General Goofy Does Barbarossa

[warspite1]

24th July 1941
Turn 9
Army Group South

Charkassy is the objective von Rundstedt now gives to Stulpnagel. Blocking the way are the 44th Army. von Reichenau meanwhile has Kiev in their sights - but not before they make appropriate arrangements to deal with Soviet units in the Pripyat Marshes.

Two divisions, the 294th and 299th are sent to hold a river line on the southwestern tip of the marshes, while the rest of the army attempt to make some headway to the east...

For this, 1st Panzergruppe are called into action to create a path. Firstly the 13th Panzer and the SS Wiking Divisions slice through a tank and rifle division west of Zhitomir. This action allows six of Reichenau's divisions to attack the almost surrounded Red Army divisions from two sides. A pocket of three divisions is formed and many others are badly shot up. This brief flurry of activity brings 6th Army's contribution to an end.

Further south German plans are frustrated once again. The 17th Army units are on short AP's, reducing their effectiveness this turn. It is vital that the eight Soviet divisions, previously trapped northwest of Proskurow, are eliminated at this task falls on 17th Army. Five divisions are allocated the task - and they successfully liquidate the pocket. Some gains are made by three divisions - 1st Mountain, 132nd and 296th Infantry Divisions, but 17th Army operations too come to a crashing halt.

It is left to the 1st Panzergruppe to see if they can retrieve anything from the ashes of this turn. Firstly two motorised divisions of Panzer Group Kleist are sent to clear all enemy units to the south of 44th Army. However the attack is stubbornly resisted by the 95th Rifle Division. The 11th, 14th and 16th Panzer Divisions are then brought up but Soviet resistance is growing as the German spearheads are being increasingly blunted.

[warspite1]

24th July 1941
Turn 9
Army Group South

In a great show of support for Adolf Hitler, his fellow fascist and all- round top homie, Il Duce Benito Mussolini has committed an army to the great enterprise in the east - and here is the lead element of what will become the Italian 8th Army....

[warspite1]

24th July 1941
Turn 9
Army Group North + Finland

The forces in this region remain on the defensive and I place further units to R+R:

4th Finnish Infantry
8th Panzer
SS Totenkopf

Fuel is 12,000 - lets see what happens to that next turn with a turn of inactivity.

I have more decisions to make around AGN

- I side with von Leeb re trucks (0pp)
- I spend 4pp on getting convoys to Liepaja and Windau up and running
- I spend 0pp on keeping von Brauchitsch happy on his birthday.

Finally I bring the divisions of 18th Army that have rested up to the Dvina for future employment.

[warspite1]

24th July 1941
Turn 9
Army Group Centre

That leaves AGC for this turn. I am pleased to report a healthy fuel supply - 19,000. I am asked about moving the FSB to Vilnius, but I say no (0pp). I impress upon von Bock the need to take Minsk as soon as possible so that we can relocate there. However I do spend no less than 18 of my precious pp to overhaul trucks in the meantime.

Action Points I notice are becoming a real issue. Strauss's 9th Army can essentially do nothing this turn other than move up to the Upper Dvina. What a waste....

Time to bring in 3rd Panzergruppe, which can at least get some units into the fight. General Ruoff's V Corps provides three infantry divisions to assault the Soviet 21st Rifle and 3rd Motorised Divisions southwest of Vitebsk.

The Soviets are pushed back, exposing the flank of six divisions that are immediately assaulted by an ad-hoc infantry/panzer/motorised corps, thrown together for the purpose.

The gap created allows Hoth's panzers and motorised infantry to flood into the gap created. Before them are the badly depleted 4th, 7th and 142nd Rifle Divisions. General Schmidt's XXXIX Panzer Corps are tasked with removing them as an obstacle and the Soviets pull back toward Orsha - somehow all three divisions survived.

We will leave matters there for the moment as it is important not to move too far without understanding what 2nd Panzergruppe can do...

