Strategiclayabout

POLAND & HUNGARY * - Here the main event was the arrival of our first wave of reinforcements with five divisions. They're deployed at once in the Warsaw-Lodz-Krakow-Tarnow area where they begin to entrench. Those units will be the core of our main defensive line and will not be moved if it can be avoided. - Other than that it was a quiet turn as Soviets followed the script and advanced in the expected directions. There was some fire exchanged between 70 army and 52 corps west of Brest-Litovsk but nothing serious. The main action was in the south with 13 army pursuing Angelis HQ but being ambushed by 1div. - There was also action at the border with Hungary where 7 hungarian mobile corps was forced to retreat under heavy shelling by superior enemy forces (18 & 38 armies, 89G div). Fortunately 17 mountain corps had time to entrench just behind and stopped Ivans before they could get out of the mountains. - With everything going as planned Guderian had no reason to change his main plan so the second part of AGNU retreat was approved. 4th panzer army clustered around Brest-Litovsk while 17th army left Siedlce open and moved behind the Bug. However the loss of 41Pz at Minsk forced to shift 56Pz between the two armies. - 1st panzer army also executed its mission of keeping pressure south of Radom by eliminating 13 army while concentrating around Radom. 48Pz was fully reinforced to strengthen the line (82 corps, 1div & 1 artillery) and prepare for the coming counteroffensive. At the same time Angelis began to organize Tarnow's main defense line with two divisions. *

FINLAND Last hours of 7 corps pocket. * * - Our brave encircled 7 corps was finally forced to surrender in a true nordic tragedy with many men suiciding themselves. Others were seen throwing themselves at enemy lines in desperate attempts to flee or avoid being taken prisoners by the evil communists. It is said that some managed to cross the marshes northwards to freedom and safety but there isn't any official record aknowledging such a feat so it remains a war tale. - Soviets captured Viipuri unopposed as Karelia's jewel was left open by finnish panicky retreat. Since Germans are quite busy ont he other side of the Finland Gulf the situation is worsening by the day. Despite the sorry state of his troops Mannerheim ordered an ill-advised counterattack by 5 & 8 corps against advancing 6 & 109div. Instead of displaying an undying will to fight the higher losses sustained just made clear the fact that finnish morale was severely tanking. - West of the fallen Narva Friessner had to deal with impossible odds with its remaining forces. But somehow he managed to delay the inevitable outcome and block enemy units (29, 120, 124, 128 & 368div) for several days. Using guerilla tactics with no more than a weak regiment of veterans from the Polizei division he kept Estonia's door closed a bit longer. Of course that stand instantly became propaganda material and was even praised by Hitler himself with a rain of medals ! *

- The british help to Italians means more MPPs to get them started (50 MPPs per turn for 4 turns) so they can put pressure quickly on Austrians. - Not sure about Serbia surrender but NM isn't truly a factor unless you manage to isolate and kill serbian units in low supply before capturing their last capital. The main result is to free up CP units since Greece isn't that much of a threat. - It also gives some MPPs to Austria with locations (one city, one capital and one mine) and plunder (if you conquer Serbia with austrian units, remember Bulgarians are considered german units !!!). - Other than free CP railroading/operating to OE depends on Nish/Bulgaria so surrender isn't actually needed for that. - In a way losing Serbia allows the Tsar to focus ressources on Russia alone so it's a mixed bag. Still it can frustrate CP a lot not being able to wipe out the punny Serbians (psychological warfare ) and it also keeps one german artillery unit busy. If you decide to send UK units there don't forget you need an HQ to be effective.

