Matrix Games Forums

The big picture in the south. The Kharkov bag looks dangerous for the Germans but isn't really. The important question is where to put the Soviet front line in relation to Kharkov. The bag is fairly well secured, so there's no question of pulling everything east of the city.

Shattered units.

Turn 35
Another two hexes are taken on the Leningrad Front.

Moscow. There is still some indecisive fighting around Kalinin, but the front line is fairly well established now. I may set some units to static at some point to lower attrition losses.

The battle to retake Tula is coming to a climax, with Bryansk Front, and elements of Western Front, now in a position to begin offensive operations against the city itself.

Kursk Kharkov. It's clear to me now that the drive to recapture Kharkov hasn't succeeded because it is necessary to take Kursk first. We are at the gates of that city now, but it looks to be too late ....

In the south the Germans begin their withdrawal and Nikolaev falls to the Crimea Front. That was the main aim of the blizzard offensive in this sector, but mobile forces are now racing for Yushnoe, and if they take it will pin the best German infantry in AGS against the Black Sea coast.

There are two more blizzard turns left, so we will begin to reorganise our armies and pull back from the western Ukraine with a view to holding the Nikolaev Kirovgrad line. Leningrad looks to be out of reach, so our immediate objectives are to take Kursk and Tula and spring the surprise we have long been preparing for the Finnish armies. In terms of the defence, we will be asking the Germans to prove that they have the forces to launch a March snow offensive, rather than ceding hundreds of miles without a fight.

Were I the German player, I would be tempted to mass every available mobile division in the Kharkov bulge and then drive south for the Dnepr bend or the coast of the sea of Azov (this presumes, of course, that the bulge will stay a bulge and not become a pocket). To judge from the maps and his losses, it seems unlikely - if at all possible - that he would attempt to form a coherent front between Odessa and Sumy, which means that surest way for him to get back in the game would be to try to establish a front running from Kharkov to the sea of Azov, with the added bonus of mauling everything west of this line in the process. Strong defensive lines and reserves on an east-west axis south of Kharkov might therefore be a fair investment.

In any case it sure is a interesting game and AAR.

I would say the same. First to eliminate the Soviets around Kursk and then push towards the sea with everything.

I don't think the German's can get mobile divisions into the bulge. A more likely opening move would be to try to trap the Soviet forces against the side of the bulge - probably the north side, for logistical reason. If that works then conditions might be right for a drive south. I don't think it'll be possible to pull off the pocket and the drive to the Sea of Azov before the mud, however. For one thing I'll be reinforcing that axis, for another the German superiority isn't so overwhelming, and for a third I should have time to evacuate the south or trace supply through the Crimea.

would second your evaluation about the Kursk - Kharkov strongpoints.
btw, while you established yourself as a gentleman by not (mis)using your paras, I think wars are won by harming your opponent in the most ugliest way possible... [:)]
nevertheless, a very interesting aar - a 200 mile wide gap in the south is quite fascinating to watch.

How far forward are your rail lines in the southern areas?

You can see in the screenshot above - barely past the R Bazavluk.

Turn 36

The great blizzard offensive is coming to a halt. The last push on Leningrad comes to a ignominious end, as most of the defending 217 Infantry Division do not bother halting their game of pinochle to halt my attack.

Fighting on the Moscow front has come to a halt, but fighting on the Tula front has led to a triumph. Six brigades of tanks have cut off three divisions, and route three more. This will set the fascists reeling back to Berlin in no time ....

Kursk: despite straining every nerve and sinew, we isolate but fail to encircle Kursk

In the south, the Soviet advance reaches its high-water mark and begins to recede. Kharkov is to stay German for a few terms more.

Nikalaev. The German finally take to their heels and the Crimea Front's pincer closes on empty air.

Wagons East! Guards, lead the way! Oh, and any other precious unit with value follow them up. The rest of you, continue the offensive, this should bring a glorious conclusion to this war in no time!

Just watching this game makes me think of how savage and brutal this war truly was. I like how winter comes to a conclusion without straight lines in place and everyone marching around like nothing has happened.