Defending Greater Germania 1942 - Includes combined WitW and WitE2 AARs

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Eastern Front
Situation Report June 1st 1944 Turn 81
Army Group North

Operation Fischreiher II
Week 3


After a brief pause 8th Armee recommences its drive in the Northern Kazan region with X and XXXVIII ArmeeKorps capturing the towns of Sharya, Vetluga and Shakhunya despite bad weather hampering operations, enemy opposition is non existent as 2nd Belorussian Front has virtually ceased to exist.

AGN 81.jpg (871.49 KiB) Viewed 432 times

While the advance in the far North continues the Soviets offer some resistance Northeast of Semenov as the 1st Rifle Corps offers token defence against the 16th Armee advancing across The Vetluga river towards Yoshkar - Ola, there resistance is short as the unit is surrounded.

Further South 4th Armee begins to clear enemy units trapped in and around Saransk then pushes forward towards The Volga, Walther Graessner ( XII ArmeeKorps ) captures Adrin 30 miles from Cheboksary, the rest of the Armee advances on a wide front towards another key objective, the city of Ulyanovsk.

AGN 81a.jpg (962.26 KiB) Viewed 432 times

Battles 81.jpg (159.34 KiB) Viewed 432 times

Battles 81a.jpg (172.34 KiB) Viewed 432 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report June 1st 1944 Turn 81
Army Group Centre

Operation Fischreiher II
Week 3

With the situation stable at Saransk Cloessner now turns his attention to Syzran, LIII ArmeeKorps takes Inza but its slow going as General Kirchner's LVII Pz Korps is still refitting over 200 miles away in the Tambov area, General Von Der Chevallerie's troops on the right flank also moving at the slow pace, terrain hampering a rapid movement through the wooded region.
On 3rd Pz Armee's right flank XXX and VI SS Latv ArmeeKorps ( 2nd Armee ) forward units having reached the banks of The Volga begin to fortify there positions.

AGC 81.jpg (874.78 KiB) Viewed 430 times

As the bulk of 2nd Armee reaches its objectives, Salmuth's forces begin to deploy defensively to prevent any enemy troops trapped in areas escape or any counterattacks by Red Army reinforcements.
9th Armee units now begin the destruction of enemy along The Tersa river while XIII and XXIII ArmeeKorps maintain there drive to Lugovaya 60 miles North of Stalingrad, the cutoff forces attempt to breakout but fail to reach there own lines and surrender.

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Battles 81b.jpg (131.23 KiB) Viewed 430 times

FM Von Kluge being briefed about 9th Amee operations

FM Von Kluge.jpg (137.25 KiB) Viewed 430 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report June 1st 1944 Turn 81
OKH Army Group

Operation Fischreiher II
Week 3
The Rostov Salient

Trapped in three large pockets Axis forces prepare to advance forward, the Red Army is to be forced back into smaller pockets, FM Von Manstein orders his forces to begin an all out artillery bombardment followed by Inf and Amour assaults, enemy units are squeezed into containable areas, Soviet troops begin to surrender en masse, almost 135,000 men throw down there arms unwilling to fight, Soviet 6th, 11th Guards and 1st Guards Tank Army's are overrun only the 13th and 18th Army's refuse to surrender and continue to fight.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9KlBDB ... WL&index=6

The Destruction of Soviet forces in The Donbas

OKH 81.jpg (928.05 KiB) Viewed 428 times

Battles 81d.jpg (156.85 KiB) Viewed 428 times

Production 81.jpg (385.8 KiB) Viewed 428 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report June 1st 1944 Turn 81
Army Group South / Army Group A

Operation Fischreiher II
Week 3
The Rostov Salient


With the encirclement of just about all of 2nd Ukrainian Front in the salient and the capture of Stalingrad this seems the end of the remnants of The Red Army, 4th Pz Armee moves to consolidate the Axis positions along The Volga sealing the fate of the enemy garrison defending the southern suburbs of Stalingrad, as Hoth's Armee completes the encirclement of the city 6th and 18th Armee's move to link up with 17th and 1st Pz Armee to trap Red Army units of 4th Ukrainian Front cutting off an estimated 100,000 men from 22nd, 31st, 42nd and 44th Army's.

