Russian AAR to 1946, with pics!

[wie201]

February 1946 - Moscow Front

New airpower concentration has finally reduced the morale of the German 6th Army, and the second hex of Moscow (City) falls, taking the German Heavy Tank unit with it.

The freed-up forces now drive east, in force.

Mistake in image below - Russia is driving WEST not EAST.

[wie201]

February 1946 - Southern Front

Two pockets are reduced - but one remains and will be attended to tout suite.

Driving along a broad front instead of a more direct straight line to the Black Sea. Again, forces freed up further East will attack from that direction.

Off screen, the German take more of Crimea.

[wie201]

February 1946 - France

Allies use extra forces to land in Brittany. Seem like the West wants to reduce Brittany before moving North.

[Josh]

Man look at those unused Axis forces doing uhm...nothing. Well polishing their boots I guess.

[wie201]

Ha! Yup. Have played more turns - let's see if they move at some point. But if the AI had moved them earlier, there would not be a beachhead to worry about.

This is very late in the game, so I am interested in how the AI reacts deeper and deeper into 1946.

[wie201]

April 1946 - Leningrad Front

Axis powers add 2 more units to the fight for Leningrad, ensuring that I cannot capture it without devoting significant resources to same, which I cannot afford right now.

The battle of the Cherepovets Bulge goes on unceasingly.

[wie201]

April 1946 - Moscow Front

Close Kaluga Pocket. Can I reduce it? Plan for additional Russian airpower to help win the day for Russia.

[wie201]

April 1946 - Southern Front

Advance Westwards stopped.

Still driving, slowly, southwards with very little supply.

Working on Stalingrad Pocket.

[wie201]

April 1946 - The Med

Italian Navy controls the Med. No opposition remains.

[wie201]

April 1946 - France

Lyon captured in Southern France, as the Western Allies move towards Bordeaux on the Atlantic coast.

Massive Allied airpower prepares for the assault on Paris.

London and London Port still being bombed terribly from Belgium.

NORTH SEA - Back and forth fight, but not one German U-Boat sunk in months. Months.

[wie201]

May/June 1946 - Leningrad Front

The Finns counter-attack and cut-off my primary attacking force on Leningrad. I realize that these troops can never, on their own, take Leningrad, but I need to get them out, intact, until reinforcements arrive.

Cherepovets Pocket - I just stretch the lines out as far as I can. Maybe I will get a break someday.

[wie201]

May/June 1946 - Moscow Front

The Axis Powers re-open the Kaluga Pocket, and Russia counters with an offensive to close a pocket around Oral.

The Kalinin Pocket remains.

[wie201]

May/June 1946 - Southern Front

Russians liberate Kotelnikovo 6 hexes from Rostov and 3 from Stalingrad.

Another pocket is formed, as the Russians counter a German counter-attack.

Putting pressure all along Southern Front.

[wie201]

May/June 1946 - Crimea

Axis counter-offensive recaptures all of Crimea, breaking down Sevastopol in weeks.

Turkey

Americans attack out towards the Balkans. Turkey withdraws from Russia back into Turkey. No help from there.

[wie201]

May/June 1946 - North Sea

The Western Allies counter offensive in the North Sea has failed. Axis ships are everywhere. Quite remarkable.

[wie201]

May/June 1946 - Western Front

Allies mopping up now, hopefully for their big drive for the West Wall. Another port is taken, and Caen is being reduced quickly.

Waiting for the investment of Paris now. The last critical battle in the West, I think, given the time remaining (I do not recall when the game technically ends).

[wie201]

July 1946 - Leningrad Front

A lot has happened in the East and Western Fronts.

The Cherepovets Pocket has finally been closed! Now, can I keep the door shut.

The Axis advances out of Leningrad, but I cannot capture it so I just accept the losses.

[wie201]

July 1946 - Moscow Front

The Kalinin Pocket remain closed, but I cannot keep the Kaluga or Orel Pockets isolated.

The appearance of 2 German Heavy Tank units just South-west of Moscow is of major concern. Are they going to have a go at Moscow again? And can I stop it given how quickly these units kill mine.

[wie201]

July 1946 - Southern Front

The drive to the Black Sea is done - have linked up with the Partisans in Rostov.

I maneuver around in open terrain and created 2 more pockets of Axis troops. Just need the resources to finish them off.

[wie201]

July 1946 - France

Big news - Brittany is taken by the Allies, as is Caen. Western Allies seem intent on taking Le Havre and the jewel of France, Paris.

I am hoping that Germany moves troops from Russia into France to give me some relief. It is clear to me that the Western Allies will take a long time in breaking the Western Wall. I can do a lot more damage on this side (average German morale on the West Wall is 110%).