timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

[timmyab]

Turn 177

A limited offensive during the October mud makes some progress expanding the Posen and Liegnitz salients and the Vistula bridgehead.

[timmyab]

Turn 179

The long retreat from the Don finally ends and positional warfare begins.
The German stacks are tough nuts because morale is probably high especially amongst the panzer divisions. Grinding is what we do best though and although it's a slow start I expect the Wehrmacht to gradually weaken the longer it goes on while we gain strength.

The Southern mountain defenses are very strong. With little chance of a breakthrough two tank armies have been shifted North to join 1st tank front.

[STEF78]

Awsome AAR!

Thanks to both players and always impressed how powerfull the russian steamroll is!

18 monthes ago, the frontline was roughly lake Ladoga/Rostov.

And as axis, 1944 is a long, long way

[timmyab]

Thanks Stef. Yes the speed of our advance from the Don to the German border has suprised me. I guess this was Dave's strategy all along to preserve his force and put up a massive wall along the shortest possible front.
It's a pretty effective strategy and testament to his vast experience playing the game. It's especially effective because the game mechanics mean that half of my force is left standing idle unable to particpate in any way.
I retired another front this week and I probably need to disband some more.

Turn 181
More grinding. A small pocket of three infantry divisions is formed West Of Leignitz.

[timmyab]

Disbanded units

[timmyab]

Turn 182

A more zoomed in view this week gives a better idea of the strength of the German defenses.
Further disbands bring the Soviet OOB down below 9 million.

[timmyab]

Blizzard conditions in the yellow zone, snow elsewhere. Lucky for us the Oder will be frozen by the time we get there.

[timmyab]

Turn 183

After a month of grinding attritional warfare German morale is showing signs of wavering. A thirty mile penetration this week NW of Gorlitz.

[Balou]

What happens to the men and stuff from your disbanded corps ? Your frontline corps must be armed to the teeth.

[timmyab]

It all gets sent back to the pool as far as I know.
There were no noticeable shortages of men or equipment even before the disbands and yes the remaining corps are stuffed full. They are also benifiting from all the SUs from the disbanded fronts.
I'm pretty sure I can afford to disband another front, possibly two.

[timmyab]

Turn 184

Last week's 30 mile push is followed up this week with one of forty miles.

[timmyab]

A patrol from 1st tank army stops to take this photo near the town of Mittenwalde before being chased away by German armor.

[timmyab]

Turn 185

1st tank army's heroic drive North is stopped dead by an SS pz division. A thirty mile penetration this week NE of Dresden.
We continue to chip away at the Mountain defenses in the South. I don't seem to be able to form mountain corps. Is this normal? I remember being able to do so at one time.

[BrianG]

I don't seem to be able to form mountain corps. Is this normal?

that was a long long time ago.

[BrianG]

how many guards tank armies do you have?

how many non guards tank armies?

[timmyab]

Five of each. 4th and 5th GTA have only converted recently.

[timmyab]

Turn 187

Good progress North of Berlin as the Wehrmacht starts to lose cohesion.

[timmyab]

More disbands including several tank corps

[timmyab]

Turn 188

A big pullback in the North. Most of 1st tank front is sent North to try and turn the flank of the German defenses. Magdeburg is the only remaining supply source and forcing the Germans to defend it means fewer strong divisions for the Berlin area. Pressure is maintained in the far South for the same reason.

4th army reaches the Berlin suburbs.

[timmyab]

Turn 189

A good 30 mile advance North of Berlin by 1st guards tank army.

Dresden falls.

I had to do my only reload of the entire game at about this point [:@] I was hoping to make it to the end without having to do any. I was moving a unit and I accidentally right clicked on one of the half hexes at the edge of the map and that will crash the game apparently