AGS 81.jpg (756.81 KiB) Viewed 427 times

Battles 81f.jpg (163.81 KiB) Viewed 427 times

OB 81.jpg (307.45 KiB) Viewed 427 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report June 1st 1944 Turn 81
Army Group A

Operation Fischreiher II
Week 3

While the capture of Stalingrad has been a major boost to The Ostheer's morale, FM Von Kleist receives more good news Generaloberst Von Mackensen has reported that 3rd, 13th and 23rd Panzer Divisions are now ready for combat duties all three had been refitting at Lagan on the Caspian Sea coast and did not take part in the opening phase of the Spring Offensive, along with 24th Panzer Division the units push North encircling the Soviet 18th Tank Corps, leaving the Inf to maintain the pocket around the enemy Tank Corps the four units then advanced and captured the Port city of Astrakhan without opposition finally cutting off the Allied lend-lease from the Middle East route.
In the central sector of the operation 17th Armee advances towards Yusta and supports SS Wiking and the 11th SS Pz Gren as they move to link up with elements of 6th and 18th Armee's which are driving towards Cerny Yar, seven Red Army units including five Tank Corps are trapped along with the headquarters of the Soviet 22nd Army, only the 14th Tank Corps escapes the encirclement, 4th Ukrainian Front no longer exists as a fighting force.

Army Group A 81.jpg (785.48 KiB) Viewed 426 times

A Losses 81.jpg (388.64 KiB) Viewed 426 times

Losses 81.jpg (396.25 KiB) Viewed 426 times

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Western Front
Situation Report June 3rd 1944 Turn 49
Army Group B

The Allies continue there bombing campaign with The Ruhr region, Cologne, Duesseldorf attacked, enemy aircraft hitting Oil and Heavy Industry factories and the French coast the Ports Dunkirk, Calais and Boulogne housing V - Weapons sites, Luftwaffe units were out in numbers countering enemy raids and inflicting heavy losses.

Army Group B 49.jpg (777.36 KiB) Viewed 421 times

At Normandy the enemy concentrated its air units in another concerted effort to disrupt Vestheer forces on the front line, bombers also attack targets in Belgium, Northeast and Northwest France striking at airbases and communication centres as far as Troyes, Reims and Orleans, The French Capital also took damage as multiple raids bombed Rail centres and Military bases.

Army Group B 49a.jpg (799.06 KiB) Viewed 421 times

Air Battles WF 49.jpg (116.6 KiB) Viewed 421 times

Air Battles WF 49a.jpg (104.01 KiB) Viewed 421 times

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Mediterranean Front
Situation Report June 3rd 1944 Turn 49
Army Group C / Army Group F

In Italy Allied air attacks were centred on ground support enemy troops trying to break our defensive line, however the US 15th Air Force launched bombing raids on Rail centres at Terracina, Gaeta, Termoli and Pescara hoping to disrupt supply lines.
The enemy kept up its Observation flights over Central and Southern Italy forcing the bulk of our fighters defences to counter the raids in this sector.

Army Group C 49.jpg (707.3 KiB) Viewed 420 times

Air Battles IF 49.jpg (107.33 KiB) Viewed 420 times

In The Balkans US 15th Air force targeted Oil, Fuel and Heavy Industry facilities in Yugoslavia and Hungry, a number of centres were hit hard by the raids, the heavy damage will cause delays of war materials and vital fuel supplies to our forces.

Hungary.jpg (779.83 KiB) Viewed 420 times

Hungary 1.jpg (105.28 KiB) Viewed 420 times

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Italian Front
Situation Report June 3rd 1944 Turn 49
Army Group C

Allied Forces switch the bulk of there attacks towards 10th Armee as Straube and Feuerstein's ArmeeKorps come under heavy pressure as the Brit 8th Army launches several Armoured / Infantry assaults hoping to break the line during this week, ultimately all attacks are beaten back and Allies taking heavy losses.
While the main fighting was on the Adriatic Coast our forces on Vietinghoff's ( 10th Armee ) right flank did come under sustained attack.
In the Centre and South The Allies launched a number of Armoured attacks against Hube's Panzer troops but with a solid defence line and support from Anti Tank units the enemy attacks were contained.

