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Moscow Weather Manipulation -- A Confession
As I approached Dec 5th I was awaiting the severe weather effects the Wehrmacht had historically endured just as the Russian counter-offensive was unleashed. It didn't happen. Playing ahead 5 turns to observe the weather it was clear the designer had put in variables for this happening--not surprising as I had noted variables in place for almost everything. I wanted historical weather for this play through so I got the data on Moscow weather (in the graph below--posted by a Moscovite on the Axis History Forum), and whenever severe temperatures appeared historically I played turns over and over until I got the needed weather and then carried on. In game terms the adverse effects are extraordinary, ranging from -20 AP and -10 morale, to -130 AP and morale -65. At it's extreme all of those units affected are frozen in place and unable to move or attack, and with greatly impaired defensive values.

Part of the reason for doing this, apart from being very much into historical realism in these projects, was to give the Soviet AI a needed boost for the offensive. If you look closely at the 83.ID insert you will see it is still on Blitzkrieg posture (-25% Def.)--call it the "Hitler Effect." I certainly can't be accused of pushing for a win at all costs.

The Sting of Defeat
Not really. With German hubris and poor intelligence they got what was coming to them. The Germans under this Halder did better than the historical... but not by that much. Rating it a minor loss, nearly a draw, seems fair to me. I pocketed every Soviet formation I could and in the end the Russians could not even put together a front line south of Voronezh; mind you, if the AI had not gone after Finland so obsessively there could have been a viable front in the radically more important south (like I said it's a Programmed Opponent, not a true AI).

In any case, the next time I try Barbarossa I'll attempt to master the finer points of the game that I no doubt missed on this run through, armed with the exhaustively detailed manual Cameron Harris put together. If I am feeling recklessly stolz und mutig ("proud and brave") I'll notch up the AI difficulty levels.

A Look Under the Hood Pt 4:
Final Analysis of Halder

The game generates a very interesting pdf analysis of Halder with all sorts of statistics (can't upload pdf files here). Here's part of the appraisal of this alternate Halder:[/size]

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Wow. Well that was one of the most enjoyable and immersive AAR that I've read in a long time. Thanks for taking the time and effort. As your new opponent in DC Case Blue, I was furiously taking notes(noting with interest the use of kesselschlacht techniques a disturbing number of times)[;)]. Something about knowing one's enemy. Or words to that effect.

One of my top 5 EF games. For a reason you mentioned, but in my own words..it passes my "Barbarossa yardstick". Can 4.PzGrp reach the Dvina on Turn 1? Yes, it's possible. Can the AGC PzGrp's reach the Vitebsk/Orsha/Dnieper R line by early July? Again, yes. You'd be surprised how many Eastern Front games can't recreate, if so chosen, those basic mechanics. I also noted with interest your comments about the map and would agree with them.

I'm disappointed, though, that you didn't order shock therapy for your Chief of Staff.

I know what you're thinking. Why are you on this forum/FB page instead of doing your turn?

At once Größter Feldherr aller Zeiten !

I'm disappointed, though, that you didn't order shock therapy for your Chief of Staff.

Read again, he got the treatment alright. And you're welcome, it was a blast doing it.
See you back at the war. You might be in the next Case Blue AAR... ; )

Congrats on a great AAR! Very well presented indeed - and fascinating how closely your game hewed to history at many points.

And commiserations on your loss. No doubt with a better knowledge of the game mechanics, you can optimise a few things and secure a victory.

I keep coming back to this game, as you say it is a total blast to play!

ORIGINAL: ChuckBerger

Congrats on a great AAR! Very well presented indeed - and fascinating how closely your game hewed to history at many points.

And commiserations on your loss. No doubt with a better knowledge of the game mechanics, you can optimise a few things and secure a victory.

I keep coming back to this game, as you say it is a total blast to play!

Well said Chuck and I agree. Thanks for that.
Cheers

That was a really great AAR. Here's to hoping you do a HtH one!

ORIGINAL: GloriousRuse

That was a really great AAR. Here's to hoping you do a HtH one!

Thanks GR. Right after my first pbem++ with Case Blue I just might.

Excellent read Staufenberg! Since you seem to be an expert on the topic could you recommend additional games on the Ostfront? I thought about playing Grigsby's but it doesn't really seem to be immersive. Also, how about some good books? I've read a few from Beevor and the newer Ostkrieg book (which I thought was excellent) but would like to hear from someone who is in the know. Thanks!

ORIGINAL: EvilSix

Excellent read Staufenberg! Since you seem to be an expert on the topic could you recommend additional games on the Ostfront? I thought about playing Grigsby's but it doesn't really seem to be immersive. Also, how about some good books? I've read a few from Beevor and the newer Ostkrieg book (which I thought was excellent) but would like to hear from someone who is in the know. Thanks!

Thanks for that. Re what books or games, that's like being asked to give a 10-min talk on "India." Re games I've been out of the loop for awhile and others could answer better I am sure. Re books, best to just dig around online or at the biggest nearby city or university library and see what books leap off the shelf at you. I will mention two though: Ostkrieg: Hitler's War of Extermination in the East - Stephan G. Fritz, and Death of the Wehrmacht - Robert M. Citino. Cheers.

Thanks! I've read Ostkrieg and it's one of the best I've read in a long time. I'll have to look at Citino.

If you like Ostfront details and statistics you must try some of David Glantz books:

- When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army Stopped Hitler
- Operation Barbarossa: Hitler's Invasion Of Russia 1941

Also David Stahel is very good:
- Operation Barbarossa and Germany's Defeat in the East

Thanks nikdav! I think I will start a Stahel book next.

Oh David Glanz I have quite a bit from him... very dry but tons of content. Alot of his stuff is privately published and sent around for designers for exact OBs in various battles (him and the inimitable Nafziger, both of whom I have spent way too much money on). I have a stack of maps of his he sent me (want to see how the Germans advanced in Case Blue from their situation maps every 2-4 days on xeroxed German situation maps? Glantz does it all.), especially for the Stalingrad battles. His volumes are definitive in detail with three big volumes about Stalingrad alone. For a scenario designer he is a go-to historian. But you know, Antony Beevor, Berlin: The Downfall 1945 is one of the latest "definitive" recounts of that battle but I still think that Cornelius Ryans's The Last Battle remains a special case--keep in mind he was in there interviewing many of the generals, especially the Russians, close after the final battle to do his work. It's a classic I highly recommend.

I agree, but i love the hundreds of notes (half book total page) of many Glantz books,
Kharkov,Kursk,Stalingrad, but also the last Operation Don, Belorussia, are a miracle for a wargamer or OstFront student !