Defending Greater Germania 1942 - Includes combined WitW and WitE2 AARs

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Italian Front
Situation Report Feb 5th 1944 Turn 32
Army Group C

After a brief lull Dawley orders a fresh attack, the US VI is supported by Brit 1st and PO II Corps with 600 tanks massed for the assault try to break the line and outflank Hube,determined Axis resistance is able to hold.

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On The Adriatic Coast Erich Straube ArmeeKorps had just been reinforced by the arrival of the 17th Infantry Div, despite 90th Pz Gren being in bad shape it was agreed with Gen Hube that the 242 Inf Div would be the first unit pulled out of the line to refit, the unit withdrew from the line and the 17th Inf replaced it just in time as the enemy began to assault Axis positions, even with almost double the numbers in manpower and overwhelming odds in tanks numbers the fresh reinforcements were able to easily contain the attacks.

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Allfrey Brit V Corps supported by US VI and the Brit X and XIII Corps launch a renewed attack again failing to force a crossing and breach Axis lines.

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Western Front / Italian Front
Situation Report Feb 5th 1944 Turn 32
Battle stats / weather / Production

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WITW A Losses 32.jpg (198.87 KiB) Viewed 764 times

WITW Production 32.jpg (229.22 KiB) Viewed 764 times

Weather 32.jpg (218.43 KiB) Viewed 764 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 10th 1944 Turn 65
Army Group Centre / Army Group North

Gen Kempf orders XIV ArmeeKorps to pause its drive towards Soligalach until XXXVIII ArmeeKorps mops up enemy troops near the Rybinsk Reservoir, 8th Armee's new orders are to form a defensive line running from Vozhega to Galich ( e ) down to Kostroma.

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As the troops move to take up there new defence line X and II ArmeeKorps eliminate the Soviet 20th Mountain Div, with the advance now into the Vologda / Yaroslavl regions Gen Keller ( Luftflotte 1 ) and FM Von Kuechler ( AG North ) move there HQ's, to Cherepovets to coordinate there operations.

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At Ivanovo 9th Armee and 16th Armee complete the destruction of 3rd Ukrainian forces holding out in the city then move quickly to attack Red Army reinforcements that were advancing towards the city hoping to relieve the trapped garrison, the advance is halted by XVII ArmeeKorps and XXXXI Pz Korps and three Red Army Inf Div's are encircled.

South of 9th / 16th Armee front Graessner's XII ArmeeKorps advances towards Gorodets covering LVI Pz Korps ( Schaal ) left flank while Joachim Von Kortzfleisch's XLII ArmeeKorps covers the right, Schaal's 19th Panzer Div leading the advance breaks through thin enemy lines at Dzerzhinsk ( e ) taking the town, not wanting to wait the Panzers push on and with a determined assault forcing out enemy troops from the remnants of two Soviet Fronts ( 1st belorussian and 2nd baltic ) from the strategic City of Gorky.

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A column of tanks from 19th Panzer Division pause briefly along one of the main streets in a residential area of Gorky.

The fall of the city another big blow to Stalin's regime with its large military factories there.

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 10th 1944 Turn 65
Army Group Centre

After the large territorial gains last week and with a number of enemy troops cutoff its decided the drive towards Penza and Saransk be slowed, reports of more Soviet armour moving forward from the Saransk direction indicate a possible buildup by The Bryansk Front as a prelude to a new enemy offensive.
2nd Regt / Das Reich did however recon the town of Kovylkino, finding no enemy activity the unit pulled back and rejoined the rest of the division, North of Das Reich LIII ArmeeKorps began to engage with units from the Soviet 46th and Coastal OpGgr Army, with support from IX ArmeeKorps the Soviet 30th Tank Corps is cutoff.

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South of the drive towards Penza 2nd Armee also slows its eastward push several Tank and Mech Corps with Inf support have moved up to hurriedly through up a defence line in the Saratov region, 42nd, 48th, 49th and 3rd Guards Army part of 1st Ukrainian Front, enemy forces taking up positions along the Khoper ( Khopyor ) river.

