On the edge - a Soviet mini AAR

[GAGA Extrem]

The original idea to make this AAR came from THIS thread.

Basicly I used the save from another person and started to play in July 1941, the germans have already invaded the Soviet Union and their spearheads are on the way to Moscow.

The save game can be found here:
http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=22321&d=1268090569

Will the Soviet Union be saved? Let's find out!

 

[GAGA Extrem]

July 1941

The situation in July 1941
North:

Mid:

South:

I spend the first days examining our army. My first thought: too little, too late. We have few units and our OOB is a chaos. Some parts of the frontline aren't covered at all - and Leningrad Front HQ better comes up with a good explanation how it ended up so far in the south... All units on the Japanese Border are strategically redeployed, our airforce gathers at moscow.

First orders are to reorganise the military into more army corps to help us on defence. Roughly two dozend Mj. Generals are promoted to Lt. Generals and put in charge of the newly created units. Shaposhnikow (+25% MP, -5% INF build) is replaced by Meretskov (+20% ORG regain). And we reorganize our brigades to give our tanks some HARM.

After reorganizing, we examine the enemy. Intel is low, but the major german spearheads have been sighted - one in the north and one in the south. However, our units are not able to counter these. We have 30 divisions in Krivoy Rag which we can use to counter the southern advance near Kiev, but in the north we have almost no men to spare...

Emergency conscription starts. We add 6 MIL runs to the production quenue. They will have little combat power, but at least they will help us to cover the front lines. In addition, construction of our Battleship is halted, we have other needs so far. Retooling will take some time, so we can expect our first reinforcements during September. Intelligence spending is cut to 1/5 to free IC.

The situation looks dire, but not hopeless. Marine infantry from Leningrad and Sevestapol is mobilized, we plan an offensive on the finnish front line and will try to stall the german advance. Will it work? Time will tell...

 

[GAGA Extrem]

August 1941

We noticed something odd: Our message settings have been reset somehow, now we know why we were not informed about several skirmishes on the front line! We suspect german spies being responsible for this. Should we increase our spending for INTEL again? Mh, nah...

Bad news about the enemy: The germans have already deployed their first mechanized divisions, we face at least 8 Panzer Divs and 2 Mech Divs in the north. We will need some hard attack up there, tanks are brought from the south. Here we faced only 5 ARM so far, although they were enough to devestate our defenders there. Our delay actions are far less efficent than we hoped, at this rate the enemy will reach Moscow before the first snow comes down!

We have issued to give offensive supplies to defenders to increase their efficency, but the german spearhead is still advancing. In fact, they are CRUSHUNG us. Our infantry is basically overrun by their tanks, we lose 4 retreating divisions! In a desperate attempt, we gather all our 8 ARM divisions to plan for a limited counter attack. Let's hope this will work...

Defence in depth doctrine is finished - the ORG we gain by this is crucial. We immediately start researching Large formations. And: we have our first victory! Tanks rushed to the battle of Smolensk repel the enemy units.

On 4th of August, we finally gear up for the war! GDE is now 0.8, making our defence finally equally efficent compared to other countries. Counter attack on Mogilev. Our tanks hit - and they hit hard. The germans halt their advance and rush additional units to the battle. While our tanks suffer minimal losses, the germans lose a lot of ORG - actions like this might acutally save us. The battle ends a few days after overwhelming german reinforcements arrive, but the result is still a strategical and tactical victory: 2000 vs. 4000 losses, many german ARM divs are low on org.

Further in the south, away from our tanks, the enemy has launched another offensive, one we will probably not halt at this point. we prepare to abandong Kiev and think about scorched earth tactics.

Aug 8-14: Naval combat with the Kriegsmarine near Leningrad! The enemy outnumbers us 40:11. Our ships take a beating, but we lose only 2 DD flotillas - this could have been worse. Synthetic oil plant tech finished, we start research on perimeter defence.

Aug 15-21: We destroy a dam to delay the germans in the south. In the North we managed to make a sucessful counter attack, exhausting the ORG of 3 german panzer divs. However, the enemy is still advancing towards Leningrad. We hope that our Finland campaign will suceed, otherwise we will have to give up the peninsula. Two tank divisions are finished, a gift from the heavens! We notice our synthetic material plants are working, draining oil supply - they are ordered to stand idle for now.

Aug 22-31: Kiev is abandoned, the germans seize the city without resistance. Sevestapol garrison is mobilized to aid in defence of the peninsula. Research funding cut by 1/3, 85% research speed will do. Upgrade IC recuded to 50. We need the IC for production.

Aug 26: Sucessful counter-attack by our armor in Rogachev! Despite being outnumbered, our tanks shred the enemy to pieces - 6 german panzer divs are without ORG. Staff thinks with this sucess an encirclement of the germans might be possible. In the north and south, they have lost their momentum, giving us time to reinforce.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

September 1941

The germans are still advancing on the whole front - and our tanks will need a break after the Rogachev pocket, if sucessful or not. Next deployment will be in the north to secure Moscow...

Sep 1-7: Flying bomb developed. Well, that thing won't be too useful atm... Starting decryption tech. Battle for Chernigov - if we succeed on taking the province, roughly 20 german divs will be cut off. But the operation soon ends, as the enemy has brought 40 divs into combat and 2 armies are about to be encircled by enemy spearheads. However, our attack on Helsinki is sucessful. Finnish defeat is only a matter of weeks now. Counter attack on Sumy. A german spearhead is in danger of encirclement with their rear guarded only by 2 divisions. The USA gear up for the war.

Sep 8-14: Reserves from Sibiria arrive, not a day too early, since the germans have almost reached the outskirts of the city. Logistic Supply System developed, deep vehicle repair ORG put in quenue. 13 divs trapped in Konotop, armor attack on Klintsy failed, but rescue is on the way.

Sep 13: Finland surrenders! We make them a puppet. One front less to worry about. We take military control and now have 29 additional Finnish divisions (plus 20 freed from this frontline). They are immediately re-routed to Leningrad.

Sep 15-21: Unfortunatly we have not the power to close the pocket around the Kursk area. We Have saved our encircled army, but the germans have roughly 80 divisions in the area, a number even our tanks cannot overcome. We will retreat in the middle area and focus on destroying the northern flank instead.

Sep 18:

Sep 22-30:

Sep 22: Battle for Bryansk. A lot of enemy units have turned SW, so we have another chance for a pocket. Our tanks are at roughly 66% ORG and we still have units from the former Sumy pocket to assist. Further north, german spearheads have reached Moscow, a counter attack is carried out (and sucessful, for now). First Finnish units arrive.

The situation:

Sep 24: A small pocket in Tambov is closed, 2 enemy DIV are trapped, but the germans launched a counter attack that will probably break our siege. Anyway, this draws units away from the battle of Bryansk. Our tanks fight deliberatly, but despite heavy ORG ans TR losses, the germans rotate more and more divisions into the battle. It looks like we won't take the province. Our tanks will fight until out of ORG. Even if we can't win the battle, enemy losses are rising.

Sep 25: Flying bomb secret weapon tech becomes available. Meh. We break off the Bryansk attack - losses: 7.500 soviets vs. 8.500 germans. We will try another attack at Klinsy within a week. Diversion attack at Kursk launched.

Sep 26: The two enemy divisions in Tambov surrender before the counter attack can link the provinces. -2 for the germans. *evil laughter*, diversion at Kursk aborted due to german reinforcements.

Sep 27: German counterattack on Sumy, but thank god no enemy ARM or MECH. All but 3 DIV from Konotop rush to assist the defenders. Victory or Valhalla until they arrive.

Sep 30: Reinforcments arrive, but even with them, the battle is still undecided.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

October 1941:

Oct 1-7: The battle of Sumy is won, but massive forces gather in the south. INTEL reports at least 30 enemy divisions, while i have only 20 to defend in case of an attack. However, my units are dug in, have a lvl 1 fort, a river and the option to give up ground if necessary.

Oct 1: At dawn another battle for Klintsy starts. Although the enemy has more units here than in Bryansk, the terrain is more favorable (plains vs. forest). The remaining divs from Roslavl and Konotop assist. It are only 9 additional DIV and they are in danger of enemy counter attacks, but the +10% combat modifier for the tanks is worth it. The enemy is still exhausted from the last battles and has only few fresh units, the remaining forces have only 1/2 of our ORG. Did I mention that morale from human wave rules?

Oct 2: Counter attack on Vardö (Finland) by 1 ARM and 1 PAR. The Finnish units are still disorganized and forced to retreat. We redeploy additonial 3 MTN div to deal with them. Sucessful counter attack in Orel and Novgorod. Another german spearhead reaches the outskirts of Moscow, a counter attack of combined soviet and mongolian forces commences.

Oct 3: Attack on Klintsy proceeding nicely. The germans cycle divisions, but most are still to disorganized to have any effect, retreating after a few hours. We launch a counter offensive near Leningrad.

Oct 4: Victory in Klintsy! Our tanks cease the province, cutting off four provinces with several divisions, we immediately launch attacks on Orel and Tula, while the germans commence a huge counter attack: Klintsy, Sumy and Konotop are attacked, 40 divisions total. Our tanks will have to play firemen to keep the pocket closed.

Oct 8-14: 9 new INF DIV are being deployed.

Oct 8: Sucess! Our armor raced south and has halted all three counter attacks! Orel and Tula are captured, the pocket is down to two provinces. Attack on Kursk commenced, our tanks assist: We encounter 17 worn down german divisions! That means we have encircled roughly 30, if not more, enemy DIV.

Oct 9: Victory at Kursk, the enemy is retreating into the last province. Second counter attack on the connecting provinces, our tanks turn north again.

The situation:

(Note that Klinsy and Konotop are toally undefended - I will have to rely on my tanks here!)

Oct 10: The germans open the Bryansk/Kursk pocket, but their spearhead is almost instantly defeated by our tanks. Kursk is taken. Battle at Klintsy. The first HARM brigades on our tank divisions upgrade to IS-1.

Oct 11: Kontop is retaken, the pocket closed again. 5 ARM divisions head for Klintsy. Offensive around Leningrad proceeds, regaining ground.

Oct 14: Pocket exits are secure, est. 35 DIV trapped inside, many still retreating. A land-lease shipment from the US arrives. 5000$. Nice. Research funding back to 100%.

Oct 15-21: German air raids on Moscow, 1 wing of TAC is destroyed. The rest is evacuated to Pavlovsk. First MIL divisions are ready. Although the front is now stabel we continue their production - they can be used as garrisons later.

Oct 17: Attack on Chernigov. Cold weather is already hurting our offensive abilites, but the germans are still disorganized from the recent battles - if we continue to push, their losses will skyrocket.

Oct 18: In Porkhov, near Leningrad, the germans go Victory or Valhalla, fighting with 9 worn down divisions (incl. 1 ARM and 1 MECH) against 24 attackers. Their strengh is already below 50%, the battle is heading for a total soviet victory.

Oct 19: The last german division inside the pocket surrender. Estimated german losses: 200.000 men, with an addtional 100.000 for their allies. Current total loss count : 500.000 for SU, 915.000 for GER.

Oct 25: The germans have gone VoV again. This time in Chernigov, where 25 divs have already lost 25% STR. I guess it's an AI bug caused by GAR taking part in the fight. Since the germans pour more and more units into the fight, this will probably end in a total defeat with horrible losses. In Porkhov they finally abandon the fight after their GAR div is destroyed. Losses: 12.500 SU/FIN vs. 37.000 GER.

Oct 29: French-Guyana joins Free France.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

November 1941:

With their huge losses (300.000 soldiers from the pocket and roughly another 200.000 from their VoV), the german advance has been halted. Winter is setting in and we will use the time to set up new forces and start construction of MECH units as soon as the tech is finished.

Nov 1-7: Several skirmishes along the Leningrad front.

Nov 7: Battle of Chernigov ends. After their GAR was destroyed, they finally retreated from the battlefield. Losses 15.000 SU vs almost 150.000(!) for the axis. With this the germans now have lost 1.150.000 men in total.

Nov 8-14: The german Panzer DIV in Finland is defeated. Attack on Vardö will commence soon. Snow covers russia. Father winter is back - and he has brought a big nasty stick o' attrition for the germans. Fighting has ceased along the whole front, although our tanks will make another attack once they have regained ORG.

Nov 9-21: 6 new MIL divs are being deployed in the south. They will serve as reserves and garrisons for (the currently undefended) Sevestapol. Subsidiary CV tech finished, advanced INF div started.

Nov 21: Next battle for Chernigov started. The germans are overwhelmed by our forces, despite frost and snow. Losse: 1500 vs 4000. We do not advance into the province. Once the german reinforcements arrive, we will proceed with a third attack.

Nov 22-30: 3 new ARM divs deployed. We will need an HQ for our tank army now. Luckily, there is one in Sumy.

Nov 28: Third battle for Chernigov, 40 vs 30 divisions. Despite frost our forces are doing good.

Nov 30: Basic mechanzied division tech completed. Starting with improved mechs immediately. 3 MECH+HARM divisions are added to the quenue, priority for INF is lowered. 3 MIL are cancelled, 3 set idle after their next build.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

December 1941:

Now all we need is time. We have 3.500.000 men left to fight in our manpower pool, while germany has lost many, many soldiers during the last two month. The front is stable, our tanks will continue to inflict casualties and in spring we will launch our great offensive towards Berlin.

Dec 1-7: Vicory in Pharkov, Vardö and Chernigov. Estimated losses: 10.000 vs 18.000.

Dec 8-14: Ernst Udet commits suicide. -1 for germany, I guess. Another attack on Chernigov. Losses: 2000 vs. 5000.

Dec 15-21: US occupation of Iceland and Greenland. Armor attack on Priluki. Losses: 2500 vs 5000.

Dec 22-31: 3 addditonal MECH+HARM divisions added to quenue. Attack on Poltava.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

Januar 1942:

All quite except for our tanks of course. Current losses: 550.000 soviet vs. 1.200.000 german.

Jan 1-7: Vlassov defects to germany. Good ridance, we will make sure to invite you to our victory parade in Berlin as a "special guest". A GAR in Poltava, therefore the Germans go VoV. Ouch.

Jan 8-14: Perimeter Defence Doctrine researched, we start with Frontline Supply tech. Air combat near Moscow, but heavy snowfall leads to an undeceisive engagement.

Jan 15-21: Yet another battle for Chernigov, but this time we willt take the province. Until spring we will have a defence line along the river.

Situation on Jan 17:

Jan 18: A german general dies in accident. -1 for the germans... hehehe... Garrison in Chernigov... VoV... Advanced AT-ART tech finished, improved static AA started.

Jan 20: Italy and Japan sign the Tripartie Pact. Mh, guess after germany we will have a japanese dessert...

Jan 22-31: Battle for Chernigov ends. Losses: 6.000 vs 46.000. Deep Vehicle Repair Org finished, starting Infrastructure Destruction tech.

Jan 26: Battle of Gomel started. 32 DIV vs. 6 german defenders (4 ARM, 2 MOT). Several german DIV join, but stand no chance. We move one step towards standing army - +3 dissent.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

Honestly, I dunno. I guess the save was set on normal/normal.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

February 1942:

Tanks continue to advance northward.

Feb 1-7: Improved INT tech finished, advanced INT started. Supply stockpile below 9000, one tank quenue is set to idle after next unit is constructed. Victory in Gomel. Losses: 6.000 vs 10.000. Battle for Rogachev. Losses: 3.000 vs 6.000.

Feb 8-14: Battle for Roslavl. Losses: 3.000 vs. 5.000.

Feb 13: Disaster in Finland! The germans somehow managed to conquer the coastline (I didn't get any warning!) and ANNEXED Finland! All Finish divisions disintegrate! 9 MOT div moved north as emergency measure. Our tanks will follow. (God that is one annoying fauxpas. Totally unnecessary. But: Well, the germans were decimated by the VoV bug, so I guess it kinda evens out.)

Feb 15-21: Advanced Encryption finished, advanced decryption started. Tanks race north for Leningrad.

Feb 22-28: Germans launch a counter attacked on our now weakend northern front. Tanks en route. British invasion of Norway. Attack on Vyazma, but since our tanks are occupied this will be a though one.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

March 1942:

With the disaster in Finland, the game becomes interesting once more. My tanks will seize the territory asap and MIL will garrison the beaches. Afterwards I should be ready to fight the germans in April. With the lost 30 Finish divisions, the lines are thin and the germans can break through - again. I must hold until april, then the first MECH divs will be completed - I estimate one of these though divs is worth roughly 3-6 INF divs, so they should help a lot.

Mar 1-7: Battle of Vyazama ends undecided. Casualties: 22.000 vs 18.000. The defenders of Staraya Russia break, the tanks are still 2 provinces away. Two additonal Tank divisions are being deployed. Supplies below 1.000 - IC on prod decreased.

Mar 8: The USA declare war on Germany. Serves them right. But... With this... Maybe... Just maybe... We should get some garrisons back to the japanese border now...

Mar 8-14: Our tanks make an unexpected stop - we see a chance to encircle some german divisions - and our MOT in Finland have already halted the enemy advance. Phillipines DOW Germany.

Mar 13: Our oil stockpile is EMPTY! Somehow the german annexation of Finland depleted our storage! Over 3000 units are gone! POOF! As an emergency measure, synthetic oil plants are quenued. We sign a trade agreement with the USA: 40 supplies for 20 oil. Autotrade priorities (so that thing WAS on!) changed.

Mar 15-21: The British forces are pushed back to Trondheim.

Mar 19: Large Formations Doctrine completed, Breakthrough Priority Doctrine quenued.

Mar 22-31: 1 German Panzer DIV destroyed in Finland. 1 own ARM div constructed. Due to oil shortage, some ARM divisions will stay behind and serve as defence on the northern front.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

April 1942:

Out of oil, again outnumbered and situation will not really imrove soon. Dang. And I thought that game was already over.

Apr 1-7: Germans launch attack on Roslavl. We are outnumbered badly and reinforcements will leave gaps in our lines. However, we will sent more units. If necessary we will fall back one province and shorten the frontline. Mud delays their attack, so we migth stand a chance.

Apr 8-14: Another lend-lease shipment arrives. Excellent, we were almost out of supplies. But... Oil next time... maybe? Please?

Apr 15-21: Improved Decryption Devices finished. Improved Synthetic Oil Plant tech started. 3 MECH divisions are ready. They are deployed near Kiev. While stationary they only consume 1.8 oil per day, so they are still affordable. However, another oil trade with the US might be needed soon, at least as long as our oil plants are being constructed.

Apr 22-30: The pocket in Staraya Russia is closed. -4 DIV for the germans. 3 German divisions are surrounded in Finland - and in Norway, the British have made a come back - together with the Canadians. Near Moscow, thing go wild - our tanks have cut deep into the german lines, but the germans have launched several counter attacks - which we answered with counter attacks ourself. Basicly there is fighting among the whole front from Leningrad to Moscow.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

May 1942:

I am going for another pocket near Moscow. My tanks are low on fuel, but my current deficit is only -15/day (with 12 tanks being on the move), so the shortage is not too bad. If things go well, the germans will lose another 20-30 divisions soon.

The Situation in May 1942:

May 1-7: Several Skirmishes in Finland. The situation looks bad for the germans here. In Nevel (northern front) our tanks have overrun 6 divisions that will soon be annihilated.

May 8-14: An attack on Smolensk is cancelled due to mud and urban enviroment. Attack on Orsha commenced - only 3 enemy divisions are ready to fight. With this we can hope for another pocket! And another good news: Our tanks are now at more than 25% experience (compared to 5% for the german Panzerdivisions).


The situation:

May 13: Attack on Orsha sucessful - 3.000 to 8.500 losses.

May 14: Malinovskij is killed on the battlefield when an artillery barrage hits his HQ. 3 MECH deployed in Gomel. The germans take Rogachev - so one additional province necessary to close the pocket...

May 15-21: German MECH has formed a line of defence in Rogachev - our counterattack stalls.

May 16: Just as we enter Orsha, 3 of our ARM divisions evaporate. Scientists suspect this could be a new german Vergeltungswaffe - called the "Bugstrahler III Ausf. B". -3 for the SU. Dang. Okay let's look on the bright side: Lowers our oil demand by roughly 25 units.

May 18: Attack on Mogalev. Despite being outnumbered 10:12 our tanks advance steadily.

May 19: Igor Illichev appointed as new head of intelligence (+5% IC).

May 22: Attack on Rogachev fails due to enemy MECH. We abort and attack Roslavl instead. In Finland 3 MOT Divs dissappear - it must be related to oil! If units enter a province where enemies are still retreating and their oil supply is empty - they vanish! And we finally know where the germans came from: They have military access through Sweden! They will pay for this treason! Later...

May 23: Attack on Mogilev aborted due to the disappear problem. Losses: 2.500 vs 9.200.

May 24: Advanced Medium Tank tech finished, Advanced Heavy Tank research started. Research funding again decreased to 85% efficency. Tanks partially refueled. Go comrades!

May 26: Another attack on Pskov is launched.

May 28: Hangman asassination in Poland. Mogilev is retaken - 6 german division (incl. the 18th Panzerdivision) are trapped in Smolensk and will probably surrender within a few days. Counter attack on Orsha, but despite being outnumbered 28:5 and being low on ORG, our tanks hold the lines. The rest of our ARM units attacks Zhlobin - maybe we can create another pocket in Rogachev.

The Situation at end of May 1942:

May 29: Our tanks in Orsha are defeated, but the pocket is clear: the german units in Smolensk surrender. -6 for Germany. In Finland the last german units retreat to Murmansk, the border is secure - again. The British are advancing towards Narvik.

May 30: German counterattack on Novorzhev. Our units are low on ORG and will probably break soon, but reserves are available to proceed with a counter-attack. Combat in Zhlobin ends - in the end the enemy outnumbered us vastly and losses were rising. Still a decent result: 5.500 to 9.100 losses. We will now attack Rogachev instead, with some luck many of the german units from Zhlobin will fall for our trap an rush to help the defenders.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

June 1942:

The situation looks better - despite losing 3 ARM divs to the oil thing. Our synthetic plants will be ready in August - only 2 months to go. With the last pocket the germans have - again - lost several divisions. Current losses: 740.000 SU, 1.865.000 GER.

Jun 1-7: Attack on Pskov fails due to heavy resistance. Losses: 9.000 to 10.000. Our units at Novorozhev are defeated. We prepare for a counter attack.

Jun 4: Battle for Rogachev is won - and as planned, german units rush towards the province. Counterattack on Orsha sucessful. Rogachev taken. German Paratroopers in Murmansk surrender.

Jun 6: Second attack on Zhlobin, this time supported from Gomel and Rogachov. Commencing attack on Hammerfest.

