EA : AAR

[Edwire]

I'm been playing EA PBEM with Ian (sapper32). In real time we have reach Sitzkrieg, so i will post some AARS while waiting for the snow to melt

This is my first time playing EA, and i'm playing the Axis. Any comments and suggestion are welcome [:)]

So here goes :

January 1933 : Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
March 1935-6 : Abyssinia invaded and annexed by Fascist Italy
March 1936 : Germany reoccupies demilitarized Rhineland
July 1936 : Spanish Civil War after right-wing coup fails
December 1937 : Germany finishes Siegfried fortification line on their western border.
Sept 1938 : Czechs forced to cede Sudetenland to Germany
March 1939 : rump of Czechoslovakia annexed by Germany
May 1939 : In response to Germany's movement, French adapt defensive strategy by extending Maginot Line to the coast
May 1939 : In preparation of inevitable war, German prepares extra troops
June - July 1939 : In response to Germany's war preparation, Soviet Union commit additional reserves to the field
July 1939 : Hungary, Rumania, and Bulgaria joins Axis Germany while Baltic states army mobilize.

The stage is set. However, where the first war will break out?
Both France and Germany erect massive fortification on their border.
Both Germany and Soviet Union raises extra armies for preparation.
Britain watch Germany's movement carefully and vow to defend her French and Poles ally
Italy is still ill-prepared, but are determined to reclaim Mediterranean as "Mare Nostrum"
Poles are trapped between Germany and Soviet Union while Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria choose to join the Axis and Baltic armies have mobilized in preparation for seemingly inevitable Soviet Union attack.

[Edwire]

August 5th, 1939 : Germany declares War on Soviet Union !!!

South :
OKH has moved the majority of Germany's panzer in the Rumanian - Soviet Union border in hope of rapid advance to rich Ukranian.
Supported by Rumanian and Hungarian allies, German army crossed Dneister river, but immediately encounter Soviet Stalin Line fortification, which apparently was built on 1930's.

Center :
Poland finally decided to join Axis Germany after enormous pressure and joins the "crusade" against Soviet Union. Polish army herself already field sizeable army and are moving to the East while German AGC is also moving by rail. Their main target is Minsk.

North :
Baltic states joins Axis and advance slowly to the border. Finnish refuses to join the "crusade" but still watch war situation carefully before they joins.
German quickly repair the damaged rail road on the Danzig corridor and sends infantry and massive artillery supports to Narva. OKH aims to quickly seize Leningrad to show Finland the Axis's might.

[Edwire]

T10, September 2nd, 1939

Axis forces initially only face light resistance from the Soviet on the border, but face a strong Stalin Line fortification just few miles back on the border.

German 2nd Armee is already at the outskirt of Leningrad. Supported by almost every heavy artillery available to the Germans, including the Kriegsmarine, they make good progress.

However the 4th Pz Armee face a strong resistance from Soviet 2nd Mech Army in Pskov. The original plan to link up with 2nd Army is delayed.

In the Center, the Poles successfully surround and capture Minsk with light resistance. The Soviet main defense line seems to be at Mogilev.

[Edwire]

T10, September 2nd, 1939. Army Group South

The Soviet seems to abandon Southern Ukraine, leaving few security units and the Stalin Forts behind. Without mobile units, the Stalin Forts were easily outmaneuvered and eliminated. Odessa quickly falls to the German 8th Armee.

Hungarian Army, assisted by 4th Rumanian Army from the South captured Zhitomir and advancing to Kiev.

The main spearhead, 1st Pz Armee, already at the Dneiper River and captured Dnepropetrov. However strong Soviet line has been spotted all the way from Kiev to Melitopol. Should they continue the thrust from Dnepropetrov, or swing north, cross the river, and trap the Soviet forces in Kiev? OKH weight the options.

[sealclubber]

I haven't played EA in a while but from what I've read the new 3.4 version makes attacking quite difficult and you're trying the Eastern Crusade, which was rather difficult in its own right.

Keep us posted!

[Edwire]

Thanks sealclubber.

Generally in 3.4 attacking is much harder. I never played EA before, so i cant say for sure for this scenario though

[Edwire]

T11, September 9th, 1939, Army Group North

The grinding continues. More hex are captured and Luga is within reach.
4 Pz Armee finally managed to capture a hex south of Pskov. Soviet resistance is still strong elsewhere.

In the center, Poles meet the main (?) soviet line on Mogilev.

[Edwire]

T11, September 9h, 1939, Army Group South

The crossing of River Dneiper begins.
1 Pz Armee cross the Dneiper river and thrust its way through while Hungarian and Rumanian army storms Kiev. Soviet defenses are strong.

[Edwire]

T12, September 16th, 1939, AGN

2nd Armee continue to grind its way to secure the flanks before the assault on Leningrad can begin. The city itself seems to be well defended.

4Pz Armee finally brush aside Baltic Front and have linked up with 2nd Armee behind Pskov. Pockets are starting to form (in red circle) while 6th Armee keep the pressure on Velikye Luki to reject Soviet reinforcement to Baltic Front.

[Edwire]

T12, September 16th, 1939, AGS

The South is where the main German panzers are concentrated. The Dneiper crossing has become solid with more Axis troops crossing the river and German Motorized and Panzer corps racing behidn the lines. In an effort to accelerate the breakthrough, OKH launch the first major airborne operation ever done. Three Air landing division, 22nd Air landing, SS Para, and 7 Flieger were dropped behind the Soviet line. Only time can unfold their fate.

Soviet reinforcements are arriving by rail from Kharkov, but the German motorized corps arrive just in time to intercept. It is predicted more Soviet reinforcements will be coming.