Army Group C 49a.jpg (611.17 KiB) Viewed 417 times

Battles IF 49.jpg (143.63 KiB) Viewed 417 times

Battles IF 49a.jpg (151.29 KiB) Viewed 417 times

Battles IF 49b.jpg (151.62 KiB) Viewed 417 times

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Western Front
Situation Report June 3rd 1944 Turn 49
Army Group B

After the initial shock of The Allied assaults which had pushed back Axis forces from there coastal defence positions and the subsequent advance towards Rouen by The Brit 1st Corps, units from 7th and 15th Armee's along with the Panzer Reserve have arrived en masse, LXXVII Pz Korps ( Herr ) and LVIII Pz Korps ( Geyr Von Schweppenburg ) counterattack supported by Infantry from both Armee's the British are forced back to there beachhead positions.
Von Schweppenburg with support from elements of LXVI, LXXXI and LXXXII ArmeeKorps launches a second attack against enemy troops holding St - Valery - en - Caux the town falls forcing Allied troops to evacuate from this beachhead sector, the retaking of this Allied landing site raises the morale of the troops.
The Allies still control a large beachhead and launch numerous attacks to retake ground lost, in 7th Armee's sector there is heavy fighting as Herr's Panzer's clash with five Allied Corps 20 miles East of Le Harve, supported by XXV ArmeeKorps the enemy is beaten back, at St - Valery the Allies counterattack a number of times inflicting heavy losses on our troops but LVIII Pz Korps holds the town.
The German build up around the enemy beachhead continues as more troops arrive, front line units directly engaging enemy positions at the beachhead as well as the garrison at Le Harve report that Allied Naval forces protecting the landing sites are withdrawing.


The Brit 1st Corps under heavy assault

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P9WfsQ ... WL&index=4

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Battles WF 49b.jpg (141.13 KiB) Viewed 413 times

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Western Front / Mediterranean Front
Situation Report June 3rd 1944 Turn 49

Stats Reports

WITW Production 49.jpg (227.09 KiB) Viewed 412 times

WITW A Losses 49.jpg (198.45 KiB) Viewed 412 times

WITW Losses 49.jpg (193.38 KiB) Viewed 412 times

Combat 49.jpg (170.22 KiB) Viewed 412 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report June 8th 1944 Turn 82
Army Group North

Operation Fischreiher II
Week 4

8th Armee maintains its steady push Northeast towards Shabalino despite the tough terrain, a permanent supply line is yet to be established in the region so Axis forces rely on animal and truck transport to supply the advancing units.

AGN 82.jpg (1019.31 KiB) Viewed 273 times

On the right flank of Kempf's troops 16th Armee crosses The Vetluga River in force against no opposition and pushes towards Yoshkar - Ola which is defended by the Soviet 20th Army, after capturing Adrin General Graessner traps 9th Tank Corps the enemy unit unable to withdraw across The Volga allowing Joachim Von Kortzfleisch to drive forward and capture Cheboksary a major city in the region, XLIII ArmeeKorps also captures Kanashon on the Tsivil river, the Northern wing of 4th Armee is now only 70 mile from Kazan and Ulyanovsk on The Volga.

AGN 82a.jpg (786.7 KiB) Viewed 273 times

All but one enemy unit in the Saransk sector remains defiant II ArmeeKorps is deployed to deal with situation as now all of 4th Armee pushes East.

AGN 82b.jpg (751.24 KiB) Viewed 273 times

German FHO ( Foreign Armies East (German: Fremde Heere Ost ) operatives conducting operations ahead of our advancing forces have gathered Intel on a new Red Army Unit forming up at Ulyanovsk.

Pliev Cav Tank Army 82.jpg (63.22 KiB) Viewed 273 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report June 8th 1944 Turn 82
Army Group Centre

Operation Fischreiher II
Week 4

Advancing in some places over 50 miles the Infantry of 3rd Pz Armee push back the remnants of three Soviet Fronts while elements of 2nd Armee capture Volsk without firing a shot as enemy troops withdrew from our advancing troops.

AGC 82.jpg (670.24 KiB) Viewed 272 times

2nd Armee's main force now continues to consolidate and fortify along The Volga as elements of 9th Armee concentrate on destroying pocketed Red Army Units.

AGC 82a.jpg (646.15 KiB) Viewed 272 times

Further South the main force of Brandenbergers Armee secures the vital bridges along the river linking up with OKH Army Group and Army Group South.