[warspite1]

24th July 1941
Turn 9
Army Group Centre

Behind the front line 8 Soviet divisions are defending Minsk and have been totally surrounded for many days. The Siege Artillery has brought their entrenchment down to zero and it is hoped the infantry can now mop up. Guderian's much-needed infantry has been tied up around the Belorussian capital for far too long "Why was this not a job for von Kluge's footsloggers?".

Rapidly losing patience he orders three infantry and the 1st Cavalry Division to take the city NOW! Weakened by the continual pounding from the artillery, the defenders put up barely a fight.

Feeling more secure by this development, Guderian seeks to take advantage of the bridgehead his panzer troops still cling to northwest of Mogilev. The problem faced by Guderian however is that the Soviets have very strong forces in that area - and without his infantry to support, his panzers are vulnerable to counter-attack.

With this in mind, von Bock switches attention back to Hoth. He decides that the action to take with Guderian will have to depend on what progress Hoth can make. The very last thing the Germans need here is a crashing defeat of any of the panzer forces.

In the forest west of Orsha. six rifle and one motorised division lie before Hoth's panzers. The Soviets retreat but once again this is hardly a crushing victory for the panzers - and with that attack 2nd Panzergruppe has pretty much played out its strength.

Guderian is left with little choice but to pursue a limited option. Five rifle and one tank division form the first line of defence on the main road to Orsha. The Soviet forces are pushed back up the road, allowing a final attack against the most furtherly west units in the sector. This attack fails to evict the defenders who grimly cling on.

All that remains is for 4th Army to adopt a more defensive position in order to try and protect the flanks of 2nd Panzergruppe.

The panzer forces in the centre are in desperate need of R+R. Orsha - never mind Smolensk - seem totally out of reach.....

[warspite1]

28th July 1941
Turn 10
Army Group Centre

Huzzah reinforcements!

I play the reinforcement card for Maximilian von Weichs 2nd Army to start arriving at Minsk.

[warspite1]

28th July 1941
Turn 10
Army Group North

I order von Leeb to make preparations for a Blitzkrieg posture. It is time to get the army group heading northeast once more. I will take a closer look at 18th Army which has been on rest and refit.

The Army contains nine Infantry Divisions and all bar one are up to 100% strength - not sure why the 291st remains at 91%?

There is a wide range of morale levels for the various divisions ranging from 50 - 94. This does not seem to be anything to do with the number of battles - perhaps its the results of those battles?

Experience is 40/41 for each division and readiness is 100 for all.

The whole army has a 20 point Action Points modifier due to good relations with the army commanders.




16th Army are in a similar position. All nine divisions are at full strength - although they have not got the AP bonus.

4th Panzergruppe still have three panzer and one motorised division rest and refitting. When AGN resumes the offensive next turn, these will likely have to make up ground as and when their R+R comes to an end.

[warspite1]

28th July 1941
Turn 10
Army Group South

To AGS next. The Romanian 3rd Army are having problems finishing off two pesky Soviet rifle divisions, but after a series of engagements, the two enemy units cease to exist and the Romanians can at last continue east where Schubert's 11th Army are coming under increasing pressure.

Meanwhile the costly attacks against Odessa have been halted. With Minsk having fallen, the Siege Artillery is ordered to the Black Sea coast. The Romanian 4th Army is needed in the Crimea, not being bled white against an enemy that is being supplied and reinforced by sea and has the benefit of the Black Sea Fleet for naval gunfire support.

To the 3rd Romanian Army's right, 11th Army have to move away from the Bug but are being crowded by sheer weight of enemy numbers. Northeast of Pervomaisk three Soviet tank divisions are seriously depleted after an attack against German forces last turn. It is these units that Schubert identifies as a way of expanding his own bridgehead.

The 72nd and 239th Divisions push on out of Pervomaisk but can go no further. To the southeast the Germans, in conjunction with the Romanian armour, push out of their bridgehead, almost annihilating the 103rd Tank Division in the process, but again progress is almost immediately at an end.

