Matrix Games Forums

[center]der Russlandfeldzug[/center]

[center][/center]

After reading a lot of different AARs I thought of putting forward my own. The game will be played against the AI on Normal Difficulty

By all means please feel free to comment, suggest alternatives both on operations and on strategic level, even boo me if you like or you don’t like something.

The idea is to play the Germans in the 1941 scenario.

[center]Table of Contents[/center]

[center]Unternehmen Barbarossa[/center]
[center]We must win, and quickly[/center]

[center]Turn 0: May-21 June 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 1: 22-28 June 1941 - Air Operations
[/center]
[center]Turn 1: 22-28 June 1941 - Land Operations
[/center]
[center]Turn 2: 29 June - 6 July 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 3: 6-13 July 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 4: 14-20 July 1941 - Planning Operation Friedrich
[/center]
[center]Turn 4: 14-20 July 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 5: 21-27 July 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 5: 21-27 July 1941 - Disaster in Vilnius
[/center]
[center]Turn 6: 28 July - 3 August 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 7: 4-10 August 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 7: 4-10 August 1941 - Planning Operation Würgegriff
[/center]
[center]Turn 7: 4-10 August 1941 - Planning Operation Rheingold
[/center]
[center]Turn 8: 11-17 August 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 9: 18-24 August 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 10: 24-31 August 1941 - Strategic Situation Review
[/center]
[center]Turn 10: 24-31 August 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 11: 31 August - 6 September 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 12: 7-14 September 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 13: 15-21 September 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 14: 22-28 September 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 15: 9 September - 5 October 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 15: 9 September - 5 October 1941 - Minsk Conference - Strategic Situation Review
[/center]
[center]Turn 16: 6-11 October 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 17: 12-18 October 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 18: 19-26 October 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 19: 27 October - 2 November 1941
[/center]
[center]Turn 20: 3-8 November 1941
[/center]

Subbed.

Fyi: Russia is spelled "Russland" in German; So "Russlandfeldzug".

"Ruß" means "soot" in German xD

Very good pun! (For Russia is literally gonna burn soon in your AAR?)

[center]Turn 0: May 1941-21 June 1941[/center]

[center]When Barbarossa commences the world will hold its breath and make no comment![/center]

[center][/center]

The strategic aim of Operation Barbarossa is the total annihilation of the Soviet army in a swift summer campaign. It is expected that the destruction of the fighting capability of the Red Army will take 8-12 weeks of hard fighting, followed by another 4-8 weeks of mop-up operations. After the Red Army is destroyed it is expected that the Soviet leadership will request peace talks. In order to achieve this strategic aim the OKW has allocated 104 infantry, 19 panzer and 15 motorised divisions in three army groups. After months of debate and endless Kriegspiel where a number of alternative scenarios have been tested, it was decided to proceed with an advance on a broad front covering the entire European part of the Soviet Union. Based on that the initial plan for the attack has been formulated.

Heeresgruppe Nord

Heeresgruppe Nord entrusted to Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb will be unleashed in the former Baltic Republics and perform a broad pincer that can trap the mass of the Soviet army in the area in the corridor between Vilnius and Riga. The two-prone attack will be spearheaded by 4.Panzerarmee supported by 16.Armee and 18.Armee. XXXXI Pz.Kps supported by 18.Armee will race towards Riga, and LVI Pz.Kps supported by 16.Armee will attempt to cross the Daugava as quickly as possible followed by a drive at maximum speed towards Pskov. As soon as our forces reach Pskov it is expected that the road to Leningrad will lay open.

[center][/center]

[center][/center]
[center]Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb discusses the upcoming operations with Generaloberst Erich Hoepner[/center]

Heeresgruppe Mitte

Heeresgruppe Mitte entrusted to Generalfeldmarschall Fedor von Bock is by far the strongest of our formations and it is expected to to face the mass of the Soviet Army. The main thrust of the attack will be along the Minks-Smolensk-Moscow axis, and for that reason two Panzer Armies are allocated for the task. The initial strike will overrun the border defences and drive deep into Belarus in a gigantic pincer towards Minsk enveloping the majority of the Soviet armies north of Pripet. As soon as the Bialystok pocket is cleared the axis of attack will concentrate on the Minks-Smolensk Highway prior to the final push towards Moscow.

