Finis Germaniae? Bring it On! (A Gringoesteban AOD Third Reich Mod AAR)

Chapter 1: Smashing Versailles: The Diplomatic Front

Soon after coming to power, the bordering nations started to take notice of the new Germany. Non compliance with the Versailles treaty did not go unnoticed and a nervous Poland under Pilsudski even proposed a take no chances approach by offering the idea of a preemptive strike which was refused by the French. A non aggression pact was signed with Poland which offered the Fuhrer additional time to rearm. A failed early putsch in Austria irritated the Italians initially but additional overtures calmed tensions in the area. significant victories were gained with the addition of the Saarland through plebiscite along with the proclamation that an air force was established and conscription was passed bringing the world’s eyes upon Berlin.

Knowing that rearmament was still a long ways from completion the Fuhrer started his peace speech campaign, making speeches on three separate occasions reiterating his peaceful intentions.

The start of the Abyssinian – Italian War gave Germany the chance to divide its opponents. While no official proclamation was issued by the Foreign Office, the Fuhrer was gleeful at the tension between the Italians and its former close allies France and Britain. While Italy was poised to go to war with Germany in 34 over the Austrian putsch, the sanctions passed against it, while symbolic, alienated Rome. Germany anticipated the only thing it had to do was to open its arms to form a Rome – Berlin Axis.

The Spanish Civil War was the catalyst which further polarized the European powers as the democracies stood on the sidelines with the Germans and Italians sending reinforcements to their ideological brethren. Upon Franco’s victory, the cooperation between the two sides was not soon forgotten and quickly thereafter further trade deals, and diplomatic accords were signed

The growing assertiveness of German foreign policy troubled some of the old guard cabinet members who expressed reservations about premature ventures for fear of open war. Displeased, the Fuhrer ordered a shakeup with Ribbentrop becoming Foreign Minister. A series of contrived scandals brought down the independence of the Army with the OKW headed by Keitel, being created to rival the traditional OKH now headed by a passive Blomberg.

In 1938, Japan was starting to edge closer to the Axis camp of revisionist powers especially after the recognition of Manchukuo and the recall of the German delegation from China.

As 1938 passed two significant events occurred. The Union with Austria was a boon to Germany in both economic and military terms. 11 Infantry, 1 cavalry, 2 mountain, 1 HQ divisions were being reorganized into the Wehrmacht. Factories in the south increased the IC along with gold and resource reserves. A stronger Germany was able to receive the Sudetenland from one of the traditional regional rivals, the Czechs, further adding manpower to the conscription rolls. With 1939 looming on the horizon, Berlin gazed east, seeking to fulfill its centuries long vision of living space even as the Allies were gearing up for war.
In early 39 Germany sought to break the Cordon Sanitaire in the East, with one important step coming with the German- Romanian Economic agreement which allowed Germany near exclusive access to Romania’s oil fields, the largest in Europe.
The dismemberment of Czechoslovakia into a rump protectorate and a vassal Slovakia brought additional economic bounties. The Skoda works became an essential part of the war machine, with the Czech’s gold reserves confiscated to further strengthen rearmament to the further annoyance of the allies. A guarantee of Poland was issued and any good will and credibility Berlin had in Paris and London was exhausted.

One event which threatened to derail any potential plans was the Slovakian Hungarian Little War. Hungary was ambivalent about a resurgent Germany after the union with Austria but Budapest’s ideological affinity to Berlin allowed it to gain Ruthenia during the end of Czechoslovakia. The foundation of a Slovak state which contained a significant Hungarian minority gave Budapest the chance to assert its superior military might upon a new state seeking further provinces. Advances of columns into Slovakia resulted in frantic telegrams from Tiso to Berlin asking for enforcement of its guarantee. Berlin had two choices. Either stand neutral and allow a tacit annexation of additional provinces by Hungary or threaten the Hungarians to call off its offensive. Berlin decided on the later course reasoning that if it did not any further non German governments under its tutelage would be non compliant in the future. The enforcement of the guarantee against Budapest restored the previous status quo but represented a de facto action of a hegemonic German state in the East, with France and Britain becoming irrelevant. Lithuania, Romania, and Yugoslavia got the message. Poland also understood it well. With the further acquisition of Memel, the last peaceful addition to the Reich occurred.

Chapter 2: Smashing Versailles - The Home Front

Alongside forays in the diplomatic arena, events on the home front led to the destruction of Versailles in all but name. Trade policy was altered to reflect an autarkic approach with all shipments of energy, rares, metal, and oil being embargoed. Preexisting deals to friendly nations like Italy, Hungary, Romania, and Sweden were respected however. The purchase of many of the stockpiled resources needed for rearmament surprisingly came from the Soviets who needed a willing buyer. As 1938 was ending the resource depots revealed the following:
Energy: 347 K (self produced)
Metal: 59 K (Sweden, Soviets main suppliers)
Rare: 33K (Holland, Soviets main suppliers)
Oil: 105K (Soviets, Romania, Hungary main suppliers)

Army
While considered the strongest branch, it was not initially awarded the most resources. However the development of Assault guns along with the addition of the Austrian army made the Army the strongest faction in the Reich. The Army was no longer traditional, with Guderian’s reforms being a salient point which showed that the Fuhrer favored a new type of Army which was inconsistent with the old ways of war, at least on paper. The reality was that while the Army did have a few experimental units which conformed to the new official strategy of mobile warfare, it was still overwhelmingly an unmotorized traditional force.
During the course of 36-39, 26 garrison divisions were established to the disapproval of reformists like Guderian who wanted to pour everything into the new panzer divisions. The Fuhrer however decided to compromise and hold out a bone to the traditional old guard which rejected Guderian’s reforms and the raising of the garrisons was a measure which reassured them somewhat that they would have the necessary forces to at least delay any potential Ally advances in the West. The basic brigade for divisions was the PAK Anti Tank gun. Cheap, easy to manufacture, it packed enough punch to warrant its cost which was more efficient in terms of manpower than a traditional artillery brigade.

The General Staff reorganized the Army so that at the end of Summer 1939 the makeup of the Heer was the following
44 Infantry Divisions – all save for 5 equipped with Anti Tank guns.
7 Alpenjager Divisions - specialist divisions from Austria trained to operate in mountain, forrest and hilly terrain.
3 Flakpanzer divisions : Mobile AA infantry divisions tasked with aiding garrisons under bombardment. Raised to focus on the West given the expected Ally bombing campaign.
The rest of the Heer consisted of:
8 HQ
7 Light Panzer Divisions
1 Mechanized Cavalry Division

The Navy played a vital role in the future strategy of the Reich but due to its inferior position compared to the Army was not able to assert its interests in a similar manner. As such there were no additional plans to build up its sub fleet. 1 Transport was also built

Air Force
The Air Force was given a lot of attention and resources during the rebuilding phase especially due to its small size. No squadrons would be built to complement the 8 Tactical bomber wings until the 1940 techs are researched.