[warspite1]

28th July 1941
Turn 10
Army Group South

Focus moves to the 1st Panzergruppe. The German fear has been that the Soviet armies coming from the Pripyat Marshes would get in behind 6th Army and take them from the rear. As a result the plan was to shift 6th Army north and replace them with 1st Panzergruppe. However, the Soviets appear to have switched their axis of attack and are coming directly at 6th Army. It is now hoped that von Reichenau's men can remain roughly in position, giving von Kleist's panzers their tactical flexibility back.

The panzers of 1st Panzergruppe are given free rein to cut up the Soviet forces caught out on the open steppe between Vinnitsa and Kiev. From Vinnitsa, 11th and 16th Panzer move in an arc east then swing north toward Kiev, cutting off Soviet units to the west. Two panzer divisions - 9th and 13th - are joined by the LSSAH and Hungarian motorised divisions, and head north, east of Zhitomir and meet up with their comrades.

In the next phase of the attack the Soviet pocket is cut in two by an attack by the 111th Infantry. A third pocket is then created by the LSSAH and Hungarian Motorised Divisions attacking enemy units north of Zhitomir.

[warspite1]

28th July 1941
Turn 10
Army Group South

Having created the pockets, the Germans now need to set about liquidating them - and bagging more if possible!

Firstly, southeast of Rovno, von Reichenau orders three divisions against a similar number of rifle divisions. The Soviets are easily destroyed. With the rear area cleared, von Reichenau orders his infantry to engage the most southerly of the Soviet forces emerging from the Pripyat Marshes.

The remainder of the turn sees further attacks and success by the Germans - but two of the pockets remain in place rather annoyingly. Still, there can be no doubt that von Rundstedt's men hurt the Soviets that turn.

[warspite1]

Well that's tres tres annoying as we say in France. Looks like the last phase of my turn did not save [:@]

Just one thing. Normally when you come out of a game it asks if you want to save. Why doesn't it do that here?

...anyway. I have tried to recreate the picture in post 310 but have not succeeded. The Soviets are slightly better placed as a result but oh well, these things happen.

[warspite1]

1st August 1941
Turn 11

I order the FSB from Bialystok to Minsk (6pp). I have some reserve of fuel in case needed so it makes sense to do this now.

I order Command Focus for 4th Panzergruppe.

I order the AGN airfield to Jakobstadt (2pp)

I refuse Goebbels request for some propaganda effort or other at a cost of 3pp.

I lobby von Leeb for assistance with the Fuhrer re winter clothing (4pp)

Finally I upset General Wagner re the truck position in AGS, but my thinking remains keeping the army group commanders happy.

[warspite1]

1st August 1941
Turn 11
Army Group North

von Kuchler's 18th Army, consisting of nine infantry divisions, is ordered by von Leeb to head for Talinn. Estonia is to be conquered without delay!! 48th Army stand in their way, although they are unable to engage the enemy this turn in any case.

Meanwhile Busch's 16th Army - 10 infantry divisions strong - has the 27th and 30th Armies blocking its route. von Leeb decides that Busch will occupy these forces while Hoepner uses his tanks to operate with von Kuchler to a) open up a way to Talinn, and b) if necessary threaten the two Soviet armies blocking Busch from the rear.

I assume because the armies are switching to Blitzkrieg mode, the AP's are affected. Essentially it is going to be difficult to get any of AGN's units in position for sensible attacks....

The weak 10th Airborne and 182nd Rifle Divisions occupy the Soviet right flank of the units defending between Ostrov and Dunaburg. They are attacked by two motorised and an infantry division from 4th Panzergruppe - but are able to retreat in good order and no follow-up attack is possible.

This leaves an attack on the 8th Motorised and the 60th Rifle Division by three of Busch's divisions, but the Soviets hold firm.

[Orm]

Finally I upset General Wagner re the truck position in AGS, but my thinking remains keeping the army group commanders happy.

