The Great War 1914-1918

[Hellen_slith]

The Great War 1914-1918 (scenario design: Piero Falotti)

One of the things I do not like about this map: the rivers are not labelled. But the cities seem to be well noted, so with the help of some other maps that I downloaded from the archive.org, I should be able to start picking out the rivers.

In this game, I’m mostly interested in learning more about WWI, and I will be following the historic path as much as I can. It will not be a perfect re-enactment, but close enough for me to learn something.

So, the Schlieffen Plan is followed, with the Cavalry leading the charge. By the end of five or six combats for the Germans, Liege is taken. Brussels is about 100km away; Namur will (I hope) be taken by the Germans on turn 2.

[Hellen_slith]

Entente Belgium Turn 1: Belgium reinforces Namur. It seems pretty strong after moving two divisions there, two others went to Brussels, one to Antwerp. Germans are going to have a rougher time of it; seems unlikely that they will take Namur on turn two.

[Hellen_slith]

Entente France turn 1: the French I turned to my primary “guidebook” (Simond’s history) and found this map, which I tried to follow in the French first move, positioning them as much like here as I could, if they weren’t already there (as was the case in Alsace-Lorraine area):

[Hellen_slith]

Entente turn 1 cont. (French) with this result; I also scheduled as many French attacks as I could, in accordance w/ the scenario “requiring” French attacks on turn 1. I’m still not sure of the purpose for all the “anchorage” hexes along some of the rivers. Lanzerac encroached into Belgium, I was not supposed to do that, but I don’t think it will make much difference.

[Hellen_slith]

Central Powers turn #2 (Germany): Liege fortresses are completely wiped out; one of Namur fortress is also taken out. Not too worried about Alsace-Lorraine, the French in their “attacks” there on turn 1 were easily repulsed. Maybe I can take Namur on turn 3. If the BEF doesn’t show up soon, this might turn into a complete rout of France. Belgium has been practically no challenge for the Germans.

[Hellen_slith]

Entente turn 3: Germans took out another fort around Namur but are still on the outskirts of that city.
Belgians got some reinforcements and still hold Antwerp and Brussels.
BEF finally got some troops into Lille and are on their way to Charleroi (some BEF wound up reorganizing this move and are still waiting for transport to France).
Tempting to start slugging it out regardless of the historical path … here is a battle @ Sedan where Fr. I & II Corps, along w/ that artillery, really tore up some German cavalry. Many French forces in reorganize status this move … preparing for the battles around Nancy. Next turn 4 will get the Austrians started, I think.

[StuccoFresco]

Are you are playing both sides, yes? I also like to "hotseat" scenarios, it makes for interesting playthrough.

[Hellen_slith]

Yes, this one I am playing both sides, to get a "feel" for the scenario but also mostly to get a better understanding of WWI and how it went...kind of a "self taught" class for myself about WWI, as that is a era of history I read about a lot, but as I am a "visual" learner, TOAW is very helpful for me to "see" the map and try to re-enact the battles as they occurred, while I read about them in various histories. Right now, I'm trying to follow along w/ Simonds' history of the war. Link to that (at least volume I) is to archive.org

https://archive.org/details/historyofwo ... 6/mode/2up

So, between reading that, and trying to "re-create" the main points using TOAW, is going a bit slow, but very helpful in "seeing" it play out on the TOAW map.

Right now, I'm working into the Battle of the Marne, along w/ getting the Austro-Hungarians / Serbian / Russian areas of the map going. Still on turn 4 Entente, figured out how to get two Corps against Serbia, and the Russian front going in East Prussia. Very interesting!

But also a very complicated scenario.

[Hellen_slith]

I found a challenge! My and my opponent have started a game in this,
I am Entente. @ end of Central Powers move 2,
Namur holds ... Serbs have held ... Russians got their arse kicked, though.

Trying to get the Brits across the Channel now, to help the French.

[Hellen_slith]

This is an interesting map (although I still wish the rivers were labelled)

Trying to sail the Brit's Indian division to France,
is almost like a maze game! I almost sent them to Japan!

Russians are waking up a bit more ... more marching and riding into East Prussia
Namur falls, but Brussels and Antwerp still hold on.

[Hellen_slith]

We're on Central Powers move 7 now, I think ... Verdun is threatened. Antwerp holds, but the rest of Belgians are retreating to the Ypres. British Indian Division still sailing toward France. They've been at sea for three weeks (game time). Should be landing soon in the South of France. Meanwhile, I found a nice little map of the Western Battlefields, from Battlefields of the World War, Western and Southern Fronts: A Study in Military Geography by Douglas Johnson et al. (1921). I love looking at these old books! Very helpful in learning about the WWI.

[Hellen_slith]

@beginning of Entente turn 9:

The British Indian I Corps finally debarks at Marseille.

Took about 4 or five turns to navigate the map, b/c of the +100 movement hexes scattered about the sea lanes.

The game does not automatically deduct the extra movement points; you have to calculate the cost yourself.

The 3rd Lahore is still at sea, it got caught by storms (left behind when a nine stack of units crossed over some other ships at sea)

Sorely needed reinforcements for the Brits, who are (barely) holding Flanders area with King Albert and what's left of his Belgians.

[Hellen_slith]

Meanwhile, on the Eastern Front:

Russians move toward Lemberg.

[Hellen_slith]

from Simonds' book:

[Hellen_slith]

@Entente 11

Easterly Front

This could only be made better by Cyrillic, but not going to go that far,
at least until next update. Russians are hammering toward Lemberg.

[Hellen_slith]

@Entente T14, Oct. 31, 1914

British 6th Infantry fights their way into Brussels.

