Revanchism in Europe (PBEM gwgardner vs Chocolino)

[gwgardner]

We hear little about the effect of the Allies strategic bombing effort. Allied intel shows substantial damage to industrial targets in Axis occupied western countries, western Germany, and Italy.

So far the Allied bombing has ignored German oil resources. With the new intelligence that the bombing campaign has not dampened the Axis production capability, the Allies may consider shifting their bombing targets to all oil-related locations.

On a related note, the ability of the AXIS to maintain panzer readiness and strength has heavily impacted the Italian theater, so if the Allies could stop the panzers in their tracks that would go a far way to opening the southern front. However, experience has shown that the AXIS rarely has to fear oil shortages, so it is a real debate in bomber command as to whether to shift targeting.

[Chocolino]

Allied strategic bombing is successful even though I don't record the exact numbers turn by turn. Since the Axis is not conducting prolonged mobile warfare (rather stationary and defensive right now) oil is not an issue at all. It was probably wise to target production instead.

[Chocolino]

1-14-44

German attacks cost the Allies another corps in Italy. As great as this sounds these attacks cost more than they are worth as it leaves the Germans exhausted an vulnerable. They are not capable of replenishing their units in a turn any more.

The Bismark and Hipper were still raiding convoys in the Atlantic - and with some modest success. Until now that is. The Allies did finally have enough and hunted down the Bismark and sunk her (see news bulletin below). But the Heavy Cruiser Hipper will continue the operations alone now against all odds of success and as long as possible.

[Chocolino]

1-14-44

Despite the poor supply situation the Allies continue to build up in Yugoslavia. This starts to look scary.

[Chocolino]

1-14-44

It should be noted that the Allies augmented their Balkan campaign by also occupying Tirane (which was theirs since the fall of Italy). It is a decent harbor but it has only road access and no rail connection. Still - given the number of units they will soon be able to overwhelm us by numbers. The Axis does not have the units any more to enclose this area watertight.

[Chocolino]

1-28-44

In Italy, the German defenders were thrown back across the Po river but managed to regain the defensive river front once more for most of its length. But the Allies managed to exhaust also these units which were the best that were left to the Axis.

[Chocolino]

1-28-44

The Soviets have caught up with the German retreat and so far our line is still as intended. But a mobile Russian corps emerged out of the weakly defended marches and placed itself on our supply lines west of Kiev. While this may be a suicicide mission it will cause quite some disruption in the German rear that is probably worth the cost to the Russian (and they can well afford it).

[Chocolino]

2-11-44

A relatively quiet week.

2-25-44

We have to abandon Mogilev to shore up the marches to the south. The Russian mechanized corps is still roaming on top of our supply lines.

[Chocolino]

2-25-44

The German AG North-Italy is still strong enough for an occasional counterattack. This turn we shattered one US corps. But the tide is turning very fast now.

In Yugoslavia (no pic since no real action yet) the British outnumber us now significantly - they have sent in many Canadian units. The Allied units probe forward and will probably swarm across our loose perimeter at an opportune moment. We can only delay this as long as possible by punishing the most forward units where we can reach them.

[Chocolino]

3-10-44

A Soviet breakthrough south of Kiev forced us to fall back yet again. We have to abandon Kiev and the protective river line.

North of the Pripjat marches the situation is stable.

[Chocolino]

3-10-44

The Allies take the port of Genoa and also break through in the central Po valley. We cut off the most forward Allied corps in a counterstroke. But it is doubtful if we can keep the American unit isolated long enough to become weak given the Allied strength and air power in the region.

The overall situation is precarious to say the least and German HQ starts to simply ignore bad news while issuing stand firm orders.

[Chocolino]

3-24-44

This week we are forced to give up Milan. German HQ was never happier about Swiss neutrality. Otherwise there would be no holding back the Allied deluge even for another week.

[Chocolino]

3-24-44

So far our loose cordon in the Balkans did its job holding the Allies in check there. But now they are probing our defensive semi-vacuum and place themselves on the Belgrade - Zagreb rail line. German defenders close in and try to dislodge them - but fail.

[Chocolino]

3-24-44

In the central Ukraine our defensive forces have essentially disintegrated. Large encirclements are threatened and the weather plus ZOC prevents sufficient mobility to get out of the pockets.

Actually interesting how this roughly resembles historic events at a very similar time frame.

In the north we continue with an orderly retreat back through the Baltic states and Belorussia towards Poland.

[Chocolino]

4-7-44

Slowly but surely we are pushed out of the industrial centers of Italy. Perhaps we can hold on to the choke points of the Haute Savoi and the Brennero pass for a bit. All we can hope for now is to delay the inevitable (while our propaganda minister still talks about final victory.)

[Chocolino]

4-7-44

In the Balkans we fight back 2 Allied units trying to breach our cordon. Our lines are still holing here but in the very south the British outnumber us and it will be hard to contain them.

[Chocolino]

4-7-44

In the southern Ukraine our lines continue to dissolve. Threatened German units fight hard westward to avoid encirclement - but it looks bad. Romania is also everything but secure.

German HQ is also loath to commit more units to Romania via the Budapest-Bucharest railway since they can soon be cut off by the British from the Balkans.

[Chocolino]

4-21-44

The Soviets are at the gates of Romania (depending on where to define the border - with or without Besarabia). We could also not save all German defenders in the Ukraine and some units were pocketed. But we have again a semblance of a line protecting Poland.

[Chocolino]

4-21-44

In the central and northern portion of the East Front the orderly withdrawal continues and we are about to leave the Baltic states.

[Chocolino]

4-21-44

In Yugoslavia the Allies rush our loose cordon and it looks they will overwhelm the south. In the north we protect the Belgrade - Zagreb rail line and one Canadian unit flees from battle towards the north into Hungary.

The front in northern Italy is about the same as last week.