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Battles 82b.jpg (156.4 KiB) Viewed 272 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report June 8th 1944 Turn 82
OKH Army Group / Army Group South


Operation Fischreiher II
Week 4
The Rostov Salient


In the Northern sector Hun 2nd Army and OKH forces destroy almost all the Soviet Tank units trapped between The Don and Khoper Rivers, only 2nd Tank Corps holds out refusing to surrender. With this pocket all but eliminated the bulk of the troops resume there drive East, LV ArmeeKorps already preparing to fortify its positions.

OKH 82.jpg (687.79 KiB) Viewed 271 times

Further South OKH forces together with 4th Pz Armee begin the destruction of the Soviet 13th and 18th Army's, both enemy formations are split into containable pockets and heavy assaults begin.

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Battles 82c.jpg (166.67 KiB) Viewed 271 times

Battles 82d.jpg (142.13 KiB) Viewed 271 times

With the success of the offensive all but assured FM Manstein now issues new orders that the OKH Army Group is now dissolved all component combat units will be attached to Army Group South and Army Group A to conduct the remainder of the operations, OKH will return to its overall strategic role on the Eastern Front, the Field Marshal moving his Headquarters back to Moscow.

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Eastern Front
Situation Report June 8th 1944 Turn 82
Army Group South / Army Group A

Operation Fischreiher II
Week 4

While part of 4th Pz Armee continues mopping up operations in The Donets basin the rest of the Armee along with units from 18th Armee begin the process of solidifying there control North of Stalingrad, South of the city two Soviet Tank Corps remain isolated by Infantry from 6th and 18th Armee's, preliminary reports indicate that an estimated 170 thousand enemy soldiers have surrendered this week in the various operations.

AGS 82.jpg (737.12 KiB) Viewed 267 times

Battles 82e.jpg (171.02 KiB) Viewed 267 times

Production 82.jpg (384.7 KiB) Viewed 267 times

Supply 82.jpg (357.26 KiB) Viewed 267 times

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Eastern Front
Situation Report June 8th 1944 Turn 82
Army Group A

Operation Fischreiher II
Week 4

4th Ukrainian Front's 22nd Army is virtually destroyed only 14th Tank Corps remains cutoff as Axis forces push forward to secure the Astrakhan / Baskunchak / Stalingrad rail network, 1st Pz Armee is ordered to form a defensive line running from the Caspian Sea port to Kharabali with 17th Armee to prepare fortifications on the left flank of the Pz Armee.

Army Group A 82.jpg (771.71 KiB) Viewed 266 times

Losses 82.jpg (394.5 KiB) Viewed 266 times

A Losses 82.jpg (388.06 KiB) Viewed 266 times

long range air recon units patrolling throughout the Kazakstan region and across the Caspian Sea have reported troop concentrations at the port city of Guriev, reports are also coming in from ground based intelligence units operating behind enemy lines that the Soviet Government is conscripting Polish soldiers that had surrendered to the Red Army during the 1939 polish Campaign.

Polish Army 82.jpg (60.29 KiB) Viewed 266 times

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Western Front
Situation Report June 10th 1944 Turn 50
Army Group B

With France now the main centre of attention both on the ground and in the air the Allies still maintained there bombing efforts in Northwestern Germany striking at cities on The Elbe and Trave rivers, Wuppertal is heavily bombed.
The German Capital was also struck by a raid of over 200 enemy bombers but damage was light, with weather turning bad again for the attackers.

Army Group B 50.jpg (795.43 KiB) Viewed 263 times

Air battles WF 50.jpg (101.98 KiB) Viewed 263 times

At Normandy enemy bombers continued to attack our ground forces in an effort to weaken our defence lines at the beachhead, Allied bombers were also active along the coast attacking Ports and Rail centres, forward airbases housing our fighter units also were targeted.
Over the beachheads there was fierce air to air battles as Luftwaffe units countered Allied air forces for control of skies while Hamburg and Bonn were struck by two massive raids of over 500 aircraft.

