The Great Patriotic War

4th of July 1941 01:45 Stavka HQ

Zhukov thought about the dark clouds that are looming in the west, the past 3 days had been the worst of the invasion. The situation is getting worse by the day, should he take control of the front that is losing city by city, town by town? He could not appoint himself without informing Staling, were is the boss? Zhukov took a deep breath and looked at the reports on his desk.


General Zhukov

Karelian & Leningrad Front


The battle for Sortavala was almost lost, but on the 1st of July 3 new infantry divisions arrived from the Leningrad front. The battle is fought around small villages, wit some villages changing hands multiple times a day.


The six new divisions coming from the Caucasus are moving to the northern border wit Finland to prevent a siege of Murmansk.

Baltic Front


Reports were coming the Germans renewed their offensive in the Baltic, they were moving in the direction of Kaunas.


Panzers and armored halftrack on the move to Kaunas.

Belorussian Front


As we see the Germans are focusing on our two fronts in the center, the Belarusian front and the 1st Ukrainian front. If these offensives keep going the way they are, the Baltic and 2nd Ukrainian fronts needs to retreat as well.


German column moving true a forest in Byelorussia.

Ukrainian Front


Romanian troops start a attack on Proskurov on the 2nd of July, we can hold of this Romanian attack. But where are al the German divisions? And what is Rommel planning? Shaposhnikov cant afford himself many more defeats and routs!


A few hours later newly promoted Field Marshal Rommel began attacking toward Rowe, Field Marshall Shaposhnikov ordered the retreat a few hours later. It seems the 1st Ukrainian needs reinforcements. The Germans becoming stronger by the day, at this rate Kiev is in German hands by mid August!


Red Army tank division on the retreat from the defeat at Rowe.


On the 3rd of July it seemed the attacks on Proskurov and Rowe were part of something much bigger, they are part of a grand offensive in the south!


A resting Panzer division, part of Field Marshall Rommel’s victories army in the Ukraine.

Battles still raging late on the 3rd of July


Sortavala as always! Kaunas received 6 divisions in reinforcements and is holding out. Proskurov is a much needed victory in the Ukraine, although it was against weak Romanian forces. To the north Rowe has fallen to Rommel, a retreat is imminent! Kamenets-Podolsky also seems lost because of German break true at Rowe.


Soviet heavy tank being inspected by German soldiers in the Ukraine. Al roads in the Ukraine leading east had abandoned Red Army vehicles and heavy weapons alongside it.

Other news


On the 3rd of July the Baltic fleet encountered the Finnish navy, all guns blazing the two fleets battled!


After a few hours the Finnish navy escaped, but without any destroyers, the Baltic fleet sunk them! The Finnish navy is out of order for a long time. This is a good victory, we will use this as propaganda material!
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9th of July 1941 00:10 Stavka HQ


Stalin has returned from his dacha were he had stayed several days, after the report on the strategic situation Zhukov had given him on the 26th of June. Right away he asked Zhukov: "tell me the truth, what is the current situation?" Zhukov and Stalin leaned over the maps and reports.


Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin

Overview of current Axis gains and battles on the 8th of July.


Two very important battles in the Ukraine at Proskurov and Kamenets-Podolsky to stop Rommel and German Army Group South. Also the ongoing slaughter at Sortavala, and around Wilno the battle for the Baltic. At Chisinau another German/Romanian attempt to cross the first river out of Romania.

Karelian & Leningrad Front


The victories Baltic Fleet returned back to Leningrad, Kuznetsov knew the Kriegsmarine was to strong to face. No more enemy’s we can face!

Baltic Front


German army group North stopped their advance on Kaunas on the 5th of July and turned their forces toward Wilno. If Wilno would be captured, the whole Baltic front would have to retreat behind the river Daugava. General Popov ordered 8 mobile divisions to support the forces around Wilno.

Belorussian Front


The road to Minsk seems open, the Belarusian front is collapsing! The time to fire Field Marshall Timoshenko commander of the Belarusian Front seems right!


The Luftwaffe harasses retreating Red Army columns in Belorussia.


A group of Stuka dive bombers in the skies above Belorussia.

Ukrainian Front


Because of defeats to the north, at Tarnopol, Rowe and the ongoing battle at Proskurov the undefeated 2nd Ukrainian Front around Odessa needs to retreat.
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10th of July 1941 00:10 Stavka HQ

Zhukov came back from a long dinner with Stalin, when he entered the map room he was glad to see his staff still working late. But why was everybody looking so serious and sad? Zhukov asked: “who died?, what is going on?”. A staff officer answered: “Sir we have some bad news coming from the Ukraine and Baltic front!”.


Zhukovs staff updating the maps.

Battles still raging on the morning of the 9th of July.


