FITE2 (Fall Barbarossa)

[gliz2]

22 June 1941
To all Commanders
The Fall Barbarossa is in operation.
At exactly 3.15 a.m. the barrage will commence and will continue for next 45 minutes. At exactly 4.00 a.m. the troops shall start the assault.
You should already be familiar with your set objectives.
You are proceed as per received orders.
Let me remind You gentlemen that we are to face the greatest enemy of our Land and of national socialism. Therefore we should be decisive and ruthless to the enemy as our Führer pledged us to do.
OKH
Feldmarchall von Brauchitsch


House rules:
1) First turn: Soviets cannot blow bridges
2) Tank, cavalry and HQ units cannot blow up bridges
3) If enemy units is already on the other side of the bridge only dug up units can blow bridges (with the exception of Engineers)
4) Failed proficiency checks are ignored (yes, game will be loaded). I really do not see anything good about it and the reasons behind it are sometimes so silly that it spoils the immersion.

[larryfulkerson]

Is that the famous "Directive 21" document?

[gliz2]

Yes

this AAR will be the AAR for the FITE2. I think I got how to handle first 20+ turns for both sides and I will continue the game until either the Soviet falls or reach pre-war borders of Poland (that's it for Germans then).

HG "Nord"
To Generalfeldm. von Leeb

You have been appointed by the Fuhrer to lead the assault on the North through the Baltic towards Moskau and Leningrad.
The strategic objective is to flank Moskau from the North. To support the effort additional motorized and armored elements have been assigned under HG "Nord". This consist of following divisions" SS "Wiking", SS "Tottenkopf", SS "Das Reich", 16 Pz Gren Div and 16 Pz Div. They should be used only to achieve the strategic objective.
The use of other motorized and armored elements: 1 Pz Div, 6 Pz Div, 8 Pz Div and 36 Mot Inf Div are left to your discretion.

The key objectives for the first phase are:
1. Riga - the city is an important hub and capturing it will allow us to provide a crucial supply line for advance on Moskau and Leningrad.
2. Daugvapilis - the city is important for its heavy bridge on the Dvina River therefore capturing it would allow easy movement of heavy AFVs. It will also allow to flank the enemy both the north (towards Pskov) and south (towards Polotsk and Vitebsk)
3. Polotsk and Vitebsk - the cities are important for the assault on Smolensk. The assault on them will be supported by the HG Mitte

[gliz2]

HG "Mitte"
To Generalfeldm. von Bock
You have been appointed by the Fuhrer to lead the assault on the Central part of the front through the Belarus towards Moskau.
The strategic objective is capturing of Moskau. To support the effort additional motorized and armored elements have been assigned under HG "Mitte". This consist of following divisions:

The key objectives for the first phase are:
1. Minsk - the city is an important hub and capturing it will allow us to provide a crucial supply line for advance on Moskau.
2. Smolensk - the city is an important hub and capturing it will allow us to provide a crucial supply line for advance on Moskau.
3. Support HG "Nord" in assault on Polotsk and Vitebsk

[gliz2]

HG "Sud"
To Generalfeldm. von Rundstedt
You have been appointed by the Fuhrer to lead the assault on the South through the Ukraine towards Caucasus.
The strategic objective is capturing of Kiev and Crimea.

The key objectives for the first phase are:
1. Lviev - the city is an important hub and capturing it will allow us to provide a crucial supply line for advance on Kiev.
2. Zhitomir - the city is an important hub and capturing it will allow us to provide a crucial supply line for advance on Kiev.
3. Vinnitsa - the city is important for flanking move on the far southern enemy flank and for linking up with Romanians

[gliz2]

End of T1 HG "Nord" report
To Feldmarschall von Brauchitsch
The railroad to Riga has been secured thanks to courage of our Brandenburger units that have been paradropped far behind the enemy lines. This has allowed for relocation of main elements from the SS "Wiking" and SS "Totenkopf" and the 261 Inf Divisin which will be used to assault Riga. Taking the city should be matter of 24 hours. After capturing it the SS Divisions will push at speed towards Madona.
The armored elements have advanced towards Panevezys and Ukmerge and will continue pushing forwards towards Daugavpilis and Glubokoye.
Losses have been minimal so far despite some heavy resistance on the Lithuanian border.
Many Soviet units have been destroyed in Lithuanian and Latvian Republics with only few pockets of resistance remaining

[gliz2]

End of T1 HG "Mitte" report
To Feldmarschall von Brauchitsch
The main achievement is capturing Vilnus and its bridges by the armored elements. Capturing of Vilnus will allow the flexibility for armored operations north of Minsk. I highly recommend pushing at all cost towards Smolensk to take advantage of disorder in the enemy defences.
Brest have proved to be a demanding task however I remain confident that the city should fall within next 48 hrs thus allowing us to reorganize the logistics using the Soviet railway hub located in Brest.
Panzer Div and 1 Cavlry Division had been pushing through the Prypet Marshes and capturing vital bridges. Although Pinsk has not been taken with initial assault the city has been encircled and will soon be captured.

[EwaldvonKleist]

It appears a grim look and low hanging mouth angles are necessary conditions to be appointed commander of a German Army Group.

[gliz2]

To Generalfeldm. von Leeb
Führer was very pleased to hear about capturing Riga. The reported losses compared to the enemy's are also very pleasing.
After analysing your proposal in the situational context the OKH presented it to Führer who stated that pushing for Moscov highway is crucial for capturing the Soviet capital. Therefore the Führer sees your proposal as befitting the strategic objective.
However Führer also wanted to remind that capturing Vitebsk and Pskov should not be left to only HG "Mitte"

To Generalfeldm. von Bock
Capturing Brest is very important for further advances. The city is position makes it a key to controls the borderline. Therefore it is utmost important to capture it without further delays.
Führer was pleased hearing about capturing Vilnus and about advance in the Prypat Marshes. OKH agrees with your analysis that exploiting of weak Soviet defences in Prypat Marshes should allow encirclement of Minsk from south-west. Threfore I sanction the proposed change in the axis of attack.

[gliz2]

Dear Commerades,
in the early hours the treacherous Germans have invaded our Motherland breaking through the exterior defenses.
We will not fail to the Motherland and our Leader Commerade Stalin. We will not give ground and we will push the traitors back.
You are ordered to attack enemy units and stop them at all costs.
Any unauthorized withdrawal will be treated as a desertion and will meet with the penalty as for a desertion.
Commerades I know we WILL be victorious.
Marshall Timoshenko

[gliz2]

T2 HG Nord
To Feldm. von Brauchitsch
I'm delighted to report that Riga has been captured with very few losses. This resulted in the opening on the enemy right flank. The 16 Pz.Div. and 16 Pz.Gren.Div. have been exploited the opening in the Soviet defense and are few kilometers from Madona.
The fall of Riga has presented us with opportunity to thrust deep into the enemy territory.I strongly recommend pushing at speed towards Velkiye Luki and Rzhev exploiting the situation and only afterwards to turn North towards Mozhaysk, thus bypassing Smolensk and leaving it to HG "Mitte".
Generalfeldm. von Leeb

[gliz2]

T2 HG "Mitte"
To Feldm. von Brauchitsch
Herrn Feldmarschal,
I report that have captured Vilnus
the elements of are in proximity of Molodechno

[gliz2]

Reserved for T2 HG Süd

[gliz2]

Reserved for T2 OKH report

[gliz2]

Reserved for T2 STAVKA report

[gliz2]

Under review. Stay tuned as I'm on T6 already