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

2nd Ukrainian Front continues to build up along Hoth's defensive line with Gollnick ( XXXXII ArmeeKorps ), Schlemmer ( XXXXVIII Pz Korps ) along with Gerneralleutnant Dietrich Von Choltitz'S XI ArmeeKorps facing 9 Tank and Mech Corps in there sector alone, the mass of Soviet armour presented a grim picture for the Armee Commander.


In the Donets sector with the 62nd Inf div refitting and resting, Gen Von Obstfelder's XXIX ArmeeKorps severely mauled from the previous weeks enemy attacks and the shattered remains of The RUM 4th Army are all that stands defending the line, the Army Group has no reserves, all troops in rear areas are not in any combat readiness status all are refitting.

At Stalino Woehler calls for reinforcements to plug the many gaps in the Axis lines.


At Voroshilovgrad troops from 62nd Div including Steiner continue to recover,

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

The Axis front line in the Stavropol / Kalmykia regions remains stable, the last of the pockets are eliminated but more enemy reinforcements are arriving everyday as 4th Ukrainian Front brings forward fresh Tank formations supported by Inf units.
Elements of six Soviet ( 2nd shock, 3rd, 2nd Guards, 11th Guards and 65th ) Armies are moving into positions opposite our defence lines, no real fighting at this time the enemy seems to be biding its time.

Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 17th 1944 Turn 66

Strategic stats

Western Front
Situation Report Feb 19th 1944 Turn 34
Army Group B

This week the weather cleared enough for the Allies to conduct numerous air raids across Western Germany on large numbers of industrial centres including The Capital, the enemy followed up with extensive recon operations to gauge damage down factory facilities, German air defences were put to the test with countless intercept operations against enemy bomber formations, ground defences also putting up strong resistance, while there was considerable damage to industry the enemy suffered losses also.

Western Front
Situation Report Feb 19th 1944 Turn 34
Army Group B

The weather cleared also in the Channel leading to the resumption Axis coastal convoy operations which lead to attacks by RAF Coastal Command, in France and Belgium the enemy conducted a massive aerial recon operation ground forces and military installations, airbases throughout France were also targeted but little damage was done by the attacks.

Western Front / Italian Front
Situation Report

Industrial Centre Damage

In Western and Northwestern Germany fuel and Oil Industry are the main targets, V Rocket facilities are being hit but damage is not to heavy, the Allies have started to move away from targeting U - Boat factories, attacks against The Capital are centred on Training and Recruitment centres as well as Heavy Industry and vehicle manufacturing facilities.


In Southwestern Germany both Heavy and Resource Industries are the main targets along with Fuel plants and Manpower Facilities.


On the Italian Front enemy air activity has been tactical and directed at facilities to impede our Command and Control and troop movements, the Rail network being the main target.

Italian Front
Situation Report Feb 19th 1944 Turn 34
Army Group C

Again this week there was heavy air activity while the bombing of our ground forces being slightly less and due to heavy rain and for the most part ineffective against our defensive lines, Allied bombers launched large scale attacks against multiple rail installations striking at both major rail lines running along both coasts and also the main rail lines in central Italy, damage was considerable but the flow of men and material the the theatre continued.

There was also large scale recon operations centred around the Italian Capital and the Umbria region.

Italian Front
Situation Report Feb 19th 1944 Turn 34
Army Group C

Grazzanise remains the centre of most fighting on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast The Allies hoping to push 5th Pz Armee back and take control of the large airbase there, with a major rail line and road that runs along the coastline to Rome the enemy could advance quicker up the peninsula than trying to push through the centre of the country. Another avenue of attack would be to capture the airbase at Capua then push through the mountains to Aquino and Frosinone which would also open the way to Rome. Despite the arrival of fresh troops to bolster the line some units are in bad shape and need to be pulled out of the line for rest and refit. The 29th Pz Gren is moved back from the line while the newly arrived 9th Panzer Div is redeployed into a position Southeast of Capua air base, both Armee Commanders make a series of redeployment's to counter where the likely next Allied attacks will take place.


At Grazzanise the US II and Brit XII launch an attack but Von Arnim's Panzer troops easily contain the assault, Bradley is forced to pull back and regroup.


late in the week another attempt by the Allies to break the line is held.

