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Operation 'Peter and Paul', The Attack on Finland, Part III
September 23rd, 1939.
00:00 Field Marshal Tukhachevsky’s advancing 10th Army encounters 5 Divisions of Finnish Infantry (5th, 7th, 9th, Lapin Rhyma & 2nd Motorised) commanded by Lt. General Silasvuo at Kouvola.
18:00 Finnish forces at Kouvola break and retreat towards Helsinki. Despite reports of another Finnish force massing on his right flank, Tuhkachevsky again pushes his entire force onward towards Helsinki.
September 25th, 1939.
Maj. General Cherbatov is replaced as commander of Soviet 1st Corps by General Tolbukhin.
September 26th, 1939.
01:00 The Finnish 12th Infantry having suffered a 50% casualty rate retreat from Fiksel’s T-34 Division at Tikhvin.
06:00 In what would appear to be a late relief effort, Finnish Infantry led by Maj. General Fagernas assault Fiksel’s T-34’s at Tikhvin.
September 27th, 1939.
01:00 Fagernas’s Infantry Division retreats from Tikhvin.
September 28th, 1939.
13:00 Mannerheim’s force, last seen retreating from Tukhachevsky near Kajaani over three weeks ago, occupy the Soviet city of Kandalaksha, cutting off Murmansk.
September 29th, 1939.
20:00 In the first test of Soviet Air Power, the two squadrons of SB-2s escorted by 2 wings of I-16 Ratas are intercepted by a squadron of Finnish Fokker CX fighters en route to a bombing mission against defence works north of Helsinki. The Fokkers prove to be no match for the I-16’s and 20 are shot down. The Soviets suffered no losses.
October 3rd, 1939.
05:00 The re-inforced 1st Corps, now commanded by General Tolbukhin, renew their attack of the Finnish defenders on the approaches to Vyborg. The Finns field 6 almost fully manned infantry divisions, the almost daily attacks by Leningrad Air Command has affected their supplies, but not their morale.
October 4th, 1939.
While casualties increase from the bitter fighting in the Vyborg region, in the far north Mannerheim marches his forces to a position only 10 kilometres south of Kola. Signs of panic at the Stavka at fears of an Anglo-French landing in the far north.
October 6th, 1939.
Heavy fighting continues in the Vyborg region, poor weather hampers the British Naval bombardment, but also works against the attackers. Once again, the Soviet T-34’s are invulnerable to everything the Finns can throw at them, bar their heaviest field gun at point-blank range, but the well sited defences and the improvised roadblocks the Finns have painstakingly set up mean that the supporting Soviet Motorized Infantry suffer heavily.
October 8th, 1939.
06:00 Maj. General Primalov commanding Soviet 26th Motorised Infantry Division requests permission from General Tolbukhin to retreat to safety. His Division has suffered 85% casualties and has no ammunition or fuel. Tolbukhin commands him to ‘stand firm’ and then orders him to remove himself from command. Tolbukhin sends a staff officer, Maj. General Lipskov to take command. In an act of almost suicidal bravery Lipskov personally drives his staff car, laden with supplies, under heavy Finnish artillery and machine-gun fire to 26th Division HQ, and gets through unscathed.
October 9th, 1939.
08:00 At the second time of asking, and after more than a total of 10 days of fighting in the area, Soviet T-34s enter Vyborg. The remnants of the Finnish defenders retreat back towards their Capital, Helsinki.
Just as Tukhachevsky’s 10th Army are finalising their preparations to assault that same city.
September 23rd, 1939.
00:00 Field Marshal Tukhachevsky’s advancing 10th Army encounters 5 Divisions of Finnish Infantry (5th, 7th, 9th, Lapin Rhyma & 2nd Motorised) commanded by Lt. General Silasvuo at Kouvola.
18:00 Finnish forces at Kouvola break and retreat towards Helsinki. Despite reports of another Finnish force massing on his right flank, Tuhkachevsky again pushes his entire force onward towards Helsinki.
September 25th, 1939.
Maj. General Cherbatov is replaced as commander of Soviet 1st Corps by General Tolbukhin.
September 26th, 1939.
01:00 The Finnish 12th Infantry having suffered a 50% casualty rate retreat from Fiksel’s T-34 Division at Tikhvin.
06:00 In what would appear to be a late relief effort, Finnish Infantry led by Maj. General Fagernas assault Fiksel’s T-34’s at Tikhvin.
September 27th, 1939.
01:00 Fagernas’s Infantry Division retreats from Tikhvin.
September 28th, 1939.
13:00 Mannerheim’s force, last seen retreating from Tukhachevsky near Kajaani over three weeks ago, occupy the Soviet city of Kandalaksha, cutting off Murmansk.
September 29th, 1939.
