AAR - "1914: Call to Arms" (Central Powers) - Battle of the Newbies!

[AshesFall]

Emergency staff meeting

After the last turn I spent some time thinking, and I have come to a few realizations. My current course isn’t entirely viable, and I must adjust my heading or I will certainly capsize, like the central powers fleet (ugh, that one gives me small heart spasms every time I think about it )

I’ll use some of last turns’ screenshots to show my thinking.

The West

Now, the west front is what prompted most of my thinking. It is abundantly clear that I cannot hold against the British in the north. They just have too much artillery with too many shells. It seems my technological advantage has entirely evaporated in the west, perhaps with the exception of the airforce, which doesn’t seem to be capable of accomplishing much anyhow. Perhaps if I had the resources to build it fully, it could be effective. It’s mostly my own nearly criminal negligence in -not- (edit) building every single available artillery piece that is punishing me.

The realization I’ve come to is this, as this particular Great War has unfolded there are precisely three major nations and one minor that matters. France, Russia, Prussia, and the US. The British are relatively unharmed, and very difficult to strike any telling blows against at this stage. The French however, now has a national morale on par with our own, and the Rus has fallen far below. The US must be kept out of the war for as long as possible, that is all.

This then, is the plan. The brit seems content to sit in the north, in great depth and with huge concentrations of artillery, and slowly mow down my lines. Let him. I’ll try to minimize losses, fall back when I have to, and let him destroy corps. As long as I do not break entirely and it keeps the brit busy, fine. I will look to construct a defensive line behind the rivers in Belgium, somehow I must find the units to send there and start digging, so that the line is solid behind the river when we have to retreat behind it. Nothing of NM value lies there anyway.

Meanwhile, any and all measures possible must be taken to strike blows at the French. I will only win this game by getting Russia to surrender at 1% morale, and the French to do the same. To this end, we must reach Verdun and Belfort at any cost. We will build siege ladders with the corpses of our dead if necessary.

Italy

While Prussian conquests here are probably the only thing keeping their NM level (it hasn’t moved much at all the past four turns, despite losses and disasters of the diplomatic sort) it seems we must attempt to conquer Italy sooner than originally planned. The reason for this is simple, we need the units to facilitate the fall of Russia. We’ll take it with a Prussian unit if possible, as they still have far too many units to build and the Austrians are nearly all built out.

Russia

This nation has proven to be extremely resilient. Despite being under immense pressure, it continues to hold and to strike back in uncomfortable ways that drain resources from other fronts. I have decided not to encourage Lenin, I do not want the extra NM drain on Prussia towards the endgame, and if the fall of Russia takes a little longer, it is that much extra NM for us in the meantime. However, we must somehow decisively end them.

The central “pocket” seems to have a soft underbelly. If we can topple Italy, it will be possible to redeploy some six or seven corps with artillery support to Krakow and Tarnow. With their aid, the pocked should be possible to reduce and destroy.

I have not shown this before, but in southern Russia two cavalry squadrons race to grab territory around a Russian corps that wander lost on the steppes

The ottomans

Since I have decided to completely ignore the brit, and any venture in Egypt would probably be fairly futile anyhow, I plan to redeploy the ottomans to help the actual important battles against Russia as much as possible. Holding cities to the rear, perhaps even forming an army of their own to invade the south and hasten the fall of the Tzar.

Let’s see how this goes!

[Strategiclayabout]

- Only two supply sources left in the Brest pocket (and no railway in or out so forces there are on their own), if Russians don't do something big quickly you'll bag around 20 enemy units. That should be a death blow for the Tsar. By the way, is your cavalry doing well in Ukraine ^^ ?

- Question is, can you finish the job in Poland soon enough for 1918 Ludendorff offensives ? Italy seems all but toast however Brits are gaining more ground each turn...

EDIT: oops just a bit late ^^ . Nice idea this emergency staff meeting !

[lettowvorbeck]

I'm not sure you have the strength for simultaneous offensives in Italy, E. France, and Russia with time a factor (with all the while your right flank in the West crumbling). You might be better off putting off the France offensive (which will cost you heavily if your opponent is capably using his level 2 artillery) and use the savings to shore up your right there and accelerate the fall of Russia and Italy.

[Bill101]

Allright, thank you for the comments as usual!

I'll need to get Hubert Carter or Bill in on the Italy questions. Neither the manual nor the Strategy guide are very clear on how exactly NM for occupation and surrender and so on works.

For example;

- Does only the nation who -first- conquered the town/city/fortress with a unit belonging to them gain the per turn NM bonus, or does the "latest" entering unit count?