Jun 8-14: Counterattack on Novorozhev, looking good. Germans attack Orsha again, but only 9 vs 4 DIV now, our tanks should be able to hold. Zhlobin is a meatgrinder - the germans have gone VoV again, but our ORG losses are above average.

Jun 10: Stalin announces the "Great Patriotic War"! FOR MOTHER RUSSIA!! Counter attack on Novorozhev sucessful. Losses: 2.200 vs 3.400.

Jun 12: Infrastructure Destruction Doctrine finished, Movement Speed Offensive tech started.

Jun 15-21: Zhlobin has become a meat grinder. The germans lost 10 divisions to VoV already (4 INF, 3 ARM, 3 MECH) - and still continue the fight. Finally their GAR disintegrates and they flee - leaving 150.000 men on the field. Soviet losses: Only 12.000.

Jun 19: Battle for Hammerfest is won. Improved Mech division researched (quenue will be upgraded after the next unit is ready - this will result in lowered gearing and some retooling time, but the new DIV will be 25% more powerful!). New project: Advanced Field artillery. Our tanks head for Vitebsk. Next target: Trapping the german units in the north (Codename: Operation Sommerwind).

Operation Sommerwind:

Jun 20: Attack on Vyshgorod. Kiev will soon be ours again!

Jun 21: Improved Static AA finished, Advanced mech div started.

Jun 23: Despite massive commitment, the battle in Vyshgorod stalls. We cancel the attack and move 6 mech divs towards Zhlobin. We will be back. Our ARM has reached Vietbsk and is tanking up. Operation Sommerwind will commence in July.

Jun 25: 9 retreating GER units arrive in soviet controlled Smolensk and surrender.

Jun 29: Attack on Narvik. British units join the battle, the germans retreat into Sweden.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

July 1942:

Overall the situation is stable again. If operation Sommerwind suceeds, we will break another finger of the german army. Many can't be left after the recent disasters...

Jul 4: Operation Sommerwind is delayed for one week to give our tanks a bit more fuel. In Priluki (E from Kiev), the germans have started a massive attack: 31 vs 9 DIV. Luckily, 3 MECH are ready just in time and deployed behind the front line. Attack on Vyshgorod commenced to support my defenders. 8 additional adjected divisions committed to defence.

Jul 7: Defence in Priluki is about to break. MECH reserve is brought to the frontline and will arrive in 26h, in addition, 20 german divisions attack Novorhzev mear Leningrad. This is our starting signal: Operation Sommerwind commences!!

Jul 8: Another attack in the south against Poltava, ambushing the defenders. It looks like the germans will repel us from Kiev.

Jul 11: The mechs turned the tide in Priluki, but Poltava is hopless. We set up a second line of defence. Operation Sommerwind continues, first province is taken. Two more to go.

Jul 12: The battle of Vyshgorod is won! Losses: 10.000 vs 88.000! The 6 MECH divs turn south to support our defence.

Jul 14: First phase of Operation Sommerwind sucessful! Our tanks have taken the defenders by surprise and broken into the german lines. The whole northern army is cut off, our tanks move north to tighten the pocket.

Situation on Jul 14:

Jul 16: Things are getting worse for the germans - the pocket hast become much smaller and 13 divisions under Manstein are pushed back.

Situation on Jul 16:

Jul 18: The germans manage to occupy the (undefended) provinces of Riga and Dagaupulis, but this doesn't matter, since our offensive has already moved north. In Voru, two german Divisions disintegrate after 3 ARM DIV start commence their attack, Manstein finally retreats with his worn down divisions - right into the arms of our tanks! And while our single tank division in Tallinn is forced to retreat, 8 ARM are breaking into Tartu.

Situation on Jul 18:

Jul 19: Counterattack in Poltava - 46 vs 6 divisions, the german won't stand a chance!

Jul 20: A german MECH division manages to break out of the pocket via Pärnu - 3 ARM div are sent towards Riga to intercept and close. Narva and Dagaupulis are under heavy attack, the defenders scatter.

Situation on Jul 20:

Jul 22: The german mechs delayed our attack and managed to get away. Well, let the germans have this small victory, we take the big one: The pocket is closed again - and secure. All german units inside are on full retreat and will surrender within a few days. In Poltava our attack proceeds nicely.

Situation on Jul 22:

Jul 25: The germans have brought more Panzers to Poltava. The battle is getting more and more interesting... Pocket secured - german losses: 250.000 men - 25 divisions (at least 2 MECH and 2 ARM). Total german losses now over 2.500.000!

Jul 31: Our tanks move to launch a new offensive at Minsk, the new border in the north is secured by INF and MOT. 3 new MECH ready to deploy. The battle for Poltava turns out to be much more exhausting than we thought - or divs are running low on ORG, an several have already halted their advance. Anyway, a victory is imminent. I wonder who the casualties will turn out...

