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The rest of the front basically stays static with one exception. Up North, I decide to start a counter offensive. I have two main reasons
1. Test his strength and reaction.
2. Re-capture the rail line which links the net to Kalinin. I have major plans in that direction, having a functioning rail line close by will be paramount to success.

NW Front's 11th and 27th Armies are massively reinforced with as many rested and refitted Divs as I can find.
5th Airborn Corps is transformed into an semi "armoured" Corps and has 4 armoured brigades, under Rybalko, attached.
The going is easy as he fails to grasp the importance of this RR for now.
At the same time, 49th Army (previously in reserve) is railed to an advantageous position and then moves overland in the direction of Torzhok. 32nd Army (also of Kalinin Front) is reinforced.

My plans for the Blizzard are slowly being put into motion.

In the Center, I just shuffle some divsions around in Bryansk Front area. I'm going to get beaten up some more but there's nothing I can do but take it like a man [:D]
After the shock of how easy it is to capture those city hexes, I move in another Siberian division into the Moscow hex. The combined strength is 150 CV in a lvl 3 hex. Each division belongs to a different Army with high initiative ratings (one 7, 2x 6, with Zukov backing them up. All 3 armies have several strong divisions in reserve.

In addition, I find this in the manual:
15.5.3.1. DEFENSIVE RESERVE UNITS COMMITMENT TO CITY AND URBAN HEXES
There are special rules regarding defending unit’s ability to react from reserve into a battle in
a city, light urban or heavy urban hex. Any reserve unit within 2 hexes of a battle in a city or
urban hex that can trace it’s way to the hex and has at least one movement point remaining
may be committed from reserve even if the number of MPs to reach the battle exceed the
number the unit has remaining. The unit is also exempt from the normal distance check. If the
unit commits to the battle, it will expend the normal cost to commit from reserve, but if it is
more than the remaining MPs of the unit, the unit will be reduced to zero MPs. Units can never
be adjacent to an enemy unit to react in from reserve and must still pass a leader initiative
roll to be committed. In addition, the normal Die(18) die roll used to compare against number
of units committed is changed to Die(36) for light-urban and Die(72) for heavy-urban (instead
of Die(18)).

I'm thinking, let him come!

TURN 23

Up North he counter attacks the lead divisions. But the times are changing...

In the center, what I considered impossible has happened. The Moscow hex is lost and it only took 2 assaults...
Again, all industry goes with it.

In neither attacks on Moscow reserve(s) are comitted.
The attack on the hex just East of Moscow, sees the commitment of one division.

In the 2 attacks against the Bryansk front (blue), no reserves commit.

To my surprise, he pushes his infantry divisions to the extreme length of their supply lines and attacks 26th Army with a series of hasties & deliberates. I'm thinking, by God, haven't you got enough?

In the North, for the first time in many turns, I hit back and force him to retreat but suffer heavy losses for the privilledge (3500 versus 650). Still, the point has been made, watch out, I'm coming...

To the right you can see 8th Army, pulled out of the line around Moscow, on rails to receive a final breather before being sent to the West.

To the South of Moscow, I'm finally plugging the gap between Moscow and Voronezh. N-Caucassus MD is railed over there together with 40th Army. 1 Shock is scheduled to be attached to N-C Front and will get 4 Cav Corps, the divisions of which are already assembling.

Another interesting thing to note is the unit in the red circle bottum SS. He has not made a move against Voronezh during the Snow but still, just to keep me on my toes, he leaves a Infantry division next to it so I can't rail anything out. This is obviously annoying as it pins me to the defensive till the last. Which is exactly why he is doing it...

In the South I launch my Blizzard offensive 2 turns to soon. I just can't wait, I've had enough.
2 attacks are launched and successful.The blue circle is about 1500 vs 1000 (sov-Axis) losses. These divisions are SP40 and they look worn down.

The red circle is paid in full (4500 vs 1500).
Interestingly, his line just above the attack seems to consist of breakdowns. Hmmm.

I'm sure he'll counter attack but I'll take it, one more time before Blizzard.

Whole front overview turn 23:

good luck

Note the fact that in the titanic battle for Moscow, not a single Soviet airplane was to be seen. Not so much as an I-153. Nothing.

ORIGINAL: gids

good luck

Thanks! [;)]

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

Note the fact that in the titanic battle for the Moscow, not a single Soviet airplane was to be seen. Not so much as an I-153. Nothing.

Yup, I had noticed this as well. Not that I have those old Biplanes flying anymore. All front line Fighters have been upgraded to Yak-1, Mig3, Lagg's or Lend-lease. And plenty are in easy reach, with the best leaders available.

TURN 24
Final turn before Blizzard. North Close up.

Just to show who's boss he counter attacks where he can. Several divisions arrive to help out, which I assume must be part from his reserve. Good.
I suffer moderate losses and RR repair of the 4 broken hexes has not yet started. I think he probably realized the importance afterall.
Still, it only goes to show that Sebastian will not give anything for free. Attacking to the last!

Center, as the final act in the failed defense of Moscow, he pushes out the defenders of the hex East of Moscow after two failed attempts, to set the record straight. 4550 Russians versus 2800 Germans are lost. One division comes out reserve but fails to have an impact.
Further down I lose another hex from the Bryansk front, but obviously, any attack made here (and elsewhere) is to damage me as much as possible and not to capture terrain. Sebastian also makes a hint after the capture of Moscow about Russian morale and asks: "where is Stalin?". To which I reply: "Stalin's sulking in the Urals, that's why I am in charge." Sebastian is a very civil opponent so don't misinterpret this little psy-war going on from time to time. [;)]

Further down, he goes on a veritable hasty attack frenzy! Like a monster that knows he will be starved of his favorite dish for a long time and let's himself go one last time. He truely is insatiable.

In the South, his counter attacks are more limited but notheless cause some moderate damage. At the same time he falls back a little bit to the West, but he can't have gone far, which is exactly what I want.

ORIGINAL: AFV

Deleted, because I am stupid, lol.

A genuinely stupid person would not have deleted this[;)]

ORIGINAL: glvaca

Sebastian is a very civil opponent so don't misinterpret this little psy-war going on from time to time. [;)]

Never underestimate the psychological metagame. Polite people are usually better at it [;)]

ORIGINAL: sillyflower

ORIGINAL: glvaca

Sebastian is a very civil opponent so don't misinterpret this little psy-war going on from time to time. [;)]

Never underestimate the psychological metagame. Polite people are usually better at it [;)]

[:D] quite true! [;)]