A Creek without a Paddle - Gotterdammerung, Germany 1944.

[Nathan Madien]

Do you have to worry about the Hitler Assassination Attempt event?

[Middelkerke]

Nice fighting. Did you loose alot of men in the counter-attack?

[Remble]

Nathan Madien - If I read the event correctly its not very likely to happen. I think it has a small chance regardless of lost territory. The Soviets have the territories specified in the event but the Allies don't.

Middelkerke - More than I would like but not really many as they were mostly easy fights.

[Remble]

Stormy Weather

0800 August 16th 1944.
The skies of France.

After weeks of rest the Luftwaffe's fighter wings were looking in much better shape and returned to the skies.

Air General Kammhuber and Lt.General Galland demonstrated this fact to the Allied bombers.

1600 August 16th 1944.
Toulouse, France.

Lt.General von Sponeck's XII. Armeekorps catches up with the invading French militia division.

This invasion ends quickly. Von Sponeck would head north to assist Field Marshall Model as soon as he had retaken Toulouse.

2200 August 16th 1944.
VII. Armeekorps Headquarters. Paris, France.

Model looks at his watch. 2200 hours and Eisenhower chooses this time to assault Paris again. When will they learn night is not a good time to attack.

Eisenhower's attack looked good on paper. One hour later Model showed him how effective paper attacks are.

Once again OKH led by Wunnenburg assaulted Amiens supported by Halder. The flanking attack would succeed in stopping these forces having much effect on the Paris assault.

Eisenhower's forces in Orleans were hit very hard by General Hausser's II. SS-Panzerkorps supported by General Fromm's 19. Armee. Eisenhower's assault was decimated by the flanking attack even though it was at night.

The Allied assault on Paris stopped almost as soon as it began. Model ordered the Amiens assault stopped but ordered Hausser to pursue Eisenhower into Orleans.

0600 August 18th 1944.
IV. Korps Headquarters. Lublin, Poland.

Erich von Manstein, commander of the Eastern Front South, was in no mood for the latest Red Army attack.

Przemysl was too important to lose. Immediate flanking counter attacks were launched against both assaulting Soviet Armies.

Not only would General von Hubicki successfully defend Przemysl but the Soviets would once again be evicted from both Stryj and Zamosc despite having an advantage in manpower. Stalin's favourite would suffer his first defeat in a very long time.

Von Manstein considered chasing the Russians but decided against it. His forces were now at almost full strength and he wasn't about to repeat passed mistakes to see them reduced once again. The time would come, just not yet.

[Tskb18]

Any sign of Konev or Vasilevskiy? Interesting to see Monty still holding Le Mans. How many casualties in that last offensive?
And bah. Hopefully the Red Army moves reinforcements from Finland either to Norway or to help take Jelgava.

[Middelkerke]

An assault on Dieppe is in the making

[W. Iljitsch]

Good thing you dealt with the French Militia Hordes! Can't have the French ruling France. They'd mess up La Résistance's business!

[Kurt_Steiner]

An assault on Dieppe is in the making

Canadians won't be happy about this

[Nathan Madien]

Canadians won't be happy about this

I don't think the Canadians are happy about this now. It's the middle of August and they are still stuck in their beachhead doing whatever.

[Fulcrumvale]

Most 1944 AAR’s I’ve read either have a quick end to the western front or an allied breakthrough. This prolonged slugging match around Paris is something new…and interesting…

[HannibalBarca]

Looking better, at least.

[Leumatiello]

Yes, successes are few in 1944 AARs.

[Ksim3000]

Yes, successes are few in 1944 AARs.

Depending on which side you play.

[Leumatiello]

Depending on which side you play.

Of course!!

[Minarchist]

This is a wonderful AAR you have going on here. It's a really great read. Good luck with the Russians. I'm afraid they'll be ruining things pretty soon...

[Remble]

Tskb18 - Konev makes an appearance shorty, Vasilevskiy is AWOL. 150 total German manpower was lost in the last fighting against the Soviets. Well they did kick me out of Finland. The 4 divisions in Narvik will stop anything from the Soviets in Norway I would think.

Middelkerke - The Canadians are safe in Dieppe. I have no immediate plans for removing them.

Fulcrumvale - Its prolonged because I chose to not withdraw most of the armour from the Eastern Front so its more like a chess match in France with roughly equal forces. Well its even now, the Allies had a large advantage at the start. The upside of leaving the armour in Russia is to make it a little bit easier to stop the Red Army, which is, after all the main threat.

HannibalBarca - My Politicians are getting better at 'spin'.

Leumatiello - It could still all fall apart but it would be slow if it does.

Minarchist - Thank you, I am glad you are enjoying it The Red Army couldn't break its way out of a wet paper bag .... I hope.

Working on the next update right now so should be up fairly soon.

[Remble]

A Time to Die

1

0000 August 19th 1944.
Reichstag Building. Berlin, Germany.

Albert Speer provides Martin Bormann with an update on manufacturing.

"We have reinforced the majority of our forces during July and have now assigned more industrial capacity to upgrades. Resources are still managable with some more oil acquired from Venezuela for a high cost." says Speer.

"Very good, things are progressing well here at least." replies Bormann.

0000 August 19th 1944.
Mazirbe, Baltic States.

"Heinrich this assault is of the utmost importance to our success. I am entrusting to you nine divisions of elite troops for this mission. They are eager to fight for the Fatherland." says Guderian.

"I am also eager to fight for the Fatherland and I will lead them to the best of my ability!" replies Himmler.

"And that is why you have this command Heinrich." Guderian thinks to himself.

Several hours later the Elite forces arrive at their destination. A small island off the coast of Finland called Aland.

"That should keep Heinrich out of trouble for a few months." Guderian says to no one in particular.

0700 August 19th 1944.
The skies of France.

The Luftwaffe was now almost completely operational. Damage was beginning to mount for Allied aircraft at an alarming rate.

0900 August 19th 1944.
VII. Armeekorps Headquarters. Paris, France.

Model had spent the last two quiet weeks considering his options. A direct assault towards Caen would be the obvious choice. Eisenhower would be all to aware of this threat. Model would choose a different course of action.

At 0900 Model's plan went into motion.

Von Sponeck was heading towards Orleans after removing the little French incursion in the south.

General Friessner's LXXXVI. Armeekorps was heading back to Cholet. The Allies were being extremely slow in their advance here and would pay for their tardiness.

Two seperate assaults were launched on Allied positions.

Le Mans was attacked by three seperate Korps. Leading the assault was General Fromm's 19. Armee. Support was provided by both Lt.General Volckamer von Kirch's II. Fallschirmjager Korps and General Hausser's II. SS-Panzerkorps. All three Korps were scheduled to arrive in Le Mans at the same time.

A simultaneous assault was launched at the other end of the Allied pocket in Lille. This attack was led by General Steiner's OKW Reserve. Support was provided by Lt.General Grimeiss's 15. Armeekorps, General Halder's 16. Luftwaffen-Feld-Divison and General von Pfeffer-Wildenbruch's 85. Infanterie-Division. Steiner and Grimeiss would advance into Lille.

Both assaults were won after some fierce fighting.

1200 August 19th 1944.
The skies of France.

Lt.General Galland continues to destroy Allied aircraft.

1900 August 19th 1944.
Dunkerque, France.

General von Pfeffer-Wildenbruch was used to being pushed up and down the French Coast.

Whilst the battle for Le Mans raged on the General would be granted his first success in defence of the campaign.

[Fulcrumvale]

How long do you think it will take to throw the allies back into the channel?

[Ksim3000]

Another good update Remble! And did the Allies assault you at Dunkirk via the sea route or was it a land invasion? Obviously though, the defences at Dunkirk certainly contributed.

Also, I'd like to ask the same question.....seems the Allies have indeed stalled. Nice to see fully fleshed out Whermacht divisions.

[Nathan Madien]

Also, I'd like to ask the same question.....seems the Allies have indeed stalled. Nice to see fully fleshed out Whermacht divisions.

It really is.

I also think Guderian made a wise choice in letting Himmler take command of some divisions on some island in the Baltic. He is not a guy you want wandering around Tibet or whatnot at this kind of time.