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Hello everyone,

I have a question about how to conduct the Bialystok–Minsk pocket, and more generally about how to handle pockets in War in the East 2.

As I understand it, during Turn 1 of the Grand Campaign, the Bialystok–Minsk pocket should be created, and then fully closed on Turn 2.

The image illustrates the operation: the red arrows show the movement paths of the panzer units, while the green line represents the infantry that will eventually move forward to close the pocket.
My question is: when exactly should the infantry move?

Coming from Hearts of Iron, my instinct is to create the encirclement with the mobile units first and then move the infantry forward to close the pocket. However, I understand that War in the East 2 works differently, with infantry generally being used to create gaps that the panzer formations then exploit.

I'm having trouble understanding how this principle applies when the objective is to create a large pocket. In this particular situation, if I move the infantry along the green line during Turn 1, some Soviet units may retreat outside the area that can be reached by the panzer formations shown by the red arrows. This could result in fewer units being encircled. At the same time, I would be spending infantry strength attacking Soviet units that I expect to be isolated and significantly weaker on the following turn anyway.

So, what is the correct approach here, both for this pocket and in general?

Should the infantry advance during Turn 1?
Should I wait until the pocket is closed before moving the infantry forward?
Should I advance only enough infantry to secure the supply lines to the panzer formations, while leaving the rest in place?
Or is there another approach that experienced players generally use?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I'd say that there are essentially 4 different tasks that you might assign an infantry unit when making a pocket.

1) Maintaining the Western and North/Southwestern sides of the pocket (when playing Axis). These are the troops that are protecting your own rear areas and which will likely play the major role in destroying the pocketed troops on the next turn or two. You are correct to say that you don't want to be making attacks with these units on the first turn.

2) Carrying out the main attacks to make a breach in the enemy front line that you can push your mobile units through.

3) Attacking enemy units that might be sitting behind the main front line to clear the way for the following mobile units

4) Following the mobile troops through the breach in the line and as far forward as possible - assisting with the formation of the North/Southeastern sides of the pocket and making as much progress as possible in the wake of the mobile units to support them in subsequent turns.

Hope that is helpful and answers your main question?

As an aside there are quite a few intricacies of the specific rules on T1 (particularly relating to combat delay) that are important to review and keep in mind in order to make the best progress your goals on T1. In this case you need to be taking Minsk and properly closing the pocket (this does not necessarily mean an unbroken line of troops but any gaps need to be protected by converted hexes and zone of control to ensure that nothing can get in or out of the pocket and remove the isolation penalties for the whole pocket for the next turn)

hey Atlas27, check this out:
https://www.loc.gov/item/map51000141/

Der Feldzug gegen Sowjet-Russland : Band I.
Operationen Sommer-Herbst 1941 vom 21. Juni-6. Dezember 1941

have a look at the first few pages and display as slide/animation for your area of interest -
this should give a good idea of the flow of battle in the first two weeks of the invasion.
(remember, one turn = 7 days. )

enjoy!