That might be wise but I suspect that there is a cost if you anger the people providing your supply. [:D]

[warspite1]

1st August 1941
Turn 11
Army Group Central

The frustration felt by von Bock against Strauss and his ineffectual 9th Army is coming to boiling point. von Bock makes quite plain what he expects in the coming couple of weeks.

"Listen Strauss, if your army isn't in Polotsk and Vitesbsk within two weeks, your bottom will wish it had never been born!!!".

Fearing for his bottom, Strauss orders 8th, 108th and 110th division into action against the Soviet 40th Rifle Division. The Soviets fall back allowing the Germans to form a bridgehead over the Dvina.

To the right of his sector, Strauss prepares an attack against Soviet units still south of the river. Before he orders the attack, Strauss calls us Hoth and requests assistance from his panzers by cutting off the Soviet retreat. To do this Hoth orders an attack against three divisions southwest of Vitesbsk.

12th Panzer and 14th Motorised Divisions slice through the Soviet units and occupy the north bank of the Dvina. No less than seven Soviet Divisions are now trapped south of the river - with only a tiny strip of land linking them with safety.

The plan is changed. Two infantry from 9th Army and the 12th Panzer Division, are ordered to attack north of the almost-surrounded units to try and close the trap completely. The attack was incredibly optimistic and fails badly. Having cocked this up royally between them, Strauss clenches his buttocks and Hoth suddenly takes to his sick bed. The order is given for the final attack - that against the seven partially surrounded Soviets.

Four infantry and two panzer divisions are employed - but much of the Soviet defenders are able to retreat across the river to safety. Neither Strauss nor Hoth are likely to remain on von Bock's Christmas card list....

[Orm]

Estonia is to be conquered without delay!!

You meant to say liberated. [;)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

Finally I upset General Wagner re the truck position in AGS, but my thinking remains keeping the army group commanders happy.

That might be wise but I suspect that there is a cost if you anger the people providing your supply. [:D]

warspite1

Yes, and there is a cost if I anger the army group commanders who won't then give command focus to the panzers and, in addition, their sulky behaviour filters down to their army commanders - who lose AP's and stuff. In other words, I am not running an army, I am running a bleedin' kindergarden.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

Estonia is to be conquered without delay!!

You meant to say liberated. [;)]

warspite1

Quite so. Goebbels will have someone in the Wehrmacht PR dept. sent to a concentration camp immediately.

[warspite1]

1st August 1941
Turn 11
Army Group Central

Guderian can only look on in disbelief at the way in which 3rd Panzergruppe has been mishandled, and tries to ingratiate himself with von Bock by trashing his fellow panzer general.

von Bock is in no mood for such shenanigans - and tells the startled 2nd Panzergruppe commander that he has to be in Mogilev in a week and surrounding Orsha a week later.

Five Soviet rifle divisions of varying strength hold the Minsk-Orsha road. This is where Guderian decides to attack first. Two motorised divisions - the 18th and 20th - are utilised from the 3rd Panzergruppe together with the 29th Motorised and 18th Panzer from the 2nd. The attack pushes the Soviets back and destroys one division.

Eight divisions still bar the road to Orsha - and most of these are badly depleted. Once again the panzer and motorised forces from the two panzergruppen combine. Two more Soviet divisions are destroyed but the remaining units hold firm and stop the attack.

Further forces are brought up - this time to attack three Soviet divisions to the south. But once again the enemy hold. 2nd Panzergruppe are having as little luck as their fellow tankers.

Guderian's remaining armour attacks five divisions to the southwest of Mogilev and makes them withdraw. A follow up attack to destroy Soviet divisions on the right flank of the defeated units however, runs out of steam.

To make matters worse, a final attack against two surrounded Soviet divisions fails dismally. The Germans are running out of ideas, armour and hope....

[freeboy]

Mainly due to this aar I have picked up Case blue and have decided to over run the red menace