BIELORUSSIA & BALTIC STATES * - So what happened south of Minsk ? Actually it's pretty unclear as Operation Falkenkopf was designed as a hit and run diversion. Weidling should have retreated his men once the job was done and Gomel airfields were cleared. - Instead he defended to death a strategically meaningless position in the middle of nowhere. Did he understood orders wrong ? Was he pinned down with no way out ? Did he thought his corps could break soviet assaults ? Or was he somehow persuaded that following the plan would bring an even greater disaster upon AGC ? - What is certain however is that soviet reserves were underestimated once again. When Manstein and everyone else on the german side believed they were exhausted Stalin proved them dead wrong. Following the lead of fresh Kharkov tank group previously battered units (28, 50 & 61 armies, 121 & 173 div) swarmed exposed 41Pz from all sides. - Facing overwhelming numbers our crews fared well and inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers even hoped to survive for a brief moment. However their foes determination was at least equal if not greater and a last ditch effort made of suicide molotov throwers took the brave down. - Losing AGC last mobile unit with reasonable strength level is a terrible blow and Manstein is furious. But it's even worse considering it should have participated in the great polish counterattack making Guderian scream as well. Nontheless there are some good sides to teh disaster as Weidling heroic defense consumed all enemy forces in the area. - Thus other units were able to maintain their lines around Minsk easily since Russians last armored reserves showed up well southwards. In the center 25 & 61div gained some ground but wern't able to get past german trenches. Further north 43 army advanced on Postavy but was quickly stopped by 43 corps. - At Polotsk massive human waves (8, 54, 62, 65 & 67 armies) tried to relieve the pocket (43G, 193 & 391div) west of the town. 40Pz & 52 corps lost many men but sustained all attacks though 16div managed to slip between them. It opened a narrow corridor that was enough to supply encircled troops and keep them alive. - Truth be told it even allowed the beleaguered Ivans to cross the Dvina and shatter what remained of depleted hungarian 1 corps. Luckily they obviously couldn't do more and wern't able to secure an actual bridgehead over the river. * - With panzer reserves already spent and only 3 & 40Pz remaining at 40% there isn't much to think about. Time to evacuate northern USSR is now or never and all units are ordered to fall back as fast as they can. However to conceal the scale of that maneuver and protect the main railroads that will operate units to Poland diversionary attacks had to be launched. - Surprisingly but also thanks to Manstein's abilities those hastily planned local offensives ended up to be a resounding success. What was left of 2nd panzer army nearly completely cleared the Beresine west bank with barely any casualties. In front of Minsk 69div held its ground against 10 corps but 25div was mauled by a pincer move (23 corps & 134div) and forced to flee along the Smolensk railroad. - In the south a wagnerian charge by 1rgt/45div and every rolling vehicle of 3Pz collapsed 28 army bridgehead and annihilated 61 army. Caught while reorganizing with several subunits still crossing pontoons the Russians were utterly defeated. Though nearby 41Pz nemesis (Kharkov tank group) was stranded in the swamps on the other side and hadn't time to react at all. - Further north a difficult decision had to be made but AGC's commander was willing to take risks to get rid of 43 army. It was a flawless kill with 28 & 35 corps obliterating the red spearhead after it was cut from supply and 11G army support by FBD 4 div flanking move. That poorly equiped unit has no chance to survive in the open but its sacrifice was well worth it. * - Northwards continuous psychological pressure took its toll and an usually brilliant Reinhardt made a terrible mistake. Broken 6 hungarian corps was sent to the rear and replaced by 52 corps evacuating Polotsk as scheduled. However adjacent 29 corps guarding the railroad bridge didn't move at all leaving a gap on both sides of the two units ! With soviet mobile divisions ready to advance on both flanks losing those two corps in their entirety is a distinct possibility... - Guderian immediately stepped up and altered his plans to prepare for the threatening encirclement. Units ready to transfer in Poland were ordered to redeploy with 4LW AT being fully reinforced on the right and wounded 1 corps moved in front of Ovinsk on the left. Those desperate measures arn't enough to guarantee 3rd panzer army safety but they should prevent a complete disaster. - Fortunately unexpected help came from AGN where Hansen "diversion" degenerated in an all-out sweep of dumbfounded Reds. First things went as planned with 40Pz properly routing 54 & 67 army south of Ludza before moving back past Ovinsk with only 20% of its men left. - Then german infantry smelled blood and went berserk with 4 & 72 corps plus 93div launching a full scale assault without orders. The shock vaporized 67 army and an AT unit nearly submerging the stunned remnants of 54 army as well. - Hopefully that will shake a bit Stavka because AGN just put itself in big trouble to achieve such a "victory". 18th & 16th armies are scattered all over the place without any order and their back is wide open near Pskov. At least it's better for AGC with air units already out and most land ones reaching evacuation positions as intended. *

