Defending Greater Germania 1942 - Includes combined WitW and WitE2 AARs

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report April 1st 1944 Turn 40
Army Group B

Massive Allied air operations in France and The Low Countries targeting Rail infrastructure and Axis Air Bases with ground and air defences struggling to counter the many raids.
Both sides taking heavy losses.

Army Group B 40b.jpg (867.7 KiB) Viewed 841 times

Army Group B 40c.jpg (808.64 KiB) Viewed 841 times

WITW A Losses 40.jpg (200.42 KiB) Viewed 841 times

WITW Losses 40.jpg (194.11 KiB) Viewed 841 times

[tm1]

Italian Front
Situation Report April 1st 1944 Turn 40
Army Group C

Heavy air activity on both sides of the Coast of Italy as well as tactical bombing of Ground units and Rail installations, despite the heavy presence of our fighter units the enemy was still able to cause considerable damage to the rail infrastructure, the enemy suffered losses but so did Luftwaffe units.

Army Group C 40.jpg (732.71 KiB) Viewed 839 times

Air Battles IF 40.jpg (120.56 KiB) Viewed 839 times

Air Battles IF 40a.jpg (111.8 KiB) Viewed 839 times

Air Battles IF 40b.jpg (96.12 KiB) Viewed 839 times

On the ground it was quiet with no major enemy assaults, the line remaining stable for this week.German Intelligence believes that more Allied troops were withdrawn from the Italian theatre however this cannot be properly confirmed.

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report April 6th 1944 Turn 73
Army Group North

The expected attack by The 2nd Belorussian Front on the 8th Armee's defence line fails to materialize which allows more time for troops prepare a better network of defensive fortifications.

AGN 73.jpg (1.14 MiB) Viewed 781 times

Further South the Soviet 52th Army attacks towards Semenov finding a gap in the line, the 6th Mech Corps supported by Inf advances Southwest towards Gorky only to find itself cutoff, meanwhile 20th Tank Corps is destroyed leaving only one Red Army unit left refusing to surrender.

4th Armee's front line also remains quiet the enemy falling back.

AGN 73a.jpg (1.09 MiB) Viewed 781 times

Battles 73.jpg (196.78 KiB) Viewed 781 times

Weather 73.jpg (366.55 KiB) Viewed 781 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report April 6th 1944 Turn 73
Army Group Centre

In the Penza sector Axis forces expand there defensive perimeter but what little enemy forces here have already pulled back leaving only rearguards.

AGC 73.jpg (1.06 MiB) Viewed 780 times

Likewise at Saratov 2nd Armee and 9th Armee remain on the defensive building up there units and supplies, the enemy does have a sizeable force along the front line but there is no signs of any offensive actions yet.

AGC 73a.jpg (903.91 KiB) Viewed 780 times

Units Destroyed 73.jpg (19.67 KiB) Viewed 780 times

Supply 73.jpg (367.14 KiB) Viewed 780 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report April 6th 1944 Turn 73
OKH Command Army Group

After finally eliminating the last of the enemy forces trapped near The Aidar river it was hoped that the Soviets had exhausted its manpower numbers and to pull back and go on the defensive, this would give Manstein's Command time to recover however Red Army units have again massed on along the front.
With the Army Group already down on manpower numbers and supply shortages as well munitions the situation is looking dire with some Inf units down just over 2000 men.

OKH 73.jpg (999.07 KiB) Viewed 776 times

Battles 73b.jpg (202.08 KiB) Viewed 776 times

Battles 73a.jpg (200.53 KiB) Viewed 776 times

At Voronezh the Field Marshal's chief of staff and his planning team are hard at work in preparing operational plans and strategy's for the coming spring offensive.