[center][/center]

[center][/center]
[center]Generalfeldmarschall Fedor von Bock discussing the final preparations with Generaloberst Hermann Hoth (Panzergruppe 3) and General der Flieger Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen (VIII Fliegerkorps)[/center]

Heeresgruppe Süd

Heeresgruppe Süd entrusted to Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt will attempt to isolate and destroy the fortress of Brest-Litovsk and proceed with envelopments of the Soviet forces in the area of Lvov. XIV Pz.Kps will penetrate deep towards Rovno and Zhitomir cutting the retreat of the Soviets towards Kiev. Simultaneously XXX Pz.Kps and XXXXVIII Pz.Kps will perform deep pincers towards Proskurov and Chernovtsy aiming to isolate as many as possible of the Soviet formations in the area. 6.Armee and 17.Armee will protect the flanks of the Panzer thrusts and clear the resulting pockets.

[center][/center]

[center][/center]
[center]Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt oversees the final preparations before the attack on the Soviet Union[/center]

[center][/center]
[center]OKW Plan for Unternehmen Barbarossa[/center]

Strategic Situation

After the Invasion of Poland followed by the total capitulation of France the only active front where the Wehrmacht is involved is in Cyrenaica where the Deutsches Afrikakorps led by Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel together with our Italian Allies have managed to repulse the British and are currently besieging the strategically important port of Tobruk. With the fall of Greece and Yugoslavia it is expected that the position of the British in Malta will become unattainable. III/KG30 and III/KG1 together with elements of Regia Aeronautica have been flowing daily bombing raids disrupting the flow of supplies to the island.

[center][/center]
[center]Reports on the international press of the rapid success of the German Army[/center]

[center][/center]
[center]The Reichskriegsflagge flying over the Acropolis in Athens[/center]

[center][/center]
[center]PzKpfw III of the 15.Pz-Div driving through the Libyan desert [/center]

After the Fall of France the Ubootwaffe has established naval bases in Lorient, Brest and St. Nazaire allowing us to conduct unrestricted war in the shipping lanes in the Atlantic. Our success in the Die Glückliche Zeit has lead to more than 1,489,795 tons of merchant shipping being denied to the British Empire.

[center][/center]
[center]Kpt.zS. Robert Gysae of U-98 totalling 38,895 GWT of allied shipping returning form a successful patrol having sunk the RN Armoured Merchant Cruiser HMS Salopian in May 1941[/center]


[center][/center]
[center]Last chance to confess sins and pray before the gigantic struggle begins[/center]

ORIGINAL: Floxolydian

Subbed.

Fyi: Russia is spelled "Russland" in German; So "Russlandfeldzug".

"Ruß" means "soot" in German xD

Very good pun! (For Russia is literally gonna burn soon in your AAR?)

Thank you for the clarification. I have corrected the mistake (easy to make when I need to rely on Google Translate I'm afraid [;)])

[center]Turn 1: 21-28 June 1941[/center]
[center]Air Operations[/center]


[center]This is the massacre of the ‘innocents’[/center]

[center][/center]
[center]Luftwaffe Officers discussing the initial planning of the upcoming attack with the Führer[/center]

Since the First Turn is critical for the Elimination of the Soviet Air Force I will have a dedicated section for this turn.

Aerial Operations against the Soviet Union started at 03:00 on 22 June 1941. Initial strikes were concentrated in pre-identified airfields that hosted significant numbers of enemy fighters. All initial strikes were conducted at targets close to the border in order to allow for optimal support and protection of our bombers by escorts.

[center][/center]

Targets were hit all along the border and almost immediately we have achieved total surprise and air superiority. After the initial strike follow-up operations continued with some unescorted bombing raids taking place on selected airfields deep into the Soviet Union that hosted significant number of airplanes (e.g. Riga). Since the Fighters of the Red Air Force were almost totally destroyed in the initial attack the venture of our bombers behind the frontline deep into the Soviet Union was uneventful. Nevertheless this is something that will probably not occur again due to the associated dangers.


