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Soviets, Winter 43:

In typical Stalinist fashion, the Red Army has pushed itself as far as it can. Hungary is retaken; Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia have all fallen. Clearly, the Reich has the forces to counterattack in all of these areas, as the dire shortfall in supply meant that most of the rail could not be repaired in the conquered territories, thus reinforcements sit idle a few territories behind the lines.

I'm out on vacation til next Friday, so this one will stall for a little while again.

WA - Winter 43

Now that my industry has kicked into a higher gear I'm starting to crank out some ground units. Other than that I spent time consolidating during the move phase. The Japanese in Hawaii are not going anywhere except 6 feet under but that is going to have to wait a turn or two more. My subs are starting to hunt down Japanese transports and even though I will probably take some losses it will hurt him more than it will hurt me.

The bomber fleet is starting to shape up pretty well in England. I ran them into Western France the last turn and they completely wiffed. Researching Land attack some more will help immensely.

I couldn't send lend-lease to the Soviets this turn because of the winter rules but I did put a whole bunch in Norway so it looks like I will be able to double-up next turn and send him at least 60.

No pictures this turn because I was lazy and forgot to take any.


China - Nothing

[:@][:@][:@]

Britain bought time, [size=0]America supplied money, and Russia gave blood.

Soviets, Spring 43

We're underway again after Stavka returns from vacation....

The supply crisis continued this turn. We were able to take Czechoslovakia and Austria, and repair enough rail to get some of our reserves to the front lines. The time for the assault on the Reich is at hand.

As our erstwhile allies are otherwise engaged at the moment, we put most of our resources into building supplies of our own. Stalin begins to dream of a Europe painted red.

WA - Spring '43

Pacific...

Lots of things happening now. My carrier air has come out of repair and my flattops are on the move in the pacific again. All of my transports have come out of hiding and I am moving units around in the Pacific again. At this point I think I am just going to bypass Hawaii ( The Japanese currently own it ). Do you think I'm taking the island-hopping a little too serious here... [:D]


Europe...

Reinforced Southern Italy. I will probably come out to play very soon. Initiated the Torch landings to clear North Africa of German sympathizers. [:D] The beaches of France look extremely inviting since they have been stripped of almost all their defenses. Landings will commence soon. Conducted an Allied Bombing Raid ( 4 Heavy Bombers with fighter escort ) on Western Germany, damaging two factories and a resource and destroying german heavy bomber on the ground.

Decided to display the production queue this time around. The Axis forces are extremely low on supply. The WA ( me ) can pretty much do as they please because of this situation.

Of course Stalin is whining again about sending more supply ( I sent close to 50 supply this turn ). Boy, that guy can burn through supply like there is no tomorrow.

Dear FDR:

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

Your pals in/at Stavka

P.S. Thanks for torching those damned German factories.

P.P.S. Uncle Joe says that everything is under control in Europe and we really invite you to send your troops elsewhere. Don't worry, we'll give back all this territory when it's all over.

Germany Summer 1943 -

The war continues to look bleak. We were able to inflict some losses on the advancing Russians, but were unable to gain back any territory. The end is nigh....

Japan Summer 1943 -

Not much happening...moved some forces around & built supply.

Soviets, Summer 1943:

We retook Austria, then used the generous supplies sent by the glorious Western Allies to rebuild the entire front line rail system, plus repair resources and factories in Rumania and Kiev.

As a result, we believe we are poised to commence the final invasion of Germany.

I believe der Fuhrer and Frau Braun can be heard digging near the Reichstag.

Russia always seems so tough in these replays.

ORIGINAL: meyerg

Russia always seems so tough in these replays.

I agree with you, it's appear that it's Russia choice of production before the war that will make the day, not really the way the german plan and execute Barbarossa. [:-]

ORIGINAL: Titi

ORIGINAL: meyerg

Russia always seems so tough in these replays.

I agree with you, it's appear that it's Russia choice of production before the war that will make the day, not really the way the german plan and execute Barbarossa. [:-]

What choice of production caused Barbarossa to fail in this game? My choice to have the Germans leave Italy undefended, so that the Western Allies invaded before the German attack ever got off the ground?

Sometimes it seems like some of the posters don't even read the AAR, they just jump in and comment on the latest screenshot. In this game, I felt I was pretty succeptible to a German invasion, but IDB's intervention in Italy completely changed the game. paullus had to shift resources to the West and I was able to defeat him in the East very early as a result.

Plus, I think a lot of people are laboring under the impression that Germany could have defeated the Soviet Union had Barbarossa been "done right." In my opinion, this is a fiction, and the game reflects that: it takes an expert player to take out the USSR. On the other hand, it takes an expert Soviet player or a major German mistake for the Allies to defeat the Germans earlier than their historical counterparts. Victory conditions are still being worked on, but in my opinion, that's a German victory right there if they last past Summer of 45.

wow this game is gonna consume my life in the near future....

and that was a heck of alot of reading

Germany & Japan - Fall 1943

Things look grim for Germany. Allied armored units crushed our forces in Northern Italy & Russian tanks sit at our very doorstep.

For Japan, we still hold lots of territory, but American subs are starting to make themselves felt.

Not much else to report.

Soviets, Fall 1943:

We reinforced our positions around Germany. I have let my research lag for a couple of turns, and it's starting to show, as it is difficult for my infantry to put a dent into Germany. Luckily, I repaired a lot of resources this turn and, with a steady diet of lend lease supply coming in, I can throw a lot at research while still producing units.

The poor people of Austria must be getting sick of the war, as the territory has changed hands three times in the last two turns.

Germany & Japan - Winter 1944 (last turn for a while, I'll be out of town)

Well, for the 4th time - Austria changes hands & I managed to eliminate a chunk of the forces in Czechoslovakia. Otherwise, we pretty much abandoned France to concentrate on defending our homelands. Not much else to report.

Japan - not much happening here, holding a bunch of territories - but unable to do much about the allied subs.

Soviets, Winter 1944:

Stalin forgives Konev for losing Austria after the Marshall delivers Berlin.

[:D]

Is this game in your (testers) exp. fairly typical?

Does one battle (southern Italy for example) often decide the outcome of the entire game?

How much fighting occured as far as Japan is concerned? It seems that they only had three big turns in the China campaign and one, maybe two turns of glory against the WA.

My big question, is the game to short? Does it leave you satisfied w/cigarette?

Italy was crucial because it happened at the worst possible time: Barbarossa. It's a highway straight to Germany, and paullus couldn't afford to let them break through.

But yes, the game is very satisfying. [:)] Last night I couldn't sleep because I was so worried about how bad the situation would be in one of my PBEMs when I woke up.

Soviets, Spring 44:

We took Austria, but generally focused on repairing war damage back home and moving forces East to deal with the Rising Sun. My lag in technology against the Germans should be eliminated (at least in armor) next turn.

The factories in West Germany appear to be kaput and Germany has no supply to mount counterattacks or repair its existing factories -- basically, it looks like Gotterdamrung for the Germans.

I expect to weaken German defenses in the Summer and defeat them in the Fall.

In the meantime, we amused ourselves with invasions of neutral mid-east nations. Maybe while we're waiting for war with Japan, we'll build a fleet and go invade some of the neutrals around the world. [:D]