[Hellen_slith]

@Entente 16, Brits are eliminated from Brussels.

Belgians being pushed back into the sea. The green chits are Belgian Congo who sailed back from duty there.
The Congolese are glad of that, I'm sure.

[Hellen_slith]

Meanwhile, in Serbia / East Front. Russians rail more fodder up to the front,
and Serbs are fighting the Empire ... although Russians have taken Lemburg,
neither side seems to be able to gain a major breakthrough.

[Hellen_slith]

Well, my opponent seems to have gone AWOL.
I need to see if I can contact him, but, I figure he is just busy.
IMHO, he is doing very well on the Eastern Front.
In the West, we're already into trench warfare (which can be a chore in TOAW)

At any rate, I hope that he is doing well and will return soon to command the Empire.

Okay, well, have a great day!
PS: I would highly recommend this scene to aficianados of WWI, good PBEM,
pretty fun, but very complex.

[rhinobones]

Lost your game partner, rats ate your CAT5 cable and I hear there’s a virus going around. Man, you’re having a real bad week. Hope it’s not catchy.

If you are still in the mood for a WW I game, I’ll offer you a game of Serbia-Galicia 1914. I’ve never played it as a PBM game, but it has the most intriguing map I’ve ever seen. Only 11 turns. Let me know if you’re interested.

The scenario briefing follows.

Regards, RhinoBones

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SERBIA - GALICIA 1914

Version 3.0

Todd Klemme
tklemme@insightbb.com

TOAW-3 ver.3.0.0.0

:: PBEM ::
:: Russo-Serbian PO ::
:: Austro-hungarian PO ::

Date: August 12, 1914
Map Scale: 10km per hex
Time Scale: Half Week Turns
Unit Scale: Brigade
First Turn: Austria-Hungary
Length: 11 Turns

UNIT COLORS:

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN
Austro-Hungarian - Various on Grey

RUSSIAN/SERBIAN
Russian - Various on Green
Serbian - Various on White

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:

Russian/Serbian rail transport will drop from 5200 to 2800 on turn 6.

HISTORY:

The Austro-Hungarian Chief-of-Staff, Count Conrad von Hotzendorff, had devised a plan for Austria-Hungary's war against Serbia and Russia. The Austrian Army was divided into three parts: A-Group (deployed facing the Russians), Minimal Group Balkans (deployed opposite the Serbians) and B-Group (mostly 2nd Army) in reserve. The plan called for B-Group to be sent to aid A-Group should war with Russia break out. However, Conrad altered the plan at the last moment and, in hopes of a quick victory over Serbia, sent B-Group to the Balkans instead. A-Group moved into the Galician Province at the same time to confront the Russians.

Unfortunately for Austria-Hungary's war effort, Conrad was an indecisive man. After B-Group had embarked for Serbia, he changed his mind and ordered the reserve back to Galicia. The limitations of the Austro-Hungarian rail net meant that B-Group would have to go all the way to Serbia before turning around and heading back to Galicia.

The Serbs turned out to be made of much sterner stuff than Conrad had imagined. The Serbian commander, Voivode Putnik, waged a brilliant campaign despite being paralyzed and conducting the entire war from maps in his HQ. The fighting around Belgrade and in the Serbian mountains would last for over a month. But in the end Serbia was victorious.

Meanwhile in Galicia, the Austro-Hungarian forces had blindly advanced into the Russian forces --- all 5 armies of them. The Russian forces under Ivanov were also moving forward without benefit of reconnaissance and a confused meeting engagement raged along the entire front. In the end, Russian numbers and morale won out as Austro-Hungarian formations broke and fled back to the safety of the Carpathian Mountains. Only the Austro-Hungarian fortress at Przemysl survived the Russian onslaught, holding out for many months to come.

In little more than a month Conrad had managed to loose over half his forces. He had attacked in both Serbia and Galicia with too few men to win either battle and by indecision had prevented his own reserves from fighting effectively on either front. The incredible losses in Serbia and Galicia more than outweighed the Central Powers victory at Tannenberg. The Austro-Hungarian forces were demoralized and would never really recover. After the losses of 1914, Germany would be the driving force behind all future Central Powers victories.

DESIGNER'S NOTES:

FOR BOTH PLAYERS: This is 1914, not 1944. Armies move slowly and supplies even more slowly. Use road and rail movement whenever possible. Both players should keep in mind that Lemberg and Belgrade are not Supply Points and cannot last long if surrounded.

For optimum game play, Serbian Units should not leave the Serbian map area and Russian units should not leave the Galician map area.

RUSSIAN/SERBIAN PLAYER: As usual, the Russian supply situation is terrible. Things are a bit brighter in Serbia because of Serbia's better rail net. When Russian formations begin arriving on turns 2 and 3 you should probably use the cavalry as reconnaissance, something Ivanov did not do historically. Once you figure out where the Austrians are strong, hit them with everything you've got. You have to take Lemberg or Przemsyl to manage even a draw if Belgrade is lost.

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN PLAYER: 2nd Army (B-Group) begins the battle in the Serbian map area. You will have to decide quickly whether you need them there or in Galicia. You have a lot of rail transport so you will be able to move force easily from one map area to the other and the Russians won't begin arriving in Galicia until the 2nd and 3rd turns. Your greatest task will be deciding how much force is needed to take and hold Belgrade while still preventing a total rout in Galicia. Use your cavalry for recon --- the Russians are legion and you'll need to know where to concentrate your forces if you hope to avoid being overrun.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

Thanks to Greg Butzek for loaning me resource materials without which this scenario could not have been made.