Fetterkrolle (Axis) VS Bear1888 (Soviets) Bitter End Scenario

[Fetterkrolle]

This is the first time I have ever done an AAR and since I have read many here on the forums I would like to try to make my own. I have played 6-7 1v1 games which have all ended on turn 13 or earlier, but I think this will go on longer since Bear already have other games that are in 43. I am by no means an expert in this game. I would consider myself to be leaving the beginner faze and entering the early intermediate stages. I think my opponent is around the same level if not better, atleast this is what I think after currently having played 8 turns against him.

The scenario we are playing is Bitter end, with normal blizzard no bonus. Weather is also set to historical and we are using better CV.

My plans in 41 is fairly simple.
1. I want to destroy as many Soviet units as possible which will idealy leave him weak in the blizzard and potentialy in 42
2. Leningrad is the main objective geographical objective. The plan is to take Leningrad as soon as possible so the Finns will join the war proparly which in turn means more german forces can be shifted south. Pluss there is plenty of industry and manpower production there.
3. Moscow is my secondary objective and there is no disaster if it does not fall in 41. But having it would make it easier to focus my mobileforces in one place in 42.
4. AGS is to me the least important theater. I will try to go for Sevastopol since it has some extra VPs and it will leave my flank secure. Other than that the Ukrainian stepes is a nice place to kill units so I hope I can catch a lot down there.

I hope you will enjoy reading this and please feel free to comment on anything. Especially if there are things I can improve in my AAR and in my gameplay.

[Telemecus]

Best of luck.

Getting Leningrad quick could indeed be the key to getting to Moscow anyway. I think Sevastopol is only 4 VPs? So might not be worth making too big an effort for it.

+1

[Fetterkrolle]

You are correct it's not a lot of VP's. But from reading AARs it seems almost impossible to take it in 42 so would like to go for it while it is still possible.

[Fetterkrolle]

AGN captures Riga and all the other ports in the area which will ensure that the units that are traped can be destroyed next turn. 1 corps from 3rd Panzergroup is also sent North to help. They did not do a lot this turn, but they are sent North to help on the push towards Leningrad. The FBD that starts around Brest Litovsk is also sent to this theater as it can get quicker to Moscow from this position.

[Fetterkrolle]

For AGC it's just the standard pocket. I can't push all the way to Minsk as it would leave the pocket vunerable to being opened. Most of the 2nd Panzergroup is sent South to capture more soviets, which leaves some holes in the pocket but so far I have done the same opening 3 times (this being the third) and the two other times all pockets have held.

[Fetterkrolle]

With the help from Panzers from 2nd Panzergroup, AGS is able to pocket a lot of soviets forces. 2 divisions are sent into to edges of the swamp and should still be able to get easily out of there next turn. I will only leave light forces and rumanians to clean up the main Lvov pocket. The rest marches east towards the Dnepr. Most of the AP's were saved this turn to use HQBU's later, I spent a few on reorganizing forces and moving the siegeguns away from the field. Günther von Kluge was also put in charge of OKH.

[xhoel]

Will be following this AAR. Best of luck to you!

Sevastopol brings 8 points per turn (4 during your turn and 4 during the Soviet one) but the advantage of having it, is that you don't really have to worry about Soviet naval landings behind your lines. With that being said, I would advise you to not make that your main target, unless you are ready to commit a lot of resources as well as a FBD.

[Telemecus]

ORIGINAL: Fetterkrolle
Günther von Kluge was also put in charge of OKH.

I guess we have to ask the "Jodl" question [:D]

Who replaced von Kluge at 4th army?

[Fetterkrolle]

Losses are relativly light this turn, but they will quickly increase as the pockets are cleaned up. I forgot to take a screenshot of the airlosses so a turn two screenshot will be provided later.

[Fetterkrolle]

I might have made it sound like Sevastopol is my main goal in AGS, but it is not. I just wanted to state that I will actualy go for it instead of just holding the entrances to Crimea. I will be happy with AGS if I can get a straight line for the winter defense that atleast include the Stalino area. Rostov would be a nice bonus aswell as Sevastopol.

[Fetterkrolle]

I don't remember actualy. But I was happy it was not Jodl or Model. Jodl being in my politest words, not the best general and Model will be used in corp command later.

[xhoel]

ORIGINAL: Fetterkrolle

I might have made it sound like Sevastopol is my main goal in AGS, but it is not. I just wanted to state that I will actualy go for it instead of just holding the entrances to Crimea. I will be happy with AGS if I can get a straight line for the winter defense that atleast include the Stalino area. Rostov would be a nice bonus aswell as Sevastopol.

That is good to hear and in my opinion, breaking in the Crimea is the right choice since southern Crimea only has 4-5 turns of Blizzard and you can hold there without any problems. One less sector to worry about when the Soviets start attacking. I did the same in my AAR (held the Crimea with only 1 Corps) and was very pleased with the results, so I can only recommend it!

[Elessar2]

ORIGINAL: Fetterkrolle

I don't remember actualy. But I was happy it was not Jodl or Model. Jodl being in my politest words, not the best general and Model will be used in corp command later.

My Fuhrer, I object to your impolite words!

[Fetterkrolle]

Turn 2 is underway and there is always that scary feeling when you open the turn where you pray that your pockets held.

In my AAR I will be posting pictures from the whole front when the turn was opened and after that I will be posting what I plan to do and the results. I have seen others doing it front by front, so please let me know if my format does not work well for an AAR.

To start things of I will post a screenshot of the airlosses which I took when I opened my turn. My opponent had done no air operations and put his entire airforce in reserve so the numbers are not to far from what they were on turn 1.

[Fetterkrolle]

Everything looks good in AGN. Panzers are mostly left unchecked and they have good MPs. My pockets seem to have been tight enough and the infantry is ready to start cleaning up the Soviet formations traped in the Baltic nations.

[Fetterkrolle]

Things further South did not go as expected. In AGC the soviets have managed to open the pocket which will greatly slow down my infantry from heading further East. It would seem that one of the infantry formations that were routed into the marshes last turn got out of routed mode and was able to help reconnecting traped soviet troops. This surprised me a lot as I have never had my Center pocket broken before. But It will not change much, the units are still dead they will only suffer in the pocket a bit longer[;)]

[Fetterkrolle]

The pocket near Brest Litovsk held and it will be cleaned up in 1 turn as these units will be in the way if I let them linger in my rear.

[Fetterkrolle]

The classic Lvov pocket has done its job. The cleanup will take several weeks and will be mostly left to light german forces aswell as axis minor powers.

[Fetterkrolle]

Pskov looks lightly defended which I found amazing. It looked like it was possible to take the city on turn 2. My plan was very simple, go for the hex West of Pskov. then hit the one North West of Pskov and finaly Pskov itself. Normaly this would leave 4th Pz group way to exposed as axis infantry can't be by Pskov before turn 3 or 4. But since I am using parts of 3rd Pz group they will help guard the flank.

[Fetterkrolle]

I was able to cross the river, but the attack on pskov itself failed. Still this is a sucsess as his Pskov defense is allready breached and it will not be safe to stay in the area for much longer.