Hehe, - That's an interesting point you make Will and you'll see what happens about it in 2 turns (including this one). But basically Stavka needs Brest-Litovsk to do that because of supply and for now I have it ! - MPPs: actually it is bad because I'm supposed to be on the defensive and use terrain/ entrenchment to minimize casualties. A 3:2 loss ratio against me is no good at all because USSR produces twice what Germany has so it means Stalin's superiority will grow very quickly... - That said it's only the soviet turn and Germans usually manage to fill the gap on their own turn as you'll see below. Overall I need a regular 2:3 loss ratio in my favor to wear down Russians and maintain force balance while a 1:2 ratio would allow me to "win" .

CH9: The Great Escape (7-12 August 1944) General der Artillerie Helmuth Otto Ludwig Weidling commander of 41 panzer korps. * * - Uh oh... Welcome to the worst german turn since a while with one panzer unexpectedly down. Seems like having elaborate plans going too well for their own good is becoming a nasty habit of mine. The russian shark gobbled up the Polotsk bait hook line and sinker but didn't stop there. He swallowed up the fishing rod and started munching Hitler's fingers before he pulled back his hand : p . - Anyway, numbers are quite bleak at 1,043 MPPs lost to 714 (16,997 to 19,310 overall). With the 3 units destroyed we're now down to 90 against 122 on land our lowest point at a 3:4 ratio. Furthermore, those units were costly so I have no hope to rebuild them anytime soon as panzers and axis allied units have no production priority. Time to fall back full speed ! - The good side is despite losses there was no surprise and Stavka was nice enough to advance along OKH predicted pathes. Finland is still a mess but enemy main offensives in Poland and Bielorussia are under relative control. There is nearly no activity in the south so I begin to wonder if I need more reserves down there... *

Ohoooo ^^ , - Nice force build-up around Lille and that british infantry tech 1 will quickly add to CP misery no doubt ! Summer of 1915 will be hot with Italians knocking on the austrian backdoor too... - Now the Serbs just have to hold long enough to stretch the Austrians a bit more but with the railroad to OE cleared at Nish bad things are bound to happen down there pretty soon... - Waiting for the exciting stuff to come with Lemberg's final assault and the Entente offensive on the strategic chocolate factories near Bruges ! Oh and about Holland don't forget dowing will also give free corps to Prussia, maybe you don't want that ...

Thanks for the year statistics , - Actually taking Nish is a great strategic victory because it opens the railroad to Sofia and the Turks beyond, now if the Bulgarians would be kind enough to join... - One detail: I saw "von Hautier" twice as a prussian general but I've always known a "von Hutier" is it a game typo for the HQ name ? * - About the elite step traaaaaap () maybe it's the "elite" thing that is misleading. Maybe we should consider those extra steps more like "shock" ones. They give more punch but are mostly "temporary". - That said their use is also different from other SCGC games. It's probably better to build only some and use them where they will have the most effect (against fortresses or main objectives after heavy artillery shelling). - So maybe protect the better corps from the start (those with 1,5 stars) and try to build that second star by killing easy preys. With infantry tech advantage, 2 more steps and best HQs they should maul any foe with some artillery support (think Italians when they join). * - Entente shelling along western coasts is always a pain. That's why capturing Calais or better Abbeville is great since enemy ships will shell the town and not the unit. Anyway, don't let the Belgians take back the chocolate factories, it's a strategic objective for Easter ! - Well done holding at Lemberg despite heavy russian commitment, the cost in morale and ressources will surely pay later ! And congratulations for making the Baltic a prussian lake. - One last word about Aqaba: it reminds me bold UK palyers can amphib in the Red Sea before Turks join CP and capture the town before you can do anything and it hurts a lot ! Glad you were able to seize it freely .