[center][/center]
[center]Ju-88 probably the best bomber in the Luftwaffe at the moment[/center]

[center][/center]
[center]He-111 on their way to their targets early in the morning of 22 June[/center]

Special attention was given in the airfields located around Lvov and Brest-Litovsk and due to their proximity to the frontline these were mainly hit multiple times by the slow but trusted Ju-87.

[center][/center]
[center]Ju-87B of I./SG 2 Immelmann on the way to bomb entrenched positions of NKVD Border Troops in Brest-Litovsk[/center]

Operational Summary

The Luftwaffe has lost 157 aircrafts (14 Fighters, 57 Fighter-Bombers, 6 Tactical Bombers and 79 Level Bombers) and 156 pilots. Of those losses 11 were lost by the Red Airforce, 34 to air defences and 112 were operational losses. In comparison the Red Airforce lost 2,776 aircrafts (662 Fighters, 1,548 Fighter-Bombers, 192 Tactical Bombers, 341 Level Bombers and 33 Reconnaissance). Our estimations are that the Soviets lost approximately 475 pilots in the initial attacks. Of those losses 53 fell victims to our Fighters and 2,723 were destroyed on the ground. These initial results indicate a kill-ratio of approximately 1:5 for aerial battles which is good but needs to be improved if we are to eliminate the Red Airforce. The number of operational losses we have suffered is relatively high but I am concerned that things will not get better due to the large distances involved and the rapid advances we are expecting to observe. Nevertheless, we need to manage our air assets carefully while providing aerial support where it is needed.

Great AAR so far in terms of historical flavor, look forward to seeing it continue.

Just: wow! Thanks for putting this together. The next episodes will be a joy to read....

Fantastic! Reads like a dramatic history book so far.

ORIGINAL: melnibonian

ORIGINAL: Floxolydian

Subbed.

Fyi: Russia is spelled "Russland" in German; So "Russlandfeldzug".

"Ruß" means "soot" in German xD

Very good pun! (For Russia is literally gonna burn soon in your AAR?)

Thank you for the clarification. I have corrected the mistake (easy to make when I need to rely on Google Translate I'm afraid [;)])

Fun fact: before the Rechtschreibreform (spelling reform) in 1996 it was correct to write Rußland.

And super aar

Agree w/all above!... Thanks!

[center]Turn 1: 22 June-29 June 1941[/center]
[center]Land Operations[/center]

[center]I therefore decided today to once again lay the fate and future of the German Reich and our people in the hands of our soldiers.

May the Lord God help us especially in this fight![/center]


[center][/center]
[center]German soldiers crossing the border and advancing into USSR[/center]

During the initial strikes by the Luftwaffe the various support and special units started infiltrating into the enemy territory. At 03:30 the invasion of the Soviet Union began with a preliminary artillery bombardment followed by massive attacks across the entire border.

Heeresgruppe Nord

In this sector of the front the enemy border units were almost annihilated by the ferocity of our initial attacks. Multiple penetrations were achieved from the opening hours of the operation and scores of Soviet border units were encircled and forced to surrender. XXXXI Pz.Kps smashed through the Soviet defences and raced towards Daugava and secured crossings in Riga, Krustpils, Plavinas and Jekabpils. Riga fell to elements of the 1.Pz.Div. with minimal casualties as the troops guarding the approaches to the city offered a token resistance and surrendered within a few hours. LVI Pz.Kps crossed the Daugava in Dauvgapils, Livapi and Kraslava rendering the entire Soviet position in Latvia and Lithuania unattainable. These multiple crossings of the Daugava allow us to race towards Pskov and possibly cut-off any Soviet forces located in Estonia.

18.Armee managed to keep-up with the Panzers of XXXXI Pz.Kps and made significant progress towards Riga. 16.Armee on the other side faced stiff resistance in Lithuania and had to fight its way into Kaunas and Vilnius. The Soviet positions in Lithuania were overrun partially with the help of units of Heeresgruppe Mitte, and by 25 June the whole area was cleared from Enemy troops.

The relatively slow progress of 16.Armee is of concern to OKW as is severely lacks behind LVI Pz.Kps. Nevertheless we can expect that by the time we reach Pskov the infantry will manage to catch-up.

