Matrix Games Forums

Turn 11 – 12th November 1914 (Cont)

Germany

France

In fighting reminiscent of Stalingrad, 6th Army was obliterated….and I resolve to avenge their defeat (let’s hope it goes better than it did 30 years later!). My artillery bombards the French Infantry that occupies 6th Army's former hex. 9th Infantry, 4th Garrison and 1st Garrison Armies follow up with an attack, the result of which reduces the unit to a 1-strength and sees it retreat behind the river. I cannot get to him to finish him off sadly.

I now switch attention to a second French Infantry, two hexes northwest of Paris. 3rd and 5th Infantry attack, but this is costly and barely hurts the French defender….

My attacks have petered out and I simply repair what I can.

I build a Garrison.

Turkey

As if I didn’t have enough problems – Turkey has entered the war on my side…

A British Garrison has entrenched himself southwest of Gaza. I do not attack but rail and road reinforcements to that sensitive border area as quickly as I can.

I build a lab and a Garrison.

Turn 12 – 26th November 1914

Austria-Hungary

Serbia

Well that was totally expected… my Austrian cruiser falls victim to an attack by the British and French fleets. I counter attack with my Battlefleet against the French, but this unit will be toast next turn.

Frustration turns to anger. I attack the Serb Garrison southeast of Cetinje with 3rd Army and weaken it. 2nd (Temeschburg) Garrison then forces it to withdraw with just 2-strength points left. This leaves the 2nd Sarajevo Garrison to finish the unit off…but remarkably it survives and retreats into Tirana.

All I can do is march my armies south. I consider withdrawing some to fight in Russia, but I cannot risk the Serbs forming a line again…

Russia

I press forward with the 7th Infantry, 1st Cavalry Army and the 1st (Przemysl) Garrison. They partially surround the Russian Garrison in Brest-Litovsk and, along with the German 10th Army, attack the Russian city, but with little effect. My remaining troops strain to catch-up.

I place a reinforcement Garrison near Krakow.

Germany

Russia

The Russians take Posen and so I place a reinforcement Garrison just north of Breslau. I move the repairing 8th Infantry Army south to a hex northwest of Posen.

In East Prussia, I swap the badly depleted 7th Infantry with the newly arrived 13th Infantry and attack the Russian Infantry two hexes south of Koenigsberg – forcing it to retreat. 12th Infantry advances into the space and finishes off the Russian. 11th Infantry attacks the Garrison next door and a 2-1 exchange ensues. Finally I use the High Seas Fleet to bombard a Garrison besieging Koenigsberg.

France

A frustrating turn Is spent repairing and upgrading units – I can attack nothing this turn.

I build an Infantry with my remaining points.

Turkey

In northeast Turkey I use 3rd Infantry and the 2nd (Erzurum) Garrison to attack the Russian Garrison in Sarikamish.

On the border with Turkey a British Infantry attacks 1st Army in Gaza. I respond with an attack from both 1st Army and 1st Cavalry Army which send the British unit into retreat. I also attack the British Garrison northwest of Aqaba with two Garrisons.

Turn 13 – 10th December 1914

Austria-Hungary

Serbia

So the Austrian fleet is no more. Would have arguably been worth it had I taken out Cetinje but….

What’s done is done – what next? I surround a Serb Garrison south of Cetinje, but despite three attacks, he remains in place. All I can do is move my troops toward Skopje and hope for some luck with the attack I am to launch next turn.

Russia

I move the 1st Debrecen and Krakow Garrisons to south of Warsaw, while the bulk of my Army surrounds Brest-Litovsk.

I build a Garrison.

Germany

Russia

The Russians have moved heavy units into Silesia. I put the Breslau Garrison into the city and withdraw 8th Army toward Stettin/Berlin. I decide not to attack, but instead to build up my units in East Prussia.

France

Nothing to be done here…. I can only build up for an attack at some point in the future….

Turkey

I concentrate on bringing my units up to strength and buy a Garrison.