Hi there , Still enjoyoing AoD after many hours and spotted some new little things after trying other strategies: * 1) another funny tile corner in Newfoundland (north of St John's) after Uk transfers capital to Canada (pic 1). * 2) rail operating seems broken at the turkish border with Syria/Iraq. Can't operate past Adana both ways as Axis despite having supply 5 or more everywhere (pic 2). * 3) only small details but there are several units with same names in production pools (pic 3) and also a lack of names for others (mostly GAR units, like one for Italia but there is also the light tank unit or several divisions for USSR). So maybe reviewing the name pool if you have spare time . *

Thanks Will and mvdh1 , I can tell you next turns have some surprises in store for both sides and it will be worth reading . About Romania, the fortification I built north of Bucharest helps a lot but I guess the great tank battles in Poland and Bielorussia have also reduced the pressure down there... Thanks for your support !

Hi Will , - Not looking that good in the Baltic and Serbia but having that annoying artillery unit down there means other fronts are safe from german shells. Remember to keep an eye on Bulgaria ! - About russian navy I didn't say anything but usually I think most players keep the ships in ports forcing prussian navy to watch its back. It also saves MPPs and NM but who knows... - The siege of Krakow is now threatened. But at least you contained the evil german invaders only losing your first NM location this turn. Things are also under control near the prussian border. - With winter coming and a better than usual frontline in the West you still have many good cards in hand . Plus those Austrians don't look like they can handle a shovel that well hehe ! - Curious to see if you'll get Norway on your side. That won't hurt Germans as bad as Holland changing side/diplomatic stance but it's never pleasant for the Kaiser hehe ! Waiting for the next turn !

Hi there ^^ , - The change in color to show movement is fine. It stands out well on the map that is "darker" than other SC games. - Seems dumb AOK can't even comprehend the obvious genius of the Lodz maneuver by von Idontcarewhataustrianssay . Anyway Serbians will soon crumble and Vienna will be able to celebrate ! - It's that kind of situation that makes me think playing with four players (France-UK-Italy, Russia-Serbia, Prussia, Austria-OE) would make things veeeery interesting though it would increase the delay between turns (but shorten each player turn length). * - Now that some turns have passed I think we can say it's clear delaying Belgium invasion isn't a good idea. Since WWI quickly becomes a trench war the chance to grab ground unopposed must be seized (NM and MPPs locations). - That said there is still merit in withholding some corps to buy their elite steps even more those in the East with 1,5 star instead of one if I remember well. - Another point to consider about experience is artillery, looks like you didn't reinforce it so you'll lose any/most experience gained in Serbia when you do. Did you decide that because of a lack of MPPs or just to use it sooner ? * - Nice ship hunting in the Baltic, not sure it was worth it NM wise to get out of ports for the Tsar but it certainly had some cost for the Kaiser too piling up with the one from RN blockade.

COMMENTS Destroyed stugs of 9 AT in the woods south of Lublin. * * - Stats of the turn are 205 MPPs lost to 699 (15,954 to 18,596 overall) or a near 1:3.5 loss ratio in our favor that's what we want ! 4 soviet units were destroyed 2 land (93 to 122) and 2 air (12 to 18). However that kind of result will be hard to attain on a regular basis when facing a seemingly inexhaustible russian tank supply. - Operation Falkenkopf reduced soviet air power against AGC by exposing its last mobile reserves but it will cripple enemy scouting and deentrenching abilities for a while in that area. Having Stavka partly blind at the critical time and spot when OKH shift forces to Poland for Guderian's counterattack is of utmost importance. - Also the Vitebsk gamble worked a bit too well and nearly caused AGN whole front to collapse but it attracted the bulk of red assault units. Thus our remaining panzers should only face weak units and with the Beresine to protect on one side they should be ok though some casualties are expected before they can retreat. - The new Polotsk pocket is a very tempting target but contains only divisions then it will probably be better to just let them rot while I evacuate what remains of 16th and 18th armies. I hope it will distract Stalin from more pressing matters so I'll do everything I can to make him believe it's a key battle instead of the mere rear guard action it actually is. * - That's because I intend to begin AGC retreat and mass transfer of units to Poland next turn depending on what happens. My estimate is I will need at least 2-3 turns to complete it and have the necessary forces for a major offensive in Poland. You can see below the theoretical deployment of that giant trap. - The shape of the 3 sides salient that should become an open ground battlefield can already be seen this turn. 17th army will lure Ivans forward in the center by retreating and even abandon Siedlce if necessary. However it will hold the line behind the town at all costs to conceal arrival of 2nd panzer and elements of 16th armies. - 4th panzer will guard the Bug line and concentrate around Brest-Litovsk while 2nd army will shift from Minsk via Baranavichy to cover its left flank. 1st panzer army will maneuver around Radom playing the mobile defense card and giving ground north of the river while exerting continuous pressure south of it. - Of course things will probably not unfold as planned (nooooo kidding ) but reduced supply from Jaroslaw and Lublin will hinder enemy moves whatever happens. On the other hand Germans will benefit from better logistics and strategic mobility with Warsaw not far in the back. It should allow OKH to achieve consequent numerical superiority at the main striking point. * Next will be CH9: The Great Escape (7-12 August 1944) * Guderian's plan for the counterattack in Poland. *

ROMANIA & CARPATHIA * - Very quiet front except for the usual attack north of Bucharest (27 army vs 26 corps) with no result for Stalin. Nontheless a small scale counterattack was organized further west (4 mountain div vs 4G army) to alleviate a bit the pressure on romanian capital. However due to 3rd panzer army situation in the north 29 & 52 corps in reserve near Ploesti and Constanta were sent to Polotsk. *

POLAND & HUNGARY Given the shift in areas of operation there will be no more Pripyat Marshes screens alone. * * - As expected after the humiliation of "Das Schlag" in front of Lublin Ivans came back with a vengeance. Our heroes from last turn suffered heavy casualties 48Pz being down to 30% and 9AT being halved as well as 340div. - However they once again stopped enemy armor before retreating leaving a third of 12 tank and two thirds of 1 ukrainian tank alive. That left following infantry (1G, 60 & 70 armies, 107div) led by 7G cav unable to break through the second line fully entrenched between Lublin and the Bug (Guderian HQ, 52 corps, 52div). - Still there were some rough times when 11div managed to sneak unnoticed in the woods south of the town to surprise 2 artillery. Our gunmen were reorganizing and couldn't do a thing to avoid destruction but their comrades from 1 artillery quickly forced the attackers to take cover behind trees. - It wasn't better for red arms at Jaroslaw where 13 & 40 armies wasted themselves against Angelis prepared defenses while 82 corps blocked any moves by 18 army & 77div. Further south in the mounatins 38 army and 38div assaulted 7 hungarian mobile corps to no avail despite massive shelling. - Though AGNU held well and decimated the Reds Guderian knows he can't afford many more losses. Angelis and Harpe stand firm on the flanks but units under his command are beyond exhaustion in the center. Furthermore his primary supply centers are now on the frontline and directly under threat. - With Manstein's situation worsening by the minute it's time to let Soviets overextend themselves while waiting for reinforcements from AGC and AGN. To make sure everything goes as planned Speedy Heinz' staff is operated near Postavy to oversee unit transfer and provide additional logistic support. - In the meantime Roman (lvl6) takes charge in the center to organize the army group's retreat. His task is to delay Stavka's advance long enough to establish a new defensive positions on the Radom-Siedlce line. 48Pz is asked a last effort to distract the enemy and allow a smooth evacuation of more vulnerable units. - First it forces 7G cav to retreat in panic then together with 52 corps it crushes 107div before rolling back full speed westwards. To complete the illusion of a classic pincer counterattack 214div even launched a bold and successful attack on 10G AT guarding the railroad bridge on the Bug. - On the left Harpe (lvl 6) concentrated his forces around the Brest fortress and 56Pz. Defending difficult terrain with limited forces he will have the same role as Neday's (lvl 4) 1st hungarian army on the other side. They are to "keep control" of Stavka's offensive by canalizing it between the Bug and the Carpathian Mountains (good luck boys : D). *

Hi ouldy1 , You can use shift on your keyboard: 1) select one unit 2) keep shift key pressed 3) move your selected unit as usual If there is another adjacent unit in the destination tile they will "swap".

Mmh ? Was it so ugly in Serbia that the pic was censored showing instead the glorious backward conquest of East Prussia by invincible Tsar armies twice ?

Ah so there is an AAR for the bad guys too . Will be interesting to see how all those elite steps do in the next offensive(s) ! Good luck to CP then.

So you're at it again hehe ^^ . Yep quite unusual start, also curious to see what's going on in the West german side... Good luck to both of you for that new game !

FINLAND The Salpa Line & abandoned 4 corps trench in the woods east of Viipuri. * * - In Finland Mannerheim's foolish offensive from last turn had weakened 4 corps in the center of the line and the Soviets didn't fail to notice it. The exhausted men couldn't withstand another pounding by red shells and deserted their trenches when 97 div assaulted them. That left 7 corps isolated with its back to a lake and unable to reach safety by its own means. Though a narrow corridor remains towards Viipuri it is under constant artillery fire and no man would go through unscathed. - Thus they are ordered to sacrifice themselves to buy time for their comrades and hold out as long as possible. At this point finnish arms are in a terrible situation with only 5 corps combat-worthy. With 4 corps fleeing westwards it has no choice but to abandon Viipuri leaving 7 corps to its fate after all the efforts made to save it from the Svir trap. Such a tragedy forced Germans to ship equipment urgently to bring back 8 corps defending Lappeenranta at full strength. - Helsinki has good hopes to stop the russian hordes on the Salpa Line with increased support from Berlin but unfortunately Hitler has other priorities. Actually his eyes are all over Narva where Friessner previously deprieved of all units but the Polizei div had to give up on the town. There is no reserve to send there with the front south of Lake Peipus already crumbling so the Gulf of Finland is lost. What could justify to waste ressources over Finland especially when suspicion of a finnish surrender is arising ? *