[center][/center]

[center][/center]
[center]Elements of Pz.Abt. I of 1.Pz.Div. entering Riga[/center]

Heeresgruppe Mitte

In this sector of the front 1 and 2.Panzerarmee managed to achieve very deep penetrations that have completely encircled the units in the area around Bialystok and virtually destroyed the mass of the Soviet Armies in Belorussia. XXIV Pz.Kps and XXXXVI Pz.Kps drove deep into the rear of the Soviet defences and closed the cauldron in Minsk. The city was fell on 26 June to 19.Pz.Div. after fierce fighting. XXXIX Pz.Kps bypassed Minsk and drove deep towards Vitebsk aiming to secure the Dnepr Land Bridge. Until now our leading elements are outside Polotsk and we expect to secure Vitebsk within the next few days. This deep penetration has totally destabilised the Soviet defences in Lithuania and forced the Red Army to evacuate the western sore of the Daugava. XXXXVII Pz.Kps secured Babrusik and threatens the Soviet defences in the area around Mogilev. The rapid advance of our Panzers allow us to cross the Dnepr in multiple locations, thus destabilising any Soviet attempt to form a new defensive line. Elements of 4.Armee and 9.Armee are clearing the massive pocket created by the Panzers and are advancing towards Minks.

[center][/center]

[center][/center]
[center]Engineers of 55.Inf.Rgt. of 17.Inf.Div. crossing the Bug[/center]

The Fortress of Brest-Litovsk was mercilessly attack by Ju-87Bs of I./SG 2 Immelmann and 45.Inf.Div. After three days of heavy fighting the NKVD forces guarding the approaches to the citadel surrendered and the Fortress was captured later on the evening of 24 June.

[center][/center]
[center]The destroyed citadel of the Fortress of Brest-Litovsk after its capture[/center]

Heeresgruppe Süd

In this sector of the front the mass of Soviet troops was increased and the enemy's resistance ferocious. Despite the hard fighting III Pz.Kps managed to achieve a penetration to the rear of the Soviet defences and reached the Dnestr in Gorodenka. This penetration was not possible to be followed by infantry due to the heavy resistance but it is expected that will cause problems to the Soviet defences in Ukraine. Nevertheless the lack of progress on this part of the front is not welcome and it is expected that at least 10 days of hard fighting will be needed until we manage to break through the Soviet defences and drive towards Kiev and the Dnepr.

[center][/center]

[center][/center]
[center]III Pz.Kps advances in the outskirts of Tarnopol[/center]

Operational Summary

Despite our initial advances the Soviet forces have put stiff resistance at times (especially in the South). The achievement of deep Panzer thrusts have totally destabilised the Soviet defences and led to enormous casualties by the enemy. In total the Soviets have suffered 498,777 casualties (95,970 killed, 291,213 captured and 111,684 disables) and lost 9,812 guns, 2,409 AVFs and 3,261 planes (2,840 were destroyed on the ground). We have suffered 19,913 casualties (13,097 killed, 10 captured and 6,806 disabled) and lost 503 Guns, 91 AVFs and 159 planes.

Overall the initial fighting despite its ferocity was relatively light in terms of casualties and materiel. On the contrary the Soviet casualties were significant especially in terms of men captured and destroyed equipment. If we can continue this rate of destruction we expect the Soviet Union to be in the bring of collapse within a couple of months.

[center][/center]
[center]Destroyed Mig-3 in Bialystok Air Base[/center]

Like others already have mentioned this is well presented AAR ! Will be intresting.
One thing though...If you are not totally against it would you considder to toggle the - show enemy hexes ON -
It will make it somewhat easier to follow the overall map situation i belive.

Be aware that your use of AGS activated the Soviet Southern Front on Turn 1. This may or may not have been your intent and may surprise you with what the AI response will be.

That said, good luck! I look forward to seeing how it works out for you.