As the Summer of 1939 came and went war fever reached its apex. Diplomats in embassies were exchanging rumors but the regular populace of Germany thought them baseless, considering how such rumors had come and gone before. One big change was the dismissal of Canaris as Chief of Intelligence and his replacement with Oster. This was mainly a cost cutting move as the intelligence staff was decreased in order to use the resources for industry. Nevertheless, the trucks and trains heading east were passing with more and more regularity. Transport ships to East Prussia carrying supplies and whole divisions were the rule of the day. A great shakeup at the top of the military leadership came as a shock for many both inside and outside the Reich. General Beck the Chief of the General Staff was suddenly replaced with General Jodl. Beck had been a well known face, albeit one who opposed the growing influence of politics on the traditional army prerogatives. His ideas of quick strikes and increased mobility were deemed inferior to those expressed by Jodl, whose ideas focused on a slower advance coupled with a quicker rate of reorganization. The idea that an army just engaged could re-engage the enemy at a faster interval than expected seemed to become established doctrine with the additional appointment of General von Bock, “the holy fire of Kustrin”, replacing von Brauchitsch, a Decisive Battle proponent who sought to ensure that infantry divisions would receive the needed ordinance for maximum firepower. Both appointments were followed up with several troop movements in the East. As the rhetoric between Germany and Poland became more threatening the signs of imminent war were clear.

Chapter 3: War in the East

After the Ribbentrop Molotov Pact was announced the war in the East started a few days later.

Reports of hostilities between German and Polish forces trickled in. Slovakian and German High command have released statements detailing their campaign plans. The southern army group led by Marshall Catlos would be tasked with taking Krakow while the Central army group led by Marshall Falkenhousen was to break through the Poznan plains, take Radom, Lodz and Warsaw. Divisions in East Prussia were to enact holding actions. Bombers will interdict forces in Torun, Poznan , and soften the Warsaw Garrison. Stukas will interdict Krakow. In the West HQ divisions and Garrisons will man the Westwall.

Aug 30 –The Northern army group made up of defensive divisions is sent to take Danzig while the Kriegsmarine is on patrol ready to engage. The two army groups have started their assaults with the Southern army group counterattacking while the Central group has encircled the border armies. The first air battles occur in the West and our Air Force is surprisingly engaged by the Polish air force in Breslau. All trade agreements depending on convoys (Peru, Argentina, Canada) were cancelled due to fear of them being sunk for lack of escorts.



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Sep 1 – Danzig taken. in the day reports indicate breakthroughs in both Krakow (Losses – German: 4000 Polish: 12,900) and Czetochowa (Losses- German: 2800, Polish 8800) . The Stuka Air Fleet is directed to start interdicting Warsaw and Radom to soften up any defenses.

Sep 3 – A polish sub is sunk

Sep 4 – The Folk Pest law is passed by the Reichstag. Radom falls quickly Losses German 300 Polish 1200

Sep 6 – Radom is taken by advanced elements.



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Sep 8 – Lodz is falls and is unable to e reinforced by spoiling bombardment from East Prussia. Losses German 3100 Polish 8500

Sep 9 to 12 – Warsaw is attacked and falls Losses German 100 Polish 1300

Sep 15 - The Soviets march into Eastern Poland. Resistance collapses and Poland is annexed.

Campaign Assessment



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Polish Losses: 47,480
German Losses: 15,663
A quick campaign, relatively successful, for relatively few casualties.

In the East, Japan’s steady progress from 1937 has slowed to a crawl. The Nationalists have stabilized their front after Japan annexed a rump Communist China (which made peace with the Nationalists after ceding some occupied provinces). In Europe, Italy has annexed Albania.



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Oct 23 – The SS Das Reich division is created. It will be placed under the command of Hausser.

Oct 24 – The current state of the Reich is one of quiet anticipation. Divisions with engineering brigades have been positioned from Kiel to Konigsberg under our most capable leaders while the entire combined fleet has been stationed in Rostock to repel any potential invasion from the Allies. The rest of the troops have been redeployed to the Low countries under Logistical commanders to lower supply cost.

Oct 25- Slovak divisions are watching our Polish border. The armaments minister has given Tiso and Tuka the Hospital and 39 Infantry division blueprint in addition to the first blueprint of Computing they received upon their independence.

Nov 18 – The Soviets wage war on Finland.


1940

Jan 1 – Goebbels named as Security Minister for the MP bonus

Mar 1 – A rebellion erupts in Warsaw but is put down. Losses German 200, Polish 4900

Mar 7 – The Finns fold to the Russian demands bringing the Winter war to an end.

Chapter 4: War in the North, West

Apr 11 – Weserubung begins. A panzer division invades Denmark meeting no resistance.

Apr 12 – Denmark capitulates

Apr 17 – The Norwegian Navy is sunk by the Kriegsmarine in Helgoland. Narvik is taken by Dietl’s Mountaineers Losses German 400 Norwegian 1400

Apr 26 – Somehow the Royal Navy is avoided and Oslo is taken by Student’s troops Losses German 700 Norwegian 1800

Apr 29 – Norway is annexed.

West plan

Army Group North – General von Rundstedt will lead 18 divisions (von Bock, von Kuchler, von Kluge) to attack Northern Holland

Army Group Center – General von Kayser will lead 17 (von Leeb, von Brauschitsch, List, von Reichenau, von Witzleben, von Schobert, Friessner) divisions to attack central Holland

Army Group South –- Field Marshall von Falkenhausen is charged with breaking through Antwerp and sending the panzers, and cavalry divisions toward Mons. 11 Infantry (Blaskowitz, von Weichs, von Wietersheim, Leeb, von Kortzfleishc, Janecke, Volkmann, De Angelis) and 1 Mountain (Rendulic) are charged with catching up and securing Brussels while the panzers must drive to the sea to close and liquidate the Ghent pocket. 6 Panzer divisions are charged with driving onto Paris and breaking out into France.

May 10 – The invasion begins

May 11 – Border Battles



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Antwerp Losses German 1000; Allies 4700

Groningen Losses German 600 Allies 1900

Arnhem Losses German 1400 Allies 3700

May 13 – 16 – Brussels attacked and taken Losses German 700 ; Allies 6700

May 17 – Utrecht falls Losses German 200 , Allied 1000

Leeuwarden taken Losses German 600 Allied 3500

May 18 – Mons taken Losses German 2000, Allied 7300

May 19 – Amsterdam quickly taken Losses German 200, Allied 1400

May 22 – Eindhoven taken after heavy fighting Losses German2100, Allied 4600

May 22 – 24 – Bloody battle for Lille, the key to breaking into the northern plains Losses German 2900, Alied 8700

May 25 – Lille after being taken is attacked in force by allies but holds Losses German 500, Allied 2300

May 27 – Rotterdam falls with few casualties Losses German 300, Allied 1300

May 27 – 30 – After Lille, Amiens proves a tough nut to crack with higher casualties than expected Losses German 1200, Allied 7800

June 3 – Despite is tough defenses behind the Scheldt and Lys rivers Ghent is taken Losses German 700, Allied 1600. The High command later finds out that most of the garrisons retreated to Drunkirk and only a rear guard was defeated