Tresckow's Operations Planning Staff.jpg (134.29 KiB) Viewed 776 times

From left to right

1. Captain Friedhelm Graf Von Matuschka

2. First lieutenant Risler

3. Lieutenant Colonel Berndt Von Kleist

4. Colonel Georg Schulze - Buttger

5. Major Pretzell

6. Henning Von Tresckow

7. First lieutenant Kahlenberg

8. lieutenant Genth

9. Lieutenant Colonel Fabian Von Schlabrendorff ( Treschow's adjutant )


Note:

For historical preference these officers are in fact some of the many that were part of " The July 20th Plot "

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report March 30th 1944 Turn 72 ( Soviet )
Army Group South

Soviet Donbas Offensive

Soviet pressure had been building against AG South's front line with Axis forces just managing to keep hold after the last offensive by the enemy, but Hoth's position was critical the SS troops would not reach the front in time.
Four Soviet Army's ( 1st shock, 3rd, 2nd Guards and 11th Guards ) struck the left flank In the Donets / Rostov / Manych regions, Rum IV, XXIX and XXXXII ArmeeKorps were brushed aside what units weren't forced back were isolated ( 281st Div ) or partially ( Rum 15th, 93rd and 257th Inf, 11th and 16th Panzer and the HQ of XXXXII ArmeeKorps ) pocketed, the Soviets opening a 100 mile front there spearheads crossing both The Don and Sal rivers pushing down 90 miles in to the rear of parts of 6th and 18th Armee's, the assault also splitting 4th Pz Armee in half and pushing within 50 miles of both 6th and 18th Armee's HQ's at Salsk.
This renewed drive by the Red Army causing serious concern if the enemy was able to reach Rostov itself.

Soviet Donbas Offensive.jpg (294.81 KiB) Viewed 775 times

Donbas Battle.jpg (246.38 KiB) Viewed 775 times

Donbas Battle 1.jpg (155.88 KiB) Viewed 775 times

Situation Report April 6th 1944 Turn 73
Army Group South

With the enemy drive threatening to split Army Group South and Army Group A 4th Pz Armee counterattacks while units from both 6th and 18th Armee's launch diversionary attacks hoping that this will halt the enemy advance and force them to pull back forces to counter our moves, on the left flank a Axis counterattack to secure the supply lines and relieve the threat of being encircled, the air base at Belaya Kalitva and the town of Tatsinskaya are reinforced and heavily defended as the 16th Panzer Div supported by the 106th Inf move forward behind the Soviet 10th Tank Corps.

Attacking on the enemy's right Schlemmer's Panzer troops cross the Zymla river after heavy fighting the 281st Inf and 11th Panzer Div captures the town of Morozovskaya and link up with 16th Panzer Div enabling 4th Pz Armee to cut off parts of four Soviet Armies, the XXXXVIII Pz Korps Commander reporting to Gen Woehler that he is not confident that with his current force the pocket may not hold and that more troops are needed, the AG Commander sends a reply informing the General that the first of the SS units have reached the battle area and to hold if possible.

AGS 73.jpg (898.53 KiB) Viewed 775 times

4th Pz Armee Counterattacks at Morozovskaya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bGvpYd ... L&index=16

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report April 6th 1944 Turn 73
Army Group A

With the Soviets renewing there Donbas Offensive against AG South Kleist orders a general advance hoping to force the enemy to divert forces back towards his own front and allowing Hoth's Armee a chance to counterattack and halt the Red Army assault, 6th and 18th Armee's push North capturing Zavetnoe and Kotelnikovsky this frees up 4th Pz Armee units to swing North and Northwest and advance behind there enemy, Elista is retaken by I ArmeeKorps as 17th Armee encircles the Soviet 27th Tank Corps.

Mackensen attacks along the Caspian coast trapping the 8th Rifle Div, his Panzer's advance as far as the Sarda river then halt and dig in forming a defensive line, Kleist's plan has the required effect with the Soviet 6th Army forced back and reports coming in the enemy drive in the Donets Basin has stopped.

Army Group A 73.jpg (817.14 KiB) Viewed 774 times

Battles 73c.jpg (184.42 KiB) Viewed 774 times

Losses 73.jpg (396.8 KiB) Viewed 774 times

A Losses 73.jpg (390.62 KiB) Viewed 774 times

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report April 8th 1944 Turn 41
Army Group B

For the second week the bombing raids in Germany have been light resulting in only minor damage to industry however Allied aerial observation flights have increased keeping fighter units busy, and there is a growing number of bombing raids in Holland on rail facilities.
Supreme Command now believe this is a prelude to the coming invasion of Western Europe.