[center]Turn 2: 29 June - 6 July 1941[/center]

[center]At the beginning of each campaign, one pushes a door into a dark, unseen room. One can never know what is hiding inside
[/center]

[center][/center]
[center]PzKpfw 38(t) of 3.Pz.Div. advancing towards Smolensk[/center]

Heeresgruppe Nord

Following the rapid advance of the previous week almost all of the Soviet resistance in the Baltic Republics has collapsed. Soviet troops are retreating en masse across the Daugava. 4.Panzerarmee used the bridgeheads created and started to race towards Pskov. XXXXI Pz.Kps manages to punch a hole in the Soviet defences in Gulbene and elements of 36.Inf.Div. mot. reached the outskirts of Pskov on 5 July. LVI Pz.Kps smashed the Soviet defences at Abrene and the 8.Pz.Div. managed to reach 12km outside Pskov, thus undermining the entire defensive line of the enemy.

16.Armee and 18.Armee are moving as fast as possible to catch-up with the Panzers and have started crossing the Daugava. Overall the advance on this part of the front is very rapid although the constant retreating of the Soviet armies in the region limits the possibilities for the creation of pockets where the enemy can be isolated and ultimately destroyed.

[center][/center]

[center][/center]
[center]Reconnaissance vehicles of SS-Inf.Div. mot. Totenkopf advancing towards Pskov[/center]

Heeresgruppe Mitte

After the capture of Minsk the Red Army have occupied defensive positions in the Vitebsk-Orsa-Mogilev axis aiming to defend both the land bridge and the crossings to the Dnepr. LVII Pz.Kps and XXXIX Pz.Kps managed to break through the hastily constructed enemy positions in Polotsk and 12.Pz.Div. captured Velikie Luki. Further south 2.Panzerarmee smashed through the Soviet defences in multiple locations in the vicinity of Bobruisk, Domanovichi, Rogachev and Rechitsa with forward elements of 17.Pz.Div. reaching within 20km of Gomel. These double penetration of the motorised forces is the first step towards the encirclement of the enemy troops in the area and the ultimate capture of the strategically important city of Smolensk. Since 9.Armee and 4.Armee are still behind it is expected that the Soviets will manage to reposition their forces to counter our advance. Nevertheless as soon as the infantry arrives we should be in a position to envelop the large portion of their forces and destroy them.

[center][/center]

[center][/center]
[center]PAK of 502 PAK.Abt. of 12.Pz.Div. destroying Soviet armour vehicles on the outskirts of Velikie Luki[/center]

Heeresgruppe Süd

Following the initial penetration III Pz.Kps managed to advance towards Vinnitsa and Berdichev, supported by XIV Pz.Kps that moved towards Novogrod-Volynsky. Simultaneously XI AK and Cav.RM.Crps smashed the Soviet defences in Lipconi, crossed the Prut and raced northwards linking with 11.Pz.Div. and 11.Inf.Div. mot. outside Vinnitsa. These deep penetrations have managed to create a massive pocket south of Lvov and trapped approximately 38 Soviet Divisions, 4 of which are mechanised (3 Tank Divisions). 6.Armee is advancing along the Rovno-Zhitomir axis while 17.Armee is keeping the pressure on the enemy troops trapped into the cauldron. Further south our Romanian Allies have crossed the Prut in multiple locations and are advancing towards Odessa.

[center][/center]

[center][/center]
[center]Motorised elements of 66.Schützen-Rgt. of 13.Pz.Div. advancing towards Vinnitsa[/center]

Operational Summary

During this week we have suffered 17,498 casualties (8,219 dead, 47 captured and 9,232 disabled) and lost 267 guns and 37 AFVs. The Soviets have lost 193,515 men (21,126 killed, 115,798 captured and 56,591 disabled), 3,360 guns and 1,481 AFVs. The Luftwaffe has lost just 3 planes (2 due to combat and 1 operational) and the Red Air Force 155 (82 Fighters, 14 Fighter-Bombers, 5 Tactical Bombers, 26 Level Bombers, 24 Reconnaissance and 4 Transport).

[center][/center]
[center]He-111 of III./KG1 of I.Fliegerkorps providing ground support in Latvia[/center]

ORIGINAL: melnibonian
...
[center]Turn 1: 22 June-29 June 1941[/center]
[center]Land Operations[/center]



[center][/center]
[center]III Pz.Kps advances in the outskirts of Tarnopol[/center]

...

