning on replacing them with German settlers. But it's worrying that they blow up the railroads. That can have serious consequences for our supply situation.

Fortunately, an SS cavalry brigade arrives at the scene and restores order with some firm but just reprisal actions. The proud troopers of the SS - still undefeated in combat against unarmed civilians!

To avoid further incidents, counterinsurgency methods recommended by the american Joel Billings are adopted. As the partisans will apparently not blow up railroads adjacent to an Axis unit, I put unneeded headquartes, broken down regiments and build some FZs along the railroads. See the "anttrails" on the jump map. Even the clerks of the OKH get to patrol some raillines across the border from East Prussia!

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 7 in the center.

The march forward is inhibited by supply difficulties and the panzers waiting for the infantry to catch up. Instead some panzer units strike out southeast and encircle a clutch of Soviet divisions, though it is a rather loose encirclement. It appears AGS might be needing some support, so we are moving southeast in preparation...

To the norteast, the reds have surrounded the 20th panzer division, but in a remarkable feat of arms the valiant division turns the tables on the attackers and capture Rzhev (circled). It will in all likelihood be surrounded again, so generous amounts of fuel, supplies and iron crosses are flown in.

Map after German moves turn 7.

[Tarhunnas]

And the south. It appears the asiatic hordes are cowering behind the Dnepr instead of fighting like men. The panzers again follow the line of least resistance and roll southeast against slight enemy opposition. Scattered enemy units are surrounded.

13th panzer division arrives opposite Kremetchug, and its artillery starts to hammer the railyard to prevent evacuation of the factories our intelligence says are still operating in the city.

It will soon be time to decide what to do about Odessa. We have only Rumanians in the vicinity, and I doubt their ability to take the city unaided if the reds decide to make a stand of it. However, I am reluctant to divert a corps of 11th army that way.

[Tarhunnas]

OOB and losses turn 7.

[Tarhunnas]

Production turn 7. This is filtered to German production.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 8.

The struggle for Leningrad continues. It is hard going but we expand our penetration and encircle some Soviet units at the Luga. Map after German moves.

[Tarhunnas]

In the center, the situation is fluid. Our panzers are low on fuel, so are limited in their ability to advance. Some local advances are made, and some Soviet units encircled, but they will break out again. Shot after German move.

[Tarhunnas]

In the South, the cowardly communist hordes decline to fight even at the Dnepr, and withdraw to the east. Shot before German move. Well, STAVKA can read a map too, and the advance at Chernigov did look a bit menacing I guess. There goes the chance for a big pocket at Kiev... Map after recon but before German moves.

[Tarhunnas]

With the Soviets running away, we go factory hunting with the panzers instead. The industry in Nikolaev is blocked from evacuating. In the east, we go for the riches of Dnepropetrovsk, but a stubborn Soviet cavalry division manages to delay the panzers just enough, and we end up one hex from the city. [:(]

[Klydon]

I don't understand why he gave up on the river like that. Did you gas the panzers and he caught on? Where does he think he is going to get encircled behind the river at? At the very least, leave a rearguard or something instead of total abandonment. That is potentially a huge chunk of territory to give up and by giving it up, he narrowed your choices on what to attack to put the threat on the factories, although it will be interesting to see if he tries to cut off that 1st Panzer thrust towards D-town.

Also, don't forget there is a port between Odessa and Nikolaev.

What is left in Leningrad for industry? Whatever he has there is stuck since you clipped the rail line coming out.

Nice job overall so far.

[Tarhunnas]

ORIGINAL: Klydon

I don't understand why he gave up on the river like that. Did you gas the panzers and he caught on? Where does he think he is going to get encircled behind the river at? At the very least, leave a rearguard or something instead of total abandonment. That is potentially a huge chunk of territory to give up and by giving it up, he narrowed your choices on what to attack to put the threat on the factories,

Nope, I didn't gas them. I think he got scared by the thrust from north, the one with the cavalry division leading. In fact, the SS-division there had like 10 MPs, so it wasn't much of a threat, but he couldn't know that.

But I don't really think it was a mistake to withdraw. There is not much there of worth, and with the front up at Bryansk in tatters, I think it was the prudent move.

ORIGINAL: Klydon
although it will be interesting to see if he tries to cut off that 1st Panzer thrust towards D-town.

I don't think he can do that, though it might be possible. I could have done that better actually. If I had placed the SS-division in the spot indicated by the yellow dot, he couldn't have cut them off. With unit in every other hex, the russkies cannot get in between unless he starts adjacent, as almost no Soviet units can move from ZOC to ZOC after having moved one hex.

ORIGINAL: Klydon

What is left in Leningrad for industry? Whatever he has there is stuck since you clipped the rail line coming out.

As far as I can tell, everything is still there.

[Klydon]

The big prizes in Leningrad are the KV factory and the pile of armaments. Should also have a vehicle factory there which is also big and the T50 factory will flip over to T34 production at some point. I will be somewhat surprised if he doesn't try to launch some counter attacks to try to push back some of those tired looking divisions in your spearhead, but the damage has already been done. He won't get anything out of Leningrad at this point.

How have you done so far on wiping out his industry?

[Tarhunnas]

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas

ORIGINAL: Klydon
although it will be interesting to see if he tries to cut off that 1st Panzer thrust towards D-town.

I don't think he can do that,

Oops! He could allright! That was a classic example of underestimating the enemy!

I should have added "unless there is cavalry around".

Map before German move turn 9.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 9. The largest part of offensive action in AGS is spent on extricating the surrounded panzer divisions. Industry is stuck in Krementchug and Nikolaev by adjacent German units. Map after German move with the panzers relieved, somewhat shaken but not stirred.

[Tarhunnas]

In the center, the 18th panzer division captures Rzhev in a coup de main. It appears enemy resistance in front of Moscow is rather weak. Unfortunately, so are our forces. There is only a single panzer corps in the Vyazma - Rzhev area. The other panzers in AGC are south of Bryansk, beset by severe supply difficulties. I should really regroup and focus my efforts in the center. The panzers have kind of just happened to end up where they are, and with the withdrawal of the enemy southern front, that juicy target is gone. However, I am reluctant to waste one of the limited turns of summer weather on just regrouping.

A lone SS panzer brigade takes an opportunity created by the capture of Velikie Luki, and goes joyriding around a large part of the Soviet forces in the area. It leaves a trail of German-controlled hexes, but unfortunately, it is to weak to surround the enemy with any chance of holding the encirclement. Apparently, the brigade commander has read the memoirs of JEB Stuart.

Map after German moves turn 9.