IT'S BACK!!!
Fantastic, this is a great AAR. Love the emphasis on battles, and it really does capture the feel of a couple Lithuanian divisions fighting their way to glory and freedom during the Second World War. Great job!
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IT'S BACK!!!
Fantastic, this is a great AAR. Love the emphasis on battles, and it really does capture the feel of a couple Lithuanian divisions fighting their way to glory and freedom during the Second World War. Great job!
Blind Shot. May-June, 1944
Blind Shot. May-June, 1944
I felt for several days that the fatal night was coming soon – and both dreaded and waited for it. And it came, in the form of my brother, visiting unannounced.
I also knew this was perhaps the last time I will see my brother, but there was no way to make proper goodbye, as he was to board a plane and leave for Marseilles – on his way to India – later the same night. LLA was getting ready there for a big operation in the Asian theatre, named Dracula, but I did not get any more details.
What I learned, though, was that my time has come indeed – now, or it would be too late.
The last radio message from our resistance cell in Marijampole, received on June 1, said that the Germans were massing several armour divisions around Vilkaviskis, for a counter-attack, but they were severely undermanned, and it was not expected to keep the Soviets away for long.
We just hugged, wished each other luck and he disappeared into twilight fog.
There were no further transmissions made during next several contact windows, our underground cell most likely exposed or dispersed. June 4, 1944
After several false alarms due to bad weather over the Baltic sea, the night of June 6 was finally THE night – two groups of 6 men each boarded a pair of C-47 planes, with a strange calm on our faces, lips pressed tightly, fingers running triple-checking the backpacks and belts. Like men, prepared to die, but not entirely yet. Our plane went roaring into the sky first. I never learned what happened to the second plane and the guys there – only rumours that they only reached as far as the skies over Denmark.
Our drop point was to be near a small village of Nemajunai – just to the east from Prienai, behind Nemunas river. Close enough to the place where I was born, for me to know the massive pine forests on both sides of the river my five fingers, and far enough, so that people would not recognize me on the spot.
Even though we missed our drop point by nearly a kilometer, we have managed to reach our intended hideout just before the sunrise. June 7, 1944
Next several days were quite worrisome, as we were not sure no one reported seeing us land the other night. Finally, on June 10 our contact arrived from Simnas group, with some food and local news. Luckily, no one alerted the Germans of our arrival, perhaps due to the overcast night and almost direct landing.
Maybe they had more things to worry about in the ensuing confusion - the Soviets have been making a steady progress –Vilnius garrison has surrendered back on June 3, despite German desperate efforts to relieve the surrounded troops.
The Russians were already engaging German lines in the lake country to the west of Trakai and Ukmerge. June 9, 1944
I felt for several days that the fatal night was coming soon – and both dreaded and waited for it. And it came, in the form of my brother, visiting unannounced.
I also knew this was perhaps the last time I will see my brother, but there was no way to make proper goodbye, as he was to board a plane and leave for Marseilles – on his way to India – later the same night. LLA was getting ready there for a big operation in the Asian theatre, named Dracula, but I did not get any more details.
What I learned, though, was that my time has come indeed – now, or it would be too late.
The last radio message from our resistance cell in Marijampole, received on June 1, said that the Germans were massing several armour divisions around Vilkaviskis, for a counter-attack, but they were severely undermanned, and it was not expected to keep the Soviets away for long.
We just hugged, wished each other luck and he disappeared into twilight fog.
There were no further transmissions made during next several contact windows, our underground cell most likely exposed or dispersed. June 4, 1944
After several false alarms due to bad weather over the Baltic sea, the night of June 6 was finally THE night – two groups of 6 men each boarded a pair of C-47 planes, with a strange calm on our faces, lips pressed tightly, fingers running triple-checking the backpacks and belts. Like men, prepared to die, but not entirely yet. Our plane went roaring into the sky first. I never learned what happened to the second plane and the guys there – only rumours that they only reached as far as the skies over Denmark.
Our drop point was to be near a small village of Nemajunai – just to the east from Prienai, behind Nemunas river. Close enough to the place where I was born, for me to know the massive pine forests on both sides of the river my five fingers, and far enough, so that people would not recognize me on the spot.
Even though we missed our drop point by nearly a kilometer, we have managed to reach our intended hideout just before the sunrise. June 7, 1944
Next several days were quite worrisome, as we were not sure no one reported seeing us land the other night. Finally, on June 10 our contact arrived from Simnas group, with some food and local news. Luckily, no one alerted the Germans of our arrival, perhaps due to the overcast night and almost direct landing.
