Scorched Earth - 1.05 GC 1941-45 sj80 (Axis) vs. glvaca (Sovjet) - no glvaca

[sj80]

Are you guys hijacking my AAR? [:D] Deception of the enemy was used by Axis and Allies in WW2. As far as I know the US Army had units only for confusing the enemy with rubber armour and speakers. The Germans tried to protect their most important factories and development areas (e.g. rocket test area at Penemünde) with "changing the landscape", e.g. create new river courses with foil to misguide the allied bombers.
This point is somewhat amusing because the Hollywood studios helped to camouflage important industry at the US west coast against possible japanese air attacks or painting the ship hulls with strange shapes and colours to protect them against u-boats. [:)]

Back to the AAR. The blizzard develops more and more to a Sovjet victory. In turn 34 (5. February 1942) he launched 64 successful attacks! The highest number so far, usual he has around 50 successful attacks the turn. The high number is partly my fault because in the areas where I'm still retreat I leave some weak units (Sec regiments, worn down Rum inf) adjacent to him. Otherwise he will do more attacks against my good inf divs and weaken them much more.
The pressure against AGN has increased, especially against the fins. The situation around Moscow is stabilizing. The highest pressure is west of Stalino, there is no chance to stop or slow down him there in the open terrain. [:(]
With resolved march madness he can push until the last blizzard turn ...

[comsolut]

Excellent presentation and observations.

I don't see the normal fortification lines used by the Germans to provide some strength in Feb to fall back to, were they destroyed early on or are you not using that tactic and simply trading space for time?

[sj80]

Hey comsolut,
most of my fort lines are already overrun by Sovjet.
The last remaining lines that were initially planned are around Kaluga, Novgorod, Bryansk and Kharkov. He has reached all these lines, so I have disbanded the forts and my units are holding there. Both defense lines around Stalino and the defense line from the Vladai hills towards Rzevh were easily overrun. [:(]
I didn't create new lines because I have to save the Admin Points. The forts simply need to long to dig at level 1 during blizzard.
But not creating a defense line west of Stalino was an error. I thought 2 lines with many counter attacks could stop him there ... but this was no barrier for his 3. Shock Army
I wasn't able to create as much defense lines as wanted, because I needed so many points to assemble the Moscow offensive during winter. Now I need the points to reorg my forces. I will upload the last blizzard turn including statistical info tomorrow.

[sj80]

Here is the update for the last blizzard turn. I introduced a morale level table to show the current state of German army. I will try to update this table every month.
Glvaca and I exchanged several mails about blizzard results and game state. Overall the blizzard was a success for the Sovjets. Attacking Moscow over the flanks was the right decision. Glvaca created 24 (!) Guard units. We both think that it will be a very interesting 1942 because we really don't know how the game will evolve.
I wrote him that I will surrender, but before he has to take Berlin. [:D] He will fight to the end, too.
The German morale has really suffered, but I think I managed the TOE much better than in the games before.

My major question: Is the Wehrmacht strong enough to launch a major offensive in 1942?!?!? I've no clue. Now it's only up to me. If I fail he will sit in Berlin in 44/45. The battles will become much harder than in 1941. Luckily attacking is my main skill. [;)]

The major task for march is the rebuild of german morale. With resolved march madness the Wehrmacht is forced to fight with activated breakes. [:@]