20:00 In the first test of Soviet Air Power, the two squadrons of SB-2s escorted by 2 wings of I-16 Ratas are intercepted by a squadron of Finnish Fokker CX fighters en route to a bombing mission against defence works north of Helsinki. The Fokkers prove to be no match for the I-16’s and 20 are shot down. The Soviets suffered no losses.
October 3rd, 1939.
05:00 The re-inforced 1st Corps, now commanded by General Tolbukhin, renew their attack of the Finnish defenders on the approaches to Vyborg. The Finns field 6 almost fully manned infantry divisions, the almost daily attacks by Leningrad Air Command has affected their supplies, but not their morale.
October 4th, 1939.
While casualties increase from the bitter fighting in the Vyborg region, in the far north Mannerheim marches his forces to a position only 10 kilometres south of Kola. Signs of panic at the Stavka at fears of an Anglo-French landing in the far north.
October 6th, 1939.
Heavy fighting continues in the Vyborg region, poor weather hampers the British Naval bombardment, but also works against the attackers. Once again, the Soviet T-34’s are invulnerable to everything the Finns can throw at them, bar their heaviest field gun at point-blank range, but the well sited defences and the improvised roadblocks the Finns have painstakingly set up mean that the supporting Soviet Motorized Infantry suffer heavily.
October 8th, 1939.
06:00 Maj. General Primalov commanding Soviet 26th Motorised Infantry Division requests permission from General Tolbukhin to retreat to safety. His Division has suffered 85% casualties and has no ammunition or fuel. Tolbukhin commands him to ‘stand firm’ and then orders him to remove himself from command. Tolbukhin sends a staff officer, Maj. General Lipskov to take command. In an act of almost suicidal bravery Lipskov personally drives his staff car, laden with supplies, under heavy Finnish artillery and machine-gun fire to 26th Division HQ, and gets through unscathed.
October 9th, 1939.
08:00 At the second time of asking, and after more than a total of 10 days of fighting in the area, Soviet T-34s enter Vyborg. The remnants of the Finnish defenders retreat back towards their Capital, Helsinki.
Just as Tukhachevsky’s 10th Army are finalising their preparations to assault that same city.
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Operation 'Peter and Paul', The Attack on Finland, Part IV
October 10th, 1939.
08:00 Tukhachevsky’s 10th Army arrive on the outskirts of Helsinki. Lt. General Laatikainen commands the defences, 2 weakened infantry divisions.
13:00 Finnish resistance at Helsinki ends. After suffering heavy casualties, Laatikainen’s battered divisions retreat west towards Turku, declared as the new Finnsh Capital.
20:00 Disorganised Finnish troops retreating from Vyborg run into 10th Army at Helsinki. In 1 hour of fighting, the Finnish Divisions are further decimated before retreating toward Turku.
October 11th, 1939.
Soviet 1st Corps and Leningrad Air Command move to Helsinki. Further Air Combat over Helsinki destroys the remaining aircraft of the Finnish Fighter force.
October 14th, 1939.
22:00 Tukhachevsky’s forces reach the makeshift Finnish defences east of Turku. The heavily outnumbered Finns suffer horrific casualties (around 60%).
October 15th, 1939.
Commander of the Finnish Armed Forces, Field Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim
00:00 Mannerheim reaches Laatikainen by radio and orders him to cease fighting and surrender to the Soviets. The Finns, after nearly 2 months of fighting a numerically massively superior enemy have fought hard and well, but were no match in the end for the Red Army. Tukhachevshy’s 10th Army suffered a less than 10% casualty rate during their advance on Turku.
AFTERMATH
Despite the surrender of the Finns, large British and French battle fleets remained anchored off Leningrad and Murmansk respectively.
Finland ceded land around Leningrad to the Soviets and retreated to nurse her wounds.
The Soviets redeployed their experienced forces southward, where the Poles stared in rage and trepidation at the gathering storm.
October 10th, 1939.
08:00 Tukhachevsky’s 10th Army arrive on the outskirts of Helsinki. Lt. General Laatikainen commands the defences, 2 weakened infantry divisions.
13:00 Finnish resistance at Helsinki ends. After suffering heavy casualties, Laatikainen’s battered divisions retreat west towards Turku, declared as the new Finnsh Capital.
20:00 Disorganised Finnish troops retreating from Vyborg run into 10th Army at Helsinki. In 1 hour of fighting, the Finnish Divisions are further decimated before retreating toward Turku.
October 11th, 1939.
Soviet 1st Corps and Leningrad Air Command move to Helsinki. Further Air Combat over Helsinki destroys the remaining aircraft of the Finnish Fighter force.
October 14th, 1939.