 

[GAGA Extrem]

August 1942:

July was most sucessful. One could say: It was a Coup dê Grace! With this loss the northern flank is devesated and we are one step closer to Berlin.

Aug 1: And here are the casualties from Poltava: 17.000 vs 22.000. Not as good as I expected, but well, we still have 3,5k MP to burn... Hehe...

Aug 3: We take a look at our tanks while they are on the move - XP is now at ~60%, our Mj. Gen. have reached skill levels from 5-8. Deadly weapons indeed! We plan a new pocket in the south: Once our MECH has regained enough ORG we will attack Krivoy Rog and proceed to Odessa, trapping the very southern units. We name it "Operation Südwind". In additon, will will attempt to create another pocket in the north: While we have still superior numbers, our tanks will move all the way to Königsberg and trap the remaining survivors, while our overwhelming numbers on the front proceeds with an all out assault. Codename: "Operation Nordwind".

Plan for Operation Südwind:

Plan for Operation Nordwind:

Aug 7: Operation Nordwind commences! At 0600 our units move out. Among the whole frontline the germans are badly outnumbered.

Situation on Aug 7:

Aug 8: 10 Synthetic oil plants are completed - they are deployed to Moscow, Leningrad and Stalingrad. The provinces are prioritized. Our attack on Minsk stalls due to urban combat.

Aug 10: Combat is going nicely, the attack on Minsk is going better as thought. The city will probably fall within 2-3 days.

Situation on Aug 10:

Aug 12: The defenders in Minsk go VoV. That won't save them, though. The main frontline is already broken and soviet CAV mobs up units in the rear area. First synthetic oil arrives: 40/day atm, so we should get about 120/day when their buildup is complete.

Situation on Aug 12:

Aug 14: The enemy is fleeing from Minsk. Combat in Memel and Kaunas.

Situation on Aug 14:

Aug 16: German resistance broken. Units on full retreat. 5 german divisions retreationg from Minsk are being overrun. A small counter attack is halted by our last tank division.
Situation on Aug 16:

Aug 18: Our tanks in Minsk are forced to retreat, but reinforcement (3 MOT, 1 CAV, several INF) are on the way.
Situation on Aug 18:

Aug 20/21: On midnight Königsberg is captured by soviet armor, closing the pocket. For the first time, soviet units have set foot on german soil. More will follow soon. On 0500 operation Südwind commences. 24 divisions sail out to attack the german forces near Odessa.
Situation on Aug 21:

Aug 22: Operation Nordwind is almost completed - only a handful of german divisions still fight in the last province - they will surrender within the next days. Operation Südwind, on the other hand, is stalled - the enemy had several MECH and ARM units in the province and is reinforcing the lines quickly. And on 1700 I got a funny event - better late than never:

Situation on Aug 22:

Aug 25: Armored spearheads take Elbing and Torun. The last german units in the northern pocket have surrendered. Losses during the last battle: 4.000 to 19.000, total losses now: 888.000 SU, 3.000.000 GER (inflicted losses by SU: 2.664.000)

Aug 26: 24 german units are now fighting in Krivog Roy, but Cherkassy is almost undefended. Change of plans: We abort the attack and start another attempt there. Losses: 10.000 vs 7.200. Battle of Bobraisk is over. Losses: 2.700 vs 43.000 (VoV, ouch!).

Aug 27: Our axis of advance is now shifting rapidly - we mag a deep push behind the enemy lines, targeting the southern areas. If our attack in Cherkassy suceeds, we might be able to split the german armies into half and then encircle them from the rear. However, Charkassy is - again - a stalemate due to fresh german panzer divisions, so we can't expect too much here.

Situation on Aug 27:

Aug 28: Research budged increases to 100%.

Aug 30: Operation Südwind aborted. Losses: 9.500 vs 4.500. The germans have too many ARM and MECH in this area - and attacking across a river doesn't really help my combat odds... Advance on the norhern flank proceeds steadily, Warsaw is taken. Only 4 provinces to cut off the whole german army...

Situation on Aug 30:

 

[GAGA Extrem]

September 1942:

This month could be the end of the german army. Our forces have crushed and overrun the northern flank and are about to cut off the whole german army in the mid and south. Our units from operation Südwind will try to keept the ARM and MECH busy, so our tanks have time to tighten the pocket and set up a line of defence.

Sep 3: Our armored divisions race towards Romania, totally unopposed. German units are busy at the front line - and the few divisions that mangaged to redeploy are easily repelled. If INF and MOT can follow fast enough, the pocket will be closed and doom awaits the german army.

