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April 21, 1944

EAST FRONT-Center

Counter Attack

Searching for enemy formations that might be vulnerable, Stavka targets the 1st Pz Grenadiers south of Vitebsk. Leaving no bullets in the guns, we launch 4 air strikes, then attack with 15th Tank and 1st Guards Tank-2 formations untouched by the German offensive. Though we take heavy losses, we force the worn down German formation to immediately retreat. Stavka now attacks directly south of this hex, targeting LVII Pz Corps and hitting it with multiple air strikes, and then two more fresh Russian Tank armies hit with similar results-heavy losses, but an immediate German retreat.

Striking north now, 2nd Tank with heavy air support targets the badly ground down 5th Pz Grenadiers, which was heavily involved in the assault on Vitebsk. Again, we take losses, but the German formation falls back. At this point, in 4 attacks, we have essentially breached the German line, which was 2 formations deep. And we have A LOT of mobile formations available. Seeking to really blow open a hole in the front, we shift south again, but run into a stronger formation in LXIX Corps. With only a two hex frontage it takes 3 attacks and more fresh armor to finally displace the stubborn German unit.

25th Tank now rolls west and further displaces LXIX Corps, then pivots NE and chases off the badly mauled LVII Pz Corps. Things are approaching a rout.

At this point, I admit basically losing my mind. Having been caged up so long in this game, I unleash every mobile formation I can find. The Russian armor and mech corps rip into the German rear echelon, overrunning LXIX Corps, LVII PZ Corps, III and IV Jagdcorps and V Fliegercorps.

When the dust settles, we also launch infantry attacks NE of Vitebsk. Though it takes 6 Russian armies 6 attacks, we finally displace LVI Corps.

After this absolute flury of attacks, the Center looks like this:
We have absolutely blown open the German front, and threaten their rail lines to the SE around Mogilev.

But there is a problem-

In my ridiculous haste, I have left a fairly narrow neck to the salient(the black box). North and south of this box are strong German formations. Standard procedure in a situation like this is to attack the neck of the salient. To counter this, we move the best formations that will reach this area in the form of the nearly full strength 2nd Siberian Army and the effective 5th Guards Tank. That said, it is a 50-50 chance Nirosi might be able to close this off. To that end, we move up the best formations we can so that if this does happen, we can immediately counter attack and re open supply.

Make no mistake: this is a big error. If Nirosi can close this area off, the bulk of Soviet armor and mech formations will be without supply. Even if supply can be reestablished, it's a disaster. If it can't? It's the end of the war.

That said, if the Germans DO attack, they will have to do so on a narrow front, vs good formations and facing Russian air supremacy, not to mention the threat of encirclement themselves, as significant Russian mobile assets are in their rear.

Next turn will be very, very interesting.

South-Though many of the assets for SERPENT are in place, Soviet 1st Guards Tank was vital to the op. It is currently deep in the German rear area, as the tip of the spear for the massive Soviet counter attack. A replacement formation will have to be found. But that will not be easy.

Losses. Unsustainable on both sides.

Oh wow! Finally some real action! If the Germans do a massive counter attack to cut the bottleneck that could decide the game one way or the other based on if they cut the bottleneck and can hold it. Quite a lot at stake the next turn or 2. Did you use supply trucks on most of the armor so they have extra supply?

Now Germany faces lots of pressure on both fronts! And, 97 losses has got to mean the luftwaffe does not have much left in the tank. What a choice for Nirosi. Run and reestablish a line or stay and try to cut you off and keep the pocket closed which leaves him vulnerable to you rolling up the line in both directions if he fails!! I think right now Comrade Stalin is seriously considering giving extra rations to your family members in the Gulag.

May 5,1944

BOA-German surface fleet heads back to the Baltic. No sub attacks this turn. Reduction in aid to Russia results in a massive MM surplus. US increases aid again, though not to previous levels.

Norway-No activity. German Paras are spotted though. This causes some consternation.

Greece/Africa-The ability to launch ZEUS is tantalizingly close, but we need all fleet assets in order to do so. Next turn they should be ready/close to ready. Good weather will likely see the attempt at this extremely high risk op. Some Axis formations, however, have been withdrawn here, which gives us moderate hope.

US Bomber CommandUS formations are low on readiness. Only one raid is launched, with escorts, hitting Stuttgart. Both sides lose 4 steps. US escorts have reached '44 tech-this adds drop tanks to our escorts and massively increases their range. Next turn, we will raid deep into Germany.