- Does only one nation gain the NM bonus for occupied cities, or the entire "side"?

- If a country (in this case italy) surrenders, their cities will still say "occupied". Do they still contribute their national morale per turn value? In that case, who gets the NM boost, the nation who conquered the capital (and therefore the surrendering country) or the nation that first entered the city and conquered it in the first place, before the surrender of the country?

Tricky stuff, and of vital importance for whether to force russia/italy to surrender or just keep them bled out with no cities in their capital until they hit 1%,

Hi

Sapare has already pretty much covered everything regarding National Morale in his reply, apologies for not being around myself to answer sooner.

As to whether or not you should try to knock out Italy or just occupy the north, there are two main factors to consider:

a) The situation elsewhere. Can you afford to continue the offensive in Italy given the strong demands for forces elsewhere?

How resilient the Italians appear to be. In real life, British, French and even some US forces went to Italy to help defend it. Your opponent delayed sending any reinforcements there until it was a little too late to stop your advance. Consequently if you can screen his forces in north west Italy, and advance in strength on Rome, then it might be worthwhile.

The blow to France of losing Italy would be a good incentive, and the naval balance of power in the Med would suddenly shift much more in your favour too.

But looking at the other fronts, I'm glad I'm not the one who has to actually make the decision!!

[AshesFall]

Turn 44

@lettowvorbeck: No doubt you are completely right! ^^ Unfortunately I had the time to do a turn before I saw your post, and a general advance was called. I’ll have to live with the consequences!

I don’t intend to sacrifice a large amount of Prussians in the east (they’re more the anvil than the hammer) and Italy will fall shortly. I’m not sure I can just let the French sit there and rebuild and regroup, their lines feel weak somehow, with cavalry manning the front in two places. We’ll see how it goes!

The West front

Prince Rupperecht called a general advance across the entire southern sector in france. Two full armies marched resolutely towards the French killing ground, and the artillery was moved up to support. The British landed a corps in Calais, striking at the back of our line. Retaliation strikes destroyed it. We now wait with bated breath for the slaughter among the killing fields to commence.

The Prussian-Russian front

In the North Von Bulow continues to dance around the Russian corps, withdrawing to resupply his army. The ottomans have sent small detachments to guard the Prussian rear.

In the Brest pocket our forces pause before Russian trenches, destroying one corps after a measured bombardment, and probing the sides of the line to find Lublin housing Yudenich and his staff. Probing attacks with surely make him withdraw from the city, leaving the Austrians to occupy it.

The Italian front

In Italy, our forces position for the coming assault on Rome. In the next two weeks the artillery will move up and our forces receive reinforcements, we estimate that Rome and with it Italy will fall in the two weeks after that.

General Staff

Prussia develops Long range aircraft lvl 2, and the Ottomans shell production to lvl 2.

[AshesFall]

Turn 45

The West front

The slaughter was predictably horrible on the line opposite the French. Three corps were destroyed, and another driven back badly damaged. However, the French took quite a few losses themselves. The replacement corps that moved in to fill the gaps left by their comrades, struck the French lines, supported by the weight of our artillery. They destroyed one French corps near Verdun, and damaged several more. We forsee no difficulty in digging in across the lines. The British snuck another corps into Calais, and our combined attacks could not shatter them. Instead, we withdrew to a new line, hoping that one of the corps left near Calais would survive.

We have begun moving troops to create our Metz-Antwerp line. Soon they will start constructing defenses behind these rivers. Hopefully, the Brits will get no farther before winter.

The Prussian-Russian front

Von Bulow has moved towards Dvinsk, having reports of several Russian corps hitting a Prussian one near Yuryev. The question is what the corps around Vitebsk will do.

In the Brest pocket, the daring Austrian detachments that took Ivangorod and Radom received reinforcements, having dug in to survive Russian counter attacks. One Russian corps was destroyed and Von Phleve struck by our advance, while Yudenich retreated and left Lublin to the Austrians. The Russians in the southern part of the pocket are now low on supplies and their morale is abysmal.

The Italian front

Preparations for the assault on Rome proceeds on schedule, and the French continue to retreat towards Turin as we give chase.

General Staff

The ottomans develop infantry warfare 2.

The Prussians keep pace with rebuilding their losses and reinforcements, but little else.

[AshesFall]

Turn 46 – August 18th, 1917

The West front

Both the corps near Calais were shattered before they could withdraw and the British advanced with haste, contacting our new lines. Our men fear the coming thunder of their artillery. The Metz-Antwerp line continues to be strengthened.