22:00 Tukhachevsky’s forces reach the makeshift Finnish defences east of Turku. The heavily outnumbered Finns suffer horrific casualties (around 60%).
October 15th, 1939.
Commander of the Finnish Armed Forces, Field Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim
00:00 Mannerheim reaches Laatikainen by radio and orders him to cease fighting and surrender to the Soviets. The Finns, after nearly 2 months of fighting a numerically massively superior enemy have fought hard and well, but were no match in the end for the Red Army. Tukhachevshy’s 10th Army suffered a less than 10% casualty rate during their advance on Turku.
AFTERMATH
Despite the surrender of the Finns, large British and French battle fleets remained anchored off Leningrad and Murmansk respectively.
Finland ceded land around Leningrad to the Soviets and retreated to nurse her wounds.
The Soviets redeployed their experienced forces southward, where the Poles stared in rage and trepidation at the gathering storm.
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November 18th, 1939.
General Georgi Zhukov felt sick.
As the staff car trundled towards Tukhachevsky’s new HQ at Babryusk, Zhukov’s driver Piotr, looked at him in his rear-view mirror.
“Comrade General, should I slow down some more?”
“No Piotr, if we go any slower we’ll never get there. I’ll be fine, it’s just ’the treatment’ doing this to me.”
“The Comrade Field Marshal is still as thirsty as ever?” ventured Piotr, with a smile.
At this, the queasy Zhukov managed a laugh, “Yes Piotr, Tukhachevsky could still drink the Neva dry, if it flowed with Vodka. He has the constitution of an ox!”
’The Treatment’ was a method used by Russians to line their stomach before a serious bout of drinking. It involved eating around 500g of pure butter to line the stomach.
Zhukov was looking forward to seeing his old friend Mikhael Nikolayevich Tukhachevsky. Officially the meeting had been set up for senior Red Army officers to discuss findings from the war against the Finns, and while Zhukov was sure there would be some serious discussions to be had, he knew that Mikhael would use the excuse to crack open a few bottles.
As his car pulled up to Tukhachevsky’s compound, he noted that General Tolbukhin’s staff car was also there. This was good as Zhukov was keen to hear how the T34 tanks had fared in their first action, but Tolbukhin was another drinker and Zhukov knew he would suffer for the knowledge he would glean.
“Georgi!” roared Tukhachevksky as Zhukov entered. He rose from his seat and clasped his comrade in a bear-hug. “Come, sit down, you know Comrade General Tolbukhin already, I gather.” Tukhachevsky gestured toward the seated General. “So, Georgi, tell Fedor and myself what you’ve been up to.” he said with a grin.
“Well, Mikhael, while you and Fedor have been gallivanting round the Finnish forests and chasing tarts in Helsinki, I’ve been picking mosquitos out of my food in those awful marshes (Pripet Marshes). It’s been great fun, watching the Poles eating sausages through my field glasses for the last couple of months.”
At this, Field Marshal Tukhachevsky laughed uproariously. “Oh Georgi, it’s so good to know that the defences of the Motherland from the Polish hordes are in such good hands!”
“So Mikhael, when do we start the fight against the Poles, that’s what this is all about, isn’t it?”
General Fedor Tolbukhin interrupted at this moment. Pointing to some bottles of a golden liquid he said “No Georgi. This is what today is about.”
Zhukov looked at the bottles, he didn’t recognize the writing on the labels. “What is that, Fedor, whisky?”
“No. Even better. The Finns were allied with the French as well as the Brits, we intercepted some supplies from the people of the Third Republic, and here they are. Cognac, by all accounts damn fine Cognac too.”
“It IS good, gentlemen. Allow me to offer you a sharpener.” Tukhachevsky opened up a bottle and poured three generous measures.
After a few more ‘sharpeners’ and much joviality, the conversations meandered around to military and political matters.
“So Mikhael, why did we sign a deal with the Finns? Why didn’t we just take their damn silly country and make it Soviet? I don’t understand the reason for peace up there unless we immediately moved to attack the Poles, and we still haven’t.” asked Zhukov.
“Don’t worry, the time to deal with Pilsudski is close, our fight with the Finns is completely separate I assure you. While there’s no real fighting going on we can share knowledge about our experiences, all the better to crush the Poles nice and quick. We only needed to teach the Finns a lesson and to try out our new equipment. Fedor can tell you about the T-34, it’s a monster.”
Tolbukhin grinned sheepishly. “There’s no denying it’s a fine tank, but just because the Finns couldn’t stop it, didn’t mean they couldn’t slow it down.”
“What do you mean Fedor, I heard that it dominated the battlefield near Vyborg?”. Zhukov looked puzzled, and drunk.
“Well you could ask Comrade Cherbatov about that, if you can find him.” interjected Tukhachevsky with a wolfish smile.