Italian Front
Situation Report Feb 19th 1944 Turn 34
Army Group C



While the battle for Grazzanise is unfolding Southeast of Capua airbase units of three German ArmeeKorps come under attack from US VI, Brit XIII and Brit XXX Corps with supporting units from 8th Army, a large tank battle takes place as both sides armour exchange fire from across the river which ends in stalemate, a second attack by the Allies is also halted.






A final armoured attack by French General De Monsabert's I FF Corps also fails.


At his Headquarters Kurt Zeitzler begins reviewing the reports from the actions of the week from the Volturno sector the AG Commander concludes that continuing to try to hold bridges while also defending against river crossings from assault boats is straining Axis manpower.
Orders are now given all intact bridges under Axis control are to be destroyed.


The first to be blown up " City Gate of Capua " the 13th century gate with its two flanking towers and the modern bridge destroyed during a night operation by German engineers.

Italian Front
Situation Report Feb 19th 1944 Turn 34
Army Group C

Central Italy






On the Biferno line Campobasso is the centre for the Allied operations with both sides battling to secure control of the river crossings.







Units from four Allied Corps launch an armoured assault against our troops on the North bank of the river, backed by Inf two armoured brigades ( Brit 4th and 8th ) push forward but are held.






A second attempt is made this time the Allies assaulting across the main bridge only to be driven back.






Just North of the Campobasso battles LI and LXXIV ArmeeKorps face two large tank assaults but the troops are able to hold there ground.

Italian Front
Situation Report Feb 19th 1944 Turn 34
Army Group C


Adriatic Coast

The Allies switch there attack back to directly assaulting Termoli after failing a flanking attack and pushing behind our forces.


lead by McCreery's Brit X Corps with support from US VI and Brit XIII Corps over 100 thousand men begin to advance on the town against Straub and Hube's 35 thousand defenders dug in and around town, the enemy almost breaks through.



McCreery regroups and launches a second attack again almost breaching the Axis line.



Bradleys US II Corps makes one final attempt but this is easily held.

With the situation critical at Termoli 14th Armee releases 12th SS Panzer Div.

hi
done 2 turns

Eastern front turn 66 on page 35

Western front turn 34 page 36

Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 24th 1944 Turn 67
Army Group North / Army Group Centre

In the far North harsh weather and extreme terrain impede 8th Armee units from reaching there designated areas, XXXVIII ArmeeKorps pushed forward only 10 miles this week while Hansen's ( X ArmeeKorps ) 18th Pz Gren and II ArmeeKorps 4th SS Neth Pz Gren brigade move to within 10 miles Neya. With Axis forces pushing so far into the interior of the Soviet Union rail lines are well to the rear of the front line and could take months to catch up.



South of 8th Armee's position the 16th Armee advance comes to halt after capturing Kineshma despite very little enemy activity Ernsh Busch orders his forces to advance no further intel reports indicate the remnants of 3rd Ukrainian Front are regrouping around the town of Kovernino.

In the Gorky sector 4th Armee continues to dig in forming a defensive perimeter along the Gorky / Arzamas rail line and connecting networks which is now fully operational, engineers work around the clock to upgrade the rail tracks.

Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 24th 1944 Turn 67
Army Group Centre

The main drive in the centre is virtually at a standstill as 3rd Pz Armee prepares to enter The Volga Uplands, two Soviet Fronts ( Leningrad and Bryansk ) block the advance and Gen Georg - Hans Reinhardt units are running low on munitions and supplies.




Quiet to on 2nd Armee's front the only actions sealing the gap in our lines and destroying 3rd Mech Corps which had slip through, Von Salmuth deciding not to push on until the Soviet breakthrough South of his Armee's position is dealt with.

Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 24th 1944 Turn 67
OKH Command

Heavy Fighting in the Tambov / Voronezh sector with large armoured clashes around the towns of Novokuznetsk and Yelan - Koleno, the enemies Northern push has been halted for the second time as once again 7th and 12th Panzer divisions attacking on the right flank while 10th Pz Gren pushing down South link up. Units ( 5th and 21st Tank Corps, 13th Mech Corps,10th, 23rd and 31st Inf Divs ) from three Soviet Armies are Isolated there forces holding out along the Vorona and Karachan rivers, despite the encirclement the enemy did manage to capture the town of Zherdevka and its air field which could be used to fly in supplies.
A bigger worry reports coming in indicate more enemy Tank and Inf units advancing towards the trapped forces.


