As always, I'm glad to be back!
As I’ve argued before, I agree with Odinatsat on this matter. I’d stage a fall back to some strategically located depth positions. In a technical sense, I’m not sure how far is far enough, but there is that mouseover hint on the pact status that indicates the relative percentages on the border, IIRC, so perhaps it would be a matter of just marching back until it changes? I haven’t ever done one of these ‘in reverse’, trying to tempt them to attack.
I've also been thinking about a partial withdrawal from the border, this was reinforced by your suggestion to do exactly that. I believe 'Odinatsat' was the perfect person to bring this up in the ATL, considering her history.
There is nowhere I can see the percentages on the border, the mouseover only says that the pact may be broken now, and that it expires on the 6th of May 1943. That said, I tagged to Germany, with my blinders on of course, and found that they can declare war on the Soviet Union and break the NA pact whenever they want. In theory, it's only what they can see that counts, but I'm not sure if it really works that way... If I were to pull back, I'd probably send the corps pulled from the line to cities further from the front that don't have a dedicated Rifle corps yet, increasing the depth of our defences. Maybe we should also pull back the Armoured Army Group, placing it behind the first fortified line, so to the East of of Homel & Smolensk. This should also save on supplies as they would be closer to Moskva.
If a big withdrawal operation were to happen, it does need a name, so I'm open to suggestions for a name that just screams: "We're very afraid of the Japanese and we're redeploying most of our army to the Far East! This is definitely not a trap!"
On the story, I enjoyed the read as always. You have a very engaging style, mixing the personal with the technical in an interesting way. Like an official diary entry but with flavour.
The format of this AAR is pretty much that of a semi-official diary, so I certainly haven't gone wrong there... I'm glad my style, and it's mix of personal and technical elements, is engaging and flavourful to you. This is a nice compliment, I'll endeavour to continue to live up to it.
I hope you have the time to keep things going along, but of course at a manageable pace as RL permits.
This semester was very chaotic and hard to manage both emotionally, and where time-management and planning is concerned. I have two months of vacation now, during which I will be writing and playing more. I also need to figure out a better plan for next year, and a better plan for where I'm going with my life in general. Taking into account all the new variables in it, now that the dust seems to have settled. Most of it anyway.
I need to make some sacrifices, I've already started to do so. This AAR isn't one of them, it's actually the most manageable, time-wise, and emotionally, of all my activities. I write and play when I find the time, and/or when I feel an emotional need to do so, there are no deadlines, little pressure, and I pretty much do what I want with it, within the stylistic boundaries I've set myself for the sake of coherence. If I ever feel like writing outside these boundaries, I might do like El Pip and start a secondary comedy AAR filled with silliness and banter, though if I do so, I might play and write in advance rather than in real time, allowing for more regular updates, and foreshadowing.
Thank you for your support,
RoverS3