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Yes, the western end of the Luga is just pocket bait.

A consistent Flavius point for months, I would say - I've definitely adopted that plus the fighting the Finns north rather than retreating to the Svir, both of which were sound advice...

Turn 7 before Soviet moves.

The problem with breaking pockets - the rescers get pocketed too. See the south.

Time to cut my losses. I retreat behind the Dnepr. Keeping the fascist hordes west of the Dnepr for 7 turns is good enough. The south after Soviet moves.

The north after Soviet moves.

A panzer group has disappeared from the radar. That gives me sleepless nights!

Not to to beat a dead horse but,

I don't know, hard to believe those guys have enough supply to go in that direction - and they are the devil you know. I'd be more worried about a strike to pocket the troops south of Lake Ilmen, seems like it wouldn't take too much effort on his part.

striking the troops south of Ilmen delays the advance on Leningrad by a turn, and that pocket's flank is protected by the swamps. If the axis avoid the swamps then it becomes a minor pocket not worth a week long delay.

ORIGINAL: notenome

Not to to beat a dead horse but,

Yeah, I know. They are pulling back, but it is kind of tempting to be there, as five weak Soviet units are tying up 5 strong German ones. Last turn I did have a plan to send out a cavalry unit through the swamp gap between the two lakes to break his rail line, but I (reluctantly) shelved the idea.

I always leave a division on the Ösel island, as the Germans need to send a German division to root it out. Sometimes they don't notice it, and then I can start to wander around in their rear areas. It is worth one division either way.

Meh, it's ok to throw out a screen of expendable units on the western edge of the Luga and into the Baltics, so long as you can afford to lose them and fully understand that they are likely to die. Tarhunnas has more here than I'd use for that purpose, but he's not decisively engaged in the area, either. Judgement call.

I kind of like the idea of leaving a garrison on Osel island, too. Just to be annoying.

THe reason I disagree with the screen is that those units need to start building up the forts, especially in the light woods hexes, near Leningrad.

ORIGINAL: notenome

THe reason I disagree with the screen is that those units need to start building up the forts, especially in the light woods hexes, near Leningrad.

That was in the old days. Forts are not so important nowadays.

Turn 8. Map before Soviet moves.

In the north a thrust towards Leningrad, but nothing serious.

In the center, a pocket problem.

And in the south, I seriously underestimated the mobility of the Germans! The have crossed the rver and cu upbehind my main forces.

However, it proves possible to break the two pockets in the center. One by cavalry, and the other one by the sneaky airdrop technique. Not sure I like that actually. It is ok for airlanded troops to block someone elses supply, but establishing supply corridors for friendly troops seems unrealistic! Anyway, creds to Mike29 for inventing the trick.

Map of the center after Soviet moves.

Here is the south after Soviet moves. A mad scramble to get everything west of the Dnepr out. I do believe I am a bit too reluctant to give up terrain... this was another close call. And it is not over yet, I might very well be pocketed anyway.

The approaches to Leningrad after Soviet moves.

Losses turn 8.

And OOB.

The delays have to start getting to him at some point. You are somewhat running out of troops to defend with, but he is behind schedule and has overextended fronts, etc. With the drive north towards the swamps in the south, I would think the Stalino area, etc will breath a sigh of relief. Even D and Z town are going to be around for a bit now with Kharkov.

He is going to face a pretty tough decision from the standpoint that his panzer formations are going to go to pieces over the next couple of turns if he keeps driving them, but to try to regroup and rest them means he gets further behind.

Turn 9 Before Soviet moves.

As I guessed, the guys scrambling east from the western side of the Dnepr didn't make it.

Other than that, no big disasters this turn, always a relief.