Army Group B 50a.jpg (831.48 KiB) Viewed 263 times

Air Battles WF 50a.jpg (114.29 KiB) Viewed 263 times

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Mediterranean Front
Situation Report June 10th 1944 Turn 50
Army Group C / Army Group F


In Italy intense air battles continue as Luftflotte 2 and Italian Luftwaffe Command engage in heavy fighting over The Ligurian Sea, the Allies also mount large scale recon flights across Central Italy, on the front line air battles continue to rage as both sides fight for air control.

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Air Battles IF 50.jpg (99.51 KiB) Viewed 262 times

In Rumania the enemy once again targets Oil and Heavy Industries in several cities, despite a heavy presence by Axis Allied air units the enemy did inflict considerable damage.

Army Group F 50.jpg (753.32 KiB) Viewed 262 times

Air Battles Balkans 50.jpg (90.38 KiB) Viewed 262 times

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Western Front
Situation Report June 10th 1944 Turn 50
Army Group G

Despite a possible threat of invasion along the coast of Southern France OKW orders Von Vaerst ( Army Group G ) to redeploy the 501st Heavy SS Panzer Battalion ( formerly 101st Heavy SS Panzer Battalion ) from 1st Armee to Normandy the unit will be attached to the I SS Panzer Korps which is also being redeployed to France from Northern Italy.
With reports of a possible collapse of the Allied beachhead all available forces that can be spared are being dispatched to Normandy.

Army Group G 50.jpg (897.78 KiB) Viewed 259 times

Captain Michael Wittmann's Tiger leads the 501st Heavy SS Panzer Battalion in there 6 day journey from LXII ArmeeKorps HQ west of Toulouse to Evreux.

Michael Wittmann 1.jpg (139.33 KiB) Viewed 259 times

Note

Nice touch by 2 by 3 Games and all involved in the production of WITW, while doing some research for the AAR on units in the scenario and in particular Whittmann's unit ( above ) I recognised the photo in the production page, a fitting screen shot for the game of the " Panzer Ace " in action.

Michael Wittmann.jpg (63.62 KiB) Viewed 259 times

WITW OB 50.jpg (145.69 KiB) Viewed 259 times

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Italian Front
Situation Report June 10th 1944 Turn 50
Army Group C

This week sees the Allies attacking 5th Pz Armee in force, heavy fighting for the coastal town of Grazzanise in the Gulf of Naples, Bradley's US II Corps launches repeated attacks against SS units holding the town , 20 miles inland four Allied Corps launch a number of huge armoured assaults at General Hube's troops defending south of Capua, despite being outnumbered Axis forces again thwart the enemy.
Further inland 14th Armee comes under sustained attack as the enemy tries to breakthrough and flank our defence line, Allied forces again fail to break our fortified positions with another armoured assault.
On the Adriatic side Brit 8th Army launches frontal assaults against defending forces on the Biferno river line, there are large scale Inf / Armoured attacks throughout the week against 10th Armee, but the attacks are held up forcing Montgomery to halt further operations and his Army falls back to there own lines.

Army Group C 50a.jpg (605.29 KiB) Viewed 257 times

Battles IF 50.jpg (125.21 KiB) Viewed 257 times

Battles IF 50a.jpg (147.12 KiB) Viewed 257 times

Battles IF 50b.jpg (138.34 KiB) Viewed 257 times

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Western Front
Situation Report June 10th 1944 Turn 50
Army Group B / Naval Group West

Operating from there Headquarters in Paris German Naval Intelligence Service (German: Marinenachrichtendienst [MND]) operators have broken Allied Naval codes detailing the Allied beachhead code names and confirming the withdrawal of a large part of the invasion fleet.

German Naval Officers Work To Break Allied Codes.jpg (70.52 KiB) Viewed 255 times

Normandy Beachhead.jpg (69.31 KiB) Viewed 255 times

Ground forces in forward positions and air units operating over the Beachhead also confirm reports that Allied transport planes are dropping supplies to Allied ground Forces at the landing site ( Utah beach )10 miles from Le Harve, coastal artillery units at the Port also report more enemy Naval vessels departing the landing site, this could be a sign the invasion is collapsing.

Air Battles WF 50 Air Supply .jpg (97.16 KiB) Viewed 255 times

Chief Of The Navy Admiral Wilhelm Canaris arrives at the Hôtel de la Marine ( Paris ) Headquarters of The Kriegsmarine for a briefing by top MND officers.

C-in-C OKM.jpg (41.69 KiB) Viewed 255 times