We can also see prisoners in this picture (the right part of the road)
Nice AAR [&o]

[center]Turn 3: 6-13 July 1941
[/center]

[center]“Comrades, citizens, brothers and sisters, men of our Army and Navy! I speak to you my friends! A serious threat hangs over our country. It can only be dispersed by the combined efforts of the military and industrial might of the nation. There is no room for the timid or the coward, for deserters or spreaders of panic, and a merciless struggle must be waged against such people. We must destroy spies, agents provocateurs, and enemy parachutists…anyone who hinders our defence must be shot…The enemy must not find a single railway-engine, not a wagon, not a pound of bread nor a glass of petrol. All the farms must hand their herd to the official bodies and be sent to the rear (of the USSR). Everything else…must be destroyed.”[/center]

[center][/center]
[center]Comrade Stalin getting ready to address the Soviet people and demand the expulsion of the Enemy[/center]

Heeresgruppe Nord

In the North our troops eliminated the last pockets of resistance around Pskov and XXXXI Pz.Kps and LVI Pz.Kps kept up the pressure on the Soviets. The Red Army kept retreating and has created new defensive positions on the Parnu-Soltsy-Velikie Luki axis. This development will probably force us to slow the pace of the advance as the bulge created in the area between Smolensk, Velikie Luki and Novgorod must be dealt with before any attempt towards Leningrad takes place. Because of this development 18.Armee will continue to advance towards Talin and 16.Armee will swing East to block the Soviet forces in the area around Velikie Luki. For this close cooperation with Heeresgruppe Mitte will be required.

[center][/center]

[center][/center]
[center]Pskov's city centre after the expulsion of the Soviet garrison[/center]

Heeresgruppe Mitte

This week 2.Panzerarmee and 3.Panzerarmee managed to exploit the initial penetrations achieved earlier and drove deep into the rear of the Soviet defences along the Dnepr. 3.Panzerarmee faced fanatical resistance but after days of hard fighting managed to capture Vitebsk and secure the Land Bridge to the Dnepr. 2.Panzerarmee smashed through the Soviet defences in Rogachev and Zhlobin, crossed the Dnepr and achieved deep penetrations behind the enemy positions. SS-Inf.Div. mot. Das Reich and 10.Inf.Div. mot. reached the outskirts of Smolensk in the evening of 12 July, thus undermining the entire Soviet defensive positions in the area. Further west 3.Pz.Div. and 4.Pz.Div. captured Orsha and Liozno and linked with 14.Inf.Div. mot. closing the encirclement of the majority of Soviet troops defending the approaches to Smolensk at the Dnepr. The massive cauldron created contains 17 Rifle Divisions, 3 Mechanised Divisions and at least one Tank Division and it is expected to be reduced by the combined efforts of 9.Armee and 4.Armee within the next couple of days.

This massive encirclement has all but sealed the fate of Smolensk as it is impossible for the Soviets to mount any type of effective defence of the city. We expect to capture Smolensk within the next few days. Despite this critical success there are two urgent matters that Heeresgruppe Mitte has to deal with in the next couple of weeks, namely the massed Soviet formations on its flanks. North of Smolensk Soviet troops are massing in the area around Velikie Luki and it will require the combined efforts of 9.Armee and 16.Armee to dislodge them. OKW is already drawing plans for an operation and we expect to start putting things in motion next week.

Further south large numbers of Soviet troops are massing in the Pripyat region and although their position is ultimately unattainable due to our advances in the areas of Kiev and Domanovichi they also have to be dealt with. OKW together with 1.Panzerarmee are already working on a provisional plan to isolate these units and destroy them, but no decision has been taken so far.


