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The game is unfairly balanced against the USSR. Example described below, from my last game.

Turn 69, Feb '42, Soviet Winter occurred 2 turns earlier on Jan. 2nd '42. German National and Unit morale are both high, 90+% or so, Soviet National and Unit Morale are 80% or so. All units described below are under HQ Command.

a German 10 HP +2 Core advances next to Moscow (supply 4/5).

4 10 HP +2 USSR Armies, a 10 HP +1 Heavy Tank and a 10 HP Tactical Bomber (supply 8/9) counterattack killing it, but the Heavy tank is down to 6 HP.

Turn 70, a German 10 HP +3 Tank kills the damaged USSR Heavy Tank in Moscow. The German 10 HP +2 Africa Korps Reconnaissance unit enters Moscow.

4 10 HP +2 USSR Armies, a 10 HP +1 Heavy Tank (new), a 10 HP +1 Tank, a 6 HP Tactical Bomber and 3 10 HP +1 Fighters counterattack the Reconnaissance unit (which is for some reason in supply 9, when the Tank behind it is 5) and survives the attack with 4 hp left.

That is @#$% up. Other than maybe the Italians and minors, no other country's units are so inept. If the USSR cannot perform any type of counterattack winter of '42, right after first winter and adjacent to Moscow, the Eastern Front is a joke.

I will not play your game again until this issue is addressed.

Thank you

How many HQs do you have commanding the Soviet forces mentioned?

Two HQs are in the Moscow area providing command to the units mentioned

National Morale can also have major impact.
If Germany > 110% they're getting a big bonus. (like +10%)
If USSR < 75%, they're taking a hit (like -20%).

That can make for a significant delta in the calculations.

Thank you for the reply.

The idea that morale can surpass 100% is humanly impossible and I have posted previously on this aspect of the game. Making units superhuman, which yes is a large part of the problem.

The other, is why was the unit in 9 supply? I don't believe any other Capital City provides this level of supply to a capturing unit the turn after it was taken. Maybe I don't understand the supply rules correctly. I guess I would have to retest German units taking Paris or something similar.

The very idea that a garrison on wheels (aka the Afrika Korps Reconnaissance) can actually defend Moscow in the heart of the USSR defenses and survive multiple armies, air and tank assaults is totally unrealistic, and the very reason for the post in the first place. I have never seen such a unit withstand what was thrown at it.

Unit supply is boosted by HQs, which could explain the supply value of 9.

This does sound intriguing, and it would be useful to know the relative unit morale and readiness values of your units versus the German units.

I should have recorded it, I just couldn't imagine losing this battle before I started it. As it played out, it got even more unreal. To the point of total stupidity.

German National and Unit morale where both high, 90+% or so, Soviet National and Unit Morale are 80% or so. Even if the Germans were 100% and the Soviets 50%, they should not have lost that battle. The odds based upon just equipment and manpower alone must have been 20 to 1 or > in favor of the USSR.

The entire Afrika Korps had about 33,500 men in total. The Reconnaissance unit would only make up a small percentage of that 33,500. Maybe 300 armor cars and 200 motorcycles? with 3,000 men? The One USSR army alone is 40,000+?

Your morale calculations don't take into account the sheer determination the USSR would have had to recapture their capital. Or the fact that morale is boosted by support, the bulk of the USSR army was within a 500-mile radius of Moscow.

Nor does the game account for any intrinsic defense a capital city would have based on a population of approximately 4.13 million.

The Reconnaissance unit is in supply 9, when the Tank behind it is 5? A German HQ further from the Reconnaissance unit than the Tank would not account for that. The supply was clearly given by Moscow for some reason.

It would not be that difficult to recreate a similar scenario in your sandbox and see it for yourself.

The game is also on your Play By Email Server, you should be able to load it (Challenge ID 512204) dated 2026-04-24 22:45. and even rewind it to the battles in question. The game was surrendered the German turn after the attacks discussed in my post.

Judgementday wrote: Mon Apr 27, 2026 4:01 pm Thank you for the reply.

The idea that morale can surpass 100% is humanly impossible and I have posted previously on this aspect of the game. Making units superhuman, which yes is a large part of the problem.

The other, is why was the unit in 9 supply? I don't believe any other Capital City provides this level of supply to a capturing unit the turn after it was taken. Maybe I don't understand the supply rules correctly. I guess I would have to retest German units taking Paris or something similar.

The very idea that a garrison on wheels (aka the Afrika Korps Reconnaissance) can actually defend Moscow in the heart of the USSR defenses and survive multiple armies, air and tank assaults is totally unrealistic, and the very reason for the post in the first place. I have never seen such a unit withstand what was thrown at it.

tanks are not well suited for attacking cities. The defender gets a double bonus vs tanks, especially in a Major Capital. Add to that the winter attack penalty, the fact that German generals probably have 3 experience stars and a higher level, and you might get your situation.

Russia is actually quite strong and can defend Moscow without problems in most games, unless maybe Germany throws its entire strength at only Moscow. But it does require a lot of experience.

Try to read some AARs or some of the many threads discussing strategies to defend Russia. I think you'll do better next time.

I think the Nazis' mistake was crashing into Moscow. If they had conquered the Caucasus or Leningrad, Moscow would never have fallen. I'm not going for the center because the AI ​​defends Moscow above all else. I conquered Turkey for the Italians along with Greece.

Kaucaso

The situation in England when the USSR surrenders will be a matter of time