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Shorter posts. I like reading updates and not having to wait awhile.
 
The September Struggle




As expected, the Romanians soon found themselves overstretched, which allowed us to exploit weak points in their defence lines. Our first goal was the capture of the port of Vylkove. Located in the Danube Delta, it was important both for tactical and logistical reasons. Tactically, its capture would allow us to bypass easily defendable river crossings and connect the German part of the frontline with the Bulgarian one. Logistically, we would gain an another port in the Black Sea, which should improve our supply situation for the rest of the Romanian campaign.





The Romanians attacked our troops stationed in Hungary. Since our defence lines were improvised and thus poorly prepared for a sizeable offensive, they made some gains. Still, all the Romanian adventures in Hungary make little strategical sense, since the fate of Hungary is not really uncertain. They will achieve nothing with the number of troops at their disposal in the region.





Novopskov has been taken and the Soviet defenders are now isolated in just two provinces. They should be dealt still in September. They cannot really escape their doom and now they know it.





Things are not looking so good in the Kuban Region. The Soviets had enough time to reorganise their divisions and we are still plagued by logistical problems. The state of our forces in the region is abysmal. Most of our soldiers suffer from ammunition shortages due to supply bottlenecks in Ukraine, are disorganised and low on morale. Therefore, we have to make some small concessions in order to shorten the frontline. Moreover, the most battered divisions will be relocated to Crimean ports, where they will be properly reinforced and reorganised.





The whole Vylkove Region is poorly defended, as the enemy is concentrating on Bulgarians, who still threaten the city of Bucharest. This is a perfect opportunity for our light tanks which we do not intend to miss. Though out-gunned by most other tanks faced in the Eastern Front, their mobility still makes them useful for exploitation purposes. Also, since the Romanian army is probably much less advanced than the Soviet one, even light tanks should be formidable to them.






Our infantry attacked Balti in Moldova, while one of our light armoured divisions is approaching Tiraspol. There is a chance to form an encirclement and capture Chisinau.

More infantry divisions are arriving from the Eastern Front. Odessa serves as the main resupply centre in the region. The German soldiers welcome the sight of the sea with apparent enthusiasm, as for many it is a relief after months of fighting in Russia and Ukraine.





The situation in the Kuban Region and near Rostov on-Don is getting desperate. The Bolsheviks rushed their armoured hordes at our defence lines and are making some progress. It is crucial that they are stopped before they can reach Rostov, as the city itself is poorly defended, being filled with divisions that are undergoing reorganisation. It is the most important port in the region and we cannot afford to lose it if we intend to hold our gains spanning the areas behind the Crimean Peninsula.

Failure is not an option.


-------------

Research situation





Our research is currently focused on naval and industrial technologies and it is consuming most of our budget. Naturally, the army will not be neglected, but we cannot afford to fall behind if we intend to project our power beyond continental Europe, especially in the light of the fact that the future invasion of the UK will most likely result in the declaration of war from the United States of America, which possesses the biggest navy in the world.

Our industry is working at full speed, as the roads and railroads are being built and rebuilt, the port facilities in the Black Sea - improved and more ships and aircraft are being constructed.

Our officer corps is currently probably the best in the world and a steady flow of veterans gives us the edge over all our potential enemies.
 
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Just stayed up an extra hour to read through this log and study your tactics and awsome propaganda. You've made great progress thus far. However as I see it your southern front is on the brink on collapse if you lose that port due to it would be the final nail in the coffin for your already strained supply routes?

Regarding that, what is the status on the infrastructure upgrades in eastern Europe?
 
However as I see it your southern front is on the brink on collapse if you lose that port due to it would be the final nail in the coffin for your already strained supply routes?
Pretty much. I would have to withdraw to the Crimean Peninsula and I really, really don't want to lose Rostov.

Regarding that, what is the status on the infrastructure upgrades in eastern Europe?
The situation should be improved a bit by the end of 1943. Some ports will also be improved by Feb 1944. I will continue to build infra thorough 1944, just in case. Besides, I intend to invade India after all, so some improved infra will be handy. The Axis already controls the Middle East and the only thorn left in the Mediterranean is Gibraltar.
 
just to point out the importance of supplies: I recently did the Fall Blau scenario in FtM. Managed to completely wipe out (read overrun) every single Soviet regiment in sight. then my advance stopped. nobody could move anymore. I didn't make it to Baku and lost the scenario. so I sincerely hope you'll manage to reinforce Rostov. other than that, it is kind of heroically tragical: Romania thinking they could stop the Wehrmacht. Hell hath no fury like a führer scorned.
 