BIELORUSSIA & BALTIC STATES (part 2/2) Sorry for the wait, here we go again ! * * - Since two weeks Manstein was contemplating an audacious move to exploit Stavka's shift of forces towards the north. With most of soviet mobile forces decimated by the Vitebsk offensive red infantry was left on its own in front of Minsk. Most of enemy units there are in a sorry state after more than a month of continuous combat. Russian commanders in the area are no fools and the Battle of the Kessel is still fresh in their memories so they deployed two AT units to cover their back along the Smolensk railroad. - It is clear they expect our armored reserves to counter-attack the weak spot between the Beresine and the northern marshes. A logical assumption considering that open piece of land is the better terrain for panzers to make a breakthrough. AGC leader will use what looked like a safe bet to his advantage by killing two birds with one stone. Codenamed Falkenkopf (Falcon's Head) the operation will target VVF airfields near Gomel while a diversion to the north will also reestablish firm communications with 3rd panzer army. - Everything starts well on the left with 35 corps pushing back 33G div in the swamps but 10 corps couldn't rout nearby 31 army. In the center 2 hungarian & 23 corps managed to eliminate 44G div spearhead while 134div nearly crushed 51 army. Sadly none of those units were destroyed despite heavy support from 29 nebelwerfer but we clearly got the Ivans' attention ! Manstein HQ was repositioned in the rear to organize to prepare the evacuation of Minsk. - Now to the main action where 1rgt/45div attacked 61 army along Gomel railroad and sent it fleeing across the Beresine. 4LW corps followed southwards against 50 army and opened the way for our panzers while 267div pinned down 28 army on the river. 3 & 41Pz were then free to massacre III (tac bombers) & IV (med bombers) aerial corps without even taking a loss. They even ignored Rokossovsky HQ (lvl 7) who could only watch the disaster unfolding from the other bank ! * The results of Operation Falkenkopf. * * General der Panzertruppe Otto von Knobelsdorff commander of 40 panzer korps. * * - With several HQs damaged AGN supply network is crumbling compromising a swift retreat. Guderian is sent near Postavy from Poland to support an exhausted Reinhardt while bulgarian logistics elements under Marinov arrive at Ovinsk. 29 & 52 corps freshly reinforced are operated to Polotsk all the way from Romania to screen 3rd panzer army fall back on the new line. They replace our heroic remnants from XI fliegerkorps who are evacuated far in the rear and won't see action for a while. - The withdrawal on the Postavy-Polotsk railroad has eliminated the encirclement threat from the south but the northern one is still endangering the whole front. Weakened 1 & 6 hungarian corps attack northwards and reduce 43G div bridgehead over the Dvina though at an appallingly high cost. Fortunately they distract enemy attention long enough for Hansen to reorganize his wavering troops and perform a decisive counterattack to save Ovinsk. - 16th army forms a defensive wedge in front of Ludza with 4 & 30 corps on the sides and 93div at the the tip. That will both protect 18th army evacuation from Pskov and shield 40Pz move to the south. Having that unit being fully reinforced just days ago was truly a relief and a wise decision. Though it isn't in the best condition for an offensive with low morale and preparedness it's still far enough to create a big shock for unsuspecting Soviets... - Slipping through the woods west of Ludza at night von Knobelsdorff's panzers emerged from the trees in the morning of 5th August. Taken from the rear 72 army was completely surprised and quickly crushed between the armored hammer and the Polotsk anvil. Dozens of trucks carrying supply to support forward troops were also destroyed while sealing the pocket. That left 43G, 193 & 391div unable to advance or receive reinforcements securing Ovinsk and AGN lifeline. - That allowed Loch to organize an orderly retreat though the lack of transport means limited 18th army movements. 28 corps left Pskov for Postavy with the last train available covered by 1 & 72 corps. They cleared their side of the Velikaya one last time by pushing back 1 & 2S armies before falling back on the Pskov-Ovinsk railroad with 89 & 300 div. The situation there is still under control but who knows for how long ? *

RESEARCH - My AAR had to wait a bit but I played several hotseat games to look at research results. You have the tech hits for 3 of those games below and unless I'm very unlucky I can confirm some things: - A) It's of no use for Axis: 1) The probability to get a tech hit before 1945 is very very low for Germans (1%/turn for several techs at some point). 2) Level 5 techs are a rarity: I got only one hit at all (infantry in January 1945 hotseat 1) ! 3) Usually (with starting chits) production level 4 will be the first and last hit (in November-December with some luck). 4) I tried a game (hotseat 3) allocating one chit in intelligence for Germans but the hit comes too late to change things. - It works well for USSR: 1) Usually all ongoing starting techs will complete in 1944. 2) First hit is quite random varying from early August at best (hotseat 2) to early October at worst. (though infantry or tank 4 starting August would probabaly be a game killer ) 3) However by November all critical fields should be ok giving tech parity with Germans. 4) It's not worth it to reinvest after a hit (that said most soviet techs are already maxed out at level 4). * - It seems far better for Germans to disband chits at start and get those 450 MPPs to reduce Bagration first turn shock. Having intel 3 for Stalin and 1 for Adolf seems to kill that part of the campaign for Axis. Waiting for an unlikely tech 5 late in the game has no appeal though it can perhaps shift victory level by one in certain circumstances. Most games will be decided by hte time you get your tech level 5 and if you're fighting for Berlin-Warsaw you probably won't have time to pull back units from the front (and lose entrenchment) to upgrade them anyway. - I'm not sure how to deal with that: 1) reduce soviet intel tech to 2 with one starting intelligence chit ? (it will give more chance for german chits to hit but probably delay soviet research results a bit too) 2) just forget/eliminate german research/chits and give some more starting MPPs to Germans (or one more ressource somewhere on the map) 3) make german techs happen by event (not very fond of it but still one way to do it) 4) leave it alone and let player decide it he wants the MPPs or possible tech . * * WEATHER TILES - I also spotted two tiles out of their surrounding weather zones (see pics below): 1) the tile west of Posen 2) the town tile of Constanta (When it snows the town doesn't have the snowy "skin" like others) (Probably because it is over a sea/costal tile like its port ?) * Thanks for reading !