Tolbukhin continued, “The tank itself is fine, it’s more how we use it that is of most importance. In the forests and lakes up towards Vyborg, the Finns could easily block the narrow trails with massively thick tree trunks. It took the engineers ages to clear them, often under fire. Those damn Finns were doing anything to block the roads, tying hand grenades to the trees to topple them, mortaring them at point-blank range. It was absolute hell up there. Our infantry casualties were terrible.”
Tukhachevsky poured yet another round of drinks. “You see Georgi, why we made peace with the swine. They are completely insane. They actually HATE us. I didn’t want to be chasing mad Finnish partisans across the forests all winter. I couldn’t think of a worse scenario at all. Plus with Mannerheim playing the fool near Murmansk, Stalin was getting shaky about the possibility of the British attempting landing in the far north. We needed to get them [the Finns] out of the way as quickly as possible and regain our freedom of movement.”
“The tank” interrupted Tolbukhin “is best used away from forests and swamps completely. The new divisions coming online with the half-tracks are an ideal accompaniment for a tank army. We could use them as spearheads to smash deep into enemy territory and disrupt their operations while the infantry deal with what’s left of the front.”
“So that’s the plan against Poland then?” asked Zhukov, growing unsteady. He could feel his head spinning and he desperately wanted to vomit.
“Yes, first Poland, then…..who knows?” laughed Tukhachevsky.
“Gentlemen, excuse me.” Zhukov got up from his seat and staggered towards the door. “I may be some time.” As the cold wintry air hit Zhukov outside Tukhachevsky’s HQ, he vomited spectacularly. As he dropped, shaking, to his knees, he was powerless to prevent himself from falling into the contents of his own stomach that he had just deposited. The last thought he had before his head hit the floor was “Oh no, another cleaning bill.”
General Georgi Zhukov felt sick.
As the staff car trundled towards Tukhachevsky’s new HQ at Babryusk, Zhukov’s driver Piotr, looked at him in his rear-view mirror.
“Comrade General, should I slow down some more?”
“No Piotr, if we go any slower we’ll never get there. I’ll be fine, it’s just ’the treatment’ doing this to me.”
“The Comrade Field Marshal is still as thirsty as ever?” ventured Piotr, with a smile.
At this, the queasy Zhukov managed a laugh, “Yes Piotr, Tukhachevsky could still drink the Neva dry, if it flowed with Vodka. He has the constitution of an ox!”
’The Treatment’ was a method used by Russians to line their stomach before a serious bout of drinking. It involved eating around 500g of pure butter to line the stomach.
Zhukov was looking forward to seeing his old friend Mikhael Nikolayevich Tukhachevsky. Officially the meeting had been set up for senior Red Army officers to discuss findings from the war against the Finns, and while Zhukov was sure there would be some serious discussions to be had, he knew that Mikhael would use the excuse to crack open a few bottles.
As his car pulled up to Tukhachevsky’s compound, he noted that General Tolbukhin’s staff car was also there. This was good as Zhukov was keen to hear how the T34 tanks had fared in their first action, but Tolbukhin was another drinker and Zhukov knew he would suffer for the knowledge he would glean.
“Georgi!” roared Tukhachevksky as Zhukov entered. He rose from his seat and clasped his comrade in a bear-hug. “Come, sit down, you know Comrade General Tolbukhin already, I gather.” Tukhachevsky gestured toward the seated General. “So, Georgi, tell Fedor and myself what you’ve been up to.” he said with a grin.
“Well, Mikhael, while you and Fedor have been gallivanting round the Finnish forests and chasing tarts in Helsinki, I’ve been picking mosquitos out of my food in those awful marshes (Pripet Marshes). It’s been great fun, watching the Poles eating sausages through my field glasses for the last couple of months.”
At this, Field Marshal Tukhachevsky laughed uproariously. “Oh Georgi, it’s so good to know that the defences of the Motherland from the Polish hordes are in such good hands!”
“So Mikhael, when do we start the fight against the Poles, that’s what this is all about, isn’t it?”
General Fedor Tolbukhin interrupted at this moment. Pointing to some bottles of a golden liquid he said “No Georgi. This is what today is about.”
Zhukov looked at the bottles, he didn’t recognize the writing on the labels. “What is that, Fedor, whisky?”
“No. Even better. The Finns were allied with the French as well as the Brits, we intercepted some supplies from the people of the Third Republic, and here they are. Cognac, by all accounts damn fine Cognac too.”
“It IS good, gentlemen. Allow me to offer you a sharpener.” Tukhachevsky opened up a bottle and poured three generous measures.
After a few more ‘sharpeners’ and much joviality, the conversations meandered around to military and political matters.