The Hungarian and Romanian are still besieging Kiev while Romanian 2nd Army are breaking through to Perekop Ishtmus.

[Edwire]

T14, 30th September 1939, AGN

4 Pz Armee has shattered Soviet Baltic front and is moving south to surround the dreadful Stalin Line from behind to assist the Poles.

2 Panzer Grenadier division from 2nd Armee has thrust forward and cut Leningrad. Hopefully they can hold the siege to be reinforced next week. The aim is to swiftly capture Leningrad and bring Finland to the war.

Baltic States is helping to surround the trapped Soviet armies around Lake Pskov.

[Edwire]

T14, 30th September 1939, AGS

Unexpected results was achieved !

All the 3 Paratroopers divisions survived and safely made it back !

A mixture of 1 Pz Armee, 14th Armee, and Rumanian 3rd Army thrust deep all the way to River Desna, eliminating significant Soviet troops in the process. Meanwhile, a mixture of Hungarian, Rumanian, and German has captured Kiev and has capitalize a hole in the soviet defense line to link up with the German panzer corps and trapped the entire Kiev Front !

Momentum is gaining, but the Axis are loosing time. Soon the Barb bonus will wither and we will have serious supply problems and the Sitzkrieg will kick in.

[Edwire]

T17, 21st October 1939, AGN

Leningrad, cradle of the Revolution, falls to Axis!
Finland mobilize its army against the USSR!
Swedish chooses to stay neutral.

With the help of massive artillery support, Germand 2nd Army managed to break through soviet defenses and capture Leningrad. II Panzer Grenadier division was awarded the honor to be the first to march to the city as the Soviet garrison flees.

In the center, 4th Pz Armee moves south to assist Polish Army, who were halted just in front of Orsha. Secondary Soviet defense line is spotted in Smolensk.

[Edwire]

T17, 21st October 1939, AGS

After weeks of chaos fighting, Soviet Kiev Front is wiped out and are pushed back to Kharkov-Belgorod-Kursk line. 1st Pz Armee need to reorganize before they can continue the push. Further to the south, Rumanian army have complete the conquest of Crimea, with the exception of besieged Sevastopool and Kerch.


The question is, will AGS be going north to Moscow or South to Stalingrad and Caucassus?
The Red army has recovered from Blitzkrieg shock, and logistics is stretched to the limit.

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: Edwire

The question is, will AGS be going north to Moscow or South to Stalingrad and Caucassus?

Take Moscow

[Edwire]

T20, AGN

Jumping a bit, the shock effect of the Barbarossa has end. Weakened and beaten, Stavka reserve mobilize to meet Wehrmacht attack to Moscow.

4 Pz Armee in the north has linked with Polish Army in the center, eliminating more Soviet troops. However, the Soviet defensive line has tighten around Smolensk.

[Edwire]

T20, AGS

In the South, despite numerous defeat, Soviet troops just keep coming. With time the sitzkrieg fast approaching, both sides are desperate.

[Edwire]

T24, AGS

Alas, the Sitzkrieg will start next week. OKH/OKW's final offensive to close the Kamensk pocket is one hex too short. The pocket will escape during the Sitzkrieg. If there are just few more weeks, AGS will achieve great success : Kamensk pocket, crossing Don River, capture Rostov, and threaten both Stalingrad and Caucassus. But such is war, none of these were achieved.

This conclude the Fuhrer's attempt to eliminate the Soviet in 1939.

AGN has successfully capture Lenignrad and persuade Finland to join the Axis. Murmansk is besieged.

In the center, AGC is stopped just in front of Smolensk. With Stavka reserve committed in the center, AGC were unable to breakthrough the defense.

In the South, AGS is stopped in front of Rostov and in front of Don River, although Azov is captured and Caucassus is wide open - at least for the time being.

Losses has been high for the Germans. Moreover, the Western Allies will not stay silent anymore. Germany will face two-front war. However, losses on the Soviet side should not be light either. Wehrmach count at least 60 Soviet Armies, including at least 5 Mechanized Army were wiped out. Soviet for sure will recover during the winter, but should not be invulnerable in 1940. Stay tuned for the 1940 campaign [:D]

[Edwire]

ORIGINAL: Matti Kuokkanen

ORIGINAL: Edwire

The question is, will AGS be going north to Moscow or South to Stalingrad and Caucassus?

Take Moscow

Hi Matti,

Was thinking the same, but taking Moscow will bring the US into the war by 50% chance (if i recall correctly), and without both Moscow and Stalingrad taken, the Soviet will stay in the game. It will be risky, so i choose to keep my offense in the South [:)]

[Edwire]

24 February, 1940

With the 1939/1940 snows melting, the war continues. During the Sitzkrieg, the Western Allies was concerned of the Nazi's progress in the East and declare war. This is the the time when the so-caleld Siegfriend Line will absorb the Western Allies attack.

From aerial reconnaissance, the Soviet Union has establish a strong defensive line behind the Don. Surprisingly, not much movement is spotted to reinforce Caucassus region.

Case Blue

The target for Case Blue will be Caucassus region. No less than four Armee is committed, supported by several Airborne divisions. The aim is to quickly cut Caucassus from the remaining Soviet Union by destroying bridges in Astrakhan and cut the rail line by airborne troops while 3 Pz Armee cross the River and contain any Soviet attempt to move their troops from Stalingrad area while 1 Pz and 4 Armee conquer the region. 8 Armee will establish defensive position along the Don River.

The initial attack goes well, not much Soviet defenders is encountered. OKH think the Soviet actually abandon the entire Caucassus region....