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24th July 1941
Army Group North

The Siege Artillery arrives in downtown Riga at last and 18th Army takes the port and establishes itself along the north bank. 16th Army meanwhile push out from their bridgehead and move slowly toward Ostrov.

Army Group Centre

My two-turn plan to take Mogilev failed and there is little else I can do in this sector. All eyes are glued to the northern boundary. I have two PzG north of the Upper Dvina - 4th and 3rd. These two work together (with a little help from 9th Army) to push back Soviet forces from Polotsk and the surrounding area. A Corps from 2nd PzG also provides support.

Unfortunately a lack of space, AP and units means that no large scale destruction of the enemy is possible, but there are 16 mostly badly beaten up divisions - from 16th, 22nd and 29th Armies - north of Vitebsk. I am hoping escape across the river proves difficult as the corps from 2nd PzG have the bridge to the west. [shame the 4th and 2nd PzG are the same colours).

As ever, the extent to which I can exploit any of this will depend upon fuel.... also just as I take this action with 4th PzG The Fuhrer changes his mind and makes Leningrad his number one priority [8|]

Army Group South

This was a limited turn. 17th Army (with a little support from 1st PzG) liquidated the remaining pocket and occupied Vinnitsa. Further south, most of 11th Army are across the Bug and Pervomaisk fell. Fuel concerns however mean that 1st PzG was largely immobile. Moreover, in a bid to save PP I may have shot myself in the foot - relations with von Rundstedt have turned neutral [:@]

28th July 1941

Man that was tough.... I had a nice surplus of PP - but after that round of decisions they have almost all gone... I didn't even achieve much - just trying to keep my Army Group Commanders happy.... Annoyingly my relations with Goering dip just as I may need 'the fat one's' assistance [8|]

Army Group North

Shorn of their panzers, 18th and 16th Army form a defensive line with the left flank anchored on the coast northeast of Riga and then in a line running south east, occupying the high ground north of Jakobstadt, and then continuing to run southeast along (and south of) the Ostrov marshes, with the right flank on the Army Group boundary.

Army Group Centre

The 'do or die' order has been given "unleash the panzers!". The remaining defenders have been pushed back south of the Upper Dvina by 4th PzG (with assistance from 2nd PzG). That has allowed 3rd PzG to sprint east. If fuel allows, the panzers will aim to push past the river and then swing south toward Smolensk - hopefully unhinging the Soviet defence. We'll see....

To the south of the theatre, Mogilev falls to 4th Army.


Army Group South

In the south a continued chronic shortage of fuel makes for a frustrating turn once more. I push 11th Army south but, although contact is made with the enemy, no fighting is possible.

17th Army meanwhile heads east but again, the defenders have long since fled and no doubt have taken up positions behind the river.....

28th July 1941

I picked a decision answer that I thought may help with relations with Goering but relations remain poor... This is NOT the time for this to happen.

Army Group North

I move the defensive line forward one hex across the front in order to allow me to rid myself of two pesky Soviet units that were bothering 18th Army.

Otherwise there is nothing to be done here.

Army Group Centre

Sadly - but as expected - my opponent has seen the threat and has moved large numbers of troops back - but without weakening his defensive position.

As planned I move south with 3rd PzG but cannot get too far before running into a large body of troops. Matters are not helped as 4th PzG decide to have only limited AP.

Further south, 4th Army launch a couple of attacks - one of which succeeds in the Soviets retreating - but I am unable to follow this up with a river crossing as the enemy is still too numerous.

Mud must hit soon....but if not, then I need to be bold here and make straight for Smolensk (Vyazma is already defended - but do not know what with).

28th July 1941 (cont)

Army Group South

11th Army simply cannot keep up with the retreating Soviets. I can maintain contact - but cannot attack [:(]

I need to be careful because I do not know where the bulk of his southern forces are - I could end up getting surrounded as there is a BIG gap between 11th and 3rd Romanian Armies.

5th August 1941

Army Group North

I sense that reinforcements are heading south from Leningrad. I therefore decide to go on the attack for the moment at least. 16th Army take Ostrov while to the west, 18th Army conduct a 'reconnaissance in force' to see how far away the Soviet reinforcements are.

Army Group Centre

My opponent is just too good. He has maintained a solid line to stop 4th Army from making any headway - and managed to withdraw armies south of the river. I cannot stop a line forming around Vyazma as a result.

Army Group South

17th Army start to cross the Dnepr and Cherkassy and Kirovgrad fall. Further south 11th Army take Nicolayev and three divisions cross the Lower Dnepr.

It will be interesting to get Orm's perspective on this after the game. Part of me is regretting not continuing to push east - at least with 3rd PzG, but that thought is tempered by the fact that:

- they would have no infantry (or any other) support.
- 4th PzG (in the middle of the three) have been pretty ineffectual as their AP has been rubbish so their ability to fire-fight is limited.
- To the west I need 2nd PzG to assist 9th Army clear the first defensive line.
- That would potentially leave a gap between the Panzer forces. Of course to counter-attack in numbers the Soviets would need to cross the river and leave themselves exposed to a double back from 3rd PzG....