“So Mikhael, why did we sign a deal with the Finns? Why didn’t we just take their damn silly country and make it Soviet? I don’t understand the reason for peace up there unless we immediately moved to attack the Poles, and we still haven’t.” asked Zhukov.
“Don’t worry, the time to deal with Pilsudski is close, our fight with the Finns is completely separate I assure you. While there’s no real fighting going on we can share knowledge about our experiences, all the better to crush the Poles nice and quick. We only needed to teach the Finns a lesson and to try out our new equipment. Fedor can tell you about the T-34, it’s a monster.”
Tolbukhin grinned sheepishly. “There’s no denying it’s a fine tank, but just because the Finns couldn’t stop it, didn’t mean they couldn’t slow it down.”
“What do you mean Fedor, I heard that it dominated the battlefield near Vyborg?”. Zhukov looked puzzled, and drunk.
“Well you could ask Comrade Cherbatov about that, if you can find him.” interjected Tukhachevsky with a wolfish smile.
Tolbukhin continued, “The tank itself is fine, it’s more how we use it that is of most importance. In the forests and lakes up towards Vyborg, the Finns could easily block the narrow trails with massively thick tree trunks. It took the engineers ages to clear them, often under fire. Those damn Finns were doing anything to block the roads, tying hand grenades to the trees to topple them, mortaring them at point-blank range. It was absolute hell up there. Our infantry casualties were terrible.”
Tukhachevsky poured yet another round of drinks. “You see Georgi, why we made peace with the swine. They are completely insane. They actually HATE us. I didn’t want to be chasing mad Finnish partisans across the forests all winter. I couldn’t think of a worse scenario at all. Plus with Mannerheim playing the fool near Murmansk, Stalin was getting shaky about the possibility of the British attempting landing in the far north. We needed to get them [the Finns] out of the way as quickly as possible and regain our freedom of movement.”
“The tank” interrupted Tolbukhin “is best used away from forests and swamps completely. The new divisions coming online with the half-tracks are an ideal accompaniment for a tank army. We could use them as spearheads to smash deep into enemy territory and disrupt their operations while the infantry deal with what’s left of the front.”
“So that’s the plan against Poland then?” asked Zhukov, growing unsteady. He could feel his head spinning and he desperately wanted to vomit.
“Yes, first Poland, then…..who knows?” laughed Tukhachevsky.
“Gentlemen, excuse me.” Zhukov got up from his seat and staggered towards the door. “I may be some time.” As the cold wintry air hit Zhukov outside Tukhachevsky’s HQ, he vomited spectacularly. As he dropped, shaking, to his knees, he was powerless to prevent himself from falling into the contents of his own stomach that he had just deposited. The last thought he had before his head hit the floor was “Oh no, another cleaning bill.”
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That was brilliant. cant wait for the next update. if this keeps going you'll get nominated for best AAR i'm sure
Thanks Pud & Rock 
I've been slacking a little lately, I've been a bit unwell (lame excuse I know).
I'm also just about to go on holiday next week (Tenerife, yum yum I'll be able to see the sun again!) but I'll try to get an update in before I disappear again.
I've been slacking a little lately, I've been a bit unwell (lame excuse I know).
I'm also just about to go on holiday next week (Tenerife, yum yum I'll be able to see the sun again!) but I'll try to get an update in before I disappear again.
Operation 'Katerina' - The War in Poland, part I
Stalin had decreed that Operation 'Katerina', the attack on Poland, would begin on Christmas Day, 1939. While the Soviets made their deployments and learned the latest tactical doctrines, the shooting stopped. This period became known as The Phoney War to later historians.
Despite this nickname, one piece of action did occur. On November 11th, 1939 The New Zealand 1st Expeditionary Corps under the command of the famous General Freyburg landed unopposed on the Soviet owned Pacific island of Commodore. The Kiwis seemed content to stay on the island and the Soviets made no move to eject them. It was a propaganda coup for the Allies, and went unreported in the U.S.S.R.
Commander of the NZ 1st Expeditionary Corps. General Freyburg.
December 25th, 1939.
The beginning of the Operation Katerina is launched with Soviet Air Forces bombarding Polish border positions at dawn in the Lutsk region. VVS units (using SB-2 bombers & I-16 fighters) based from western provinces keep up attacks on the Poles unopposed by the Polish airforce throughout the campaign.
12:00 General Tolbukhin’s 4th Tank Corps (5 T34/76 Divisions) attack Polish defences near Lutsk. The wide tracks of the T-34’s cope admirably with the snowy conditions.
The design of the T34 meant it was still effective in adverse weather conditions
December 26th, 1939.
00:00 After 12 hours of fighting, the 5 Divisions of badly mauled Infantry under General Bor-Komorovski defending Lutsk retreat westwards in chaos in the face of Tolbukhin’s all-conquering T-34’s. During the engagement, the Soviets lost only 2 tanks.