French counter attacks across our lines were largely ineffective, damaging a single corps moderately and allowing them to withdraw in good order. We are not dug in, right in front of Verdun and Nancy. Lange Max and our fleet of airships lay waste to the city, reducing supply to 0, while hitting Verdun to begin doing the same there.

The Prussian-Russian front

Another Russian corps arrived near Yuryev, It seems I was right in moving von towards that location, and the Russian corps probing Dvinsk was badly mauled. More corps have been seen moving towards Minsk. The Bulgarians have joined our blocking corps at Baranovich, and may be able to deal with them.

Bulgarians moved north to help block the russians from escaping, and small attaxcks took place. Russian attacks on us were ineffective, even with artillery, and we will soon be able to crush this pocket.

The Italian front

The attack began, and Rome fell. A Prussian cavalry squadron, as per Falkenhayns agreement with the former emperor, paraded down the streets of Rome. A major victory, and one that promises great things for the future. This army will now be largely redeployed to Russia, and partly to our new defensive line in Belgium.

General Staff

There are strikes in the Ukraine… surely a sign of the Russian peoples flagging will to fight!

Once again, Prussia rebuilds all shattered corps. Massive reinforcements are inbound in September and October.

[Strategiclayabout]

- With Russia and Italy now at 30 NM and sinking you'll have a short window to win the West, will USA get there in time to save the day for Entente ^^ ?

- Between Germany and Austria (even OE) you'll have masses of artillery to send there, not sure Allies will be able to match that...

- Where will the parade detachment go next, Russia ?

[AshesFall]

Turn 47 – September 1st, 1917

We have received a valuable surge in enthusiasm for the war among our peoples. The fall of Rome is greatly celebrated in Prussia and in Austria, and mourned by the French. Good.

The West front

The Brits keep moving forward, two more corps fall to their advance even though they rushed after us as fast as we retreated. Every effort if being made to shore up the line by rail and hard marching, perhaps bad weather will slow them down a little more while we try to complete the Metz-Antwerp line.

By contrast, French attacks on our lines were ineffective, costing them more men than us despite their artillery supporting the attack. Our answer, when it came, drove the French from Verdun and destroyed another corps on the line. “look” spoke our guns “how easily we drive you from your most valued fortress”.

The Prussian-Russian front

Massed Russian attacks failed to clear either out cavalry squadron nor our corpse holding Yuryev. Von Bulow moves to wipe these Russians off the map, while another corps reconnoiters Vitebsk. Minsk is holding, and the Bulgarians are coming to its’ aid.

We are closing our fist on the Brest pocket, striking at the flanks and at the Russian command structure. Kornilow was savaged by the Austrians and left in disarray, Samsonov struck by two corps and nearly destroyed before he beat a hasty retreat. Soon, the Rus will have no effective leadership, and then they will truly be doomed. One Russian corps was destroyed, and several more damaged along the flanks.

The Italian front

The Austrians close in on Turin, surrounding the city on two sides and bringing the artillery up to the line.

General Staff

The ottomans develop shell production lvl 3. Their artillery, at least, is now on par with the western powers.

Prussia had vast funds this turn after the exacting of war reparations from surrendered Italy. Some of it was invested in stronger diplomatic channels with the US (now ten chits total across the central powers), we must make sure that Wilson stays neutral. Perhaps we can guarantee some of the debt the French and the English owe them upon our victory?

[AshesFall]

Turn 48

Several interesting things these past weeks. The entente is still active towards persuading the Dutch to stop sending us their grain, this must be prevented if possible. The Russian Tsar loses his grip on the country, and abdicated. Strangely, this seems to strengthen Russian resolve rather than weaken it, this Karensky must be eliminated!

The West front

Those blasted tea drinking islanders just will not be stopped. Tanks, artillery and ceaseless attacks destroyed another two corps. With the line thin and close to breaking in several places, crown prince Wilhelm called the retreat. Our exposed corps made it safely in behind the new line. It is not quite as deep as we would have hoped (lvl 4 across the line more or less) but it is behind rivers and now backed by artillery from the east. Hopefully, this should prove more difficult to plow through than anything the Brits have attempted so far, and soon autumn and winter will make life miserable on the northern part of the front.

Reinforcements were dispatched to the line opposite the French, and the men pause as we stockpile shells for another strike.

The Prussian-Russian front

Von Bulow, now risen from disgrace into something akin to a national hero, continues to be a terror to the Rus. Having spotted a corps moving northeast as the Russian forces scattered, his army pounced and destroyed it on the approaches to Petrograd. Will our parade squadron see the streets of that city before winter?