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Leaders 65.jpg (57.42 KiB) Viewed 628 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 3rd 1944 Soviet Turn 64
OKH Command

Operation Polkovodets Rumyantsev
Soviet Voronezh - Belgorod – Kharkov offensive

Second week
Despite retaking large areas and halting the enemy's advance with our own counteroffensive Axis forces are now facing new attacks as more Red Army forces arrive along the front, ten Tank and Mech Corps have deployed in the Stalingrad / Voronezh region, 10th PzGren Div which had advanced the furthest capturing Aleksikovo now finds itself threatened with encirclement. Intel reports have identified these new formations belonging to 3rd, 39th, 1st Tank and 6th Tank Army.

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In the Southern sector of the salient The Soviets launch large scale attacks 28th, 38th, 44th, 51st, 55th, 59th and 4th Guards Armies smash through our lines relieving there comrades retaking most of the territory lost and pushing on to take Rossosh, Rovenki and Markovka while almost cutting off four Axis Divisions, only the 8th Panzer Div keeping a narrow corridor open for the pocketed units.

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 10th 1944 Turn 65
OKH Command

As the fighting intensifies in the Voronezh region Manstein orders Gen Herbert Loch's XXVIII ArmeeKorps stationed along the Finnish border to be redeployed South, also Erich Brandenberger's Armee currently engaged in fighting in the Ivanovo region is ordered to disengage from offensive actions and to move at all possible speed to the nearest rail heads for embarkation to Southern Russia.

In the Northern sector 10th Pz Gren Div makes a hasty withdrawal from Aleksikovo pulling back behind the Khoper river, the battered VII ArmeeKorps and LV ArmeeKorps cutoff 12th Guards Tank Corps, Zom's XXXXVI Pz now fully deployed advances towards Rossosh encircling 15th Tank Corps.

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In the South of the Voronezh Salient Gen Gusztav Jany orders full mobilisation of 2nd Hun Army as the Hun VII Korps advances across the Aidar river retaking Rovenki and moving towards Kantemirovka.
At Markovka there is heavy fighting as VI , XVII and XXIV ArmeeKorps along with the Rum Mountain Korps battle against 55th and 6th Tank Armies, Axis forces capture the town cutting off 10th Guards Inf and 17th Tank Corps.

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Production 65.jpg (384.33 KiB) Viewed 622 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 3rd 1944 Soviet Turn 64
Army Group South

Operatsiya Skachok ( Operation Gallop )

With the battle raging in the North Woehler's Command had not escaped attention late in the first week of Feb three Soviet ( 38th, 44th and 2nd Shock ) Armies struck 4th Pz Armee lines, at Yefremovo - Stepanovka, 6th Guards Rifle Corps together with 4th Tank Corps crossed The Kalitva river forcing back 106th Inf ( XXIX ArmeeKorps ) while Bogdanov's ( 2nd Shock ) 4th Tank Corps smashed through 62nd Infantry Inf ( which was guarding the rail yards Northeast of Gluboky ) with near fatal consequences, the division suffered many casualties and wounded personal one being the 1st Recon Leader who was badly wounded and invalided to a military Hospital at Voroshilovgrad.
XXIX ArmeeKorps again came under heavy attack again at Millerovo but was able to contain the enemy advance and force a temporary halt.

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Battles 64 62nd Div.jpg (219.14 KiB) Viewed 620 times

Operation Gallop.jpg (133.55 KiB) Viewed 620 times

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gallop





Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 10th 1944 Turn 65
Army Group South


Having been beaten back and halting any further advances by the Soviet Forces in the Rostov region late last week Woehler needed to strengthen his lines, the XXIX ArmeeKorps was in bad shape with the 62nd Inf withdrawn from duties to refit, however 2nd Ukrainian Front continues to bring units forward, not a good situation for AG South fortunately the enemy has once again turned its whole attention towards FM Manstein's forces.

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 10th 1944 Turn 65
Army Group A


Mopping up operations continue in Stavropol with a number of Red Army Units surrendering, on the 6th Armee / 18th Armee front enemy troops launched some probing attacks but gained little ground leaving some enemy units unsupported and open to counterattack.
Pushing North both Armee's managed to cutoff 11th Mech Corps and the 16th Pz Gren Div pushed towards the town of Elista taking control once again, the town now changing hands for the fourth time.