December 27th, 1939.
10:00 General Konev’s 8th Army based in the Byelorussian S.S.R. launch a heavy 9 hour raid against Polish forces near Grodno. Before retiring to their starting positions under cover of darkness, they inflict casualties on General Fieldorf-Nils’ 6 defending divisions at the ratio of 20:1.
January 1st, 1940.
07:00 The New Year brings no respite for the Poles as Tolbukhin’s 4th Tank Corps and Field Marshal Shaposhnikov’s 4th Army (11 Infantry Divisions, 1 Artillery Brigade, 1 Division of T34/76) converge on 7 Polish Infantry & Reserve Divisions hastily deployed near Lvov.
22:00 After suffering catastrophic losses, Polish forces near Lvov break, and stream westwards.
January 2nd, 1940.
06:00 Germany declares war on the Allies.
Stalin had decreed that Operation 'Katerina', the attack on Poland, would begin on Christmas Day, 1939. While the Soviets made their deployments and learned the latest tactical doctrines, the shooting stopped. This period became known as The Phoney War to later historians.
Despite this nickname, one piece of action did occur. On November 11th, 1939 The New Zealand 1st Expeditionary Corps under the command of the famous General Freyburg landed unopposed on the Soviet owned Pacific island of Commodore. The Kiwis seemed content to stay on the island and the Soviets made no move to eject them. It was a propaganda coup for the Allies, and went unreported in the U.S.S.R.
Commander of the NZ 1st Expeditionary Corps. General Freyburg.
December 25th, 1939.
The beginning of the Operation Katerina is launched with Soviet Air Forces bombarding Polish border positions at dawn in the Lutsk region. VVS units (using SB-2 bombers & I-16 fighters) based from western provinces keep up attacks on the Poles unopposed by the Polish airforce throughout the campaign.
12:00 General Tolbukhin’s 4th Tank Corps (5 T34/76 Divisions) attack Polish defences near Lutsk. The wide tracks of the T-34’s cope admirably with the snowy conditions.
The design of the T34 meant it was still effective in adverse weather conditions
December 26th, 1939.
00:00 After 12 hours of fighting, the 5 Divisions of badly mauled Infantry under General Bor-Komorovski defending Lutsk retreat westwards in chaos in the face of Tolbukhin’s all-conquering T-34’s. During the engagement, the Soviets lost only 2 tanks.
December 27th, 1939.
10:00 General Konev’s 8th Army based in the Byelorussian S.S.R. launch a heavy 9 hour raid against Polish forces near Grodno. Before retiring to their starting positions under cover of darkness, they inflict casualties on General Fieldorf-Nils’ 6 defending divisions at the ratio of 20:1.
January 1st, 1940.
07:00 The New Year brings no respite for the Poles as Tolbukhin’s 4th Tank Corps and Field Marshal Shaposhnikov’s 4th Army (11 Infantry Divisions, 1 Artillery Brigade, 1 Division of T34/76) converge on 7 Polish Infantry & Reserve Divisions hastily deployed near Lvov.
22:00 After suffering catastrophic losses, Polish forces near Lvov break, and stream westwards.
January 2nd, 1940.
06:00 Germany declares war on the Allies.
Operation 'Katerina' - The War in Poland, part II
January 3rd, 1940.
Germany launches heavy air attacks against Polish forces in western Poland.
The Ju-87B ‘Stuka’ Dive-Bomber featured heavily for the Germans against the Poles.
January 4th, 1940.
Golikov replaces Berzhin as Soviet Intelligence Chief.
Meretskov replaces Tukhachevsky as Chief of Staff. This move is solely so Tukhachevsky can concentrate on his command. Meretskov is regarded as ‘Tukhachevsky’s man’.
03:00 General Tolbukhin’s 5 Divisions of T-34’s attack the Polish 6th Infantry Division at Rzeszow.
05:00 Defeated Polish forces retreat from Rzeszow. German forces are in force on the north bank of the Wisla. Attacked from 2 sides, Polish C&C seems to have crumbled, Warsaw lies open.
23:00 Shaposhnikov & Tolbukhin move their forces to engage a large Polish force commanded by General Zegota-Januszajtis that is marching on Lutsk.
January 5th, 1940.
08:00 Royal Navy aircraft attempting to support their Polish allies are intercepted by VVS I-16’s over Pskov. The Fleet Air Arm planes are no match for the Soviet fighters, and lose over 20% of their number before retreating to their Carriers.
January 6th, 1940.
10:00 Broken Polish divisions retreating from Lvov stumble headfirst into Tolbukhin’s advancing T-34’s. In only an hour, over 15,000 Polish soldiers are Killed, Wounded or Captured.