Turn 14 – 24th December 1914

Austria-Hungary

Serbia

I attack the Infantry in Skopje with three Infantry and two Garrisons AND an artillery…. The Infantry survives with 3-strength still on the board!!

The only good news is that I destroy a Garrison south of Cetinje.

Russia

More rubbish news for the Central Powers. I attack a Garrison northeast of Brest-Litovsk with the 1st Cavalry Army, the 5th Infantry Army and the German 10th Army. Result? 3-strength points lost for the Russian…

Germany

But it gets worse in East Prussia – three full strength German Infantry Armies attack a Russian Garrison..who loses 4 strength points only.

Outside Stettin 8th Infantry fights a draw with a Russian Infantry that is about to take the city.

France

I feel happy again! I attack the British Army in Rouen with an artillery assault followed-up by attacks by 1st and 2nd Armies. The British unit is destroyed.

Turkey

I rail an Infantry to Jeruselem, place a Garrison in Erzurum, but otherwise there is nothing happening here.

Turn 15 – 7th January 1915

Austria-Hungary

Serbia

The Serbs, and the British Garrison in Tirana, launch a couple of attacks along the front, but are unable to do much damage. I am therefore able to launch my second offensive against Skopje; and this time it succeeds. I push south with 2nd and 3rd Armies together with the 1st and 2nd Temeshburg Garrisons.

I build a Garrison.

Germany

East Prussia

My three Armies – 11th, 12th and 13th – attack a Russian Garrison 2 hexes southwest of Koenigsberg, forcing it to retreat.

In the Baltic I sail the Fleet to escort the convoy home safely and run into a British sub….

France

I have no Artillery ammo this turn and so decide not to attack. I place an Infantry replacement – the 14th Army – south of Strassburg.

Austria-Hungary and Germany

Germany

The units on this front are fast becoming intertwined.

The Russians are going for maximum dislocation. An Infantry stops just one hex short of Berlin. I rail the Austrian 1st (Prague) Garrison into the German capital. I then send the German 8th Infantry into Stettin thus, for the moment at least, cutting off supply to the Russian unit. Meanwhile, the Austrian 8th Army is moved toward Posen in order to cut off the Russian Infantry besieging Breslau.

Russia

I take some damage to both the 1st (Debrecen) Garrison near Warsaw, and the 1st Cavalry Army northeast of Brest-Litovsk.

I swap the Austrian 1st Cavalry with the German 10th Army and push the Austrian 5th Army north of the River Bug. It launches an attack against a Garrison north of Brest-Litovsk in conjunction with the Austrian 7th Army, forcing the Russian unit to retreat.

Turkey

I push north towards Batumi with the 7th (Erzurum) Garrison.

Turn 15 – 7th January 1915 (Cont)

...and the Western Front

Turn 16 – 21st January 1915

Austria-Hungary

Serbia

To avoid unnecessary losses I do not attack in Serbia this turn, but instead position my forces for an offensive against the British Garrison southeast of Tirana.

Russia

I place the newly arrived 1st (Lemburg) Garrison northwest of the city.

Germany

East Prussia

12th Army is down to 4-strength. I re-organise my troops there in order to give them a breather, but they are looking very exposed…

France

Little I can do here. I am going to need the German Infantry that arrives next turn in East Prussia, so apart from an attack against the British Garrison south of Rouen, I do nothing here other than an attack by 14th Army two hexes east of Dijon. This is just to let the French know they need to worry about this part of the front.
Austria-Hungary and Germany

Germany

I send the 8th Army to re-capture Posen, putting the Russian Infantry out of supply. Further north, the Russians send a Garrison to re-supply the Infantry that was about to attack Berlin. I decide to hold fire with 8th Infantry holding Stettin.

Russia

My troops around Brest-Litovsk are red or yellow, and I need to be careful about being cut-off. I hate to do it but I withdraw the Austrian 1st Cavalry behind the Bug and withdraw the Austrian 5th and German 10th Armies on hex south.

