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I've never started Barbarossa this late. Even with supply trucks it would not have been possible to launch our paratroopers! That's how bad the weather has been.
In total we shatted 5 rifle corps.

In the south our initial objectives are Krivoi Rog and the wheat.

In the north our initial objective was to bridge the Daugava (achieved) to outflank the Riga defenses.
Our next objective is (top secret!) to turn southeast and bag as many units as possible.

1941-06-20

U-boats sink 8 merchants for 1 step loss.
A British fleet with a CV is interdicted near Tobruk but our bombers take 10 steps and do no damage.
Italy gets Naval Air Training 43, we'll see if it helps.

Germany builds a large corps, Hungary a division.

I'm slowly coming to the realisation that there are no enemy forces really worth encircling in Russia. It's just an ocean of infantry corps. Very different from last time I played.
Still the offensive goes on, we shatter 9 rifle corps and 1 surrenders.

In the north all we are facing so far are rifle corps:

In the south maybe we can make some sort of pocket next turn:

1941-07-04

U-boats sink 6 merchants and an escort but suffer 4 steps.
Russian naval units sink 2 merchants.

In southern Russia the 4 Panzer helps create a mini-pocket of sorts south of Kiev. There's no point really, and I regret the decision - all the enemy units here are weak and crumble to any sort of attack.
The engineers of 3 Panzer probe the Dnieper but as suspected there are heavy units on the north bank.
Our main thrust is to the east, effectively cutting off the rail line to Sevastopol. There are 3 cities with 5 production each in the area, we want them all.
PS the only Soviet unit further east than the 7 Panzer are some port garrisons.

In then north we spot an opportunity at Mogilev and race through.
Unfortunately the 10 Panzer is exhausted in the process.

As usual I forget to move my HQs before attacking. I still have much I can improve.

A total of 5 rifle corps shatter this turn.

Germany builds a large corps.

1940-07-18

U-boats sink 2 merchants but take 8 step losses. Sorry but I am still not convinced u-boats are worth it.

In the north we bridge the Sorot. I don't think we have any chance of reaching Moscow, so our only objective here is Vitebsk.

Six rifle corps shatter this turn.

In the south Stalino refuses to surrender. We also want Kharkov and Kursk before winter.

1940-08-01

Germany gets heavy armor 42. I don't think the switch is worth it, better to stick with Breakthrough.

In Morocco we had planned to take Casablanca with a paratrooper but just this turn the British move in a garrison.

At Tobruk the Allies are coming in force. There is even a paratrooper.
Since the Soviet air force refuses to fight, we'll send a German fighter. Perhaps more.

A single Soviet rifle corps shatters this turn.

In the north Vitebsk falls but Smolensk holds. The next objective is to cut the rail line north from Velikie Luki (we tried but failed this turn).
After that we'll keep pushing towards Moscow without risking too many losses.

In the south Stalino and Kharkov fall. We make an all-important crossing of the Desna. There are strong Soviet armored forces in the area, so there may be a counter-attack.
But I predict they will fall back. Only Kursk remains as an objective.

Interestingly the Soviets lines are strong, but there is nothing behind them. Next turn could get interesting, depending on how much the Soviets withdraw.

1940-08-15

The UK invade and take Benghazi. This is why I don't like fighting in Africa, the Allied fleet dominance makes supply extremely difficult.
We may lose several units at Tobruk. Time to concentrate on defending Tripoli.

The situation in Africa just shows my complete inexperience with this theatre of war.

Germany builds the 11 Panzer, Italy builds a mountain corps, Romania builds a division.

As expected the Soviets retreat. A single rifle corps is shattered.

Many panzers get a rest, but it looks like we will take Kursk.

I have to say even with a terrible game as the Germans, we still make tremendous progress in Russia.

1940-08-29

U-boats sink 5 merchants for 1 step loss.

As expected it's a catastrophe at Tobruk, with a German corps and the Italian Mech shattered.

Germany builds the 12 Panzer.

Things are going well for Germany on the Leningrad front. We may even be able to cut the rail line at Kabozha before winter.

At the Moscow front things also go well. There is little that can resist well-rested panzers in 1941.
Sadly things do not go as planned at all at Kursk. Despites repeated never-ending attacks the garrison holds.
The heroic defenders have saved the Soviets from being trapped in a massive pocket southwest of Tula.

Note that a paradrop on Tula would actually have created a pocket, but I'm more interested in Moscow.

Also note that had Kursk fallen (as normally it would have) the Soviets would have been in massive trouble.

1941-09-12

U-boats sink 12 merchants and 1 escort for 1 step damage. I suppose it's just very random?

The German fleet was raiding at the Faroe islands but got mauled in a carrier strike and surface engagement. Only the Bismarck is still seaworthy.

Tobruk falls, where will the Allies strike next?

The Soviets concentrate around Moscow. But we don't want Moscow yet, we want pockets!
The Tula one is quite strong but the Orel pocket is still leaky.

One mech corps, one tank and one HQ were shattered.

Things are looking bad for the Soviets, imagine what we could have done with an earlier Barbarossa!

We agree to conclude our games here. The Soviets are set to fall in both games.

It's too bad because I had one experiment left, winterized panzers!
(Notice how I've hardly used any speciality points).