Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Arstavidios

I don't leave stacks with only minors in the south, I always stack them with at least one German division.

the germans have a good defensive capacity. so even if you can't attack any more you can slow down the soviets for quite some time if you manage your force carefully. This is also interesting. The soviets have a long way to go and they do not have that much manpower. you have to make them bleed and use the opportunities for counterattacks as they advance into newly conquered hexes that have not been fortified yet.

ORIGINAL: Tophat1812

Keep up the good fight terje! Lots of guard divisions eh? He seems a bit impatient,open the door and see how far he'll stick himself through it.

ORIGINAL: tm1

Hi Terje
Hope you don't mind me posting im really enjoying the battle, it looks like a tough fight ahead fcr both of you.
This is what makes it great to play when its close.
You have certainly have much more experience and playing time than me but i hope you don't mind me sharing my 2 cents worth to your current situation
with few ideas of my own.
Firstly one of the members put forth the idea of a general withdrawal then counter attack, a good idea but if you give up to much ground its sometimes hard to win back.
Also Im certain any one who plays this game loathes giving up 1 inch let alone 1 hex wether they play Soviet or German.
However after looking at your map after t68 it looks like a tough ask to hold Smolensk, what about a partial withdrawal of Army Group Centre to a defensive line along the Dnepr River and dig for the winter.
The same for Army Group North shortening your defence lines with the hope of creating some kind of reserve.
My thinking is the south is the key to victory lots of open terrain,Infantry is no match for Tanks, it looks to me that you have concentrated your Panzers there so Army Group South should hold its ground till summer.
From what I see your opponent seems a very capable player and will have some formidable strategy prepared for the summer of 43 to counter your moves.
If your line has held over the winter when summer comes make your move in the south but instead of attacking fall back first as Von Manstein did at Kharkov then turn and strike with your Panzers better still if you can pull off Hannibals Cannae strategy you could destroy the entire Soviet southern front leaving you free to attack the Soviet central front.
Of course easy said than done but I believe I have read posts on here from fellow members that tell me your a master of encirclements.

I guess im not telling you anything you have not done in the past or even thought about before so good luck and don't surrender yet.
cheers
Regards TM

ORIGINAL: loki100

are you still optimistic that you can make 1943 into a stalemate, thus giving yourself some depth for the later stages?

that was a lof of isolated tanks you had there ... they really need to start talking to each other more often?

ORIGINAL: STEF78

The CV of the russian isn't divided as far as he hasn't played. So the Cv of 18 is before the effect of mud.

ORIGINAL: Arstavidios

I don't agree with disbanding the luftwaffe field divisions.
later on they grow to the same strength as regular divisions and they can be quite useful, even in 1942, to hold the line in quiet places of the front.

I prefer disbanding some luftwaffe Hqs FDB units and extra airfields first if I really need to get some extra manpower. also in 1942 I reduce the TOE of german division to about 75%. Divisions are often short of rifle squads while they usually have plenty of other things.

just my opinion though.