Maybe they had more things to worry about in the ensuing confusion - the Soviets have been making a steady progress –Vilnius garrison has surrendered back on June 3, despite German desperate efforts to relieve the surrounded troops.
The Russians were already engaging German lines in the lake country to the west of Trakai and Ukmerge. June 9, 1944
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Considering this is the only AAR I'm following I would be OK with a slightly higher update rate...
Or in other words, Yay, it's back again! Hopefully we will get the happy ending - or at least an ending - before long.
Or in other words, Yay, it's back again!
Hopefully we will get the happy ending - or at least an ending - before long.- 1
Sorry, johho888! This is duly noted, and your following is very much appreciated - 1
Agree with Johho here, it's the only AAR I'm following now and have been following it since the start! Hope there will be a happy outcome in the end
Oh another update the forum failed to mention, cool! I hope you'll finish this story someday, its a blast to follow! The Soviets are getting uncomfortably close there and they've already taken Kaunas. I guess its now or never for the resistance to rise up and take back their turf, because if the Soviets occupy it again, I doubt you will ever be able to get it off them. There's probably way too many of them.
Ilaruum, just got on board now - subbed!
The last few days I’ve begun looking through some current AARs to get some inspiration for my own new (first) one. I found it in yours! While mine is not a character-based narrative, you have already given me some ideas about how both a very small power a long way from home can be played to have undue influence to its size. And also how an AAR can be made more interesting with some narrative flavour.
As I’m playing a Minor, I was drawn to your concept: a Micro (no less) surrounded by big and aggressive neighbours, and deliberately envisaged as a Government-in-Exile – brilliant! I have spent a few days going through yours from its start to the present. A long read, but worth it.
Lovely writing, great personal touches: it is obviously a labour of love for you. The overseas campaigns in North Africa, Norway and Sicily were bold and good reading – all that done with a leaky, unescorted transport fleet!
The 1943 ‘Soft Underbelly’ campaign in Albania and Greece was also intriguing – not least for the obscure difference between landing in Albania and being under British supply (as you had before) and then in Greece and actually getting conquered IC and territory.
Smart use of allied objectives throughout too. I used them in a recent game as France to good effect, for defence, then attack and the allocation of Exp forces. I see it has rewarded your boldness on a few occasions, in Sicily and then Greece/Albania during Op Alexander – good for you! I think it works OK given AI vagaries.
Have now caught up through the Bulgarian campaign: the mopping up of remnant forces conquered/puppeted countries can take almost as long (or longer) than the original campaign! Then the big German counter-attack. The re-imagined Market-Garden op on the Western Front was a very nice touch – clever! Well executed too, and good to see some more Lithuanian colours on the map. And typical to see your allies stuffed up in Bulgaria after you left.
Looking forward to what comes next – with this AAR, you never know where it will be, except that it will be risky, innovative and bold. Good luck – the most dangerous time as a small power can be when you think you have victory in the bag!
The last few days I’ve begun looking through some current AARs to get some inspiration for my own new (first) one. I found it in yours! While mine is not a character-based narrative, you have already given me some ideas about how both a very small power a long way from home can be played to have undue influence to its size. And also how an AAR can be made more interesting with some narrative flavour.
As I’m playing a Minor, I was drawn to your concept: a Micro (no less) surrounded by big and aggressive neighbours, and deliberately envisaged as a Government-in-Exile – brilliant! I have spent a few days going through yours from its start to the present.
A long read, but worth it.Lovely writing, great personal touches: it is obviously a labour of love for you. The overseas campaigns in North Africa, Norway and Sicily were bold and good reading – all that done with a leaky, unescorted transport fleet!
The 1943 ‘Soft Underbelly’ campaign in Albania and Greece was also intriguing – not least for the obscure difference between landing in Albania and being under British supply (as you had before) and then in Greece and actually getting conquered IC and territory.
Smart use of allied objectives throughout too. I used them in a recent game as France to good effect, for defence, then attack and the allocation of Exp forces. I see it has rewarded your boldness on a few occasions, in Sicily and then Greece/Albania during Op Alexander – good for you! I think it works OK given AI vagaries.