The battle of Sortavala enters his 17th day
The Germans stopped their advance on Wilno after red army reserves arrived, a day later they renewed their advance on Kaunas.
The battle of Slutsk started early on the 9th.
The battle of the Ukraine is being fought in Proshurov and Kamenets-Podolsky.

Baltic Front


Late on the 9th the seven divisions holding on to Kaunas were ordered to retreat, this is a result of the gamble of general Popov to throw al his reserves into the battle of Wilno.

Belorussian Front


Early in the morning of the 9th of July German army group centre continued their advance on Minsk. The defences in Slutsk were not yet fully prepared, unorganised divisions had arrived in the 48 hours before the attack. Wave after wave of German infantry was thrown at Timoshenko’s divisions.


Unfinished Red Army trench near Slutsk a few hours before the German attack.

Ukrainian Front


German army group South keeps on rolling, the most famous Field Marshall in the war keeps his tanks and infantry rolling. Exhausted Red Army divisions try to hold of the invaders, but they have reached their limit. Field Marshall Shaposhnikov had asked for permission to retreat 2 times on the 9th, Zhukov denied this request both times, he had to discuss this wit Stalin first.


Field Marshall Shaposhnikov started a retreat in the evening, after being in danger of encirclement. He thought about suicide, but hoped he could plead his case wit Stalin and Zhukov. Another defeat and chaotic retreat in the Ukraine!


As a result of events in the north the whole 2nd Ukrainian front is ordered to retreat, the frontline is closing in on our beautiful city of Odessa. General Purkaev commander of the 2nd Ukrainian front is rumored to be a candidate to replace Field Marshall Timoshenko in Byelorussia because of the heroic defence of Chisinau. Stalin also mentioned him as Zhukov’s replacement if Zhukov was going to command a front.


Painting made by a artist somewhere near Balti, sad undefeated soldiers retreating.



Zhukov ordered the tactical air fleets in the Ukraine and southern Byelorussia to start bombing the infrastructure around Lvov and Brest-Litovsk to slow down the German logistics.


Tactical bombers on their way to western Ukraine to bomb roads and bridges.

overview of battles and retreats late on the 9th of July.


The battle of Wilno has been renewed by the Germans after their victory at Kaunas.
The battle at Slutsk broke al records of casualties on one day for both sides, some trenches or foxholes changed sides multiple times a hour.


The Germans started digging their own trenches under enemy fire at Slutsk.
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July 13th 00:05 1941 Stavka HQ.


A major offensive by Axis forces was on the mind of Zhukov. “How to stop this ongoing rolling thunder” he thought. Two options: retreat to shorten the frontline or a fighting retreat. Stalin wants to fight for every inch of land, no matter the cost. Zhukov was also in favor of a fighting retreat, but one that slowed down the Germans but also keeps the army up to strength. Right now more than 90% of the divisions were under strength and in badly need of reinforcements.

Battles & retreats on the morning of the 11th of July.


The Finnish army turns east and attacks Segezha.
In between the cities of Riga and Minsk three battles are being fought. Panevezys, Wilno and Vilejka are under heavy pressure by army group North and Center.
The battle of Novograd-Volynsky to the south of the Pripet marches.

Karelian & Leningrad Front


After their defeat at Sortvala, the new objective of the Finnish army is Segezha.



The Luftwaffe’s first bombing of the city of Leningrad, the main targets are factories and the harbor of the Baltic fleet. The anti air gun crews of the city’s garrison got their first action.

Baltic Front


After the victory in Kaunas, German army group North kept the pressure on in the Baltic. Panevezys is attacked on the 11th of July.



The Battle of Wilno can not be sustained by the red army, there are not enough reserves in the region.

Belorussian Front


After a failed attack on Slutsk the Germans started a advance on Vilejka on the 11th.


German machinegun team in a forest near the town of Vilejka.

Ukrainian Front


On the 11th the Germans started attacking in the direction of Novograd-Volynsky, the previous battles in the Ukraine have hade their impact on Red Army strength in this sector. Orders were given to hold out as long as they can and wait for reinforcements.

Current plans on the northern front


The army’s defending against the German offensive in the north, to outflank Riga and Minsk should fight on until Stavka orders the retreat. Twelve infantry divisions will reinforce the battle for Vilejka, the forests around Minsk should absorb as much German divisions as we can. We must slow down the advance on Minsk and Smolensk!


Infantry on the move to the battle of Vilejka.

Other news


Currently al focus is on reinforcing our divisions, this process will stay a constant factor as the Germans will keep attacking the coming months.
We need some deals to import energy.


Headlines all around the world are: “Tobruk has fallen!”. Italian tanks entered the city on the 11th of July.


The daily mirror.
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