Old Dog finds Canadian Chewtoy Belphegor welcome

[sillyflower]

We've got to point of blizzard starting next turn, so I will try to remember to take some screenies - server is not ideal for the forgetful poster.

I fell about 7K short of my revised 4M casualties target, but well over if I add 145K Hiwis back in. I know B will do his best but with an army of only 3.8M and prob very inexperienced I will taken a gamble and try not to lose too much ground except for the waste space in the centre

[sillyflower]

Sitrep start of blzzard



Don't expect a huge amount to happen though 18A will complete its slow retreat to winter quarters in L and surrounding major cities inc Helsinki ready to be a major part of my '42 offensive

[sillyflower]

centre



Expect more trouble here but aim to hold onto tula which was captured in the snow turns so not a lot of fortifications. moscow will hold as should L to M railline which has been converted

[sillyflower]

south



Clearing out snow pocket has given plenty of room for manuoever. I intend to keep 1 hex away from where he advances, certainly in the vacuum N of Donbass, at least until Jan or even Feb when defence strength improves quite a lot compared to dec. I will try to hold Rostov and Voroshilov long enough to be annoying and to remain close enough to get back across the lower Don in March whilst it's still frozen.

[sillyflower]

losses to date



Over my stretch 4M target if put Hiwis back in ( almost 250K now)

[sillyflower]

unit losses.



About 50 combat units killed in the snow ( I don't count static city AAA or SUs) which will significantly weaken any winter offensive and spring rebuild

[sillyflower]

ORBAT at end of G 1st blizzard turn



Commies still just under 4M effectives most of which are likely to be in very new and weak units means I expect B's offensive capacity will be limited to 1 significant area and my moey is on Moscow to Tula area where he's already up close and terrain is pretty clear.

If I'm right my mtn divs are in the wrong place though.........

[sillyflower]

Finally G production for those interested in that sort of thing. Still have plenty of arms points in the bag.

[sillyflower]

Plan

Pretty well all Pz and mot divs with morale 90+ and all 4PZG ( less 1 straggler) are in germany and will stay there on refit until reach max strength then will gradually rail up to Russian cities to be ready for March offensive. Other mobile units wintering in Russia may be sent back to G to refit if possible esp from PzG 1. 18A will also be max strength from wintering in L'grad area but probably won't move south until April due to lack of rail capacity.

All inf divs with morale 90+ are in 18 army or germany + reassigned to OKH in germany. I intend 4 PzG to have 2 mobile corps + 1 inf corps with every unit morale 90+ or almost that as main strike force for '42 with PzG 1+2 and 18 A as the attack force into Caucassus with back-up from 6A ( how can I resist sending it towards Stalingrad?) and 11A with the brown one (18A?) providing flank cover. 3PzA likely to be stripped of most/all its mobile forces to bring the others up to max strength. Rest of army will hold defensive positions.

Plan for blizzard is to try to keep armies in a fit state for Fall Blau + maintaining good jump-off positions with advanced railheads.

[sillyflower]

We have decided to call it a day in mid Feb '42 as B will get steamrollered in '42. He does not have the numbers of men or units to resist a Wehrmacht with virtually every mobile unit already at full strength.

His blizzard offensive did retake Tula and Rostov and caused me to lose by 1st ever div in the 1st blizzard so a noble effort.

Final losses below



Another AAR draws to a close, gentle reader, but i remain grateful for your time and input.