Have now caught up through the Bulgarian campaign: the mopping up of remnant forces conquered/puppeted countries can take almost as long (or longer) than the original campaign! Then the big German counter-attack. The re-imagined Market-Garden op on the Western Front was a very nice touch – clever! Well executed too, and good to see some more Lithuanian colours on the map. And typical to see your allies stuffed up in Bulgaria after you left.
Looking forward to what comes next – with this AAR, you never know where it will be, except that it will be risky, innovative and bold. Good luck – the most dangerous time as a small power can be when you think you have victory in the bag!
The Strange Summer - I. June - August, 1944
We brought some hope. Small fickle spark of it, but hope nonetheless. For many of the men and women we met during the next few weeks it was a single thing to grasp and cling on. Hope for peace, hope for freedom, hope for all the horrible things the war has brought till then to just stop one day. All of them have lost someone close already, or was about to lose them – with the thunder of war closing-in from the East, troves of planes overhead, some of them falling down with trailing smokes, bringing vivid recollections of burning homes and destruction from 3 years ago.
June – high time for haymaking. But that is not the only way to prepare for the coming winter. June, 1944
With Soviets eventually coming, there was only that much most men could do – survive somehow, and be ready when the time comes to take their homeland back. Or die trying.
I remember my first two days (or, rather nights) after the arrival only through haze and dusk – we moved only in darkness, by boat, horse cart and, mostly, on foot, through the thick of the woods, till we reached one of the partisan camps in the middle of the forest, across the river from a small town of Punia. This is where I got to know the leader of the local squad – a man in his fifties, bright eyes, greyish hair – with a call sign Viesulas – a Whirlwind. In time, he briefed me on some of the local details – German troop movement routes, reliable peasants for hideouts and arm caches, retreat routes from the camp and current moods.
His current squad consisted of not more than 10 people, while local men were ready to join us upon a call – not only those few former Riflemen Union members but also those who never considered themselves as fighters. To the knowledge of Viesulas, there were at least five other similar squads in the woods near Marijampole and Kaunas under the single command of a partisan called Zhvejys (a Fisherman), while another group was on the right bank of Nemunas – and closer to the frontline – was headed by partisan Vanagas (Hawk). Apparently, similar arrangements were put in place all across Lithuania – lying low for now, preparing for the fight later. It was achieved with varying effort, however, as Germans were looking for Soviet saboteurs working behind the frontline, and handled this accordingly.
The beginning of August did not bring any significant changes – Germans and Soviets clashed in a pitched fighting, with burned land changing hands several times. Russians tried to establish a foothold close to Marijampole, but they were time and again pushed back by German forces. By late August, the they even managed to counterattack and make some advances on the right bank of Nemunas, but got bloodied and routed soon after.
Soviets have cleared all of Estonia and Latvia up to Daugava river from resisting Germans by mid- August, but were stopped from crossing it by a strong German force in Courland.
As much as we heard from our infrequent radio broadcasts, the fighting in the West has stalled for some time. Apparently, breaking through the Rhine and, later, through German lines near Hamburg spread the Allied forces too thin and supply lines too long. Denmark was liberated back at the end of July, and all the harbour facilities in northern Germany have to be rebuilt, to support the advancing armies.
June – high time for haymaking. But that is not the only way to prepare for the coming winter. June, 1944
With Soviets eventually coming, there was only that much most men could do – survive somehow, and be ready when the time comes to take their homeland back. Or die trying.
I remember my first two days (or, rather nights) after the arrival only through haze and dusk – we moved only in darkness, by boat, horse cart and, mostly, on foot, through the thick of the woods, till we reached one of the partisan camps in the middle of the forest, across the river from a small town of Punia. This is where I got to know the leader of the local squad – a man in his fifties, bright eyes, greyish hair – with a call sign Viesulas – a Whirlwind. In time, he briefed me on some of the local details – German troop movement routes, reliable peasants for hideouts and arm caches, retreat routes from the camp and current moods.
His current squad consisted of not more than 10 people, while local men were ready to join us upon a call – not only those few former Riflemen Union members but also those who never considered themselves as fighters. To the knowledge of Viesulas, there were at least five other similar squads in the woods near Marijampole and Kaunas under the single command of a partisan called Zhvejys (a Fisherman), while another group was on the right bank of Nemunas – and closer to the frontline – was headed by partisan Vanagas (Hawk). Apparently, similar arrangements were put in place all across Lithuania – lying low for now, preparing for the fight later. It was achieved with varying effort, however, as Germans were looking for Soviet saboteurs working behind the frontline, and handled this accordingly.