[center][/center]

[center][/center]
[center]Artillerie-Regiment 14 (mot.) of 14.Inf.Div. mot. engaged in fierce fighting in Vitebsk[/center]

Heeresgruppe Süd

This week our Hungarian and Slovakian allies with support from 17.Armee managed to reduce the massive cauldron created in the area around Lvov. Some Red Army units are still putting fierce resistance but we expect to clear the area within the next couple of days. Further North 6.Armee has cleared the Pripyat area and advances in more suitable ground. This week 1.Panzerarmee has conducted what can only be considered textbook Bewegungskrieg operations slicing through the Soviet defences and isolating 4 enemy Infantry Divisions and one Tank Division. This small Kessel although important as it managed to isolate Zhitomir and cut-off the Soviet forces south of Uzh from the massed formations in the Pripyat area is not the most notable achievement of the battle fought. III Pz.Kps and XIV Pz.Kps in close cooperation performed a reversed front operation that lead to the aforementioned encirclement, the capture of Zhitomir, Novogrod-Volynsky, Brusilov and Kiev by 16.Inf.Div. mot. Simultaneously XXXXVIII Pz.Kps. widened the gap and protected the flanks of III Pz.Kps completing the Kessel and pushing the remined of the Soviet forces in the area behind the Dnepr.

Further South 11.Armee and 4.Rum.Armee continued the advance and have managed to cross the Dnestr in multiple locations.

[center][/center]

[center][/center]
[center]Sentry on the bell tower of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra immediately after the capture of the city. St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery and the burning Yevheniya Bosh Bridge are also visible[/center]

Operational Summary

During last week we have suffered 31,042 casualties (15,347 killed, 20 captured and 15,675 disabled), lost 470 guns and 167 AFVs. The Soviets have suffered 398,896 casualties (28,111 dead, 238,202 captured and 87,583 disabled), lost 7,558 guns , 1,569 AFVs and 414 aircrafts. In total so far in the campaign we have suffered 69,087 casualties (37,171 dead) and lost 1,269 guns, 310 AFVs and 161 airplanes, while the Soviets have suffered 1,100,374 casualties (147,326 dead and 696,207 captured) and lost 20,972 guns, 5,569 AFVs and 3,858 airplanes. These losses are truly crippling for the Soviets and OKW is convinced that they will find it very difficult to acquire the resources needed to continue the fight in the near future. Despite our undoubtable success we can see that we have achieved an average of 1:10 kill ratio in both land and air (taking into consideration the men killed) that is very advantageous to us. Nevertheless we can see that Soviet resistance is stiffening, something that can be seen by the increasing casualties we are suffering, especially in the number of men killed that it is increasing alarmingly every week. This is a further indication that we must bring forward the encirclement of large formations of the Red Army and destroy it in a series of Kesselschlachten as soon as possible and definitely before our losses reach unacceptable levels.

[center][/center]
[center]Evacuation of injured personnel after the battles around Zhitomir[/center]

Strategic Situation

Overall the strategic situation is unaltered with the frontlines firmly established in Cyrenaica. 5.Jg.Inf.Div. together with the Italian 102ª Divisione Fanteria Trento have isolated Tobruk and continue with the siege. The situation for the Deutsches Afrikakorps is far from ideal as our supply convoys are continuously attacked by the Royal Navy and (to a lesser extent) the RAF from bases in Malta. On 5 July Royal Navy Torpedo planes sunk an Italian Destroyer outside Tobruk. Probably the most important development of the week is the announcement that Britain and the USSR signed a mutual defence agreement on 8 July, promising not to sign any form of separate peace agreement with Germany. How much of an effect this will have on our struggle remains to be seen but OKW is convinced that we can manage to kick the USSR out of the war within the next two months.

[center][/center]
[center]PzKpfw II of 8.Pz.R. of 15.Pz.Div. preparing defensive position in Sollum[/center]

ORIGINAL: Repsol

Like others already have mentioned this is well presented AAR ! Will be intresting.
One thing though...If you are not totally against it would you considder to toggle the - show enemy hexes ON -
It will make it somewhat easier to follow the overall map situation i belive.

Thank you for the feedback. I really appreciate it. I have included a red dotted line indicating the extent of the Soviet positions on the map. Is this working for you or you still prefer the hex-on option as it comes from the game?

