Red Snow : The Days Our Mothers Died

[Neogodhobo]

On 19th July, 1942, Stalin called together all his Front commanders and operation group leaders. No one was excused, no matter what was happening on the front lines. Some, like Golikov of the Central Front, Chernyakhovsky of the Northwestern Front, and Konev of the Summer Assault Forces, were in the midst of intense combat, fighting off German advances. The situation was dire, but Stalin’s command was absolute, and none dared speak against him.

Despite the pressing threat of the German offensive, they all arrived. The German attack had been repelled, and the Soviet Union had turned the tide. The commanders gathered, ready to hear what Stalin had to say...

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Comrades, I stand before you today at the dawn of our victory, at the height of our struggle. The trials of the past are behind us, and now we march forward, united and resolute, for the future of our great Motherland.

There was a time when our land was under attack. The enemy, fierce and determined, came with their machines of war, their soldiers from distant lands, seeking to destroy us, to enslave our people. One year ago, they launched their invasion, a great betrayal by those who thought they could break our spirit, our will to survive. But they underestimated us. They underestimated the power of the Soviet people.

I have a dream today, comrades!

I have a dream that one day, our armies will stand victorious, our enemies shattered, their war machines reduced to rubble. I have a dream that one day, in the cold fields of Russia, where they once sought to conquer us, we will celebrate the strength of our people and the resilience of our spirit. We will be free from their threats. We will be stronger, united, and victorious.

I have a dream that cities of the Soviet Union, from Riga to Odessa, will once again rise in peace, their streets no longer echoing with the sounds of war, but filled with the joy of freedom.

I have a dream that one day, even the heart of the German empire, Berlin, will see our flag fly above it, a symbol of our indomitable will and the unity of our people. We shall not rest until the enemy is vanquished and the war brought to its rightful end.

I have a dream today!

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I have a dream that our mothers and fathers, our sons and daughters, will look to the future with pride. They will know that their sacrifices, their bloodshed, were not in vain. We shall not surrender. We shall not give up. We shall push forward until our enemies are crushed, their plans destroyed, their armies routed.

I have a dream that one day, the bloodied land of Daugavpils will be reclaimed, the land once stained by the enemies’ march will be a testament to our strength. Their offensive was met with our resolve. And as they fell, so too shall they all fall before us.



This is our hope. This is the faith that will carry us forward. With this faith, we will continue our march through the snow, through the mud, through the bloodshed. With this faith, we will push on, knowing that the ultimate sacrifice is necessary for the freedom of our people.

And when the final battle is fought, when Berlin falls before our might, we will shout in triumph, knowing that we have secured our future, that we have secured our Motherland. For freedom, for the strength of our people, we shall win.

This will be the day, comrades, the day when we stand tall once again. The day when our children will be free to live without fear, to build a future without the shadow of war hanging over them.

Let our voices rise, as one, as we march ever forward:

For the Motherland, for our People, for Victory!

And when the final victory is ours, when the Germans have been pushed back into the dust of history, we shall look back and say: We were strong. We fought for our freedom. And we prevailed.

For Freedom! For the Soviet People! For the Motherland!

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[Neogodhobo]

The Daugavpills Operation is a success ! We have pushed enough that the Germans had to retreat. 1st Shock army saw almost all of its Cavalry divisions routed and suffered 5,000 casualties but those losses were needed.

Real World Map :

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Higher Quality :

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Now we can push for Tukums with the Tank Corps and see what they're made of. Luckily, Rokossovsky had been refitting and resupplying the entire time without seeing much action, which means the troops not stationed on the frontline are at the ready and in full forces. But they are facing large enemy defensive positions, entrenched and at the ready as well.

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In an unexpected turn of events, Tsvetaev's 1st Shock Army (Cavalry) decided to press forward, determined to maintain the momentum they had built. This bold move comes at a time when the 53rd and 64th Armies of the Kalinin Front are severely undermanned, leaving them as the only defense standing between Tsvetaev’s advancing forces and the German lines. The decision to continue the assault, though dangerous, has paid off, closing the gap between the two forces and creating a new pocket. While the pocket remains unguarded for now, if the Germans fail to break out, they will be completely encircled by next week.

The question now is whether we can sustain this pocket and hold the line.

In the wake of this daring achievement, a wave of fanatical fervor has gripped the soldiers. A sense of desperation, bordering on suicidal determination, is spreading throughout the ranks. Many of these men have loved ones on the other side of the frontline, yet they fight with a resolve that defies reason, driven by the belief that this moment could turn the tide of the war.

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[Neogodhobo]

Katukov, known as "the Madman," was initially pushed from his position near Jelgava by the 708th Infantry Division, followed shortly after by the 388th Separate Infantry Regiment. However, just days later, the 34th Motorized Regiment of the 1st Motorized Division received orders to advance. At Katukov's personal command, the regiment’s commander gathered 70 BA-10/20 armored vehicles and launched a daring, high-speed assault. The remaining German infantry, unable to mount an effective defense, were overwhelmed, leaving the area wide open for the rest of the division to pour through. Above them, a dozen IL-2 Sturmoviks roared through the sky, relentlessly bombing the German positions and neutralizing their artillery. The Germans attempted to respond with a meager three FW-190 A-4s, but their intervention proved ineffective. In the ensuing air battle, only a single Yak-7B was lost, and the Soviet forces maintained air superiority. The momentum was undeniable, and the Germans were left scrambling in their wake.