Army Group B 41.jpg (777.76 KiB) Viewed 773 times

Air Battles WF 41.jpg (128 KiB) Viewed 773 times

Air Battles WF 41b.jpg (114.76 KiB) Viewed 773 times

Air Battles WF 41a .jpg (120.56 KiB) Viewed 773 times

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report April 8th 1944 Turn 41
Army Group B

The Allies continue there bombing momentum in France and The Low Countries with key centres being hit everyday, rail, road, communication and control centres targeted along with troop concentrations and air bases, Axis air defences working overtime to counter the enemy incursions.

Army Group B 41a.jpg (902.37 KiB) Viewed 771 times

Air Battles WF 41c.jpg (99.25 KiB) Viewed 771 times

The RAF and US Air fleets mounting large scale operations against the French Capital as well as air operations in The English Channel, the enemy conducting mine laying operations and attacking Axis convoys, Axis forces are now on a heighten state of alert with OHL Command releasing more combat units for the Western and Italian theatres, 116th Panzer, 92nd Inf and 5th Fallschirmjaeger Div's now become available for the OKW.

Army Group B 41b.jpg (717.65 KiB) Viewed 771 times

Air Battles WF 41d.jpg (107.95 KiB) Viewed 771 times

[tm1]

Mediterranean Front
Situation Report April 8th 1944 Turn 41
Army Group C / Army Group F

The enemy recommences its tactical bombing campaign on the Italian mainland targeting ground forces and Command centres also conducting more recon flights throughout central Italy.

Army Group C 41.jpg (730.16 KiB) Viewed 770 times

Air Battles IF 41.jpg (119.1 KiB) Viewed 770 times

In The Balkans enemy bombing raids hit Rumanian heavy industry and Oil facilities, the Ploesti area is struck by several raids, the Rumanian Capital was also targeted.

Army Group F 41.jpg (786.97 KiB) Viewed 770 times

Air Battles Balkans 41.jpg (100.82 KiB) Viewed 770 times

[tm1]

Italian Front
Situation Report April 8th 1944 Turn 41
Army Group C

The second week of April sees The Allies continuing the same tactics as the previous months in there efforts to breach our defence line, massive aerial and artillery bombardments followed by repeated waves of Inf / Armoured assaults all being halted and some cases pushed back.With Axis forces entrenched in fortified Hill and Mountain terrain and with the natural barriers of the two rivers running across the Campania / Molise regions, the Allies seem no closer to breaking through and ending the deadlock in Italy.
Attacking from Caserta and on the coast road the enemy once again tried to force 5th Pz Armee out of Grazzanise while also attempting another flanking attack against our line to capture Capua both ending in the same results as previous endeavours, there were also attacks on the central front towards Isernia which also became bogged down and caused heavy losses for the Allies, a flanking attack towards Termoli by massed armour is also thrown back with high losses for the enemy.
Last weeks relative quiet gave a much needed rest to combat weary troops and allowed engineer units to rebuild and strengthen the fortifications along whole front giving a much needed boost in confidence to the troops on the ground.

Army Group C 41a.jpg (647.31 KiB) Viewed 769 times

US II Corps supported by US 5th Army Paratroopers attack along the coast road.

Battles IF 41.jpg (144 KiB) Viewed 769 times

The first attempt fails, The Allies regroup but are held again by the PanzerGrenadiers.

Battles IF 41a.jpg (141.29 KiB) Viewed 769 times

US VI Corps backed by two FF Corps launch a series of attacks on our Mountain strongholds, the first assault is halted.

Battles IF 41b.jpg (138.56 KiB) Viewed 769 times

[tm1]

Italian Front
Situation Report April 8th 1944 Turn 41
Army Group C

Army Group C 41b.jpg (127.87 KiB) Viewed 767 times

The second attack by 650 Tanks and over 70 thousand enemy combatants fails to make a breakthrough.

Battles IF 41c.jpg (139.93 KiB) Viewed 767 times

The final attack by the Free French suffers heavy losses.

Battles IF 41d.jpg (146.68 KiB) Viewed 767 times

A large attacked launched by the Canadians with Brit and Polish support in central Italy along Campobasso / Isernia rail line falters.