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June 5 – Paris is taken after the High Command decides to press forward Losses German 400, Alied 600

June 6 – Namur falls after heavy fighting in tough terrain Losses German 4500, Allied 8000

June 8 – Le Havre is taken after another bitter battle Losses German 3200, Allied 9300
Paris is attacked by heavy concentration of French forces moved in from the Maginot Line. The Germans occupying Paris manage to hold but at heavy cost with the Das Reich division being instrumental but suffering casualties. Losses German 3000, Allied 5700

June 12 – Dunkirk is taken and the largest Allied force on the northern coast is eliminated Losses German 1900, Allied 6700

Callais falls easily Losses German 0 , Allied 500

Le Havre holds off an Allied attack with minimal losses German 100, Allied 700


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June 14 – Paris manages to hold of yet another strong attack with high losses German 2200, Allied 2700

Angers is taken Losses German 400, Allied 600

Argentan taken after some tough fighting Losses German 1400, Allied 2800

Orleans taken Losses German 200, Allied 500

June 15 – Bergen falls to South African troops

June 16 – Liege falls after another round of bitter fighting Losses German 2300, Allied 6000
Vichy taken Losses German 100, Allied 0



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June17 – Vichy is attacked but holds with the Das Reich holding off many divisions before reinforcements arrive Losses German 1600 Allied 3100


June 18 – Multiple battles across France as the last French reserves are thrown in to try to dislodge the Germans. With their troops spread out Germans take heavy losses

Liege holds Losses German 1600, Allied 3100

Vichy holds Losses German 1000, Allied 4000

Bourges taken Losses German 1500, Allied 2900

Argentan holds Losses German 100 Allied 200

Vichy holds Losses German 2000, Allied 1000

June 20 - After the failed offenses an armistice is signed with Vichy France st up.


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June 22 – Belgian troops in France are attacked

Avranches falls Losses German 300, Allied 1000

Caen falls Losses German 300, Allied 200

June21 – Italy joins Axis

June 22 – Last of the Baltic nations are annexed

June 23 – Bastogne falls Losses German 600, Allied 3300

June 26 – Arlon taken Losses German 900, Allied 2700

June 27 – Ghent is lost to amphibious allied troops

June 28 – Arlon held Losses German 200, Allied 1400

Metz held Losses German 100, Allied 900

Rabia taken by the Italians Losses Axis 100, Allied 500

One Italian destroyer is sunk

July 4 – Ghent retaken Losses German 100, Allied 2100

July 5 – Kristiansand retaken and held Losses Axis 100, Allied 900

July 6 – Bergen retaken Losses Axis 800, Allied 2900

July 20 – Luxembourg taken Losses Axis 400, Allied 2600

July 24 – Stavanger retaken Losses Axis 100, Allied 1200

July 29 – Campaign in the West over


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Losses

German 75,803

UK 81,145

Holland 98,329

France 99,833

Belgium 137,177

South Africa 21,284

Luxembourg 10,862

Australia 6,400

August 1 – South Africa attacks Sardinia but is repulsed Losses Axis 1300, Allied 3900

August 5 – 3 UK subs sunk off Sardinia

The Balkan Front

After the successes in the West an eery calm descended upon Europe. The war against Britain was relegated to bombing raids. Afrika witnessed consolidation on both sides with the occasional skirmish but no movement. The Balkans were looked upon as the focal point as several states joined the Tripartite Pact while others refused to do so. Meanwhile the Soviets were watching

Jan 30 – An attack on Bergen is repulsed. Losses Axis 200, Allied 1100

Feb 3 – Bergen attacked yet again but still held Losses Axis 100 , Allied 300. This time the Kriegsmarine was ready and sunk some


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Feb 8 – Finland agrees to join Barbarossa


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Feb 18 – Naval engagement of the coasts ; small scale but some ships sunk again. Garrisons are evacuated to reform in Memel. The static divisions will be used to secure the line running from Grodno to Minsk once they are taken to ensure supplies reach the front. The rest of the garrisons are earmarked for the Atlantik wall with others garrisoning the capitals of each conquered nation. Seems like I wasted 3 coastal forts I built in Norway for nothing.

March 1 – Bulgaria joins the Axis after an alliance with Finland is made. Germany will assume military control of each nation, reorganize their formations and provide resources and blueprints

Apr 3 – As the invasion of Yugoslavia is planned the Allies walk into Kristiansand. Dietl’s troops and 6 divisions under Blaskowitz and Wietersheim are being prepared. All the infantry are making their way to Konigsberg as it was decided that only a few mountain divisions in addition to the Panzers, cavalry and motorized will invade due to their speed with Italian and Hungarian troops as auxiliaries. HQ’s will be used to secure victory points as the panzers race through due to their excellent defensive values. Yugoslavia is a very mountainous and hilly nation except for parts of Slovenia and Slavonia so it will be a race against time to see if June 22 timetable can be kept. Since January have continued to trade 5000 energy for 300 or so rares from Soviets. Its no good doing trade agreements as they get cancelled eventually so trades are better. I also would rather have only two lines of infantry sped up to max speed to gain the gearing bonus than just mass produce assembly lines even though it will cost me having as many divisions as I’d like for Barbarossa. I also waited until I got the 41 Motorized before producing as it takes a long time for them to upgrade. Avoided confrontations with the RAF to save manpower until I have enough interceptors.
For Blueprints I made sure to give computer techs, hospital, and especially infantry to Slovakia, Hungary and Romania and to Italy interceptors as well. Italy’s interceptors are upgrading and are finally able to resist the RAF attacks on the boot with success after prioritizing their upgrades.
Japan is stuck in China. Still hasn’t reached Nanjing.

Apr 4 – Italy and the UK try to smear each other with no success and the US fails to delay a tech team for Germany even though I have placed zero money into espionage from the start of the game. Weird
Somehow electronic comp tech has not unlocked yet for me. Longest I’ve played without it unlocking.

Apr 6 – Invasion of Yugoslavia begins. Maribor is overwhelmed quickly losses Axis 300, Allied 2500


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Apr 7 – Ljubliana is taken with Italian help. Losses Axis 1300, Allied 3900.
SS Wiking arrives in Vienna and will take one week to organize under Steiner before it can join the campaign

Apr 9 – The Panzers continue their way onto the plains of Slavonia taking Bjelovar. Losses Axis 200, Allied 4600

Apr 11 – Zagreb falls after skirmishes stiffen Losses Axis 600, Allied 1800

Apr 12 – A Yugoslav offensive toward Sofia catches some by surprise. Bulgaria is mountainous so its divisions are able to hold after a bitter battle Losses Axis 1700, Allied 5000
Preparations are underway to retake Kristiansand

Apr 13 – Osijek falls as the plains allow for quick maneuvers Losses Axis 300, Allied 1400

Apr 14 – eight interceptors in the west are able to inflict some damage to eight bombers concentrated on Ghent

Apr 16 – Italians take a lightly defended Split with an amphibious attack. Losses Axis 100, Allied 300

Apr 17 – A counterstroke against a sole Hungarian division holding Bjelovar is repulsed Losses Axis 200, Allied 300. The Yugoslav’s offensive strength seems gone especially in the north

Apr 19 – Sarajevo is taken without a shot and a weak attack is beaten of by 3 HQ’s under defensive generals Losses Axis 0, Allied 300

Apr 20 – Split is attacked but the Italians under Messe benefit from his defensive skills Losses Axis 100, Allied 500

Apr 22 – Long awaited Kristiansand offensive begins and ends with a bloody fight as the Allies are cornered without a chance leading to high losses on both sides. Losses Axis 2700, Allied 4100


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News soon reach that Trondheim has been lost. Troops cannot continue up north but must return to Denmark to resupply beforehand

Apr 23 – Pristina taken quickly Losses Axis 200, Allied 1400

Apr 25 – Skopje falls quickly too Losses Axis 300, Allied 2500

May 1 – Attack on Stip succeeds and a counterattack is repulsed Losses Axis 300, Allied 4600

Yugoslavia is annexed

May 2 – A Greek attack on Gorna fails Losses Axis 400, Allied 800
Edessa is taken and the way to Greece is open Losses Axis 400, Allied 2300

May 3 – Messe’s attack on Crete begins
Larisa falls to the panzer advance Losses Axis 100, Allied 800
Kristiansand is attacked yet again but only by a sole division which is defeated Losses Axis 200, Allied 1500


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May 5 – The Independent State of Croatia is created with 15 MP gained
Yugoslavia is partitioned among the Axis
Larisa counterattack repulsed Losses Axis 100, Allied 1500

May 7 – Crete finally falls Losses Axis 700, Allied 2400. I only used 5 divisions with artillery and one HQ all under Messe because two TP’s were sunk. If only I had those extra 2 TP’s life would’ve been easier
Salonika is under severe attack and falls after its forts are overrun Losses Axis 1100, Allied 2400
Present build queue


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May 9 – Two Croat divisions arrive and will be sent for upgrades

May 10 – Athens falls as the attack resumes for its final push Losses Axis 200, Allied 2900
Roros is taken from Trondheim upsetting plans for a convenient pocket at Trondheim but the division sent is immediately attacked by Dietl and driven back Losses Axis 900, Allied 1700

May 12 – Greece is annexed. The Afrika Korp and the LSSAH arrive

May 14 – Panzers are making their way north to Konigsberg for refitting


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May 15 – Trondheim finally falls after a brutal fight Losses Axis 2100, Alied 2900

May 18 – The retreating division from Roros arrives in Trondheim first but cannot hold out for long Losses Axis 100, Allied 700

Campaign Assessment

After the Balkans are secured Germany has lost 92,433 MP. A quick campaign with low casualties based on speed even though the terrain of Yugoslavia made it difficult at times


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Current Composition

August 1940 to January 41 I stood pat. I reorganized the Italians and moved troops around and made sure to get Hungary and Romania into the Axis. I lowered spending significantly to increase my funds and kept trading for rares every week with the Soviets. I kept changing my mind over whether to garrison Norway adequately or not. I put costal forts there then decided it was a waste as France should’ve been a priority. I was afraid of putting the Kriegsmarine on patrol off the coast as I know the Royal Navy is much stronger so I would just hide it in Aalborg and take it out whenever they sent a couple TP’s to attack Bergen or Kristiansand. This lull is important to build up your units.

Edit: I think the key difference is economizing you MP during your campaigns. In Poland i used quick thrusts, same with the Low Countries and France and avoided big attritional battles like i used to have in Luxemburg for instance. I gave up giving my generals a lot of experience at the cost of saving MP basically

Army


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I have only 55 infantry at moment. You don’t need more than the bare minimum to take Poland, the West if you have enough garrisons and HQ’s to serve as defensive forces. I didn’t even use any infantry in the Balkans. Another issue for me was that I had to have 41 infantry by Barbarossa so I saved up so I could upgrade en masse once I got it. Same with Motorized, I wanted the 41 tech so I waited till then. The Assembly line techs are great so to maximize forces I waited till I got them all.

I have 10 HQ’s to divide up the following: 8 Barbarossa, 1 Norway, 1 France and using 1 Italian HQ in the Balkans, 1 Italian HQ in the East and 1 in Africa

I have 7 Mountaineers but they are the old 39 model and I haven’t finished 41 tech yet so I won’t get them upgraded by Barbarossa

15 Armored – Beside the Das Reich, Wiking and LSSAH, all others are the old models and I simply don’t have enough time to upgrade any of them by the start of Barbarossa as I need them all for them. To upgrade armored it takes about 3.5 months so the time to do is from December to April 42 and this is what I expect will take a lot of $ from me.

I don’t really have that much MP because I wrote down rough estimates of what I expect to build.

MP issues

Up to Barbarossa I estimated I had 2100 MP total. From 41 to 45 I will gain 1387 MP more at an average of 277 per year (118 born – 42 dying). I don’t worry about future MP but only made calculates up till Barbarossa.

What did I want to build?

4 Paratroops (waiting for 42 tech before I build them) with AT– costs 92 MP

8 total Mountaineer (get 1 from event, 2 from Austria) with AT – costs 114 MP

7 HQ – 49

25 Gar + 10 AT (given to other Infantry) - 329

8 Lt Pz (i inherited a line that was already producing so i cut had the start up cost decreased but had to upgrade later) = 152

7 Mot AT = 125

Total land forces without Infantry – 861 MP

Infantry – I wanted t have around 80 infantry divisions at most during the game

Post Austria I have 47 + 3 events (2 Croatia, 1 Blaue) inf = 50

So I need to build 30 with AT = 534

I might build a bit less or a bit more by a couple divisions so its just a rule of thumb

AIR will cost me 50 MP for what I need:

16 CAS, 8 FTR, 20 INT, 8 TAC, 3 Transports

NAVY MP are negligible

MISC MP for brigades like AT and ENG (I build 8), AA I estimated at bout 150 MP

Total – 2100 MP

Land with 30 Inf = 1395
Misc = 150 MP
AIR - 50 MP
Left with Reserves = 500 MP

Post 42 Expect to build

5 Mechanized with AT = 89 MP

11 Militia – 99 MP


Navy


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I’m lagging behind here in both tech and doctrine and while I have ship assembly tech I’m not entirely sure what to build and what quantity for now.
Air Force
I have a small Interceptor force but it ought to be adequate for now. My approach is to wait for the assembly techs and then maximize builds at triple speeds if I can afford it to get the gearing bonuses. It economizes on builds and is more cost effective than building parallel lines. The only downside is you have to wait, which August 40 to January 41 is perfect for upgrading old units. The TAC’s take a long time to upgrade so that’s a pain but for CAS and FTR I waited for the new models to appear. I didn’t use Air Force at all in the Balkans. Used it in small wings in Poland to gain experience. I have a couple level 7 and 6 generals and promote them to full Gen or FM by Barbarossa.


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Trades


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I blocked giving any energy trades with anyone to stockpile a big reserve. Every week, unless I forget, I trade 5000 to the Soviets for a couple hundred rares. I also make sure my allies have free resources. Slovakia needs them constantly coupled with metal to upgrade its divisions and create that fourth division that comes in handy.