The September Struggle v.2





We have formed the first major encirclement in the war against the Romanians. The Romanians soldiers are trapped in Krasni Okny and despite their attempt to create a breakthrough in Orhei, it is unlikely that they will manage to escape.





The evacuation of the most battered divisions stationed in the Kuban Region has been started. Our supply lines are simply not able to support so many soldiers there. Most of the troops will be stationed at Sevastopol, which is the biggest port in near vicinity.

We have managed to stabilise the situation in Samarskoe, south of Rostov, but the Bolsheviks are still making progress in Aksay. The Fuhrer ordered his generals to make the defence of Rostov a top priority. There are to be no retreats.





The siege of Chisinau has been started. The city is almost encircled and despite some logistical problems, our troops are making progress.

The city of Vylkove has been encircled and its defenders are at their breaking point.

The Romanian army is no match for the Wehrmacht and the enemy casualties are much higher than ours. 1:4 or 1:5 casualty ratios are not an uncommon sight. The Fuhrer wants the Romanians to pay for every killed German with a vengeance. We will make sure that those fools will suffer greatly for their insolence.





Meanwhile, we have been concentrating mobile forces in Hungary in preparation for a major offensive in northern Romania. Compared to other Romanian regions, this one is relatively open, with few hilly and mountainous terrains. We intend to crush all opposition there and prepare for a major push towards the inner Romania.





The last remnants of Soviet defenders from the former Novopskov pocket are being crushed in Lysychansk. The German leadership is especially pleased at the sight of Soviet armour, as it poses the greatest threat to the German soldiers, so every destroyed armoured division is considered to be a great success.

The enemies had a chance to surrender earlier. Now there will be no mercy.





Unfortunately, the Bulgarian offensive ran out of steam and they were repulsed from the suburbs of Bucharest. The Romanians are making some limited progress in western Bulgaria, but it seems that the Romanian and Bulgarian forces are quite evenly matched. This is beneficial for us, because as long as the Bulgarians are a threat to the Romanians, our enemies will be forced to keep the bulk of their forces in the southern region of the country.

---------------

Technological developments





Several developments have been made in the field of naval research. We have created new, more efficient designs of anti-aircraft guns and engines for our cruisers and our military theorists came up with improved ways of using destroyers for escort duty. This should aid us in our future efforts of maintaining naval supremacy.
 
"No retreats" from Rostov reminds me of a similar order that was given to Field Marshall Paulus regarding Stalingrad; and we all know how ell that turned out!

Have you figured out where your troops will move to in Russia to establish the Winter Line?

Interesting to see all the naval techs and your plans for the future. Russia isn't quite dead yet. Although it may not want to get 'on the cart.' :D
 
"No retreats" from Rostov reminds me of a similar order that was given to Field Marshall Paulus regarding Stalingrad; and we all know how ell that turned out!

Have you figured out where your troops will move to in Russia to establish the Winter Line?

Interesting to see all the naval techs and your plans for the future. Russia isn't quite dead yet. Although it may not want to get 'on the cart.' :D
I don't like the idea of just giving up after all that trouble of getting so near to Stalingrad, Baku etc. If I have to, I will withdraw step by step until I can easily defend my holdings from the Soviets.

I'm expanding my navy because I plan to attack the UK and conquer India, which will be close to impossible just by land, i.e. I will need to take as many provinces with ports as possible. Moreover, while the Royal Navy is harmless, I will have to deal with the US navy, which must be enormous by now. Besides, I have more advanced units than the Soviets, anyway. Not that I plan to neglect the army, but researching 1946 techs in 1943 is not a great idea.
 
You went from 10K views to now it is up to 40K views. I wonder if it will get to 100K?

I just bought HOI3. So, usually when I buy a game THEN I go take a look at the AARs. As others have said before me this AAR is fantastic. I think we're all glad Hitler didn't have you helping out on the planning and execution.

Well, I would tell you good luck, but it seems you don't need it.
 
You went from 10K views to now it is up to 40K views. I wonder if it will get to 100K?
Ha! Given the fact that the war is actually far from being over, it's not an impossible feat ;)

I just bought HOI3. So, usually when I buy a game THEN I go take a look at the AARs. As others have said before me this AAR is fantastic. I think we're all glad Hitler didn't have you helping out on the planning and execution.