Our main area of activities was the left bank of Nemunas river. For now – only surveillance of the road from Kaunas and railway Alytus – Marijampole. June – July, 1944
The beginning of August did not bring any significant changes – Germans and Soviets clashed in a pitched fighting, with burned land changing hands several times. Russians tried to establish a foothold close to Marijampole, but they were time and again pushed back by German forces. By late August, the they even managed to counterattack and make some advances on the right bank of Nemunas, but got bloodied and routed soon after.
Soviets have cleared all of Estonia and Latvia up to Daugava river from resisting Germans by mid- August, but were stopped from crossing it by a strong German force in Courland.
As much as we heard from our infrequent radio broadcasts, the fighting in the West has stalled for some time. Apparently, breaking through the Rhine and, later, through German lines near Hamburg spread the Allied forces too thin and supply lines too long. Denmark was liberated back at the end of July, and all the harbour facilities in northern Germany have to be rebuilt, to support the advancing armies.
As Allies have been trying consolidating their forces for the assault on Berlin, they were occasionally pushed back by German irregulars – hastily assembled Volkssturm divisions. August, 1944
An update!
The day of liberation is closing, will the Soviets deal the Germans enough of a blow for the Lithuanians to seize their nation back or will it all get crushed under the eastern front steamroller.........
The day of liberation is closing, will the Soviets deal the Germans enough of a blow for the Lithuanians to seize their nation back or will it all get crushed under the eastern front steamroller.........
It’s back! Hope has returned, for Lithuania and the readers!
PS: watch out for the uprising timing (we know what happened in OTL Warsaw in 1944
). Is there still that Free Lithuanian force and transports around for a daring commando landing to join with partisans for a final bid for freedom?
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I was almost afraid to open the thread only to find a spectator comment... But it was an actual update!
Alright, an update! Now I just need to wait for about 6-months to a year for the next! Keep 'em coming, I enjoy this immensely.
Thank you so much for your support, guys, really appreciated!!!
I feel myself this is taking waaaay too long to finish (it will be 5th anniversary soon), however, I still intend to complete it whatever it takes. And it HAS taken quite a lot so far to keep me from playing, as in the meantime I've become a dad
Anyways, here is the next update.
I feel myself this is taking waaaay too long to finish (it will be 5th anniversary soon), however, I still intend to complete it whatever it takes. And it HAS taken quite a lot so far to keep me from playing, as in the meantime I've become a dad
Anyways, here is the next update.
There and Back Again. End of August - September, 1944
Soviet troops were inching towards West each day in a brutal fight with desperate but not yielding Germans. As two iron beasts, they were clawing and tearing each other apart, oblivious to the destinies and lives of those around them. Burnt villages, fields, cratered roads, randomly flying bullets or shells. It had to stop one day.
By the end of August, Russians crossed Daugava with Riga fully taken, and on the last day of summer, their Heavy Tank division has finally breached German defences around Marijampole and repelled all further attacks.
Soviets have crossed Nemunas for good, this time. 30 August, 1944
The situation was becoming critical. With the coming of Soviets, the places, the people, the ways to gather information, that worked before, were no longer entirely reliable. There was always a threat of Soviet sympathizers among us or among the peasants that had been supporting us during the German occupation. On the other hand, this was the time we were preparing for. The time to fight again, to fight for our freedom, while Germany was finally crumbling, and Soviets have not yet established their grip on our lands.
New joiners were coming every day, with gleaming eyes and hot hearts. Especially those that have heard of the exploits of the Lithuanian Liberation Army were convinced that, surely, the West will stand beside us, this time. Our brothers, fathers and sons have bravely fought and laid their heads for distant foreign soil in Africa, Norway, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Netherlands… And America, the Voice of Freedom, they will help for sure! We are not alone! We only need to take up the arms, stand up and declare our land free again. The world would listen! The Soviets will not dare to occupy us again, will they?
A dream - Lithuanian tricolor above the ruins of Gediminas’s tower in Vilnius
Me, remembering the words of my brother Vincas, I was not convinced at all. And my superiors at SOE and LLA have not given me any orders in this respect. I still saw that crude map with the calculation in my mind for the division of post-war Europe by Churchill, as agreed in Yalta... And there was no place for free Lithuania on it.
