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So, the big picture in tne north west is:

In the second week of pocket battles, the German's attacking force was all but irresistable ...

However, with enough wearing down attacks and endless reserves to throw in, it is possible to wear down the panzers quite quickly, as illustrated here by 3rd Shock.

So, there you have it - a massive two-week long battle, in which the Germans have won the tactical copntest, but have not yet won the strategic. What will my opponent do next? I hope he tries for another pocket in the bulge, now that the panzers have lost their momentum, but we shall see.

This looks almost 1943-ish, except a mistake will still cost you big. Me, I would just grind whatever is in front of me to the Don River, and then dig in. Nothing too fancy, and less risk for less reward. The northwest is a trickle at the moment, but has the makings of an avalanche unless dealt with soon. I think you are right, strategically south east is the best direction to push for Germany. Northwards just leads to Russians, and more Russians, and more Russians, and........(repeat to infinity).


Edit: I keep checking out the maps to think what I would do, and I don't think I have enough manpower as Axis to make it happen. I would create a fortified line from Lake Ilmen south through the Valdai and on the Dnepr, make you attack the tip of the bulge, even though losing men buying time. The middle is just way too deep to slog through your lines, and south of Kharkov is a debacle. Trying to move you east of the the D&Z zone, and beyond all hope, as far back as the Mius River. I don't know is that is all possible and keep up a major offensive. The Romanian losses are already coming back to bite him in the butt, and it looks like you'll be adding the Hungarians to that rack this summer.

Budapest in 1943, anyone?

Hi Skook, thanks for you comments. I'm a little bit further along in the game than I'm posting, for intelligence reasons, and I think your analysis of the respective strengths is about right. Despite my heavy losses in the Battle of Kursk 42, I do have enough left in the Red Army to prevent another one-turn breakthrough and pocket, and to stage a fairly effective counterattack on the second turn (using Vatutin's Western Front as a reaction force). Or at least stalemate the panzers. I don't think an advance to the Don is likely, although I could be wrong. The initiative is still with the Germans, but it's getting quite close.

Turn 55

The battle of Kursk has died down. The Germans have eliminated their pocket, wiping out more than two armies and have called an operational pause. Interestingly, half of the panzer force that took part in the battle stays in the front line, and half retreats a hundred miles or so to the west.

This is the relatively inactive section of the front:

The Kharkov-Dnepropetrovks sector

What is the significance of the splitting of the panzer force into two groups, with a another five divisions keeping an eye on the north west? Obviously I'm hoping that they will be sucked into a tactical counterattack role, and thereby become a defensive force. If the German are to gain a military victory, it can only be done by employing the panzers in a strategic, offensive role.

I suppose he could try a two-pronged attack on Moscow. It is so close that it would be a waste not to try take it, especially if he realizes it is so lightly defended against a strong push (as the bulk of your carpet strategy is way south).

I could also come up with a plan against your southern front and go for a giant pocket, but that would require way more than half the panzers he involved in Kursk I guess...

Final turn

Thanks for that Fishbed, but I don't have to worry about a surprise attack because the Germans have requested an armistice. In the past couple of turns the panzers that withdrew from the Kursk battle became involved in a tactical counter attack in the south.

However, this riposte ran out of force and with the Panzerwaffe worn down to 1500 runners, the German High Command threw in the towel. We are therefore going to begin another war, with my opponent threatening to fight it properly this time. As his performance was about as good as I ever want to face, I'm looking forward to the struggle with some trepidation.

This is the final position ...

Thank you for reading this AAR. I will begin another for the new war very soon.

Great game hoops.

I think Bomazz's normal rush Leningrad, Moscow and leave the south basicly untouched blew up in his face vs a elite SHC player.

The Leningrad to Tula defence is about unbreakable. GHC players have to make sure to atleast take the south so they can drop the SHC replasements some.

Leningrad is almost out of reach nowadays and Moscow not possible vs the better SHC players.

You did a very good job of exploiting the weaknesses in the all north tragedy.

Nice blizzard O also.

Yes congrats on the win. It was on the cards after the big blizzard O as we thought. well done.

Thank you. I thought I was still in danger - the Germans still had the initiative, just about - but according to Bomazz the Wehrmacht had run out of juice, and he would know. He says he played a poor game, but that wasn't my impression. In retrospect, putting all the panzers together for the drive on Moscow might have been a mistake, it gave me an easy time in the south, and I still hung on to Moscow, by the skin of my teeth. So the Red Army was able to reconstitute itself in time to smother the very powerful summer offensive.