MATADOR/Spain-Axis battle lines are starting to take shape. As of right now, there is rough force parity, but we cannot be sure just how strong Axis formations are. At least two German armor corps are here. More Allied formations are landing, and significant formations embark from US East Coast ports and head across the Atlantic.

May 5, 1944

EAST FRONT

North-The German surface fleet, minus Bismark, attempt to attack the raiding Red Banner Fleet. They locate us, but the battle goes our way. We take 0 losses, while the German cruiser group takes three hits. Feeling we have the advantage, we attack. We cannot hit the CA group, but we sink the German destroyer group. At heavy cost though-both our surface groups take two hits. We would like to pursue and sink the German cruiser, but fresh surface assets have arrived for the Axis-Spanish ships! We knew we were going to pay a price for invading Spain, and here is one. The damaged Russian surface ships head back to port for repair.

Center-Our worst fears are realized here. Far from being put on their heels by our break through, the Germans recognize our over extension and launch a massive effort to close off the choke. They succeed in an operation that involves huge amounts of powerful German formations, including the fresh XIX Panzer. Ultimately, the seal off four hexes, driving off most Russian units with ease, and overrunning our 2nd Tank Corps(ouch!). The lone exception is the Russian 20th Army, which fights off 5 German attacks by multiple German formations, though it is finally driven back on the 6th attack. The Russian formation is decimated, but their valor likely prevented an even worse situation.

Stavka anticipated this possibility and has large amounts of assets available, and uses all of them. We are able to retake all four hexes, although it takes heavy fighting and the commitment of all Russian assets. Losses are heavy on both sides.

We are happy to reestablish contact, but the Germans still have strong assets here. In addition, we have lost some of our entrenchment. Our forces, both in the choke and available east of it, are lessening in strength. This is a bad situation-I believe the Germans will close the choke again next turn, and our ability to reopoen it is less sure. Assets ear marked for the southern SERPENT op are being redeployed here as rapidly as possible.

Another worry is this: reopening the choke does NOT get supply to our formations in the west. We would have to HOLD it open for a turn to do this. In addition, a fresh German Pz Grenadier arrives in Minsk. Our formations are worn down and out of supply. This formation can do heavy damage to us.

Our breakthrough, which we hoped might be the turning point on the Eastern Front, instead teeters on the edge of disaster. Taking this into account, wherever possible, Stavka pulls back the mobile formations west of the choke, where they can get resupply even if the Germans again close it. This will allow those formations to regroup and participate in efforts to reopen the breach if necessary. We plow obscene amounts of supply trucks into our worn down armor groups and will use more still next turn if offensive actions are necessary. In addition, all remaining Red Air Force formations launch interdiction strikes vs strong German formations.
Note: Russian counter attacks reopen the corridor, but German units retain an ever increasing qualitative edge.


South-Like us, the Germans are stripping this front to move formations into the Vitebsk theater. It would be a perfect time to launch SERPENT, but we have reallocated most of the formations necessary in an effort to avert disaster in the mammoth battle developing around the Vitebsk corridor. This is frustrating, but we have not totally given up on SERPENT.

Losses remain heavy on both sides, but are beginning to tip in Germany's favor

I think both of you are teetering on the brink of disaster in the East but glad to see you got some of your formations out of the breakthrough/pocket. Germany not only has to deal with Russia but it's about to be involved in intense combat in Spain. Who will break first?

Smoke billows skyward after another massive armored clash in the Vitebsk corridor.

This battle is by far the largest and most deadly clash of the war-and no victory seems safe from an enemy counter attack

May 19, 1944

BOA-No activity, the subs are out of the shipping lanes. Air formations have been withdrawn from Iceland and Scapa Flow, which will allow the subs more freedom next turn, but for now it is a rare quiet turn.

Norway-An uneasy peace here. I am still wondering, if the Germans aren't looking to attack, why they have airborne units here.

US Bomber Command-Rain seems to hamper recovery. All six US Strategic Bomber formations have been concentrated. Rumors are going around the hangars of a "Big Raid", but nothing concrete has been heard. Supply trucks arrive to prep formations, but all bombers stay on the ground.

Spain-Allied formations continue to advance toward Madrid. All four German formations here are elite mobile corps-either mech or armor. They are qualitatively better than anything the Allies can throw against them. However, the forces around them-Spanish and Italian-are inferior. This will be an interesting front. The English plan a set piece attack south of Madrid next turn, and the US forces will look to turn the northern flank held by Italian forces. More Allied troops are maneuvered to the front, and still more are shipping in from England and across the Atlantic. German subs loiter off the coast of northern Spain and interdict supply, but with so many ports it has no real effect.