In the centre our assault continues unabated, Samsonov and Kornilow are hunted down and killed and Von Plehve is desperately trying to compensate for losses among his command staff. Our men have begun forays into the enemy artillery concentrations, and more corps fall as they stand. Yudenich remains fortified in Brest-Litovsk, leaving his men to die around him

Vitebsk and Orsha were taken, and more cities fall by the week in the far southeast.

The Italian front

The French continue to retreat, and Turin falls to the Austrians after a massive sustained bombardment that saw the men inside the city completely disorganized, we are told the French practically begged to be taken prisoner, and many of them were mad with front sickness.

General Staff

When spoken to on the matter, Von Hindenburg forcefully opposed the encouragement of some socialist agitator called Lenin. “Never, for as long as I retain command, will we pander to their ilk, our empire is built on honor and tradition, of which they have none”. The emperor was of the same mind, “We cannot risk their crazed imaginings spreading to our people, that could spell disaster…”. We did not, then, encourage this character, whoever he is he will remain in obscurity, forever silent in history.

- Something on my reasoning around this. Even if Russia were to fall to next turn (it won’t) operating the units from the east to the west will not get them in position faster than the frankly massive amount of reinforcements coming. Also, making the deal with Lenin will not only lose me territory captured at the end of the war with Russia, but also a valuable boost in national morale, and will also set off a reaction that will hit our NM negatively for every turn thereafter. Seeing as Russian territory is already giving us much NM each turn, I am in no particular hurry to make Russia surrender, and when it does, I want all the perks and none of the drawbacks. Therefore, no Lenin.

Finland, sensing the way the wind blew, declared independence from Russia. More unrest in England… cracks are starting to show in their cursed stiff upper lip!

[AshesFall]

Central Powers Victory!

On this day, the 21st of Semptember 1917, the Entente sent an envoy under white flag to Berlin. Here, the entente delegation met Emperor Wilhelm II and offered surrender and an end to the war.

With the collapse of Russia looming dark on the horizon and the French army near the breaking point with Prussians and Austrians knocking on doors both east and south a top secret conference took place in London Between David Loyd George, and Aristide Briand and their respective chiefs of staff and military. Karinsky had been invited, but was too busy quelling internal problems and trying to keep the Russian army from disintegrating entirely. He sent an aide, with instructions to “speak with all frankness possible, yet maintain the dignity of our nation”.

With the US still neutral, and showing no signs of joining the war until possibly mid-1918, or even later, and several sobering reports from the aide on the state of Russia the two leaders agreed to extend peace terms of unconditional surrender rather than face the prospect of losing hundreds of thousands of young men to reach with some certainty the same conclusion.

Having prepared for this possibility, the Kaiser adopted a reasonable stance. The entente would have to cede important but geographically limited areas and colonies, pay war indemnities to an internationally managed fund for reparation of the damages the war had wrought, and were allowed to repay their debt to the US over time. The Russians sent a separate delegation to make peace, and were allowed to do so with the parting of western Poland to the Empire and some of Ukraine to the Austrians.

Peace was made in Versailles, and diplomats from around the world attended. Another meeting was agreed upon at a later date to establish an international arena of cooperation to keep the peace in the future, the horrors of this war was fresh in the minds of all present.

Through the years that followed bitterness over the “slight of rome”, something Emperor Charles I never forgot and often referred to by saying “they took our victory in Italy, they forced us with boot on neck!” would slowly poison the relationship between the two principal central powers. A resurgent ottoman empire would establish iron control over the middle east, and constantly vie for prestige and ever more power on the international arena. The Austrians would soon come to fear the Turk once more, as had they in centuries past. Though the German empire stood stronger than ever, with France as little more than a pandering satellite, a new threat casts a long shadow westwards over Europe. Apparently, the insurrectionist Lenin had made his way through neutral Sweden and into Russia, and instigated a grand revolution there. There is now a “soviet union”, risen from the Russia that was left unbroken...

[AshesFall]

In closing

Thank you to everyone that has followed this dual AAR. I’ll set up a new thread where both Will and I can post about your own thoughts and reflections from our game, we’re eager to know where we went wrong and what we did right!

I’m not sure where we will go from here, but it has been a lot of fun! We might do another AAR, either as opposing sides in the same campaign or perhaps the 1939 scenario. It would be a lot of fun to try and play a scenario from this ending, with France and Germany fighting Soviet and the Ottomans, the Austrians and Uk starting out as neutral. Oh well, we’ll just have to imagine that one…