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[Neogodhobo]

South-Western and Bryansk Front also decided to keep the momentum and decided to move and stack in front of the Germans. As for Stalingrad front and Crimean Front, they are facing large contingent of enemy tank formations and is a bit scary, but our own tanks arrived today. We just need to unload them and get them ready. We have good positions across the river near Odessa and good entrenchement as well so we decided to stay there but we are very aware the enemy Panzers could be mowing us down and trying to capture our men. Nonetheless, we only need one more week to get the tanks ready and if by that time the frontline is still holding, we will cross the tanks over the river and should be an excellent position to keep.

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[Neogodhobo]

Although the Germans pushed back hard on our encirclement and completely broken it to pieces and even advancing further to reach the Daugava river with the Netherland and Nord SS's, we were still able to capture Tukums and secure Daugavpills.

Therefore, the Daugavpills operation were a complete success ! We pushed back the enemy from the Daugava river threatening to take Daugavpills and we captured Tukums. Now, for how long will we have Tukums under our sphere of influence ? I don't know. All motorised brigades from the Madmen himself have driven forward and are holding position.

Riga is not under our control, and we fear that this may become a pocket like the Pskov pocket, who will last eternally, but...it is what it is.. The picture below is our position after our counter attack.

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But when the Madmen ( Katukov's 64th Army) heard the Motorised divisions could drive even further forward, he immediately ordered them to do so ( This is not something I would have personally done, but is done in the purpose of LORE and ROLEPLAY. Katukov became known as "The Madmen" in our previous turn due to his rushing the enemy and winning, therefore, I have to keep this true).

As such, here is the revised positions :

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Our Tank armies saw their first combat against 384th Infantry division and the attached 40th zbV Pz. Btn and it was also a resounding success. With 44 enemy tanks destroyed (Pz III's, Pz 38 (t) and Pz 45 (t)) .

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___

Clearer picture of the Northern Operations:

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[Neogodhobo]

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[Neogodhobo]

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[Neogodhobo]

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[Neogodhobo]

Meanwhile in the south..

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[Neogodhobo]

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[Neogodhobo]

August 2, 1942

German Turn

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[Neogodhobo]

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[Neogodhobo]

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[Neogodhobo]

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[Neogodhobo]

The result :

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[Neogodhobo]

Leningrad Front is seeing massive success. The Madmen's Devils (Katukov's 64th) have created a full force German retreat from the sector. Although this isnt all good either. They (Germans) have hugged 4th Shock Army, which is protecting the Madmen's Devils rear, and are threatening to pocket Katukov's forces.

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A choice is then set upon us. We can move 47th army, supported by 5th Tank Army to squeeze in and fight their way towards Radviliskis (South) and thus make sure the Germans cannot form a pocket.

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Or, we could escape the possible pocket and lose the grounds gained.

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[Neogodhobo]

Operation " Symphony of Destruction" is in full swing !

After first testing the ground with 1st and 5th tank armies, and being successfull, we decided to go full swing with plan A.
Plus, Katukov assured us he would see this trough and push his Mechanised divisions even further, the likes we'v never seen before.

Now, a lot of us thought he was delusioned but so far, his prowess have shown. Already he has defeated 2nd RFSS motorised Brigade by joining all 3 of his Mech. divisions and doing a joint attack. No one knows what the future but one thing is certain, we do or we die !

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[Neogodhobo]

Planes involved in the Pskov Pocket bombing missions

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Katukov's forces were encircled as we feared, worst is our tank divisions were unable to pierce trough the German lines. This is not something we expected. Katukov swifted into action and ordered his mechanised divisions to drive towards 31st Army of Kalinin Front. 1st Shock Army commanded by General Tsvetaev sprang into action and ordered his cavalry divisions to go to the rescue. They spent some weeks refitting and are now combat ready again. Kalinin Front will also push forward.

Katukov's idea is that the Germans are so low in divisions, they wont be able to address this response. Or they might have to retreat yet again, in turn giving us the Pskov region altogether. The madmen is at it again with his crazy scheme, could it work ? Would it work ? Stay tuned for next episode of "Oops I did it again" !

Not but more seriously, if Katukov is right, we would have gained tremendous grounds in some short weeks, not even by engaging the enemy but by manoeuvering him around. Katukov's devils (1st Mot. Div.) are doing extraordinary works here, willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good.

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[Neogodhobo]

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Some restructuring was done to the Frontline in order to allievate the Front commanders. Some armies in the rear were sent to STAVKA's command. Kuznetsov was changed from NW Front and put into Voronezh Front. Vatutin was transfered to 41st army, our newest tank army, who will help push with Kalinin Front in order to secure the Mechanised divisions.

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[M60A3TTS]