Congratulations for your win Ashesfall , - That's what I call a stunning victory ! Things looked bad in early 1942 and lile Ancient Demon I believed you were in for a loss. But Stalin let all those troops near Kiev being encircled and it changed the game. You had a chance and seized it, well done ! Thanks to both of you for the thrilling AAR .

Hi back ^^ , - You two first pics are the same, must be because you were shocked huhu . Well I have an idea of what happened from a pic used in another thread about a supply question for towns without rail hehe. - That means summer 1943 will see Axis go all out for Moscow I suppose... Having a Kiev encirclement is quite bad but having it in June 1942 instead of September 1941 leaves you some room to maneuver. All in all it evens the game so it will be more fun (for readers ).

BIELORUSSIA & BALTIC STATES (part 1/2) Soviet plan for the fall of Vitebsk and the encirclement of 3 Panzer Army. * * - Some good news in the midst of a not so wonderful turn with our 22 engineers finishing the fortifications near Minsk. Not that it matters much given flanking possibilities but it will help protect our primary evactuation lane for AGC. With some luck it will also trouble Stavka a bit making our foes think we want to make a stand there... - In front of Minsk Russians made little to no progress and even evacuated 51 army from its bridgehead over the Beresine. 31 army with 25 & 69div made some gain along the Smolensk railroad by pushing back 4 hungarian & 20 corps. Diminished 44G div had some spirit left to forge ahead and probe our lines even surprising Manstein HQ in the process. - 33G div was diverted northwards in an effort to support the encirclement of 3rd panzer army but was quickly stopped by 35 corps. Units in the south (28, 50 & 61 armies) didn't move at all and seem to be in terrible shape like most enemy forces. 2G cav and Partisans are still lurking in the swamps near the Baranavichy railroad but we won't let them distract us. * - As Vitebsk was left empty Soviets easily captured it and began to advance towards Polotsk. However with 43 corps & 4LW AT keeping the railroad under fire from the other bank of the Dvina they had to stop quickly. With Germans entrenched in swamps and woods crossing the river was a dreadfull task and several enemy units wasted themselves trying. - Despite enormous losses (1 bielorussian tank, Mobile & Moscow mech down to 50% or below) Russians kept coming (11G, 43 & 65 armies) and our brave men had to retreat having lost half of their comrades. Thanks to difficult terrain they were able to reform a defensive line with 371 & FBD 4 div plus 10 corps in the back. - However the Reds still had some fight in them and 93div managed to reach Reinhardt's HQ crippling 3rd panzer army's supply. Not a big deal by itself but quite a problem with situation on the flanks deteriorating quickly. To the north underequiped 6 hungarian corps crumbled after suffering 50% casualties and fled to the other side of the Dvina leaving Polotsk exposed. * - A flow of Ivans (62 & 72 armies, 43G, 193 & 391div) set free by the previous fall of Ludza immediately swarmed through the hole nearly annihilating everything in its path. Wholer HQ and the Polotsk airfields were submerged with most of fliegerkorp IV stukas destroyed on the ground. - Fortunately an heroic kampfgruppe hastily improvised with land personnel from fliegerkorp JG XI was able to hold the town avoiding a complete disaster. Despite that setback the red tide still had some momentum left and recon elements seized the railroad bridge to an open Ovinsk over the Dvina and even reached Hansen's HQ (a bad habit : D) ! - Further north Loch couldn't help being attacked by 46 army while his own command was tied on the Velikaya by 5 other ones. 18th army was able to held but with a growing gap to the south and dwindling supply Pskov isn't secure anymore. The situation becomes critical especially with bad news also coming from Narva... * * Attack on fliegerkorp IV airfield near Polotsk. *