Turkey

The British continue to lie low so I build an Infantry and continue to dig in. My 7th (Erzurum) Garrison is still slowly making its way to Batumi.

Turn 17 – 4th February 1915

Austria-Hungary

I attack and destroy the Garrison southeast of Tirana and position for an attack on the unit south of that city next.

Germany

My convoy is attacked in the Baltic by a submarine and loses a point.

East Prussia

12th Infantry survived, but was reduced to a red 5-strength unit. I do not attack here but concentrate on keeping my units in supply.

I focus research on Armed Aircraft.

France

My efforts in France have stalled badly. I launch some attacks designed to keep the pressure on France and Britain therefore. From Rouen I attack the British Garrison on the coast using 1st Army. More importantly, I attack the French Infantry 2 hexes northeast of Paris, reducing him to a 5-strength.

Austria-Hungary and Germany

Germany

I make a mistake here… I attack the retreating Russian Infantry east of Stettin with 8th Army. He is reduced to a red 4-strength. The mistake was that I had already moved the Austrian 1st (Prague) Garrison to Stettin so could not follow-up the attack.

I then attack the Russian Garrison northwest of Posen using the Austrian 8th Army and the 1st (Breslau) Garrison. The Russian is reduced to a red 6-strength.

I place the newly arrived German 15th Infantry Army east of Stettin.

I place the Austrian 9th Infantry Army north of Lemburg.

Turkey

My Garrison is now just one hex south of an unoccupied Batumi.

Turn 18 – 18th February 1915

Austria-Hungary

Serbia

The Garrison south of Tirana is no more. Next turn its Tirana itself…..

Germany

France

I attack the French Infantry I hurt last turn using the 5th and 9th Infantry Armies. I reduce the Infantry to a red 4-strength.

East Prussia

12th Infantry’s luck finally ran out… I pound a Russian Garrison with 7th and 13th Armies, but otherwise hold station.

I build an Infantry and two Garrisons.

Turkey

The Turks take Batumi.

Austria-Hungary and Germany

Germany

The sneaky British are about to launch an amphibious invasion of northern Germany. I rail the Austrian 1st (Prague) and German 2nd Garrison to northwest of Wilhelmshaven and Hamburg respectively. These are the only units I can get to the danger zone this turn.

I also move the High Seas Fleet to the entrance to the Kiel Canal.

Around Posen an attack by the German 15th Army and the Austrian 8th Army destroys a Russian Garrison, but annoyingly the German 8th Army fails to destroy a Russian Army.

Russia

Three attacks by the Austrian 1st Cavalry and 5th Infantry Armies, together with the German 10th Infantry, record just one hit on the Russian Garrison northeast of Brest-Litovsk. The Austrian 7th Army has more success against the Garrison north of the city, recording a 2-1 hit.

Turn 18 – 18th February 1915 (Cont)

...and the Russian Front

Turn 19 – 4th March 1915

Austria-Hungary

Serbia

The Infantry in Tirana is eliminated. The Serbs have one unit left – in Cetinje. With Italy due in the war in 6-8 turns I will need to start moving units to the Italian border from next turn.

Germany

Germany

My fleet enters the North Sea and destroys one of the British transports. One British Garrison lands, northwest of Wilhelmshaven and I attack with the two Garrisons I sent to sort out the invader. The attack cost more damage to the Austrian Garrison than the British. To be on the safe side I place a Garrison in Hamburg. The second Garrison is placed west of the Ruhr.

In East Prussia I attack a Russian Garrison, forcing it to retreat, but otherwise hold fire.

France

5th Infantry takes a pounding from the French. I evacuate the unit out of the frontline. I advance with 14th Army toward Dijon, attacking the French Garrison in the south. West of Verdun I attack a French Infantry, forcing it to retreat. Sadly, I cannot follow-up with any unit to finish it off…

My final attack is southwest of Rouen where I reduce the British Garrison to a 6-strength.