January 7th, 1940.
07:00 Field Marshal von Leeb marches the Wehrmacht unopposed into Warsaw.
January 8th, 1940.
08:00 General Konev’s 8th Army launch their assault on Bialystock. Konev’s 8 Divisions (7 Inf, 1 T-34) face up to 6 Polish Divisions (3 Inf, 2 Cav, 1 Mot-Inf) commanded by Field Marshal Smigly-Rydz.
11:00 German forces attack the Polish Provisional Capital, Krakow.
January 9th, 1940.
Remaining units of the Polish Armed Forces with freedom of movement begin to march towards Warsaw to attempt its liberation.
January 13th, 1940.
In a series of hammer-blows, Polish Forces suffer heavy defeats at the hands of the Soviets in Lvov, Grodno & Lutsk.
January 15th, 1940.
After a week of brutal fighting, German Panzer-Grenadiers finally dislodge General Bor-Komorovski’s brave defenders of Krakow.
Polish civilians return to what remains of their home after the fighting.
January 3rd, 1940.
Germany launches heavy air attacks against Polish forces in western Poland.
The Ju-87B ‘Stuka’ Dive-Bomber featured heavily for the Germans against the Poles.
January 4th, 1940.
Golikov replaces Berzhin as Soviet Intelligence Chief.
Meretskov replaces Tukhachevsky as Chief of Staff. This move is solely so Tukhachevsky can concentrate on his command. Meretskov is regarded as ‘Tukhachevsky’s man’.
03:00 General Tolbukhin’s 5 Divisions of T-34’s attack the Polish 6th Infantry Division at Rzeszow.
05:00 Defeated Polish forces retreat from Rzeszow. German forces are in force on the north bank of the Wisla. Attacked from 2 sides, Polish C&C seems to have crumbled, Warsaw lies open.
23:00 Shaposhnikov & Tolbukhin move their forces to engage a large Polish force commanded by General Zegota-Januszajtis that is marching on Lutsk.
January 5th, 1940.
08:00 Royal Navy aircraft attempting to support their Polish allies are intercepted by VVS I-16’s over Pskov. The Fleet Air Arm planes are no match for the Soviet fighters, and lose over 20% of their number before retreating to their Carriers.
January 6th, 1940.
10:00 Broken Polish divisions retreating from Lvov stumble headfirst into Tolbukhin’s advancing T-34’s. In only an hour, over 15,000 Polish soldiers are Killed, Wounded or Captured.
January 7th, 1940.
07:00 Field Marshal von Leeb marches the Wehrmacht unopposed into Warsaw.
January 8th, 1940.
08:00 General Konev’s 8th Army launch their assault on Bialystock. Konev’s 8 Divisions (7 Inf, 1 T-34) face up to 6 Polish Divisions (3 Inf, 2 Cav, 1 Mot-Inf) commanded by Field Marshal Smigly-Rydz.
11:00 German forces attack the Polish Provisional Capital, Krakow.
January 9th, 1940.
Remaining units of the Polish Armed Forces with freedom of movement begin to march towards Warsaw to attempt its liberation.
January 13th, 1940.
In a series of hammer-blows, Polish Forces suffer heavy defeats at the hands of the Soviets in Lvov, Grodno & Lutsk.
January 15th, 1940.
After a week of brutal fighting, German Panzer-Grenadiers finally dislodge General Bor-Komorovski’s brave defenders of Krakow.
Polish civilians return to what remains of their home after the fighting.
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Interesting AAR.
So, is the Reich in a separate war against the Allies or in a joint war with the USSR? I assume that Italy is still neutral?
How's things going in the Western theater?
So, is the Reich in a separate war against the Allies or in a joint war with the USSR? I assume that Italy is still neutral?
How's things going in the Western theater?
Doc said:Interesting AAR.
So, is the Reich in a separate war against the Allies or in a joint war with the USSR? I assume that Italy is still neutral?
How's things going in the Western theater?
Thanks
The Reich declared war on the allies separately of the Soviets. They were a bit miffed watching the USSR beat up the Poles and decided to leap into the action.
The Italians are neutral
At this point in the AAR, the Franco-German frontier is quiet. The French are demonstrating their elan by eating 4 course meals in the Maginot
Hello all
I haven't forgotten this, I'll be updating with the final moves on the Polish Front shortly.
I haven't forgotten this, I'll be updating with the final moves on the Polish Front shortly.
big_lads said:Hello all
I haven't forgotten this, I'll be updating with the final moves on the Polish Front shortly.
Yay!
The Fall of Poland and the U.S.S.R expands
January 16th, 1940.