It took me a while to learn. I've played Poland and West campaign several times so i knew how to avoid those pitfalls. Russia was always something else. I also learned that its better sometimes to concede Norway because you cant adequately protect it so early on you can just send in 10 divisions to clean up the Allies who only land 3 divisions. Navy wise i just retreat if my TP's or capital ships ever get caught, which they have without being sunk.

The money came from lack of production. I didn't start building INT's, FTR, CAS or INF until i got the 42 Techs for planes and 41 tech for Infantry and Motorized. Forts were built after i got the 38 construction tech. I also saved IC time and indirectly $ by inheriting the Mountain and Lt Pz production lines from Austria which i kept.

The main thing i produced was one line of HQs with engineering brigades and a line of Garrisons with AT brigades which i detached to give to infantry. The Gar + AT production saves IC, i think of it as buying in bulk. Only separate thing i built were the Heavy tank brigades. I didnt build any IC except in provinces with rares. If you look at the first screenshot by late 39 i had over $ 51,000 and now only $47,000. From the early days in 36 i cut military spending and waited. One downside is that now i only have 3 TP's in the north and its a pain to shuffle troops back and forth.

You only have three windows to cut salaries, from 36 to 39 (33 months), from 39 to summer 40 (7 months), and from summer 40 to march 41 (8 months) so basically even though i had 15 months after my initial 33 i lost almost $5,000. Keep in mind that once you produce a unit (which costs you 1 point, to upgrade that same unit will cost you 0.7 of its original value so you're paying 1.7 times for the latest model which i wasn't willing to do as i had adequate forces).. I was also very stingy with putting money into IC repair. I'm about 300 IC behind repair and only repair air bases in the West by clicking the green priority button. I also didnt build any air bases in the East which might haunt me as i have to bunch some squadrons above base capability. This strategy is risky because i will only have 59 infantry for the start of barbarossa which are very few even though i have more mobile forces than before so its a very unbalanced army so far. Another disappointment is that i dont have para's ready for the onset of the campaign which means i'll have to try to take all the fortress cities without the extra bonus.

Reorganization

With the irrevocable decision to confront the Soviet Union being taken by the Fuhrer, the High Command decided to divide up security zones

West


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Garrisons stand guard on the Atlantik Wall which has costal forts from Ghent to Caen, continuing to Brest, Rennes and Cholet soon. Land Forts are already built for the first defensive belt running from Avranches to Argentan, Le Mans, Cholet. The second defensive belt will run from Le Havre, Paris, Troyes, Dijon. It is planned that anywhere from 9 to 10 infantry divisions will be stationed in France, which can possibly be used in Norway if needed. Most of the Militia to be built will be stationed alongside Garrisons with Motorized units stationed as rapid response units to reinforce defense. Two Militia are equivalent to one Infantry with AT, have adequate defensive qualities and can hopefully slow an opponent down until first rate troops can reach the field.

Central

The last defense line of the Reich will run from Straslund to Ostrava to Graz. Several forts have been built but the line is incomplete and is the lowest priority at the moment. Danzig and Konigsberg are regarded as Festungs

South


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The Balkans will be in charge of the Bulgarians and Greeks. Italian divisions of one vanilla infantry coupled with one engineer infantry are placed under defensive generals to guard Dalmatia, the Greek coast and Crete. Badoglio’s HQ and Lukov’s 9 infantry strong Corp stationed in Larisa will be the offensive forces to counter invasions in Greece while two 3 infantry strong Corps coupled with 2 Bulgarian Cavalry and one Italian Cavalry are placed on anti partisan duty in Yugoslavia while Bulgaria defensive forces watch Southern coast of newly enlarged Bulgaria.

Plan Barbarossa

The troops have been concentrated and are awaiting orders. The Croatian divisions have been upgraded. Three Army Groups have separate objectives

Army Group North – 11 Infantry, 1 HQ: Gen Kaupisch (HQ) ; LT Gens (v Leeb, v Kuchler) + 5 Infantry (v Falkenhorst, v Tippelskirch, Pannwitz, Busch, Sponheimer)
- Kaunas, Riga, Leningrad

Army Group Center – 23 Infantry, 1 HQ: FM v Falkenhousen (9 Infantry); LT Gens (v Kluge,v Bock, v Brauschitsch, List, v Witzleben)+ 8 (Demelhuber, Ruoff, Leeb,
- Grodno, Lida, Smolensk

Army Group South – 19 Infantry + 4 Slovak division, 1 HQ: FM v Rundstedt (9 Infantry); LT Gen (v Reichenau) + 7 Infantry (Begic, de Angelis, v Schobert, Janecke, Friessner, Volkmann, v der Chevallerie)
- Tarnopol, Vinnitsa, Odessa

Panzer Group 1 – 5 PZ, 1 HQ: Hoth, Guderian, Hopner
- Grodno, Lida, Orsha, Mogilev

Panzer Group 2 – 5 Pz, 1 HQ: Hausser, Steiner, Dietrich
- Tarnopol, Zhitomir, Mogilev

Panzer Group 3 – 5 Pz, 1 HQ: Kleist, Schweppenberg, Manstein
- Tarnopol, Vinnitsa, Kherson

Motorized Group – 4 Mot, 1 Cav, 1 HQ: Weichs, Harpe, v Kortzfleisch
- Grodno, Lida, Orsha, Narva


Total: 59 41 Infantry, 15 Panzer, 1 Cav, 4 Mot

Air Force: 4 Fighter and 6 CAS Konigsberg; 8 TAC Lublin, 4 Fighter Warsaw


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Phase 1 seeks to use the four mobile groups to create three pockets, one in the Baltic for AGN, one in the Pripet for AGC, and one in the South for the Romanians. Upon the pockets being cleared AGS, which will advance toward Kharkov and Rostov, AGC toward Moscow, and AGN toward Leningrad.


Historical Minor Start Dates in East

Italians – August 14 (Support in Ukraine)
Hungary – July 1 (support in Ukraine)
Romania – July 2 (Bessarabia, Odessa, Sevastopol)

Barbarossa: Phase 1 Border Battles, Spearheads, and Invasions

June 9 – Huge air battle in the West. 8 Interceptors against 6 English Fighters of the latest model. The INT’s were sent to Holland but ran into the FTR group. Losses on both sides

June 18 – English land in Stavanger. 4 Mountain divisions meant for Finland diverted to Norway


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June 22 – War against Soviet Union begins. Two spearhead groups will make their way in the North on the Smolensk road, in the south on the route to Kiev, headed by the panzer and motorized groups. The infantry divisions will follow in the second wave to secure the envelopments. The battle for Grodno begins while in the south Kleist and Hausser’s panzer groups are sent to undefended Stryj. Only other forces are 3 non full strength flak panzer divisions with a HQ in France and the force preparing for Norway.


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June 24 – Grodno has two engagements. Losses Axis 5500, Soviet 17,800 and Axis 200, Soviet 1200
Stryj occupied and attacked but held Losses Axis 2800, Soviet 6400
Atacks on Lvov and Stavanger begin


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June 25 – Lvov Losses Axis 1100, Soviet 3700, Finland joins war but tasked with only holding its positions for now

June 26 – Stavanger taken at heavy cost Losses Axis 3600, Allied 4400
Grodno battles continue as Soviets cycle reserves in and out Losses Axis 200, Soviet 1000

June 27 – Lvov Axis 3000, Soviet 12,300

June 28 – Historical occupation policy chosen


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June 29 – Grodno finally occupied; Lvov battles continue Losses Axis 100, Soviet 1900

June 30 – Attack on Lida; Losses Axis 100, Soviet 1600

July 1 – Hungary joins the war; Lvov occupied and holds off an attack Losses Axis 400, Soviet 2100
Lida battles Losses Axis, 1000; Soviet 4300

July 2 – Romania’s Army Group begins its offensive to retake Bessarabia aided by a German HQ.

July 3 – Ismail Losses Romanian 1000, Soviet 1600


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July 4 – Grodno attacked by Soviets but they run into fresh troops of the second wave and cannot make progress Losses Axis 300, Soviet 2300
Rundstedt’s spearhead begins attack on Tarnopol but is blocked by 24 understrength Soviet divisions.
Molodeczeno attacked Losses Axis 500, Soviet 1500
Ismail Losses Romanian 200, Soviet 1500

July 5 – Molod battles continue Losses Axis 600 and 300, Soviet 2800 and 1500
Tarnopol battles Losses Axis 5600 and 100, Soviet 11,100 and 600

July 6 – Air battles in the West continue

July 7 – UK launches an amphibious attack on Brest! No troops are nearby as the HQ and 3 divisions are guarding the Callais coast;
Soviets launch a surprise local offensive on Lomza held by one division which is ordered to retreat in the face of superior numbers Losses Axis 700, Soviet 400

July 8 – With the second wave infantry catching up to the Northern spearhead Army Groups North and Center will diverge. Kaupisch’s Northern group will head for the Dvina to create a Baltic pocket while Falkenhousen’s Center group will drive toward the Dnieper to cut off the Pripet pocket


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July 9 – Tarnopol Losses Axis 100, Soviets 300

July 10 – Brest garrison is annihilated Losses Axis 5100, Allied 1400
Vicious battles at Bobraisk Losses Axis 10,000 and 100; Soviet 15,000 and 1000

July 11 – Bobraisk occupied by two sole panzer divisions but after being attacked by superior forces are ordered to retreat. From now now any spearheads will be ordered to have the infantry arriving first to protect the panzers. Losses Axis 800, Soviets 400
Tarnopol taken and attacked but held Losses Axis 400, Soviet 1800
Romanians attack Beltsy Losses Axis 200, Soviet 1000
Bobriask retreat Losses Axis 800 , Soviet 400
A new motorized division under von Arnim arrives with orders to join the Afrika Korps but it will be used in the Brest offensive first.
Hungarian divisions starting to move into Ukraine

July 12 – French volunteers and the latest intelligence report
A vicious attack by Soviets newly formed army against Molod catches Army Group North by surprise and stops them in their tracks as the last reserves for the north are sent.


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July 13 –Army Group South runs into a huge Soviet Army Group of 29 divisions that is disorganized at Zhitomir
Molod holds Losses Axis 3900, Soviet 7000

July 14 – Infantry arrive in Bobraisk but are attacked again
Zhitomir Losses Axis 3200, Soviet 5800
Bobraisk holds Losses Axis 3100, Soviet 5100

July 15 – two soviet BB and one DD surprise Germany TP’s in Pommeranian bay; Kriegsmarine from Aalborg is scrambled and after a couple of days is able to sink the Soviet taskforce and a couple of wandering Soviet subs
Zhitomir occupied and hled against a weak attack Losses Axis 0, Svoiet 600

July 16 – Kiev Military district army formed

July 17 – Swieci Losses Axis 2300, Soviet 5600
Zhlob Losses Axis 2100, Soviet 3600
Hausser’s SS Panzer Group and Reichenau’s army are sent to Vyshgorod to close the pincers around the Pripet marshes

July 18 – Zhlob battles Losses Axis 200 and 200, Soviet 700 and 1000
Swiec Losses Axis 1200, Soviet 5000

July 19 – Soviets attack Hungarians holding Tarnopol
Army Group North still battling to take Swie Losses Axis 100, Soviet 1000; Swie is finally occupied later that day and repulses an attack Losses Axis 100, Soviet 700
Attack on Vinnitsa begins; Slovaks and Hungarians attack at once while Kleist’s Panzer group and Rundstedt’s Army Group South prepare to join
Vyshgorod held Losses Axis 100, Soviet 200
Vinnitsa Losses Axis 500, Soviet 1200
Just as Hausser’s Panzer group occupies Vyshgorod, Timoshenko’s 19 divisions attack. Rundstedt’ called off from Vinnitsa attack to help out


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July 20 – Tarnopol holds Losses Axis 3600, Soviet 6300
Vinnitsa Losses Axis 100, Soviet 1000
Vyshgorod holds Losses Axis 700, Soviet 1800. Most of the Soviet divisions were under strength and the SS panzers were able to do the job themselves. Rundstedt told to turn back and head for Vinnitsa again.
Army Group North sent to cross the Dvina. Hoth’s panzer group has no room to maneuver in the Marshes or the forests of the Baltic so it will be sent to Molod to be a mobile defense force with Weich’s Motorized Group doing the same for Swiec while the rest of Army Group North will focus all its firepower to try and close the Baltic pocket
Kleist’s Panzer Group occupies Vinnitsa and is attacked

July 21 – Vinnitsa holds Losses Axis 300, Soviet 800
Dagaupils Losses Axis 300, Soviet 800
Vyshgorod holds Losses Axis 1000, Soviet 2400; Soviets throw in new divisions but Hausser’s Panzer Group holds again

July 22 – Deals with Portugal for rares and Soviet 18th army in Cherkassy formed
19 Soviet divisions attack Joenssuu in Finland; the 3 divisions holding it are told to retreat Losses Finns 400, Soviet 400
Two battles in a day at Dagau Losses Axis 500 and 1200, Soviet 1100 and 2000

July 23 – Dagau Losses Axis 100, Soviet 500
Zhlob holds against a weak attack Losses Axis 0, Soviet 900
Vyshgorod holds again but losses starting to take toll as Reichenau’s infantry is taking forever to get there
The 4 mountain divisions used in Norway will be sent to the Eastern Front, all new infantry divisions placed in Konigsberg

July 24 – Zhlob Losses Axis 1500, Soviet 2100
Pripet pocket closed and TAC interdiction begins
Lomza salient pinched out Losses Axis 200, Soviet 1200
Lublin’s two German divisions are under attack by nine Soviet divisions
Dagaupils minor skirmish Losses Axis 0, Soviet 600

July 25 – Vyshgorod repulses a weak attack Losses Axis 0, Soviet 600
Dagau battles Losses Axis 100 and 100, Soviet 700 and 500
Mozyr attacked
Soviets launch desperate attacks on Tarnopol against Slovakian divisions. Hungarian divisions are scrounged from other areas and sent to help. Romanian defensive mobile force of Cavalry is organized to help out in the future but cannot help for a while

July 26 – Lublin’s two German divisions heroically hold out but suffer greatly Losses Axis 3200, Soviet 4200
Mozyr Losses Axis 1200, Soviet 1700. Fighting in the Pripet is tough and tiring
Soviets continue their Finnish offensive and a further retreat is ordered with land fort production for Finland prioritized for a new interior defensive line to hold Finland until the Germans can help out. It is hoped this line can hold for a year
Cherkassy army attacked Losses Axis 4200, Soviet 5500
Jyvaskyla attacked by Soviets who do not let up their advance. Theirs is a true spearhead with many tank and motorized divisions, which oddly enough would be better used in the south
Dagaupils finally occupied but attacked


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July 27 – Molod held Losses Axis 500, Soviet 600
Tarnopol retreat by the Slovak divisions as they lost a lot Losses Slovak 2900, Soviet 1900
Dagaup holds as infantry catches up Losses Axis 500, Soviet 230
Fin retreating army from Joenssuu engages advancing Soviet spearhead in Jyvaks ; ordered to retreat to the ineterior Losses Finns 100, Axis 400

July 28 – Vyshgor Losses Axis 100, Soviet 600
Mozyr Losses Axis 100, Soviet 300
Attack on Riga begins
BaranowiczeLosses Axis 100, Soviet 600
Grodno lost after a mass attack of twelve to fifteen Soviet divisions fall upon two reserve German divisions Losses Axis 4800, Soviet 2400. High command decides to send in Blaskowitz’s army instead of diverting Dietl’s Mountaineers from their attacks on Baranowicze
Riga Losses Axis 1000, Soviet 1500


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July 29 – Six new Hungarian divisions under a Defensive General arrive in Tarnopol which is again attacked by ten Soviet divisions
Mozyr Losses Axis 800, Soviet 1000
Tarnopol holds Losses Hungarian 1300, Soviet 800
Weich’s and Harpe’s four motorized divisions sent to cross Dvina
Riga Losses Axis 100, Soviet 200. Quite a few Soviet divisions are able to escape the pocket. They are very disorganized but the German divisions are not much doing too much better

July 30 – Baranowicze Losses Axis 100, Soviet 800, occupied and held Axis 100, Soviet 500

August 1 – Blaskowitz’s three divisions get to Grodno in time and are attacked by the 15 Soviet divisions but they manage to hold as much of their offensive strength was spent earlier Losses Axis 700, Soviet 1100
The Motorized divisions head toward Opochka to at least ruin a very active Soviet air field

Aug 2 – Dagau Losses Axis 100, Soviet 500
Zhitomir defeat Losses Axis 1300, Sviet 200
Swieci attacked by strong Soviet divisions from inside and outside the Baltic corridor , HOth’s Panzer Group sent to help
Bitter battle for Zhitomir as six Hungarian divisions hold on in face of a ten division attack from Kiev nd Pripet pocket
Cherkassi Losses Axis 200, Soviet 700
Motorized group take Pskov and there is a chance to cut off the whole Baltic into a large and small pocket

Aug 3 – Hoths’panzers arrive and make the battle for Swieci a 9 v 9 battle
Mozyr occupied
Cherk Losses Axis 0, Soviet 800
Some divisions in Swieci are starting to shatter and retreat butlater in the day reports indicate the province will hold Losses Axis 2500, Soviet 3000. Most divisions on both sides are beyond exhaustion
Riga Losses Axi s 0, Soviet 300
Cherkassi Losses Axis 0, Soviet 600
Zhitomirs Hungarian divisiosn hold off the Soviet attacks at great cost Losses Axis 3400, Soviet 1800

Aug 4 – Army Group South struggling to close the Ukrainian pocket as lone rear guard divisions in Cherkassi kepp popping up
Riga finally occupied and attacked at once by ten soviet divisions
Memel’s five garrisons are under attack by seven soviet divisions
The four motorized divisions run into nine soviet tank and motorized divisions in Tartu so they are called off and back toward Dagaupils
With the Soviet offensives on Memel and Riga the High Command orders an immediate offensive toward Jerkapils


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Phase 1 Assesment

Some hard fought battles have yielded two big pockets one in the Baltic and one in the Pripet Marshes. The attempt at pocketing the Ukrainian forces in the south is not going to plan. Many forces are undersupplied are disorganized. The finnish front has stabilized and may be the safest one at the moment as the German go for broke strategy has left its frontline troops over stretched.


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Next time: Barbarossa Phase 2: Kessel Fever

Will the Axis be able to liquidate the Baltic and Pripet pockets and close the Ukrainian pocket?

Will the Memel garrisons be able to hold?

Will the Soviet armies beyond the Dnieper maul the furthermost Axis armies ?

With Axis armies engaged in the Baltics, Belarus and Ukraine will the Finns manage to survive on their own?

That and the battle for Brest, next time …

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Weich’s Motorized groups is too far ahead and an attack on Gulbene is planned with Kaupisch’s Army Group North supporting it until the divisions reach friendly lines. The offensive toward Jerkapils is delayed. Dietl’s mountaineers and Blaskowitz’s fresh troops will be sent in the Bobraisk, Zhlobin area while Rundsted’s Army Group South will be sent to Tarnopol to anchor the Pripet pocket from the South. The drive toward the Black Sea will be delayed due to heavy losses in the battle for Cherkassy and the deteriorating state of the Hungarians. Romanian attacks on Oddessa are also behind schedule as they are still focused on Chisinev. Kleists Panzer Group is sent to Tarnopol to support Messe’s group as it seeks to take Kowel and reduce the Pripet pocket as much as possible.
Memel and Riga hold against attacks to break out and the troops are tasked with helping Weich’s motorized group break through. An offensive toward Wilno begins. Bobraisk is under attack by newly formed divisions.

A couple days later the Soviets in Gulbene are expelled allowing for Weichs divisions to break toward Kaupisch’s lines.
On the frontlines of Zhlobin, Vyshgorod and Bobraisk vicious attacks by newly formed Soviet forces stop any drive further west
The fight for the Baltic pocket is tough as many of the frontline troops have been badly mauled. Most of the actions are now holding actions waiting for new divisions to be formed and sent east while mauled divisions slowly make their way to Konigsberg to refit. In the West Brest was taken only to have an amphibious landing by the Allies take Kolding. Dollman’s new motorized group, for now only one division along with a couple other organizing divisions will be sent to Denmark.
E3


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The Baltic pocket is being gradually reduced. Many of the divisions are in poor state and can barely defend much less attack. Dagaupils was lost. In Pripet pocket Hausser’s and Kleist’s panzer groups are able to push back the encircled troops. The Spanish Blaue division arrives and after organizing is moved to Memel to provide offensive support for later offensives.
E4


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In late August Vyshgorod is lost as Rundstedt’s Army Group cannot get there in time. The mauled division retreat to Korosted where Rundstedt will be sent. Zhlobin is also under heavy attack and with Vyshgorod soon to be taken becomes an indefensible position so they will be sent to Mozyr with the half disorganized Hungarians also vacating Zhitomir. With Vinnitsa long given up the Southern and Central fronts are being pressured. The plan is to eliminate the pockets and try to hold the lines until the mauled divisions refit in Konigsberg before a drive to the Dnieper can be retaken hopefully before the snows set in.
E5


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British also attack the Bengazi garrison.
As the attack on Kaunas begins Bobraisk and Swieciany fall under heavy attack. Swieciay falls but Bobraisk holds after heavy losses. Weich’s Motorized Corps is refitted and sent up to Bobraisk immediately.
Offensives on Brest Litovsk and Jeglava begin.
Italians vacating Lybia event increases dissent to two.
In Africa the attack on Bengazi is going well, seeing how only one English division is guarding it while the other two are gobbling up other provinces.
Soviets retreating to Mazirbe are about to be taken while attacks on the Pripet are going slower. Bobraisk is under heavy pressure and will likely be lost just like Jeglava which is only held until the Riga troops cross the Dvina. Most of these divisions cannot even provide defensive resistance.
Retrating troops to Lida are attacked and retreated further West. The Allies land another task force in Aalesund Norway.
E 6


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October
Lida holds
Kolding and Africa cleaned up. Little by little the first wave of refitted divisions arrive at the front.

E7 , e8


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Mid November
West
With the Allies expelled from the West front the only remaining presence is at Narvik which will be occupied soon.
Finland, East
After the front stabilizes, a last offensive in the south is launched with the objective to take Kiev and trap the forces in the Ukraine as the advancing forces close the pincer toward the Black Sea but given the early winter season the decision is made to hold off on any offensives and hold the line.
Infrastructure is being built both in the north and the south and new divisions will be raised
Africa
The long awaited offensive will kick off as soon as a motorized division is shipped.
Minister Changes
Groner is the new Chief of Staff due to his defense bonus and Hammerstein Equord is the new Chief of the Army for his logistical skills.
E9


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Just as the divisions are being reorganized with some being sent back to Konigsberg for reorganization to relieve pressure on the tired minor axis troops the Soviets launch an attack on Tarnopol a vital link in the Axis line.
Tarnopol holds but news reaches the High Command that the Allies have taken an undefended Stavanger.
E10


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The allies take Kristiansand and troops are rushed to Norway to take positions and defend Oslo.
In the East winter has set in as the Soviets launch an attack on Romanian held Betlsy.
In Africa English bombers are battering Italian divisions as the English launch an amphibious assault on Tobruk.
E11


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Tobruk is vacated as Italian units are sent to encircle it.
All along the Eastern front the Russian winter offensive begins.
E12


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The Romanians and Finns hold. English offensive in Africa is pushing the Italians back from Sollum.
Massive battle at Vyshgorod
E13


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Even with a fort built Vyshgorod is lost. The panzers from the north are on their way as it must be retaken. Finland is cut in half and the front is collapsing.
Japan declared war on the US and the Philippines. Germany declares war on USA.
E14


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Finland continues to be hard pressed but there are no reinforcements available as not enough divisions are mobilized.
In Africa the battle for Tobruk begins.
Reinforcements arrive in Vyshgorod but are completely outnumbered.
Vyshgorod holds but it seems Russian troops are merely giving the defenders a breathers as they are retreating and reorganizing elsewhere. Meanwhile attacks on Tarnopol continue as the minor Axis allies are taking a beating. American bombers have begun their attacks in the West.
E15


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The Northern Front
Norwegian offensive looks successful. Finnish troops are seeking to retreat toward the southern part of the country. The High Command will send some mountain troops and scrounge up some infantry divisions to hold the line.
Reinforced panzers from Berlin will be sent to Tarnopol.
Vyshgorod weathers two more attacks though not as intense as the first one and holds due to the panzer and motorized troops holding firm. The finns continue their retreat to the South. Norway is cleared of English. American bombers target both garrisons and industrial targets. African offensive close to launching.
E16


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Vyshgorod massively attacked once again as the Soviets also try to break through in the north. Panzers and mountain divisions will not be upgraded as the cost is prohibitive and the IC is used to build infrastructure and repair provinces and air bases in the East.
Allies land yet again in Alesund
Dardanelles and Lvov are lost due to inadequate defenses.
E 17


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Feb 42 – Finland reduced to Helsinki pocket. Norway operations ongoing. Eastern Front a bit quieter than expected but forces are stretched thin. Some reinforced Slovakian and Hungarian troops are making their way back to the front.
Allies land in Aalborg expelling the Kriegsmarine which is caught off guard by the Royal Navy which sinks a BC and a DD before retreating.
USA declares war on Vichy France which is now militarily controlled.
E18


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Massive battle in Helsinki as 37 Soviet divisions attack the last remnants of the Finnish army and the entire German Mountain Corps. All placed on VOV.
Some troops gathered to retake Denmark.
March 42
Oslo garrison falls to Monty’s tank divisions. Reinforcements were on their way but couldn’t get there in time. Denmark is cleared and Helsinki holds out after Lohr’s Stuka fleet interdicts the attackers.
E20


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The nightmare is over. The initiative passes onto the Axis. The High command is currently considering several plans for the upcoming spring offensive.
Plan Swimming Pool: Two offensives, one to trap Soviet concentrations in Finland, the other to cut off all Soviet troops in the Baltic region and capturing Murmansk and Archangel and Leningrad. Negatives are that this region is full of forests which are bad for tanks but offers little room for retreat for cut off forces
Plan Bread Basket: A large offensive along the Dnieper to cut off the Kiev Military District before an advance toward Rostov and the Donbas. Ideal tank country but plenty of room for retreat

Mr_B0narpte said:

Great to see another update. We really do have different strategies. I see you've been placing land forts along your eastern front already when you still have nearly 800 manpower which is interesting. The UK is giving quite some trouble for you, maybe you could invade Sweden just to secure all the precious metal and possibly flank the Red Army from the north, but your 'Plan Swimming Pool' sounds much better then attacking through Sweden. In regards to 'Plan Bread Basket' having plenty of room to retreat isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Just out of curiosity; for the production, have you been doubling the speed for most/all of your units in production?

Click to expand...

Those forts were originally planned for the West in case the Allies landed in force and i had to slow them down before reinforcements arrived but seeing how my front in the Ukraine was shaky i had to use them there. I'm still thinking about where to attack because I want to retake Norway and have to keep an eye on the Western front but i might need those forces to complement eastern offensive or mobile defense.

I wont' be invading Sweden anytime soon. I can barely hold Denmark and Norway.

Here are the current production queue



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Here are the forces available screen. I will only build infantry until the end of 42. Afterward i have to build militia per house rules. The good thing is that most of my forces are still intact. I have lost men and had garrisons destroyed but the Soviets haven't broken through. Problem is i don't have enough forces to break through and hold a lot of land myself.



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