Decisions, decisions....

9th August 1941

PP Are almost exhausted keep The Fuhrer happy [8|]

Army Group North

Obviously nothing happening on the Finnish Front given that AGN are nowhere near Narva or Luga.

Further south, the huge 31st Army are providing an obstacle to 16th Army Progress. 18th Army continue to tentatively move north but no enemy is spotted.

9th August 1941

Army Group Centre

The good news - Orsha and Smolensk have fallen.... the bad news is that Soviet armies continue to stream east south of the river. 4th Army have no PP and so cannot make any impression on the units holding the line east of Mogilev - indeed they cannot even attack over the water [:(]

9th August 1941

Army Group South

In the south I do not know where the bulk of the Soviet forces are. 17th Army crosses the Dneipr but again PP are an issue. No attack is possible and indeed 6th Army cannot even cross the river - just like 1st PzG....

Goofy,

I hardly know where to begin. You're not doing it all wrong, but you are doing lots of it wrong.

I think one big problem is that you are not planning and executing any encirclements, but rather pushing forward on a broad front. This is a recipe for German defeat. It appears you have 3 of your panzergruppe operating all side-by-side, pressing ahead slowly and not trapping any Russians. Instead, you should be using PzG in well considered and planned pincer attacks. In the centre, use PzG 2 as one arm of the pincer, and PzG 3 as the other arm. Take a turn or two to position them well. Make sure they have AP bonuses. Then have them lance through the Russians, driving in a straight and narrow line deep into their rear areas.

In your last operation, all 3 PzGs were operating on the same axis of attack, and the Russians fell back behind the river easily. Instead, you should have had one pushing up through Orsha, say, while another hooks around the north of Smolensk. You could have trapped a dozen or more divisions there.

Otherwise, I think you are overestimating the Russians seriously. You keep saying you're worried about counterattacks etc., afraid to advance panzers without infantry support, afraid to cross a river even after a successful attack. You must be more aggressive and not so risk-adverse to win here.In the last screenshot, you have divisions lines up along the Dniepr at Smolensk in stacks of 3 and 4. Unless you're planning to attack south across the river from Smolensk, this is overkill. You need at most 2 division per hex, and one per hex might do. Get the rest of that 2PzG where it needs to be to attack!

Finally, I wonder if there are some mechanics that you're not quite getting right. For instance, you say 4th Army doesn't have enough APs to attack across the river, even after sitting there for a few turns. Would be worth trying to work out why. Are they still on blitzkrieg posture, and therefore accumulating huge amounts of fatigue? Or is something else going wrong with that army? Use your army and division reports to figure out what's amiss.

Good luck, this game is still totally winnable.

Goofy,

I hardly know where to begin.

Well as a wise singing would-be nun once sang “let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start….” Sorry I came over all Julie Andrews for a minute [:D].

You're not doing it all wrong, but you are doing lots of it wrong.

Well evidently, otherwise I wouldn’t be in the position I am. But I will take your comments in the positive manner I assume them to have been given, and respond as follows:

I think one big problem is that you are not planning and executing any encirclements, but rather pushing forward on a broad front.

No, I am planning encirclements – but either not very well (because I am not a very good war gamer), or they just haven’t come off because of poor execution. However I can confirm I am not seeking to win the game by inching forward against enemy formations that can - and will – quite gladly soak up the losses.

This is a recipe for German defeat.

Yes I know! – I have yet to win a game as the Germans – but not through want of trying to do the right thing.

It appears you have 3 of your panzergruppe operating all side-by-side, pressing ahead slowly and not trapping any Russians.

The reason I have three PzG operating together is because I am trying something different to make a breakthrough. Through, no doubt bad play, I failed to make the progress I thought I could make at the start of the game. As a result, the Soviet player (who is one an excellent war gamer by the way) allowed me no margin for error. He retreated, he blew bridges, he did all that I would expect of such a fine player. That being the case I was quickly faced with the Soviet wall. In a couple of previous games as the Germans I have tried to breach said wall. And each time I have been bled white before getting very far.

I have no chance of breaching dug-in, often fortified Soviets, three deep usually behind rivers or in forests or both! I thought I would try and catch my opponent off guard and so have tried to concentrate the panzers. This has proven relatively successful considering where I was a few turns back.

Instead, you should be using PzG in well considered and planned pincer attacks. In the centre, use PzG 2 as one arm of the pincer, and PzG 3 as the other arm. Take a turn or two to position them well. Make sure they have AP bonuses. Then have them lance through the Russians, driving in a straight and narrow line deep into their rear areas.

Yes I have tried this, but like in real life Operation Blau, my Soviet opponent has manoeuvred his forces well and there has not been much to bag before units have slipped away. By no means all, but far too many.