ORIGINAL: sval062

We can also see prisoners in this picture (the right part of the road)
Nice AAR [&o]

Indeed! I haven't realised it until you pointed it out [:)]

Thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate it [:)]

[center]Turn 4: 14-20 July 1941
[/center]
[center]Planning Operation Friedrich
[/center]

[center][/center]
[center]General der Panzertruppe Heinz Guderian (Oberbefehlshaber Panzergruppe 2) and his staff are discussing Operation Friedrich[/center]

The capture of Kyiv and the isolation of the Soviet troops in the approaches to Smolensk have created a very advantageous strategic situation for the Wehrmacht. Smolensk is currently besieged by SS-Inf.Div. mot. Das Reich and 10.Inf.Div. mot. while approximately 21 Soviet Divisions (190,000 men) with 500 tanks have been isolated on the western bank of the Dnepr. This massive cauldron needs to be reduced by the combined efforts of 4.Armee and 9.Armee while 2.Panzerarmee and 3.Panzerarmee will occupy Smolensk, and stop the Soviet forces from crossing both the Dnepr and Sozh.

Further South III Pz.Kps and XIV Pz.Kps have managed to create a wedge between 12th, 18th and 26th Soviet Armies, still in the Pripyat area, and the 6th, 24th and 29th Armies that have managed to retreat behind the Dnepr blocking the road to Kharkov and Dnepropetrovsk. This wedge has created the possibility for the creation of a new Kessel in the Pripyat area where we can potentially isolate at least 24 Soviet Divisions (216,000 men) and 200 tanks.

During the last few days discussions involving OKW, General der Panzertruppe Heinz Guderian (Oberbefehlshaber Panzergruppe 2), Generaloberst Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist (Oberbefehlshaber Panzergruppe 1) and Generalfeldmarschall Günther von Kluge (Oberbefehlshaber 4.Armee) have led to the outlying guidelines for Operation Friedrich, namely the capture of Smolensk and the elimination of all Soviet forces west of the Dnepr and in the Pripyat Area.

[center][/center]

LVI Pz.Kps and XXXXVI Pz.Kps will advance along the Dnepr Land Bridge and occupy Smolensk, while simultaneously 9.Armee will initiate the elimination of the Soviet forces west of the Dnepr. 2.Panzerarmee will guard the approaches to the East bank of the Dnepr and conduct probing attacks along the Sozh aiming to check any potential Soviet relief effort. XXXXII AK will bypass the cauldron and drive towards Sozh assisting of 2.Panzerarmee by providing infantry support. It is expected that this combined force will manage to deter any Soviet effort to relieve the trapped forces west of Dnepr.

XII AK, XIII AK and IX AK will move south towards Gomel, Chernigov and Nedanchichi positioning themselves between 12th and 6th Soviet Armies.

[center][/center]
[center]LVI Pz.Kps units are gathering in their forward area prior to the initiation of Operation Friedrich[/center]

III Pz.Kps and XIV Pz.Kps will drive north aiming to link with IX AK and thus closing the encirclement isolating the mass of Soviet forces in the Pripyat Area. XXXXVIII Pz.Kps will cover the approaches to the Dnepr east of Kyiv thwarting any enemy attempt to relieve the Soviet forces in the Pripyat.

[center][/center]
[center]1./SS-Aufk.Abt. of Inf.Div. mot. Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler moving towards their jump-off areas in preparation of Operation Friedrich[/center]

Operation Friedrich is vital for the stabilisation of the whole front as it has the potential to eliminate approximately 45 Soviet Divisions totalling 400,000 men. These losses are expected to be crippling to the Red Army and can create the possibility for a simultaneous drive towards Moscow and Kharkov, thus limiting the defensive capabilities of the enemy.

Further encirclements in the region around Velikie Luki have been considered but OKW has deemed the capture of Smolensk and securing the Land Bridge on the Dnepr of higher priority as it keeps the road to Moscow open for our advancing troops.

[center][/center]
[center]Preparatory artillery bombardment has been used to reduce the fighting capability of the encircled Soviets[/center]

ORIGINAL: melnibonian

ORIGINAL: Repsol

Like others already have mentioned this is well presented AAR ! Will be intresting.
One thing though...If you are not totally against it would you considder to toggle the - show enemy hexes ON -
It will make it somewhat easier to follow the overall map situation i belive.

Thank you for the feedback. I really appreciate it. I have included a red dotted line indicating the extent of the Soviet positions on the map. Is this working for you or you still prefer the hex-on option as it comes from the game?

The dotted lines works very well ! [:)]
Thanks !