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Supply 65.jpg (116.17 KiB) Viewed 619 times

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Western Front
Situation Report Feb 12th 1944 Turn 33
Army Group B

The weather remains bad with heavy rain all across Western and Southern Europe despite this Allied bombers mounted large scale raids on six major industrial cities in the Hannover ( Neinhagen / Dollbergen ) and Ruhr ( Buer / Duesseldorf )regions as well as targeting Cologne and Frankfurt, poor visibility and strong air defence from both ground and fighters units resulted in mostly minor damage to centres.

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Air Battles WF 33.jpg (150.5 KiB) Viewed 618 times

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Air Battles WF 33b.jpg (122.46 KiB) Viewed 618 times

In France enemy air activity was also minimal with only the air bases of Bethune and Villacoublay attacked.

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Italian Front
Situation Report Feb 12th 1944 Turn 33
Army Group C

Allied bombing of our front line continues despite the best efforts of Luftwaffe air units and Flak defences, troops on the ground came under heavy attack while once again as the enemy tried to soften our fortified positions, Command and Control centres were targeted, the Allies also maintain there daily aerial recon of Southern Italy of our air bases and rail networks.

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Air Battles IF 33.jpg (141.72 KiB) Viewed 617 times

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Italian Front / Western Front
Situation Report Feb 12th 1944 Turn 33

Weather / Bombed Cites

WITW Weather 33.jpg (205.67 KiB) Viewed 614 times

Cities bombed 33.jpg (78.27 KiB) Viewed 614 times

The Allies launch a huge raid in Southern Germany, once again flying across The Balkans 15th Air Force attacks Oil production facilities.

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WITW Supply 33.jpg (457.62 KiB) Viewed 614 times

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Italian Front
Situation Report Feb 12th 1944 Turn 33
Army Group C

Army Group C 33a.jpg (664.79 KiB) Viewed 607 times

There is no respite for both 10th Armee and 5th Pz Armee , even with reinforcements our forces are hard pressed to maintain our defensive positions, Von Arnim's SS Panzer troops come under sustained attack as Bradley's US II Corps supported by the Brit XII Corps launch a two pronged attack, Bradley attacking across the river from the coast road and Brit XII Corps advancing from Caserta attempt to gain footholds on key bridges to Grazzanise, 10th SS Panzer Div counterattacks halting the assault.

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Bradley relaunches his attack on Grazzanise with Brit XI Corps support but again is held by 5th Pz Armee troops, with Axis forces able to maintain control of vital bridges forcing the Allies to make Inf assaults during the day or by night crossing the river in small boats under heavy fire which result in heavy loss of life.

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WITW Losses 33.jpg (194.67 KiB) Viewed 607 times

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Italian Front
Situation Report Feb 12th 1944 Turn 33
Army Group C

Army Group C 33b.jpg (88.29 KiB) Viewed 605 times

North of Grazzanise LXXXX ArmeeKorps and LI Mountain ArmeeKorps face five ( US VI, Brit I, Brit XIII , Brit XXX and POL II ) Allied Corps and supported by Brit 8th Army's CAN 1st Armoured Brigade, the attack is contained leaving the enemy with high losses.

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Gen Dawley orders a second assault which does no better despite Allied superior numbers, failing to capture the few remaining bridges under our control the Allies attempt to build pontoon bridges across the river however this has been unsuccessful due to accurate artillery fire directed by Mountain top observers.

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late in the week Gen Anders of the POL II Corps launches an Inf assault against our lines but suffers heavy causalities.

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Italian Front
Situation Report Feb 12th 1944 Turn 33
Army Group C

Army Group C 33c.jpg (46.02 KiB) Viewed 603 times

Heavy fighting in the Isernia Provence as Hube's Panzer Troops come under attack from four Allied ( CAN 1st, Brit XII, BRIT XIII and POL II ) Corps, The Canadians in the lead attempt small boat crossings along the Biferno river while Brit armour supported by Inf strike from Campobasso, troops from 10th and 5th Pz Armee's move to support Hube and stall the Allied advance.

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A second attempt by the Allies to force crossings again fails.

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WITW A Losses 33.jpg (197.63 KiB) Viewed 603 times

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Italian Front
Situation Report Feb 12th 1944 Turn 33
Army Group C

Just North of the Campobasso fighting, troops from LI Mountain and LXXIV ArmeeKorps come under attack from elements of three enemy Corps ( US VI, POL II and Bit I ) Dawley orders an armoured assault but in rugged terrain the tanks get bogged down.