Well, I would tell you good luck, but it seems you don't need it.
Thanks for the kind words. I really enjoy reading the people's comments, so keep them up :)

Nice updates, can't wait to see more

Quick Question: Where can I change the difficulty like you did in your first post? I can't find the relevant file... (probably I'm just blind >.<)

Go to X:\Program Files\Paradox Interactive\Hearts of Iron III\mod\HPP\common and find static_modifiers.txt file. There are you can find various changeable modifiers for the player and the AIs. Also, in the same folder, there is defines.lua file. Open it and find the line "COMBAT_DIFFICULTY_IMPACT", which affects the direct combat bonus the AI gets per difficulty level.
 
A New Hope





While our army was advancing in Romania, the port of Vylkove was bombed by German naval bombers. This was a response to the fact that the Romanians attacked one of convoys sailing to Rostov.

Additionally, it has been decided that one of the German CTFs along with several transports will be transferred from France to the Black Sea. They will assist the Heer in the Spring Offensive.





As expected, the overstretched northern Romanian defences quickly broke apart when faced with strong opposition. Our mobile forces are now advancing more or less unopposed with the intention of encircling the Romanians in the north.






Things weren't going as smoothly in the Romanian north-east. Two of our divisions have been encircled and are being attacked by the enemy forces. The reinforcements are already coming, but it's uncertain whether they will arrive on time.






The Romanians are quickly finding themselves isolated in the north-west. The Romanian troops will pay for the half-efforts of their government. Had they created a more coherent defence line inland, things could have been different. However, as it stands now, the situation of the enemy soldiers in this region is hopeless.





The first of our trapped divisions has been rescued. Its supply lines are now unobstructed again. Moreover, the port of Vylkove is now in German hands.





Important news from the East. In light of the fact that Rostov is threatened by Soviet forces, the Fuhrer changed his previous orders and gave a green light for a limited offensive. During the last weeks, we have been secretly concentrating our mobile forces in Eastern Ukraine. Originally, they were meant to be reorganised and prepared for the German Spring Offensive. Now they have orders to encircle the Soviet forces in the region and help the German troops fighting near Rostov.






On 6th of October, all Romanian defenders in the north-west found themselves trapped in two isolated pockets. Since they are hopelessly outgunned, we expect them to surrender soon. Then, we will attack inner regions of Romania.





Soviet border defences have been defeated and our armoured and motorised divisions are now exploiting the breakthroughs. Alea iacta est.
 
Just keep the tanks rolling and you'll have the Russians on their knees in no time ;)
Maybe. It's definitely more fun and challenging to fight an enemy which can still bite (and without save-editing). Anyway, the tendency is clear - as long as my forces are supplied and have some ORG, it's possible to continue the advance, creating encirclements along the way. When the supply situation becomes troublesome and/or when the ORG levels of my mobile divs become depleted, I have to stop and regroup.
 
Well done in Romania! They really didn't have a clue what they were getting into. I also concur with the limited offensive around Rostov. It's a good move and will keep the Soviets off balance. I noticed that the Russian pocket is still being reduced.
 
Well done in Romania! They really didn't have a clue what they were getting into. I also concur with the limited offensive around Rostov. It's a good move and will keep the Soviets off balance. I noticed that the Russian pocket is still being reduced.
Yeah, they are fighting relentlessly there, especially since all routed troops retreated to one province. No chance of escape and high stacking penalty, though.

About the Romanians - it was a bad miscalculation from their part. However, if they joined several months earlier, then it would be an entirely different story, as encircling the Soviets would be more difficult in this region and all those Romanian divs would be fighting alongside them. In the worst case scenario, the Bulgarians would be overrun and I would find myself fighting hard against even more Comintern troops. In the best case scenario, it would probably buy them a month or two. It would still be significant, though, because the Soviets could build more divs and have more time to reinforce the badly mauled ones.
 
About the Romanians - if they joined several months earlier, then it would be an entirely different story, as encircling the Soviets would be more difficult in this region and all those Romanian divs would be fighting alongside them. In the worst case scenario, the Bulgarians would be overrun and I would find myself fighting hard against even more Comintern troops. In the best case scenario, it would probably buy them a month or two. It would still be significant, though, because the Soviets could build more divs and have more time to reinforce the badly mauled ones.

As with everything, timing makes all the difference! :rolleyes: