Carl G. E. von Mannerheim Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 CVM AAR PART 6: On the Brink In the War Cabinet: London: A Calm and collected Churchill enters the room, “What are the latest reports from Brest?” General Allen replies, “We’ve taken the port, we are beginning our withdraw.” ”Casualties?” asks Churchill. ”Very light sir, we expected-” ”And what of the front is Russia?” ”Well sir,” pops in Morten, “Their 4 cities under siege are still standing, we don’t expect their resistance to last more than a week. You see… Meanwhile, in Russia, Army Group South begins its final attack on Odessa. After 3 days of house-to-house fighting, The 14th Army finally declares the city secure. Sadly for the Germans, the Soviets destroy all the major industrial pieces. Leaving the city temporarily worthless. One down, 3 to go. Army group Center, Under the cover of Luftflottes II, IV, and VIII begins its assault on Minsk. On September 25th, the XX panzer passes through an empty city and attacks positions west of Smolensk. Two down, one to go. Now, the XVI Panzer Group, under the command of a young General named Erwin Rommel, is only 300 miles from Moscow. In Moscow: ”Why hasn’t the Eastern Army arrived yet?!?!” Demanded Stalin. ” We’ve had some trouble with the rail lines Comrade,” Answers Molotov. ” I WANT THOSE RAILMEN SHOT!” shouts Stalin in reply. ”Already did it.” Snickers Molotov. While the two tyrants were conferring in Moscow, Army Group North begins its attack on Riga. The city, defended by XVI corps, holds out. Riga’s defenses are the most extensive of the Big 4. Now, Kiev is encircled, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is being pushed to the brink. On October 5th, the Stavka convenes in Moscow: ”What is the situation in the North?” asks Stalin. ”Sir, the situation there is nearing crisis, the Finnish army has crossed the River Svir in several locations. Our army is almost encircled.” ”Well, I can’t have the Finns encircling Lenin’s city. What forces can we spare?” ”At the moment, the only force that can immediately attack is the 1st Guards Tank Army.” Answers Zhukov. ”Why haven’t they been deployed?” demands Stalin. ”They are out best units defending Moscow Comrade, we can’t spare them.” ”Tell me Georgi, is Moscow under direct attack?” ”I move them immediately!” 5 days later the 1st Guards Tank Army attacks Finnish V corps. Coupled with the attacks of the Soviet 14th army, the Finns are nearly destroyed they withdraw back toward Ladoga. However the Finns inflict heavy casualties on the Russians. In the west, XX corps evacuates Brest. The raid is considered a success. Churchill addresses the British people saying. “ Almost a year has passed since I came down here at your Head Master's kind invitation in order to cheer myself and cheer the hearts of a few of my friends by singing some of our own songs. The ten months that have passed have seen very terrible catastrophic events in the world - ups and downs, misfortunes - but can anyone sitting here this afternoon, this October afternoon, not feel deeply thankful for what has happened in the time that has passed and for the very great improvement in the position of our country and of our home? Why, when I was here last time we were quite alone, desperately alone, and we had been so for five or six months. We were poorly armed. We are not so poorly armed today; but then we were very poorly armed. We had the unmeasured menace of the enemy and their air attack still beating upon us, and you yourselves had had experience of this attack; and I expect you are beginning to feel impatient that there has been this long lull with nothing particular turning up! Very different is the mood today. Britain, other nations thought, had drawn a sponge across her slate. But instead our country stood in the gap. There was no flinching and no thought of giving in; and by what seemed almost a miracle to those outside these Islands, though we ourselves never doubted it, we now find ourselves in a position where I say that we can be sure that we have only to persevere to conquer. You sang here a verse of a School Song: you sang that extra verse written in my honour, which I was very greatly complimented by and which you have repeated today. But there is one word in it I want to alter - I wanted to do so last year, but I did not venture to. It is the line: "Not less we praise in darker days." I have obtained the Head Master's permission to alter darker to sterner. "Not less we praise in sterner days." Do not let us speak of darker days: let us speak rather of sterner days. These are not dark days; these are great days - the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race. After the speech Churchill is conferring in the war cabinet when a message comes over the Teletype, “Mister Prime Minister, it is imperative we meet.” – Franklin Delano Roosevelt. ”Make it so, Betty” Winnie says to his secretary, On October 19th, following heavy fighting, the German 9th Army enters Kiev. With the Ukraine now firmly in German hands, The German High Command debates what the final objective for the 1st year of war in the east. Some Generals argue that final victory is the only objective. Other Generals, spearheaded by Jodl himself, is the ‘Tiger Line’ idea. The Germans will halt their advance on a line Anchored on Leningrad, Smolensk, K’harkov, and the possession of the Crimean Peninsula They will hold out, and conduct further operations in the spring. Hitler is undecided, meanwhile, the battle continues in the east. Meanwhile, in Moscow, the Stavka decides on a similar strategy, they plan to form a defensive line running on the Leningrad-Ladoga, Moscow, Veronzh, Don River front. While the leaders do the talking, the battle rages on. North of lake Ladoga, the Isthmus army, under the command of Mannerheim himself attacks the Russian 14th army, causing the Reds to fall back temporarily On November 16th, the Newly arrived 1st SS panzer group enters Riga. The defenders die fighting, destroying the port and the industrial base of the city before the Germans could get it. By November 20th, both Smolensk and K’harkov are encircled. When will the Siberians arrive? Ask the Soviet people. Not even Stalin knows. At the same time, Montgomery finally arrives in Egypt, the BEF quickly readies for the Offensive. However, the Italians are also building in army in southern Italy, with the objective of Capturing Egypt. It appears 1942 will be the deciding year in Africa. On January 1st, the Siberian army arrives in the Moscow front, the Quickly begin the formation of a defensive line fitting the one planned by the Stavka. On February 8th, 1942, the German army halts its advance. They begin forming a new line. They also bring up numerous anti partisan corps. They begin preparations for a spring offensive. For the next 6 weeks, only minor skirmishes take place along the Russian front. The Germans take one last shot at Leningrad, but are unable to take the city. Both armies dig in and consolidate their forces. It has been a tough and costly fight on both sides. And the Germans are plotting their new spring offensive. In the coming year, Italy will be playing a much more important role in the conflict. In Washington, a Jubilant Churchill sits in the Oval office. ”Franklin, we now have formed the Grand Alliance...” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl G. E. von Mannerheim Posted November 13, 2002 Author Share Posted November 13, 2002 Post any comments here. Coming soon: THE GRAND ALLIANCE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_j_rambo Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 Carl --- Wow! Did you actually type all that or was the a cut & paste? Thanks for the history lesson. Here's the update from my game vs Jason: Turn #1: I beat on Poland. Declared war on Denmark, used boats to warm them up. Turn #2: Captured Warsaw, but they did not convert. Beat on Denmark with land, air, & sea, but not capture it. British sink my U-boats in the Atlantic, but they loose a Carrier. Turn #3: Poland & Denmark "see the light" & join the Axis the hard way. Turn #4: All quiet on the Western Front. For now. Current Feb, 1940: Italy joins the war. That's an update for you sport's fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I/O Error Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 Yup, Carl writes that all himself. Not too shabby at all, eh? However, don't start thinking it's meant to be a recitation of history, it's a historical RETELLING. (Carl, I still have serious issues with that whole "Raid on Brest with a full Corps" idea. ) I particularly like those quotes from Churchill, Carl. How many of them are exact, how many are made up, how many are "tweaked"? They're all great, this one in particular. And god dammit, stop making Molotov chuckle or stutter or whatever the hell is next! The dude was a rock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl G. E. von Mannerheim Posted November 13, 2002 Author Share Posted November 13, 2002 I didnt make him studder this time. Anc a corps is as low as you can go in this game! Becides, i said 'elements' of XX corps. CvM And yes rambo, i did write that, along with the other 5 installments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amona Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 I like your AAR very much, Carl. What about the "Free French..." AAR-storyline, in which you are taking part too? It seems the development there has come to a halt. Or are you guys just busy making preparations for the next chapter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cortes Posted November 14, 2002 Share Posted November 14, 2002 Carl, I'm curious if you'd be open to reading some of my AARs. I actually wrote one a few months ago before I even knew about AARs, however I set it as a German schoolbook telling about the successful invasion of Britain, Sea Lion.. I've been working on a new one, would you like to see it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl G. E. von Mannerheim Posted November 14, 2002 Author Share Posted November 14, 2002 I would love to see it email it to supersabre1@netscape.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl G. E. von Mannerheim Posted November 14, 2002 Author Share Posted November 14, 2002 I appreciate the positive feedback. I am only sorry some of you guys werent here when SuperTed was the maker of AAR's He'll be back. CvM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl G. E. von Mannerheim Posted November 14, 2002 Author Share Posted November 14, 2002 I particularly like those quotes from Churchill, Carl. How many of them are exact, how many are made up, how many are "tweaked"? They're all great, this one in particular. Nearly all of them are original Churchill speeches, however, nearly all of them have been modified/condensed to fit the situation. I believe ive only made one of them up so far. CvM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Dave Posted November 14, 2002 Share Posted November 14, 2002 As originally posted by CvM: Nearly all of them are original Churchill speeches... I believe ive only made one of them up so far. Then, you could be an Historian. Like Herodotus. Spengler. Stephen Speilberg. ALL the rest. They make up things too, though, you'd never get that impression just by going to beginning or finishing school, or, reading opinions on a forum... ALL we have... are educated guesses. Nothing more. Nothing less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl G. E. von Mannerheim Posted November 16, 2002 Author Share Posted November 16, 2002 Ill probably have the next installment up tomorrow. CvM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts