Some Soviet thoughts about how the Germans can best defend in the first winter

[von Beanie]

I have rarely played the Germans except against the AI. Keep that in mind when reading the comments that follow. Nevertheless, I have played many good German players that almost always try to form a linear defense during the first winter. Their defenses can sometimes hold for a few turns, but the inevitable result is a rout and general retreat of 15 or more hexes. Against my latest opponent I took time to compose the following suggestions for smart play that I now want to open up for criticism from the larger community:

>Never put a lone armored division on the front line, even if there is a gap in your line. I can concentrate my forces against it, and when it retreats it often loses 1/3 to 1/2 of its vehicles. They should always be stacked with at least two other infantry units, or used as reserves.

>Where your units are strong, like the Finns on the Volkhov front, it is OK to defend every hex at a level where it is impossible for the Soviets to attack them. But everywhere else a much better strategy is to create the historic "hedgehogs" that the Germans formed. A hedgehog should be a pile of two or three divisions one hex behind the Soviet front line, and in a village or city if possible. There should be at least one or two empty hexes between hedgehogs on the front lines and there should never be a lone unit behind the hedgehog that could be hastily-attacked. Ideally, some of these hedgehogs should be backed up by armored reserves or other hedgehogs one or two hexes back and one hex off to either side.

Too many German players are too worried about being surrounded, and are not aware enough of Soviet capabilities. A Soviet infantry unit can only make a regular attack when they have 6 movement points left, and that is hard to do sometimes if they advance one hex. It is almost always impossible for them to do if they advance two hexes. The only units that can regularly advance faster are tank brigades, and they are very vulnerable to counterattacks. It takes one whole turn of isolation before defensive units will surrender, so assume that you can usually save a surrounded pile the next turn, and retreat them at least one hex. Therefore, it becomes critical to make the strongest possible defensive hedgehogs that forces the Soviet side to risk a "held" result. Often the casualty ratios are hugely in the German favor...8000 to 200 men...and so few Soviet players can advance and also risk an attack on such a strong defensive pile the same turn.

When a German player puts lone divisions in a hex with defense factors of 2 or 3, there isn't nearly as much risk to the Soviet side to try an attack. But rarely do I attack a hex with a defense of 12 or higher unless I start the turn adjacent to it. So, by retreating strong piles one hex every turn, and punishing the Soviet tanks that try to surround the stacks, you wouldn't have to lose nearly as much territory, nor as much artillery as you do in the retreats.

>The one exception to this argument is where Soviet cavalry corps are operating in mass. Like the tank brigades, they can move fast through the snow. However, they are much stronger in defense. So, where the Soviets are operating large numbers of cavalry corps it is probably wise to form two rows of hedgehogs if possible, or put strong armored reserves in that area.

Anyway, those are my thoughts about the matter based on playing the Soviets many times. I don't know why more German players consider trying them, but perhaps they haven't played the Soviets much during the first winter. It is my opinion that the wisest German players just need to get used to defending with gaps in their front lines.

[olivier34]

very interesting. I would like to try the hedgehog defense but it seems to me that it can be done only during the first soviet winter offensive. Do you think it could be done against the soviets by the end of 42 ? In my AAR, May 43, I try to find a new way to defend, I may try an elastic defense but my opponent is to powerful I guess.

[Omat]

ups wrong thread

[Farfarer61]

I think I would try and ooze around these hedgehogs and not attack them until they have been red for several turns and having had the snot bombed out of them. By now, Sov players are building their cav corps with the "fast cav", speed 22, and adding "fast SU's" and matching these guys with the MP 16 Infantry divs ( 15 MP to move ZOC to ZOC ).

Alternatively, the "passive ooze" uses the the Inf Divs to advance, with the Cav Corps, Cav Divs and Arm Brigades all in the same tactical command structure, with max MP, in Reserve, with a good leader. If the Hedgehog forces sortie, and there is a good Reserve die roll, sadness ensues.

In a more supportive vein, Soviet Blizzard attacks can be horrendously costly even if a 'retreat' is earned. If your Sov opponent is attacking willy nilly along the whole line - let him/her - summer 42 will be fun. If one ( Sov) actually makes a less than well prepared attack, based on the enticing "fake" CVs, you will easily see 3000 dead to 100 Axis - or less.

In one PBEM game I am playing an very competent foe, and although only Jan 42, my shells and brigades are out digging fall back lines. Sure, he is suffering badly now, but all my level 2 forts from 1 Dec 41 quickly vanished, and payback time is coming.

" Hell hath no fury like a Panzer Armee that had a month off on a rail line in Poland "