Centre
This is where things have got a bit messy. Two attacks over the Dnepr have trashed my line. The southern attack, in the Mogilev sector, is broad and quite deep.
With a tentative connection to Northwest Front, units of the Moscow Military District man defences on the upper Dnepr, east of Smolensk. One corps of 24th Army takes up blocking positions around the Mezha, to slow down any move between the Dvina and the Dnepr, towards Rzhev. Meanwhile, Reserve Front continues to form and dig in Rzhev- Vyazma, while extending both north and south along river lines to inhibit early outflanking manoeuvres.
Western Front’s 20th Army holds onto Smolensk but falls back to the Sozh from its former positions west of the city. On its left, 13rd Army sacrifices one division near Orsha, to clear out a small enemy bridgehead over the Dnepr which infantry following the enemy tanks might use for a time saving crossing point. The rest of the army falls back to and behind Krichev. Next are the intertwined 4th Airborne Corps and 4th Army, elements of the latter actually being strung out between Propoisk on the Sozh, through Gomel and to Rakitno in the Pripyat region.
A rabble of Orel Military District divisions form a southern flank for the central region. Their displacement would compromise the Kiev position in one go. Worryingly, Flam has flown some heavy supply missions to the tank formations forming up here. Which direction will they strike?
Necessarily, a new line of shell units is forming at Bryansk.
A significant problem is the Western Front’s army commanders lack of ability in handling armour. I’m reluctant to sack good infantry commanders, some of whom also have good initiative and admin ratings, but as in the Northern front sector, I’m now looking to establish one tank heavy army with an appropriate commander.