Austria-Hungary and Germany

Germany

I advance with the Austrian 8th Army from Posen toward Warsaw and attack the depleted Infantry unit northwest of the city. The unit survives and retreats. I move up the German 8th and 15th Infantry Armies to threaten the Russian Infantry two hexes northwest of Warsaw. The 2nd Artillery and 1st (Breslau) Garrison also move east.

Russia

Further east around Brest-Litovsk, the Austrian Debrecen Garrison was lucky to survive being depleted to a 1-strength. The 7th Infantry attacks German railroad unit halfway between Brest-Litovsk and Warsaw. The Przemysl Garrison joins in the attack, reducing the Russian to a 5-strength.

I re-order my lines, once again retreating my troops east of Brest-Litovsk.

Turkey

The Turks get Industrial Warfare and I use my build points to upgrade all the units I can.

I research and focus on Barbed Wire.

5th Infantry Army arrives and I place it north of Erzurum.

Turn 20 – 18th March 1915

Austria-Hungary

Serbia

I move units into place for the attack(s) to follow against Cetinje.

I build a Garrison.

Germany

Germany

I destroy the Garrison that landed in northern Germany. The fleet heads back to the Baltic, less the Battle Squadron that bombarded the coast earlier.

East Prussia

I attack – and force to retreat – a Garrison.

France

I attack – and force to withdraw – the British Garrison on the coast south of Rouen. Otherwise it’s a very Quiet sector this turn.

Austria-Hungary and Germany

What a mess! I bring forward the 2nd Artillery Army in order to bombard Warsaw next turn. Unfortunately the Russians have almost formed a line along the Bug which I was desperate to avoid… I attack the Railroad unit and force this to withdraw northeast of Warsaw with just 1-point remaining.

Turkey

I move 5th Infantry Army toward Sarikamish.

Turn 20 – 18th March 1915 (Cont)

...and the Russian Front

Turn 21 – 1st April 1915

Austria-Hungary

Serbia

Units are in position to attack Cetinje next turn.

Italy

I begin the fortification of the border by railroading 4th Army to Trieste.

Germany

East Prussia

I am down to my last two Garrisons in East Prussia. I dare not attack.

France

I attack – and force to retreat the British Garrison on the coast. Otherwise, there is little for me to do. The French and British are getting stronger and stronger.

I place an Infantry near the Ruhr for service in France.

Austria-Hungary and Germany

I place a Garrison outside Lemburg.

A mixed Austrian/German force take Warsaw, leaving my Artillery free to get in position to attack the Russian Infantry 2 hexes northeast of Warsaw.

Turkey

Egypt

The 1st Infantry in Gaza is almost destroyed. However I swap with the 2nd Infantry and attack in conjunction with the 1st Cavalry Army and the 6th (Jeruselem) Garrison. My Garrison is almost certainly finished as I advanced in order to kill off a British Infantry – only for him to retreat!!

Russia

I attack the Garrison in Sarikamish using 3rd and 5th Infantry Armies + the 2nd Erzurum Garrison. I reduce the Garrison to a 7.

Turn 22 – 15th April 1915

Austria-Hungary

Incredible – one artillery, three Infantry and two Garrisons attack Cetinje…I score 2 hits!!!!

Germany

In France I destroy a British Garrison and maul the French Garrison next door along the coast south of Rouen.

Turkey

Sure enough my Garrison was destroyed. I attack a British Garrison with 4th Infantry, 1st Cavalry and the Aqaba Garrison, but he remains intact with a strength of 3. In the north my Erzurum Garrison marches on Tiflis.

Turn 23 – 29th April 1915

Austria-Hungary

Serbia

The situation in Cetinje is not good. Out of artillery shells I attack with three Infantry and Two Garrisons – same result. I can only reduce the Serb Garrison by 2-points. I need these units on the Italian border!!

Italy

I place the newly arrived 10th Infantry Army outside Trieste as part of the build up against Italy.

Germany

Baltic

My convoy is about to be splattered by a British submarine. I send the fleet to help if they can.

France

German Infantry on the coast destroyed by a combined French / British air land and sea attack.

