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I am heading into my first Axis Winter in a PBEM, and I have some questions for the more experienced players around managing Axis manpower.

Manpower is certainly the most precious commodity for the Germans, and I am trying to think of ways to economize in this area, and make max use of what I have.

AIRBASES: Do many players disband airbases? Can you get by without the Army Airbases? That would free up something like 2500 Support Squads, or 50,000 men. If my thinking is correct, all those support squads in the pool can replace losses at the front, allowing new manpower to be focused on Infantry or other squads. Is this on-target?

FORT ZONES: I have built quite a few Fortified Zones ahead of the winter; NOT for combat (I realize they should NEVER see combat), but for Digging purposes.
1. Is this wise?
2. As they disband, the elements will go into the pool. Most of the elements (Rifle, MGs, Mortars) will be absorbed easily into German Inf Divs. But what about the LABOR SQUADS? Is building all those Labor Squads a waste? Or will it even out in the end, as they will likely replace attrition losses anyway in the Construction Units over time, so that you'll end up saving some Manpower later (that wouldn't have to build those replacements). Is this thinking correct?

Also, what happens with the Czech and Polish manpower production?

Same stage here in PBEM. I had stopped attacking in the centre and north by mid Sep to dig in and conserve manpower, trucks. I think many German players over extend themselves in 41 just grinding forward. A conservative approach based on destruction of Soviet manpower looks to be another option. By mid Oct nearly 3M soviet casualties. My man power looks good so far. Another 4 weeks of digging in should see me set for winter. My view is 42 and 43 are key years for delaying the Soviets and writing down his forces in mobile battles..

Brad are your fort zones linear or checkerboard?  As you can see in my AAR I don't believe that checker board was the way to go.  You need to horde your AP's for winter and build multiple linear defensive lines in areas you want to protect the most.  Probably a 2 solid lines if you don't take Leningrad since the terrain favors defense.  The Moscow area you probably need 3 or better spaced apart.  Hope you have enough depth in terrain in the south because it defiantly doesn't favor defense at all.