In the Kharkov sector the enemy counterattacks creating an opening in the Southern pocket as Axis forces regroup, VII ArmeeKorps and XXXXI Pz Korps cross the Don river bypassing Rossosh, moving Southeast Zorn's Panzer troops link up with VI, XVII and XXIV Pz Korps coming from the town of Chertkovo, the pincer movement is successful and again cuts off 6th and 17th Tank Corps, 10th Guards Rifle Corps, 24th Inf Div and the 51st Army HQ.
With both Pz Korps linking up North of Chertkovo blocking a Soviet breakout the situation is still not secure as the enemy is pushing more reserves forward.

There is good news for Manstein at his HQ at Kursk as he is informed the lead units of 9th Armee have arrived at rail depots North of Voronezh.


Operation Polkovodets Rumyantsev
Soviet Voronezh - Belgorod – Kharkov offensive

Fifth Week

The battle in Central Russia and Northeastern Ukraine once again takes a new turn after Axis forces blunted the enemies last assault however 2nd Ukrainian Front relaunches its offensive with fresh troops.
In the North five Soviet Armies ( 2nd and 4th Tank, 33rd, 59th and 61st ) strike at the defenders holding the town of Novokuznetsk 7th and 12th Panzer Divs are forced to retreat opening a supply line to the trapped enemy forces, three enemy Tank Corps advance through the 10 mile gap pushing back our Inf. Southwest of Novokuznetsk another Tank Corps attacks the 161st Inf and 3rd LW Inf Divs opening a gap but cannot push through as the 7th and 12th Panzer Divs regroup and counterattack.

In the South another large armoured clash takes place as eight Tank and Mech Corps battle 5th, 8th and 27th Panzer Div's and there supporting Inf however sheer weight of enemy numbers force our troops to fall back with the enemy pushing through to there trapped comrades.
Axis forces are now in critical shape the front line in this sector on the verge of collapsing.

Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 24th 1944 Turn 67
Army Group South

With the front line North of Woehler 's Command getting worse and his own line barely holding from constant attacks the General orders a partial withdrawal of forces, the Rum IV and VI Korps as well as XXIX ArmeeKorps begin to redeploy along Kalitva and Bystraya Rivers to form a new defence line North of The Donets, despite determined resistance our forces fail to hold the enemy assaults.






Soviet Armies breach our lines in three places,Tank and Mech units pushing through, lacking Inf Support the enemy halts any further advance.

Eastern Front
Situation Report Feb 24th 1944 Turn 67
Army Group A

At Rostov Kleist receives reports that large numbers of enemy troops and armour are withdrawing from along the front though Lindemann ( 18th Armee ) and Paulus ( 6th Armee ) still face large numbers of Tank and Mech units however on the Caspian coast Mackensen faces minimal opposition, the Soviet line being covered by only three divisions of The 10th Army, 1st Pz Armee launches an immediate assault, crossing the river South of Lagan and trapping the 11th and 15th Rifle div's, IV ArmeeKorps reaches the banks of The Sarda river while XXXX Pz Korps The Yashkulskiy river, both units dig and prepare for the expected enemy counterattack.

Our Panzer losses begin to rise

Western Front
Situation Report Feb 26th 1944 Turn 35
Army Group B

Allied air operations in Northwestern Germany are much quieter this week with only two major bombing raids at Hamburg and Rheine, however damage was substantial at both raids as the enemy bombers were heavily protected by escorts.

Western Front
Situation Report Feb 26th 1944 Turn 35
Army Group B

While it was quiet up North enemy activity in the Westphalia specially The Ruhr Industrial region was massive, the area received a large scale saturation attack with all varieties of industry hit, the enemy also struck at targets in Cologne, Bonn, Wetzlar, Frankfurt, Mainz and Darmstadt.
With a large presence escorting fighters for enemy bomber formations both sides suffered heavy air losses.




Lower Austria was also targeted, Oil Production facilities taking heavy damage.

Italian Front
Situation Report Feb 26th 1944 Turn 35
Army Group C

For the second week enemy bomber raids against ground forces particularly those units on the front lines were less than the previous months, the Allies maintained there recon operations on Rome and air bases in the Umbria region. Luftwaffe air units also conducted large scale interception operations out at Sea between Corsica and the Italian Mainland as the enemy tried to avoid detection and fly along the coast to recon Southern Tusacanny, another thing noticeable in this weeks air actions was the fact the enemy did not target rail installations.