Situation on Sep 3:

Sep 5: German TAC are bombing our tanks - we ignore them, since their damage will not make much of a difference now. The last province in Romania is undefended - our tanks race towards it, our fleet is ready to give the Romanian ships in port a proper welcome.

Situation on Sep 5:

Sep 6: Our fleet in the central black see spots a Romanian DD flotilla. It is damaged badly, but mangages to get away.

Sep 7: The pocket is closed! The whole mid and southern german army is now trapped. Do you smell this? Smells like victory! Our fleet engages a Romanian DD and SS, the DD flotilla is sunk.

Situation on Sep 7:

Sep 10: Diversive attack in Kiroy Rog ends. Losses: 15.000 SU vs. 50.000 GER. Our units are advancing further south.

Sep 16: Pocket is getting smaller and smaller. Victory at Rowne, 11.000 vs 52.00 losses. Once we have passed the swamps this will be over quick.

Situation on Sep 16:

Sep 19: In a desperate attempt, the germans start an attack on Meltipol - using 6 ARM divisions! Furthermore, they have taken Kielce back with help of 3 CAS and 2 TAC. This small victory will not change the outcome. But this is endgame for them, they will try to make a last stand.

Sep 21: Victory in the swamps of Korosten. Losses: 14.800 vs. 47.000. And in Kirvoy Rog. Losses 18.000 vs 23.000. Advanced INF div finished, improved electronic computers started.

Sep 22: Fighting in Meltipol is over, retreating from combat! A look at enemy combat efficency shows that many units inside the pocket are already out of supply.

Sep 23: We attempt to retake Odesse in order to cut the pocket in half. Since the city is only defended by a single division it should be a cakewalk. Two divs evaporate due to oil issue.

Sep 30: Vicory at Zhitomyr! Losses: 12.500 vs 114.000. The remaining survives flee into Kiev that is already encircled and under attack by 27 divisions. Near Odessa, the remaining german ARM divisions make their last stand. And on the western front, the germans have gathered enough forces to proceed with a counterattack. We fall back to Warsaw - as soon as the pocket is cleared, our next target will be: BERLIN! Total losses: 1.024.000 SU vs. 3.508.000 GER, inflicted: 3.208.000 vs 2.225.000.
Situation on Sep 30:

 

[GAGA Extrem]

nice pocket, how many germans did u encircle?

I can only guess, but that should be around 80-120 divisions. Many have already evaporated, but let's have a look at german casualties once the pocket is cleaned...

Btw, that new encirclement bonus for the attacker is neat, as it doubles for each frontline - attacking from 5 directions gives +60% CE... But... more comments once the germans are finished off...

 

[GAGA Extrem]

October 1942:

Endgame. The germans have lost most of their army - and their allies will soon switch sides, we will make them an offer they cannot refuse...

Oct 1-7: Battle for Kiev, the remaining 20 german divs stand VoV, but are out of supply and have lost their fortifications (since I destroy 0.1 lvl of landfort per hour). It is only a question of time until they surrender, many of my units are already moving westward. In Dnepropetrovosk, the remaining german Panzers keep fighting - and will probably survive my first attack. Although they are out of supplies, I have not enough hard attack to cope with them. But, well, we have time. Frontline supply service finished, frontline repair tech started.

The last stand in Kiev...

Oct 8-14: ... and the inevitable end. The last units that finally surrendered were the 4., 6., 10. and 16. Panzer-Division and the 162. Panzergrenadier-Division. They almost stood to the very last men.

The End of Kiev:

Oct 13: Attack on Perekop - 11 German units without ORG surrender after a few hours.

Oct 15-21: 3 MECH can be deployed. Our units get into position to deliever the final blow.

Oct 18: Tupolev gains +1 skill level. Nice. We move 1 towards democracy (partisans hurt our IC, +5 dissent).

Oct 22-31: Our tanks are fueled and ready to go - Operation Endgame will start on November 1st.

German losses after cleaning the pocket: 3.771.000 (vs 1.038.000 SU) I estimate roughly 90 divs were trapped in the pocket.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

Gaga -- hat's off to you. You turned what I considered to be a bitter defeat into a resounding victory!

Yeah, thanks. And: I have to admit, that game was intense. One of the best ones I have played in a while. With my optimized buildup the germans barely get past the first provinces, but THIS was epic!
Although your buildup was not that bad. It was just a substandard OOB and lack of units. With 30-50 more INF you would have been able to achieve a similiar result.

Speaking of Kiev, what level were the forts rebuilt to when you assaulted it?

The germans had rebuild them to lvl 10 a few months after they took the city in 1941. I never attacked the city (guess why ), but during endgame they were already down to level 7 from previous skirmishes.