Thriumph or Tragedy? (D21)

[Jukipo]

Turns 17 and 18, 8/17/41-8/24/41 AGC

In the north flank our troops have reached Rzhev. The town is heavily defended, it may take some time before we can take it. 57th Panzer Korps captured important town of Sychyovka south of Rzhev. All little towns are now important, the enemy defense is strong, we have to fight for every hex.

In the south flank the situation is different. After the fall of Bryansk our supply situation improved considerably. The enemy was weak in this area and 2nd Panzer Armee was able to advance all the way to the gates of Orel.
10th Motorized Division was advancing NE towards Kozelsk.

[Jukipo]

Turns 17 and 18, 8/17/41-8/24/41 AGS

Kiev is ours! 6th Armee takes the city after bitter street fight. Now it’s time to take out surrounded enemy divisions and then continue east towards Kharkov.

[Jukipo]

Turns 17 and 18, 8/17/41-8/24/41 AGS

Meanwhile SS Division LAH captures Dnepropetrovsk and vital Dneper bridges. The enemy was completely surprised, and the city fell without fight.

[Jukipo]

Turn 19, 8/24/41 AGN

Crisis near Volkhov

8th Panzer Division Captures the bridge north of Volkhov. Losses are light, but it’s not possible to continue assault because lack of supplies.

The enemy rails several formations right to the front. Then initiative shifts, and troops unload from trains and move right to attack. 8th PD HQ comes under attack and has to retreat. Then Soviet 10th Rifle division makes several assaults against Volkhov defended only 3rd Motorized Pionier Battalion. Artillery saves the day.

Meanwhile 18th Armee reduces pocket south of Leningrad. Only Gatchina garrison remains. Railhead has moved north of Luga River and the supply situation is improving.

[Jukipo]

Turn 19, 8/24/41 AGS

1st Panzer Armee moves east towards Kharkov. There are no enemy units near, only supply limits our advance. 16th Mororized Division is advancing towards Gadyach.

[Jukipo]

Turn 19, 8/24/41 AGC

24th Panzer Korps captures Orel. After the fall of Bryansk the supply situation is good. 10th Motorized Division is advancing on the left flank of 2nd Pz Armee. By the end of turn division arrives Kozelsk.

[Jukipo]

Turn 20, 8/27/41 AGN

New enemy units arrive from east every day. They are obviously trying to relieve Leningrad pocket before it’s too late. The supply situation on Volkhov Front is not good enough to continue our attack. 4th Panzer Armee is going to dig in and defend Volkhov line against enemy counterattack.

Leningrad is out of supply. Outer defense line has been wiped out and the assault to the city is about to begin. Supply situation around Leningrad is good.

[Jukipo]

Turn 20, 8/27/41 AGC

We have now reached Rzhev - Vyazma – Orel line. Our troops are tired after heavy fighting. Railhead is already east of Smolensk, but it is too far to continue advance to Moscow. The enemy moves new units to the front every day. They are attacking in two areas: In the center along Vyazma-Moscow highway, and in our right flank against Orel.

10th Motorized Division is moving towards Kaluga.

[Jukipo]

Turn 20, 8/27/41 AGS

Forward elements od 1st Panzer Armee captured Poltava. The supply situation is poor, but there are no enemy units near, so we keep driving east.

16th Motorized Division captured Gadyach and was driving towards Lebedyn.

[Jukipo]

Turn 20, 8/27/41 AGS

Meanwhile near Black Sea. 11th Armee penetrated Perekop Isthmus and is advancing to Krim.

Odessa Fell few days ago. Rumanian 4th Army is marching east. First divisions have reached Nikolayev.

17th Armee has reached Dneper River near Dnepropetrovsk. Divisions are exhausted after hard a march. Supply situation is poor. We can´t go on until it improves.

[Jukipo]

Situation on 8/27/41 after 20 turns.

AGN: Leningrad is surrounded and out of supply. Supply situation is improving as railhead is moving closer.

AGC: Our troops are on Rzhev – Vyazma – Orel line. Supply situation is ok in the center near Vyazma. On both flanks the supply situation is worse.

AGS: Our troops are moving towards Kharkov. In south our troops have reached Krim. Lack of supply is limiting our speed.

Losses in the first 20 turns: (last 5 turns in parenthesis)
19136 (+4941) Heavy Rifle Squads
1937 (+732) Rifle Squad – Rum
62 (+7) Rifle Squad – Hun
1592 (+275) Rifle Squad – Fin
129 (+105) Rifle Squad - Ita
2494 (+584) Engineer Squads
542 (+98) Panzers (all types)
456 (+121) Fighters (all types)
150 (+14) Stukas
674 (+131) Bombers (all types)

Railheads are on the map in cyan.

[Jukipo]

Here are the unit reports in the beginning of turn 20. All three units are close to full strength. They have got some replacements, but proficiency remains high level.

[Nicholas Bell]

Thanks again for your detailed reports, Jukipo. Good stuff! [:)]

[DanNeely]

ORIGINAL: Jukipo

Turn 20, 8/27/41 AGN

New enemy units arrive from east every day. They are obviously trying to relieve Leningrad pocket before it’s too late. The supply situation on Volkhov Front is not good enough to continue our attack. 4th Panzer Armee is going to dig in and defend Volkhov line against enemy counterattack.

Leningrad is out of supply. Outer defense line has been wiped out and the assault to the city is about to begin. Supply situation around Leningrad is good.

I've gotta wonder, does Elemer have anyone on the northeast bank of the Neva, or could you cross the river along the lake shore and flank the entire defensive position?

[Jukipo]

Turns 21 and 22, 8/31/41-9/7/41 AGC

The enemy is attacking against our line near Vyazma and Rzhev. Several Soviet units evaporate in our artillery fire. We are going to hold this line and resupply our troops. When the enemy units are exhausted we’ll strike through with fresh Panzer Divisions.

Meanwhile between Vyazma and Orel we captured Yukhnov. 2nd Panzer Armee reached Oka River. There have been hard battles near Orel. The enemy is trying to recapture town.

[Jukipo]

Turns 21 and 22, 8/31/41-9/7/41 AGS

Drive to the East continues. Forward divisions are close to Kharkov, but the bulk of our troops are far behind. 16th Motorized Division takes Lebedyn.

[Jukipo]

September 7th, 1941 Axis capture Leningrad! German Forces March into Leningrad.

[Jukipo]

Turns 21-24, 8/31/41-9/10/41 AGN

Leningrad is captured. After the fall of city 38th Korps advances to NE to the shore of Lake Ladoga. Finnish units help to take out divisions guarding the old border line.

SS Polizei Division Assaults Oranienbaum garrison.

Railhead is near Lyuban moving SE.

8th Panzer Division is near Volkhov.

[Jukipo]

Turns 23-25, 9/7/41-9/14/41 AGC

The front line remains almost where it was two weeks ago. 9th Armee takes Rzhev after a hard fight. In the middle we capture Gzhatsk. The enemy assaults every day against our line, their losses are high. Panzer Divisions are resting near Vyazma.

Railhead is only 70 km from Vyazma.

[Jukipo]

Turns 23-25, 9/7/41-9/14/41 AGS

For the past week panzer divisions have been waiting fuel. Now 6th Armee infantry divisions have arrived to the front and the final push to Kharkov is about to begin.

In the South the supply situation is so bad that 17th Armee can’t advance further. Regiments are forming defensive positions. Enemy activity is very light in this area.