Kharkov 1942: Anatomy of a Military Disaster Through Soviet Eyes

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

Despite an efficiency of 72%, the 25th Tank will be engaged in a fourth attack this turn. Rokossovsky has no other choice.

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

The 26th Air Army that was holding in reserve until now is ordered to bombard the German XVI Mot Corps.

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

A first attack is done at 2:1.

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

To our surprise, the armored corps retreats after this first fight.

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

Rokossovsky smiles for the first time in many weeks. The 1st SS Panzer Corps is now exposed to the revenge of the Red army.

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

The 2nd Shock Army is not in position to do anything. With a strength of 6/36, I am sending it to Boguchar city for refit.

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

Instead, the 2nd Red Banner Army is moving into position.

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

The 15th Cavalry Corps is also arriving.

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

And this is the turn of the 35th Army to move.

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

The trap is ready and the first assault is done at 3:1.

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

Timoshenko is in charge of command. The defender's losses are greater than ours.

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

Next attempt is done at 6:1.

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

And, I have captured the wrong column. The Last instead of the Current one, my fault. So, the end result is that the 1st Panzer Corps has disappeared.

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

So, I don't know the end of the 1st SS Panzer Corps. Has it been destroyed? Did he actually retreat and survive?
I will never know.

But, it is now time to build a new defensive line for the next German attack. The 1st Shock Army is called in.

[ncc1701e]

August 14th, 1942:

The defensive line is reorganized as follow. I am not sure we are ready for another assault, but the Panzerwaffe has been reduced by at least one third we think:
1. One Mechanized corps destroyed,
2. Two Armored corps destroyed,
3. Two Armored corps damaged.

[ncc1701e]

August 28th, 1942:

Luckily for us, the German assault is over. The German armored corps are withdrawing behind a shield of Hungarian Infantry Corps. However we lost the city of Kharkov.

It is time to heal our wounds and rebuild our units that suffered a lot during these attacks.

As my opponent said, the attrition battle is not yet over...

[RoadWarrior]

Nice AAR.

Fun game so far.

Hopefully the summer of 43 is as fun as 42

[ncc1701e]

Thanks, fun game for me too. I am building like hell now for 1943... [;)]

[RoadWarrior]

Thanks for game!!

[ncc1701e]

Thanks a lot !!! My longest game so far. I was so happy to stop the Germans on the eastern front. After, your defense was strong. I still think there is something missing with Russians that can't attack during winter turns.

Thanks again for this good game. Rematch whenever you want. [;)]