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Late in the week a second attempt is made by Crocker's Brit I Corps backed by POL II Corps, the attack is easily repulsed.

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German Paratroopers open fire on Allied tanks attempting to cross the river

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WITW Production 33.jpg (227.76 KiB) Viewed 597 times

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Italian Front
Situation Report Feb 12th 1944 Turn 33
Army Group C

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Just South of Termoli units from LXXIV and XIV ArmeeKorps come under attack from four Allied Corps with engineer units attempting to bring forward both bailey and pontoon bridges to build across the Biferno river, Axis counterattacks supported by Artillery halting any attempt to force a river crossing.

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A second attempt by the Allies to force a crossing and push back our troops from there defensive positions again gets nowhere as the 71st Werfer regiment is called into action.

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OHL Command
Combat Reports

Early reports reaching Supreme Command in Berlin on the current Soviet Offensives against The Ostheer and the combat strength of East Front Forces

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 17th 1944 Turn 66
Army Group North / Army Group Centre

In the far North 8th Armee begins its defensive deployment, units advancing on a wide front to there assigned areas, encountering only light enemy opposition from a lone Inf Brigade which attempted to recapture Galich ( e ), the enemy were easily flanked and cutoff.

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Battles 66.jpg (271.59 KiB) Viewed 453 times

North east of Ivanovo the 3 trapped Divisions of 57th Army surrender after a brief fight as 4th Armee begins to form a defensive perimeter in front of Gorky, LVI Pz Korps and XLII ArmeeKorps units creating a defensive line running down to the city of Arzamas recon units observe Red Army troops from four Soviet Fronts advancing towards the City, 19th Panzer Div comes under attack as 4th Guards Army launches an assault hoping to retake Gorky, the attack is beaten back.

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Battles 66s.jpg (167.22 KiB) Viewed 453 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 17th 1944 Turn 66
Army Group Centre

With heavy fighting in the Voronezh / Kharkov regions continuing and the withdrawal of 9th Armee to Von Manstein's Command Von Kluge orders another halt, his forces have been advancing along a 400 hundred mile front with the Army Group's line stretched out with few reserves to counter any enemy attack that could force an opening in the line.
The Field Marshal decides the capture of Saransk and Penza will have to wait.

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Battles 66b.jpg (241.5 KiB) Viewed 452 times

2nd Armee at this time facing the least opposition is able to conduct limited operations on the Saratov front, the Armee advancing between 10 and 20 miles, on its right flank Lemelsen's XXXXVII Pz Korps begins engaging Tank and Mech Corps at Balashov and Aleksikovo.
With a major battle on his flank Von Salmuth decides to pause the drive to Saratov and wait till Lemelsen's troops can push forward.

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Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 10th 1944 Turn 65
OKH Command

Soviet Tambov Offensive

Despite Von Manstein's troops pulling back in the northern sector to a more defensible positions our forces cannot form a solid defence line, 3rd Ukrainian Front begins a new assault on the line with probing attacks which finds a number of gaps.

The Soviet 3rd Mech Corps ( 34th Army ) slips through between 1st and 14th Panzer Div's almost overrunning Lemelsen's Pz HQ, further South 56th, 60th and 1st Tank Armies retake the undefended town of Novokhopersk and advance through XIII ArmeeKorps lines capturing Zherdevka and disrupting our lines of communications, reports coming in indicate that 3 more Soviet Tank Corps are advancing forward towards the breach in this sector.

Soviet Tambov Offensive.jpg (332.7 KiB) Viewed 451 times

Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 17th 1944 Turn 66
OKH Command

Manstein orders an immediate counterattack against the Red Army Breach and to retake Novokhopersk and trap the enemy spearheads, in the South 7th Panzer Div advances and from the North both 10th PzGren and 1st Panzer Divs move down and link up encircling the enemy, with situation stabilising somewhat in the North a general advance order is given, Axis forces destroy 15th Tank Corps and move to seal off parts of two Soviet Armies ( 55th and 6th Tank ) retaking the town of Kantemirovka.

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Battles 66c.jpg (194.41 KiB) Viewed 451 times

Weather 66.jpg (379.54 KiB) Viewed 451 times