May 19, 1944

Greece/ZEUS-At long last, weather, naval assets, ground forces, special units and air forces are available-ZEUS is a go!!

Zeus is a combined arms operation that is working at a logistical and tactical disadvantage, and as such, no expense has been spared. To open the op, two cruiser groups move up the west coast of Greece, baiting Italian air. Unfortunately, they do the job too well, and Italian naval bombers sting both fleets. This allows an amphibious landing un-harried by air attack. The specialized Canadian II Corps, with artillery, lands on the western beaches of Greece. At the same time, the UK Iraq Corps is upgraded to engineer status, allowing it to attack effectively across rivers. US Strategic bombers carpet bomb the garrisoned German 7th Volksgrenadier Corps, making sure no interceptors are in range and reducing the formation. Then two airborne corps are dropped behind the lines, the US 101st and UK 1st Airborne. Finally, the full might of the Mediterranean Fleet is brought to bare on the defenders. After two attacks, the 2nd tier German formation is simply destroyed. This allows the Canadian II Corps, along with the elite UK II Corps, to surge across the river.

In another small amphibious op, the UK 15th Brigade is landed in the hills NE of Salonica and cuts one railway into Greece.

Follow up landings at the small Greek harbor of Kalmata see the arrival of both WDF Armor Corps as well as another UK airborne corps.

All these formations give the the Allies a wealth of options next turn, but they come at a price: Supply. We cannot come close to supplying all these formations. This leads us the the second part of this Op-CHARIOT-an effort to capture additional portage. As risky as ZEUS was, CHARIOT is built on even shakier strategic an logistical foundations. We shall have to see if even attempting it is possible.
The German mountain corps north of Athens are the best formations on this front, but they have no HQ, are threatened with immediate and deep encirclement, and are outnumbered. Our formations, however, are beyond their logistical limit, and cannot fight any kind of extended campaign. This is another theater\strategic situation I haven't seen in other AARs(probably because no other players are crazy/dumb enough to launch this kind of op-but it sure makes things interesting).

East Front will have to wait until later, but it too is the scene of many happenings.

Gliders transport airborne troops into the skies over Greece.

The Allied airborne drop was launched on a massive scale.

HMS Royal Sovereign fires her guns in support of ZEUS.

May 19, 1944


EAST FRONT

North-German formations were not mobilizing for attack here-they were getting ready to pull back. A general withdrawal on this front mirrors the situation in the Vitebsk corridor. Soviet forces here-predominantly infantry and supported by one obsolete mech corps, make a plodding advance under General Vasily Gerasimenko.

May 19, 1944

Center-We are surprised by the German decision to fall back. They could have likely retaken the choke, but we also likely could have reopened it. Perhaps Nirosi was no longer willing to engage in the costly melee? You can find out by reading his AAR, but I will have to wait until this game is over.

I have never attempted to exploit this type of situation, and I really don't know what to do with it. The Germans are disengaging and moving west. Nirosi has been careful to leave no options for encirclement, cleverly using rivers to shield weaker units while holding open ground with strong units-I only find this out by moving adjacent, so by the time I get the lay of the land, I have already moved many of my units.

The global meta is at play here. The western allies beg Stalin to keep the pressure on the Germans-a mass transfer of forces west into the Greek front will crush the nascent ZEUS. Stalin, seeing it in his own interest to let the Allied landings grow, instructs General Rokossovsky to surge forward. He moves a wall of infantry against the Germans to the NW, directs armor into the open territory to the south of the Vitebsk corridor, and instructs breakthrough units to the west/southwest to stand firm and allow supply to catch up.

This results in a great wedge, with a few retreat hexes left just in case, pointing directly at Minsk.

Vitebsk is reoccupied, and Velikie Luki is also taken after being abandoned by Wehrmacht forces.

May 19, 1944

South-With the relief of pressure in the embattled Center front, forces are again available to be moved south, including the excellent(but battered) Soviet First Guards Tank. Air assets and other formations are also railed south. I have no doubt Nirosi will notice this. The question is, does he have any formations left to counter it? We are doing everything in our power to make the answer to that no.

SERPENT is again arising.

Soviet armor pushes down roads blocked by wrecked and abandoned German vehicles.

German soldiers are in disbelief-they have not retreated the entire war.