The Polish front continues to collapse under heavy blows from Soviet and German forces. The bulk of the remaining Polish forces are under air attack in the Pripet Marshes.
January 19th, 1940.
23:00 Von Leeb overcomes Polish resistance in the Provisional Capital Lublin after an audacious 2 hour night attack.
January 23rd, 1940.
After a week of fighting near Ostroleka, the Polish garrison surrenders to Field Marshal Kesselring. Polish plenipotentiaries hurry to Kesselring’s field HQ to arrange their surrender as quickly as possible in what is seen as a calculated snub to the Soviets. The quickly agreed surrender terms deliver the Polish forces currently facing the Soviets into the ‘care’ of the German authorities.
Frantic signals passed between the German Forces in Poland, Berlin and between Berlin and Moscow as the Nazis made it desperately clear to Moscow that Kesselring had acted above his authority in accepting the full surrender of the Poles and that the terms of their pact would be fulfilled.
Field Marshal Kesselring, commander of German 3rd Army
January 24th, 1940.
03:00 Germany and her satellite nations declare war on Demnark.
15:00 Latvian Communists announce the formation of the Latvian S.S.R. as Red Army tanks move into Riga unopposed.
18:00 Radio Eesti in Tallinn announces the formation of the Estonian S.S.R.
All day violent street brawls between communists and their opponents occur in Kaunas, Lithuania.
January 26th, 1940.
02:00 The vast majority of Admiral Tovey’s Royal Navy fleet departs the Baltic to head for the North Sea under cover of darkness. The British leave a small Carrier Group stationed in the Gulf of Finland.
January 27th, 1940.
08:00 With German forces approaching Copenhagen despite fierce resistance, a Danish delegation to Washington D.C. agrees to hand over control of Iceland and Greenland to the United States.
February 2nd, 1940.
As German forces are stalled in their attack on the Danes by a combination of stubborn resistance, poor weather and awkward terrain, Soviet forces begin to amass around Lithuania.
February 8th, 1940.
09:00 Royal Navy aircraft attempting to attack Leningrad are intercepted by 2 squadrons of I-16’s. The Soviets lose 6 planes and claim 22 kills.
February 9th, 1940.
11:00 With Lithuania surrounded by Soviet troops, Kaunas accedes to the inevitable as control of the country is handed to the Communists. Henceforth it is known as the Lithuanian S.S.R.
February 10th, 1940
January 16th, 1940.
The Polish front continues to collapse under heavy blows from Soviet and German forces. The bulk of the remaining Polish forces are under air attack in the Pripet Marshes.
January 19th, 1940.
23:00 Von Leeb overcomes Polish resistance in the Provisional Capital Lublin after an audacious 2 hour night attack.
January 23rd, 1940.
After a week of fighting near Ostroleka, the Polish garrison surrenders to Field Marshal Kesselring. Polish plenipotentiaries hurry to Kesselring’s field HQ to arrange their surrender as quickly as possible in what is seen as a calculated snub to the Soviets. The quickly agreed surrender terms deliver the Polish forces currently facing the Soviets into the ‘care’ of the German authorities.
Frantic signals passed between the German Forces in Poland, Berlin and between Berlin and Moscow as the Nazis made it desperately clear to Moscow that Kesselring had acted above his authority in accepting the full surrender of the Poles and that the terms of their pact would be fulfilled.
Field Marshal Kesselring, commander of German 3rd Army
January 24th, 1940.
03:00 Germany and her satellite nations declare war on Demnark.
15:00 Latvian Communists announce the formation of the Latvian S.S.R. as Red Army tanks move into Riga unopposed.
18:00 Radio Eesti in Tallinn announces the formation of the Estonian S.S.R.
All day violent street brawls between communists and their opponents occur in Kaunas, Lithuania.
January 26th, 1940.
02:00 The vast majority of Admiral Tovey’s Royal Navy fleet departs the Baltic to head for the North Sea under cover of darkness. The British leave a small Carrier Group stationed in the Gulf of Finland.
January 27th, 1940.
08:00 With German forces approaching Copenhagen despite fierce resistance, a Danish delegation to Washington D.C. agrees to hand over control of Iceland and Greenland to the United States.
February 2nd, 1940.
As German forces are stalled in their attack on the Danes by a combination of stubborn resistance, poor weather and awkward terrain, Soviet forces begin to amass around Lithuania.
February 8th, 1940.
09:00 Royal Navy aircraft attempting to attack Leningrad are intercepted by 2 squadrons of I-16’s. The Soviets lose 6 planes and claim 22 kills.
February 9th, 1940.
11:00 With Lithuania surrounded by Soviet troops, Kaunas accedes to the inevitable as control of the country is handed to the Communists. Henceforth it is known as the Lithuanian S.S.R.
February 10th, 1940