As I was invited to the most recent meeting, I had the opportunity to see that even the members of Supreme Lithuanian Liberation Committee (Lith. - VLIK) – the underground organization here in Lithuania – were split on how should we deal with the Soviet threat. Some insisted that only armed strength can ensure that Soviets would listen – a surprise attack on Kaunas, before the Russians come, supported by the landing of Lithuanian Liberation Army from the Baltic sea at Klaipeda and Palanga, with unequivocal position of the Allies would allow us to resurrect the independence.
The proposed Plan B – Baltija.
The majority, however, were certain that diplomatic pressure from the Allies will prevail, Stalin will have to accept this – the Western armies were at the gates of Berlin, Germany was to fall within weeks, hopefully, while Soviets have not yet reached their pre-1941 borders yet, and Leningrad was still in German-Finnish hands. True, the Soviets paid the highest toll and borne the brunt of the fight, but are they now in a position to negotiate or event threaten the whole might of the West?
Clear answers were needed, and me, being the VLIK’s liaison with the SOE and LLA, along with few others, was to go back and then return with further instructions, as VLIK was insisting on an armed resurrection only having clear guarantees that the West would support us in any way necessary. And who knows where the LLA itself is at this time? Would they be ready to fight as well?
I bid a brief goodbye to my parents (Thank God, no one from the family was significantly hurt, and the farm was intact!) in the middle of the night. Leaving this time was no easier than the previous one – heavyhearted, still seeing the tears in my mother’s eyes and feeling the firm shake of my father’s hand. I vowed to return.
By the end of August, Russians crossed Daugava with Riga fully taken, and on the last day of summer, their Heavy Tank division has finally breached German defences around Marijampole and repelled all further attacks.
Soviets have crossed Nemunas for good, this time. 30 August, 1944
The situation was becoming critical. With the coming of Soviets, the places, the people, the ways to gather information, that worked before, were no longer entirely reliable. There was always a threat of Soviet sympathizers among us or among the peasants that had been supporting us during the German occupation. On the other hand, this was the time we were preparing for. The time to fight again, to fight for our freedom, while Germany was finally crumbling, and Soviets have not yet established their grip on our lands.
New joiners were coming every day, with gleaming eyes and hot hearts. Especially those that have heard of the exploits of the Lithuanian Liberation Army were convinced that, surely, the West will stand beside us, this time. Our brothers, fathers and sons have bravely fought and laid their heads for distant foreign soil in Africa, Norway, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Netherlands… And America, the Voice of Freedom, they will help for sure! We are not alone! We only need to take up the arms, stand up and declare our land free again. The world would listen! The Soviets will not dare to occupy us again, will they?
A dream - Lithuanian tricolor above the ruins of Gediminas’s tower in Vilnius
Me, remembering the words of my brother Vincas, I was not convinced at all. And my superiors at SOE and LLA have not given me any orders in this respect. I still saw that crude map with the calculation in my mind for the division of post-war Europe by Churchill, as agreed in Yalta... And there was no place for free Lithuania on it.
As I was invited to the most recent meeting, I had the opportunity to see that even the members of Supreme Lithuanian Liberation Committee (Lith. - VLIK) – the underground organization here in Lithuania – were split on how should we deal with the Soviet threat. Some insisted that only armed strength can ensure that Soviets would listen – a surprise attack on Kaunas, before the Russians come, supported by the landing of Lithuanian Liberation Army from the Baltic sea at Klaipeda and Palanga, with unequivocal position of the Allies would allow us to resurrect the independence.
The proposed Plan B – Baltija.
The majority, however, were certain that diplomatic pressure from the Allies will prevail, Stalin will have to accept this – the Western armies were at the gates of Berlin, Germany was to fall within weeks, hopefully, while Soviets have not yet reached their pre-1941 borders yet, and Leningrad was still in German-Finnish hands. True, the Soviets paid the highest toll and borne the brunt of the fight, but are they now in a position to negotiate or event threaten the whole might of the West?
Clear answers were needed, and me, being the VLIK’s liaison with the SOE and LLA, along with few others, was to go back and then return with further instructions, as VLIK was insisting on an armed resurrection only having clear guarantees that the West would support us in any way necessary. And who knows where the LLA itself is at this time? Would they be ready to fight as well?
I bid a brief goodbye to my parents (Thank God, no one from the family was significantly hurt, and the farm was intact!) in the middle of the night. Leaving this time was no easier than the previous one – heavyhearted, still seeing the tears in my mother’s eyes and feeling the firm shake of my father’s hand. I vowed to return.
I packed lightly and joined troves of refugees, heading south, to Poland. September 4, 1944