Battles IF 41e.jpg (166.92 KiB) Viewed 767 times

[tm1]

Italian Front
Situation Report April 8th 1944 Turn 41
Army Group C

Army Group C 41c.jpg (124.61 KiB) Viewed 766 times

The Canadians attack again but cant breach the river line.

Battles IF 41f.jpg (166.19 KiB) Viewed 766 times

A joint Brit / US flanking attack towards Termoli is held.

Battles IF 41g.jpg (143.82 KiB) Viewed 766 times

A second attack with French support makes no ground also.

Battles IF 41h.jpg (142.6 KiB) Viewed 766 times

[tm1]

Italian Front / Western Front
Situation Report April 8th 1944 Turn 41
Stat Figures

Ground and air losses

WITW Losses 41.jpg (192.47 KiB) Viewed 765 times

WITW A Losses 41.jpg (198.57 KiB) Viewed 765 times

Production and weather

WITW Production 41.jpg (229.21 KiB) Viewed 765 times

WITW Supply 41.jpg (415.57 KiB) Viewed 765 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report April 13th 1944 Turn 74
Army Group North

In the closing days of winter the front line remains quiet in the far North as 8th Armee troops continue to guard the 300 mile line from Vozhega to Varnavino, reports indicate enemy activity in the area is low apart from the Soviet 4th Mech Corps which advanced towards Axis forward positions then pulled back without engaging our forces.

AGN 74.jpg (1.15 MiB) Viewed 621 times

Further South on the 4th Armee / 16th Armee front there is little movement also, two Red Army units remain trapped and the enemy seems uninterested in mounting any kind attack to extricate the encircled men, 4th Armee did push forward and captured Lyskovo to gauge what response from the Soviet 50th Army would take but Red Army troops chose not to engage.

AGN 74a.jpg (1.1 MiB) Viewed 621 times

Battles 74.jpg (199.17 KiB) Viewed 621 times

OB 74.jpg (312.12 KiB) Viewed 621 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report April 13th 1944 Turn 74
Army Group North / Army Group Centre

In The Volaga Uplands activity on both sides is low 4th Armee maintains its defensive stance guarding the Arzamas / Saransk / Penza Rail line, FM Heinrici orders a number of force recons of by several units to determine the enemy strength along the front having not come into contact with Soviet units the troops pull back to the main defence line.
likewise 3rd Pz Armee and 2nd Armee Inf units recon forward to find the Red Army lines almost abandoned in the Penza region.

AGC 74.jpg (1023.29 KiB) Viewed 620 times

At Tambov the Southern wing of 2nd Armee pushes forward between 10 to 20 miles on a wide front allowing our Panzer's to cover the advancing Infantry, on 9th Armee's front encounter Soviet Inf, the 6th rifle Div is caught by surprise and trapped.With the weather conditions still harsh making movement a slow slog for the Infantry attempting to keep pace with German Armour and with supplies low Generaloberst Brandenberger orders a temporary halt.

AGC 74a.jpg (1.05 MiB) Viewed 620 times

Weather 74.jpg (366.71 KiB) Viewed 620 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report April 13th 1944 Turn 74
OKH Command Army Group

While reports from German Intelligence indicate that the main Soviet offensives in the Voronezh / Ukraine sector have now ended FM Manstein is not entirely convinced with recon reporting columns of Tank and Mech forces advancing towards Kalach and Novaya Kalitva while not on the scale of previous enemy operations another push against his already exhausted Command is cause for concern.
Intercepted radio traffic identifies the advancing units are from Soviet 2nd Shock and 18th Army's, 7th and 12 Panzer Div's are ordered to mobilise and move to the front to counter and Red Army attacks, heavy fighting around Verhny Mamon, Kalach and Uryupinsk see the enemy failing to make any breakthroughs, allowing the Axis forces gain the upper hand and three enemy units are cutoff.