In your last operation, all 3 PzGs were operating on the same axis of attack, and the Russians fell back behind the river easily. Instead, you should have had one pushing up through Orsha, say, while another hooks around the north of Smolensk. You could have trapped a dozen or more divisions there.

This is where I am clearly lacking in expertise in the game. Yes this sounds great, and if possible (by a competent player) a killer move. BUT – without the panzers operating as they have done I would not be able to dislodge one – maybe two – lines of defence, and that’s before I get anywhere near Orsha! If it’s possible for the Germans to beat the wall – please tell me the secret!

Otherwise, I think you are overestimating the Russians seriously. You keep saying you're worried about counterattacks etc., afraid to advance panzers without infantry support,

Yes I am wary of them because although I have not won as the Germans, I have won as the Soviets and I know about hurting the Germans if they get too over excited. Now whether, in the context of this game and the wall I am facing, I am being too cautious or not, I don’t know but you may be right.

afraid to cross a river even after a successful attack.

NO! I did not have the AP left after spending AP trying to get rid of the defenders on this side of the river!

You must be more aggressive and not so risk-adverse to win here. In the last screenshot, you have divisions lines up along the Dniepr at Smolensk in stacks of 3 and 4. Unless you're planning to attack south across the river from Smolensk, this is overkill.

No – that is exactly what I am building up to do – otherwise the ton of Soviets that have fled east (or will do so shortly) will make any gains north of the river pointless.

You need at most 2 divisions per hex, and one per hex might do. Get the rest of that 2PzG where it needs to be to attack!

See above.

Finally, I wonder if there are some mechanics that you're not quite getting right. For instance, you say 4th Army doesn't have enough APs to attack across the river, even after sitting there for a few turns. Would be worth trying to work out why. Are they still on blitzkrieg posture, and therefore accumulating huge amounts of fatigue? Or is something else going wrong with that army? Use your army and division reports to figure out what's amiss.

4th Army has insufficient AP, as far as I can tell, only because it is exhausting itself trying to break dug-in Soviets across water. No I am not in Blitzkrieg mode. I am having to ration attacks to repair readiness, but then the Soviets simply entrench.

Good luck, this game is still totally winnable.

In the hands of a competent player perhaps……[;)]

13th August 1941

I really hate this game, the game is borked, Wah! Wah! Wah!

I have penalties with AGS because of a neutral relationship with von Rundstedt. I spend a stack of points on a decision to get the relationship on track...and then choose the wrong decision and put the relationship back to neutral. Bloody stupid game....[storms off in a sulk]....

Army Group North

I make some in roads into 31st Army - but a couple of attacks fail and so progress is not as good as I had hoped. 18th Army temporarily assists the operation, but the divisions will need to be returned soon.

13th August 1941
Army Group Centre

4th and 2nd Armies remain stalled west of the river but to the north 2nd PzG launch cross river attacks against Soviet units heading east. On their right flank 9th Army help out and some of its divisions get across the water too. To the left of 2nd PzG the 3rd and 4th PzG head for Kaluga via Vyazma in an attempt to further stop reinforcements from the west. The attacks quickly grind to a halt but Vyazma is now under threat.

13th August 1941
Army Group South

1st PzG and 17th Army begin their advance across the endless steppe, but Southwestern Front form a formidable barrier - and I haven't even found the main Soviet forces yet....

17th August 1941
Army Group North

Mud hits the region - or at least Pskov. I launch two attacks against 31st Army. One, against the city was entirely speculative and did not come close. The other almost succeeded but one division held....

....I know there is a nasty surprise waiting for me but I do not know where or when.....

17th August 1941
Army Group Centre

Finally! The Soviets pull back and this allows 2nd, 4th and 9th Armies to cross the river in pursuit- although only a few attacks were possible. To the northeast, Guderian's 2nd PzG has been tasked with driving forward on a Bryansk-Orel Axis, in order to try and cut the Soviets in two.

Further east still, Vyazma falls but little headway can be made by the 3rd and 4th PzG that have been ordered to head straight for Moscow!

17th August 1941
Army Group South

The Siege artillery at last arrives! Odessa falls and 4th Romanian Army are ordered to join 11th Army which is across the Dnepr and starting to surround Perekop.

21st August 1941
Army Group North

I finally detect some movement. There is a stack of Soviets southwest of Novgorod - but there are still at least 6 divisions of 31st Army left.

I have to transfer 18th Army back shortly - I will give it two more turns to make a breakthrough - otherwise I shall just have to fall back with 16th Army.

21st August 1941
Army Group Centre

I spot a large body of Soviets near Kalinin. I need to be careful I do not get outflanked. I start to pull 9th Army out of the line as they will need to head east to guard against this.

Progress west of Moscow is predictably slow and the Soviets have heavily fortified the forest. Guderian stops agonisingly short of Bryansk; I don't know how many troops I can trap....

21st August 1941
Army Group South

Nothing much to report here. 11th Army awaits reinforcements and 6th Army - who I always seem to mishandle - is playing catch-up with 17th Army.