1.04 The Wolf and the Bear (no Gids)

[Q-Ball]

Keep attacking at Stalingrad. What's the worst that can happen?[:D]

Seriously, I would finish what you can and pull-back, but slowly. Maybe you can lull him into putting a couple Tank Corps forward where they can be mauled.

I would have the objective of being on the Don/Donets/Kalitva line when spring MUD hits, with fall-back lines of course behind that.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 75. November 19 1942. Snow.

The Soviets have launched a nasty little offensive at Tambov, encircling four divisions! Apparently, there is still some oomph left in the Soviet army!

In addition, they have once again reopened a supply line to Stalingrad!

Comment: Interesting, the Tambov area in this game corresponds more or less to Stalingrad in the historical campaign, being in the middle of an extenden flank, and the Soviets have skillfully surprised me and made a mini-Stalingrad at Tambov.

[Tarhunnas]

I have started to retreat from Stalingrad, it is costing too much. I will establish a line on the Don, and then build up for an offensive in 1943.

Tambov has been temporarily relived, but I have to divert a lot of reinforcements to the area.

[Tarhunnas]

OOB and losses, as it was some time since I posted them.

[Klydon]

Have you gotten far enough past Rostov to activate AG A and B? You are very close there and certainly worth your time to trigger the activation in order to help get your army group commands off overload. You would get them no matter what at some point in 43, but I think its worth it to get early if you can. 

[Tarhunnas]

ORIGINAL: Klydon

Have you gotten far enough past Rostov to activate AG A and B? You are very close there and certainly worth your time to trigger the activation in order to help get your army group commands off overload. You would get them no matter what at some point in 43, but I think its worth it to get early if you can. 

It was done about six weeks ago.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 76. November 26 1942. Snow.

The Soviets have made another breakthrough at Tambov, and now the situation is worse than before. Amazing how the Red Army can regenerate. The Soviets are seemingly growing guards divisions and tank corps from the ground, despite the beating they have endured! I am in trouble in some spots and I have to rebalance my forces.

Map before German moves.

[Tarhunnas]

The situation is stabilised at Tambov with a massive inflow of reinforcements, including a panzer corps from 4th Panzer Army. As can be seen, my command structure is a mess! This is due to the rapid shifting of reinforcements to troublespots, and the AP drain of reorganising after the army group A and B divide, as well as the repercussions of 11th Army being withdrawn.

Map of Tambov area after Axis moves. Two Soviet tank corps are themselves encircled and the hungarians are arriving to bolster the front after having finished reducing the Vorozhilovgrad pocket.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 77. December 3 1942. Snow.

Strike and counterstrike at Tambov. The Soviets have freed their two tank corps, and have once again surrounded Tambov. Note also how partisans are creating trouble, almost like they were supporting the Soviet attacks. I suppose there is no such functionality... or? Map before Axis moves.

[Tarhunnas]

After Axis moves. 2d Panzer Army is being railed to the area. If the Soviets continue to be persistent, there might be an opportunity to cut off some of their best units in a larger counterstroke. Meanwhile, the Hungarian armored division has discovered a weakness further east. It is apparent that the Soviets are throwing everything into their offensive efforts at Tambov, and are leaving their flanks weak...

[Tarhunnas]

The rest of the southern part of the front. Slowly pulling back to the Don.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 78. December 10 1942. Snow/Blizzard.

The Soviets are pushing hard at Tambov. The have opened a supply route to their encircled tank corps. I weary of trying to encircle them, so I rout them out instead! They will not be themselves for a while at least!

[Tarhunnas]

As the Soviets seem intent on encircling Tambov, I lay a trap. I feign relative weakness in opposite Tambov, while the bulk of 3d and 4th Panzer Armies are moved into place on the flanks, hopefully hidden behind hungarians and infantry. It might be possible to pull a real surprise on the Reds here...

The Soviets are goaded with some proaganda about the German soldier never giving up what he has taken, especially at Tambov, and now we'll see what happens...

[Klydon]

Nice. This should be interesting there. [:)]

[bigbaba]

nasty.

but like we say in germany:

everything is allowed in love&war.

if you get his bes troops in the bag then the war seems to be over once and forever.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 79. December 17 1942. Blizzard.

Evil plan #1 worked as well as could be expected! The main difficulty was the weather. With blizzard, move distances are severely limited. Still, most of the Soviet elite units are cut off. Some of them will be easy to free, but the blizzard will hinder Soviet relief attempts too, and next turn, I will be able to close the bag more effectively... Map after Axis moves.

[Klydon]

Backhand blow in another spot. [:D]

Nice job!

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 80. December 24 1942. Snow.

The Soviets have somehow brought up the reinforcements to break my encirclements and cut off my spearheads! This is a great fight! I believe we will pravail in the end, but it will take more heavy fighting! Map before Axis moves.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 80. December 24 1942. Snow.

The swirling fight around Tambov continues! With a final stroke, code named operation Weihnachtsgeschenk, the OKH believe they have put the death knell to the Soviet offensive. Let's see them wriggle out of this!

[Tarhunnas]

Losses from turn 80. Not so large, but the balance is solidly in my favor. The Soviet tank corps are clearly getting the worst of the situation.