OKH 74.jpg (987.17 KiB) Viewed 617 times

Infantry of 12th Panzer Div begin to mobilize for battle

Preparing For Battle.jpg (128.72 KiB) Viewed 617 times

Production 74.jpg (383.97 KiB) Viewed 617 times

Losses 74.jpg (397.12 KiB) Viewed 617 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report April 6th 1944 Turn 73 ( Soviet )
Army Group South

Heavy fighting in and around the towns of Tatinskaya and Morozovskaya as Soviet and German armour clash, 14th, 16th, 25th, 30th and 31st Tank Corps ( 1st Guards, 5th Guards and 7th Guards Army's ) operating North of The Don Pocket attack XXXXVIII Pz Korps positions, inside the pocket three Tanks Corps ( 1st, 9th and 10th ) from 11th Guards Army attack XXIX ArmeeKorps opening a 20 mile corridor and reestablish supply lines to the encircled enemy units .
The weather is starting to turn with snow making way for heavy mud which will have an effect on our operations as well as the enemies, the effort to breach our lines has expended a huge amount of resources and manpower, so most of there Soviet armour is unable to escape the encirclement for now.

Soviet Donbas Offensive 1.jpg (197.51 KiB) Viewed 615 times

Donbas Battles 4.jpg (165.06 KiB) Viewed 615 times

Donbas Battle 5.jpg (170.29 KiB) Viewed 615 times

Eastern Front
Situation Report April 13th 1944 Turn 74
Army Group South

From his HQ Northwest of Kotenlnikovsky General Schlemmer is informed of the enemy counterattack which has managed to open a corridor, the General had expected the situation to occur the better news was that while the enemy is now able to resupply there forces they do not have the strength to extricate all there units, some Inf was able to move out of the net but most of the Armour remains in check until they can receive enough fuel to move.
XXIX ArmeeKorps 16th Panzer Div which had been pushed back to the Bystraya river is now in the process of regrouping its forces, on the right flank 6th Panzer Div was is reorganising its units, on 4th Pz Armee's right units from 6th and 18th Armee's were steadily pushing North siphoning off enemy forces in the Don region to counter the Axis push, at Orlovskaya II SS Pz Korps was preparing to push forward towards Martynovskoe.

Woehler instructs his Commanders that there operations are to be coordinated simultaneously to throw the enemy off guard and cause confusion in the Soviet Command, at 6 am on 13th the order is given, Gen Hausser's SS attacks Soviet 28th Tank Corps while the 6th and 16th Panzers engaged 10th Tank Corps forcing them back into the pocket with the 106th Inf supporting Hoth's 4th Pz Armee reseals the pocket.

AGS 74.jpg (813.98 KiB) Viewed 615 times

[tm1]

Eastern Front
Situation Report April 13th 1944 Turn 74
Army Group A

The Axis push North in The Caspian region has forced The Soviets to redeploy more forces, the Soviet 6th Army has now been reinforced by the 3rd and 47th Army's but Kleist's operation has done its job to tie down as much of the enemy here allowing AG South the breathing space to counter the enemy actions in The Donbas.
The 27th Tank Corps and 8th Rifle Div pockets are destroyed freeing up units in case of an enemy counterattack in the region but with the weather changing dramatically and the ground heavy Red Army units seem content to sit on the defensive.
This allows Axis forces to also build up supplies and manpower for the coming operations.
1st Pz Armee and 17th Armee are well under there normal strength, both armies needing a massive boost in AFV's and Inf replacements before any large scale operations can be really mounted.

Army Group A 74.jpg (742.72 KiB) Viewed 609 times

Battles 74a.jpg (189.57 KiB) Viewed 609 times

Supply 74.jpg (367.1 KiB) Viewed 609 times

Leader 74.jpg (30.17 KiB) Viewed 609 times

[tm1]

Western Front
Situation Report April 15th 1944 Turn 42
Army Group B

This week sees German Industry avoiding sustained enemy air actions only Hamburg coming under attack by the Allies, instead the enemy launched raids in Holland, France and Luxembourg.Targeting our ground forces and air bases on French and Dutch soil, an Allied raid hit the Industrial areas of Luxembourg with varying amounts of damage caused.

Army Group B 42.jpg (819.98 KiB) Viewed 608 times

Air Battles WF 42.jpg (144.12 KiB) Viewed 608 times

Air Battles WF 42a.jpg (124.4 KiB) Viewed 608 times

Air Battles WF 42b.jpg (111.16 KiB) Viewed 608 times