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Germany, at the start of the second axis impulse in November 44.
There are not enough German units to close the lines unless massive retreat is done in the West.
The British armored corps could reach Berlin without any opposition at this stage...
And it is hard to fathom what could stop the elite army group in the center of Poland, led by Vatutin and Zhukov, now that the fortified line has been fully broken on three hexes.

The allies have also avoided using planes, and moved the minimal number of ships: oils shortage is also keen for them, especially the Commnwealth whic could not reorganize all of its assets (but most of them anyway.)
They will of course fly strong in defense of any attempt by Germany to fly its own planes. But many of them are short on oil...

On the second axis impulse, Japan and Italy pass, while Germany makes a land move to plug the holes.
Even should the other countries have moved, the turn would have ended up anyway!

That makes it the shortest turn in the war, with one allied impulse and two axis impulses.
A turn can never be shorter than that!

It comes very well for the axis!

And it is rather bad for the allies who did not even have time to move many units.
This wins a full turn on the side of Japan : reinfircements never left the west coast!

It is not surprising that the destroyed pool is so small!
Still, the amount loss to Germany is more than its current production, considering that all oil must now go to reorganization...

But new, rebuilt units will appear on the frontlines.

Once more,the axis gets the initiative. The allies don't ask for a reroll. Germany takes the first impulse anyway. There are still holes to plug.

Germany has reformed serious lines.
Berlin cannot now be reached. Indeed, it is now fortified on 5 hex sides and well defended.
Varshaw has been vacated: it becomes hard to defend, and it seems better to have Guderian escape.
Other hexes are vacated too, in order to shorten the lines.
The weast front changes very little: retreat there is not really an option!

The US have been bitten but the previous turn shortness: it has taken a combined with an offensive chit: transports are converging on Japan with all that seems important.

The British have taken a land move, but with the snow, it is difficult to know what they can expect to do.

The Russians have, of course, also chosen a land move, with an offensive from Zhukov. With snow immune troops, he can achieve a lot in a winter offensive.

Time to hit where it hurts.

One oil less is half the Japanese production.

In Germany, the Russians lost a bomber, but the other also inflicted a double loss of one oil and one production.

This means less units reorganized in the next turn.

Even though this is winter and airplanes are nit that effective, Germany engages them where it sees they could make a difference.

Some air combat are bloody.

Against the British...

And against the USSR...

The air cover having failed, Von Runstaed is destroyed by the British.
No regrets: even if the air forces had been able to help, the result would have been the same.

Fukuoka resists the American assault.

And near Poznan, the Germans resist the first of Zhukov two attacks.

But the main attack in the direction of Dresden, succeeds.
The city is captured by the advancing armored units.

Near Shangai, the Japanese armored corps holds well against poorly motivated nationalists.

In Yugoslavia, second rate Russian troops are held in check by an Italian pocket.

The second impulse is Blizzard in Germany and Japan.
This might well be good for the axis, which will try the same trick as the previous turn: Japan and Italy pass while Germany plugs the holes...

The axis does it again!

In march 45, the allies at last gain the initiative.
The weather clears up.

But Germnay and, in a lesser way, Japan, have had time to reinforce.

The Allies have to be nice to their opponent during the game. Because at the end, their opponent might very well pick who wins…...

The USA take a combined with an offensive ; they have a stock of 6 offensives. They expected to use some in the winter, but this did not happen!

Strategic bombing takes its tool on Japan, which won't be producing this turn, and has already lost one of its two oils...

If the Japanese fleet sorties, it will be its last one. Better choose well!

However, bombing failed against the oil producing facilities in Germany.

Germany has still an impressive working fighter force, even if some of them are a bit dated and most of them are outclassed by allied fighters.

The allies don't have free skies.

The drawback is that this force is now often ill positionned, to avoid getting overrun in case of enemy advance.