I try and gain some measure of revenge, attacking the British Infantry south of Rouen with 2nd and 16th Armies. They reduce the British unit to a 5-strength.

In order to keep the pressure on, I also attack the exposed French Infantry two hexes northeast of Paris. 3rd, 5th and 9th Armies reduce the French unit to a 4.

My forces are becoming stretched and so I build two Garrisons.

Italy

I place the 17th Infantry Army reinforcement south of Stuttgart ready to advance south to the Italian border.
I need to repair some units on the Eastern Front but I cannot be unprepared for Italy’s intervention and so end the turn purchasing a Garrison instead.

Austria-Hungary and Germany

Russia and East Prussia

1st (Hamburg) Garrison and 15th Army attack the Garrison on half supply in Danzig. He will take a bit of shifting. In desperation I divert the Austrian 8th Infantry Army to help out; result – Danzig Garrison is now down to three.

In the east, three Austrian Garrisons have advanced as far as Vinnytsia and Kiev. There are Russian Garrisons in both and so I head back west with 3rd (Lemburg) Garrison toward Vinnytsia to join the other two units and avoid being cut-off.

Turkey

In the Caucasus I advance with 2nd Erzurum Garrison to the outskirts of Tiflis, while further south, 3rd and 5th Armies reduce the defending Garrison in Sarikamish to a 6-strength.

In Egypt I take my heart in my mouth and advance with 4th Army in order to attack a British Garrison I know has retreated into the hex two hexes south of Gaza. I reduce it to a 3.

I repair my 2nd Infantry in Gaza and 1st Cavalry southeast of the city and end the Turkish turn.

I research and focus on the Infantry Grenade.

....and some screenies on all fronts at the end of turn 23.

The Caucasus

The Egyptian Front

The Western Front

The Eastern Front

Turn 24 – 13th May 1915

Austria-Hungary

Serbia

I am losing the will to live with the Garrison in Cetinje. It is impervious to attack!! I cannot waste any more time on this and move 6th Infantry toward the nearest railhead for onward transmission to Italy or Russia. I do the same with the 2nd (Temeschburg Garrison).

Germany

Baltic

My sub takes a 2-1 exchange with the British sub that has attacked my convoy.

Germany
I place two Garrisons in the north of Germany as I detect enemy cruiser and transport presence..

France

I reduce a French Infantry northeast of Paris using 3rd, 5th and 9th Armies. I cannot move into the gap to finish him off however. That finishes my turn here.

Austria-Hungary and Germany

Italy

The German 17th Infantry Army arrive in Trento.

I place the 1st (Zagreb) Garrison west of the city.

Russia and East Prussia

The Austrian/German attack on Danzig succeeds, freeing up the German 15th Army for service further east.

I complete the surrounding of Vinnytsia with my three Austrian Garrisons.

Turkey

In the Caucasus the Sarikamish fighting continues, while the 2nd Erzurum Garrison marches boldly into Tiflis.

In Egypt Gaza is coming under intense pressure but I take a chance and attack the British Garrison to the south of the city using 1st and 4th Armies and 1st Cavalry Army. The British unit holds with strength reduced to 4.

Turn 25 – 27th May 1915

Austria-Hungary

I leave a screening force around Cetinje and move other units to railheads.

Germany

In Germany itself, sure enough a British Garrison lands northwest of Wilhelmshaven where he is set upon by the 2nd Garrison Army and the 1st (Wilhelmshaven Garrison).

France

A retreat is on the cards here. I attack a French Infantry north west of Paris with artillery, aircraft and three armies, but lose heavily. The counter-attack will be painful.

Austria-Hungary and Germany

The German and Austrian 7th Armies, along with the German 15th Army, attack a Russian Garrison on the East Prussian border. The Russian holds on – although is reduced to 1-strength. I send the Austrian 8th Army by rail to Lemberg with a view to helping out the Garrisons attacking Vinnytsia.

Turkey

Gaza falls. I will now need to retreat…and quickly.

And some screenies post Turn 25

France and Germany

...and the Russian Front