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Turn 48: June 20, 1941

Six Soviet rifle corps and one mech corps shatter. That's a bit more than desired.

Eight reserve armies are mobilized. We take a shorter step back.
Soviet land experience is 40%, air experience 39%.

The UK builds a ground attack group, Canada builds a division, USA builds the 1st armor.

Turn 49: July 4, 1941

The Soviets lose 5 rifle corps and 1 cavalry corps shattered.
U-boats are back. Total losses from raiders is 6 merchants and 1 escort, but u-boats take 4 step losses.

The Soviets get a single army as reinforcement, which is honestly good enough for our needs.

The UK keeps sending 55 production.

Turn 50: July 18, 1941

The Soviets lose 2 rifle and 1 mech corp shattered.
U-boats sink a single merchant but one u-boat group is sunk.

The Soviets mobilize 3 armies and take another small step back.

The UK declares war on Portugal. While it's highly unlikely, we still use the Royal Navy to guard against any counter-invasion.

Turn 51: August 1, 1941

It's raining men!

No units are lost but the Soviets make a big breakthrough at Orel.
U-boats sink 4 merchants and 2 escorts but take 3 steps damage.

A couple of Axis units appear on the Spanish border. That's all we're asking for!
We'll slowly build up strength in Portugal.

The UK sends 57 production to the Soviets.

We've had to give up a lot of ground, but we finally have a fairly professional army in the field.
So far we haven't lost any armies, although we have lost some mech corps. This turn we disband one
rifle corps, if any others survive, we'll get around to disbanding those too.

If the Axis are careless, we may well be able to make local counter-attacks next turn. Eight second-rate
armies still remain to be mobilized.

Situation in the north:

In the south:

Turn 52: August 15, 1941

A single rifle corps is lost (it ran behind the lines), but the Axis is clearly pushing for Moscow.

Can I get a refund for my US strategic bomber? I think I'd like to try a game without strategic bombing.
The US builds an armor.

In the east we organize our defense the best we can.

Turn 53: August 29, 1941

The Axis make a massive push for Moscow, shattering two mech corps and making a 3rd one surrender.

We try a minor counter-attack but it goes nowhere. All we can do is stiffen
the defenses of Moscow as much as possible.

Battlevonwar's is one of the better 41 Barbarossas I've seen. Having that extra Italian armor seems to make a difference. And since nothing is happening in North Africa, why not send it east? I think maybe rather than Portugal, the Italians need to be brought under pressure in the Med.

Personally I prefer Leningrad to Moscow as a 41 primary objective. (You can get one or the other but imo probably not both.) But he may just be able to get Moscow in time.

I'm loving it, it's the first time I've been under pressure as the Soviets. I already see many things I could improve for future games.

Hmmmmm. This is clearly what I'll be getting soon; my game with him is at Jan '41.

Turn 54: September 12, 1941

The Axis seems to have run out of at least some steam. Limited attacks.

There is a difference in the attacks this turn, almost a desperation. Many attacks fail,
or the Axis suffer heavy casualties, altogether we only lose 3 hexes in front of Moscow,
and no units.

Let's take a look at how the UK is doing. Egypt is static. I did stupidly waste our last submarine
here earlier, but at least the Axis lost quite a few planes sinking it.

I'm happy with the amount of units tied down here. I don't like advancing into the poor supply
lines of the desert.

Norway is not tying down any Axis units of significance. But I am still happy I grabbed the parts I did.
Germany really needs to take Norway before the UK is strong enough to respond.

Raiders based in Trondheim have been a problem, but they could just as easily have been based in Petsamo.

I like Iberia as a point of attack, as there are plenty of large harbors. We're already
tying down quite a few units, although (it's a secret!) I wouldn't dream of attacking Spain
until the summer of 1942. And of course we don't have to attack Spain, it is just an option.

The UK is lightly garrisoned, but there is zero indication of any attack. Quite the opposite.

I may have to build some merchants soon.

Tech wise we're doing OK. I've perhaps been overdoing convoy tech, I'll slow it down
drastically once we reach the next level.