30th of September 1942, Vologda, -1,0°C, 6pm Moscow Time
'Shest' sent over the transcript of a top secret report about a secret meeting in German-occupied Brevik, on Norway's Southern coast, 70 km East of Kristiansand.
Participants: Major Guskov from General Vlassov's staff (8ya Armiya), Senior Major Boykov (NKVD), General de Artillerie Friedrich Wilhelm Brandt (9. Armee), GenDiv Guiseppe de Stefanis (15a DF).
Senior Major Boykov started off proceedings:
"General Vlassov has a stone in his shoe, Generalleutnant. You can remove it."
Brandt: "Only one stone?"
Boykov: "It's dangerous. A well-trained band of commando's who know the lay of the land. You will have to take precautions."
Brandt: "Tell me what you want me to do. I will tell you my price."
Guskov, taking a taste of the food the Russians had brought with them: "Ah, what bread."
de Stefanis: "Vodka!"
Guskov: "Quadruple distillation ... only in Russia"
de Stefains: "Alla, Salute"
...
The object of this meeting was to make a top secret deal with the enemy so that the already pocketed Axis forces deal with Royalist Norwegian insurgents in Next-door Skien. This way the Soviet Union can avoid a major diplomatic upset with the Allies, who ostensibly support the Norwegian government in exile, and who trained this particular band of bourgeois terrorists. As the US threatened with an end to lend-lease to the Soviet Union, this was the only realistic option to avoid the creation of a tiny Royalist Norwegian state in the middle of the future Socialist People's Republic of Norway.
We'll find out if it worked in about a week, by which time, if the deal goes through, the Axis will have removed that stone from our shoe, in exchange for a temporary localised cease-fire, promises of lenient treatment in captivity, and a sizeable shipment of ammunition, medicine, and food.
Now, onto the report of the last ten day's hostilities:
Norwegian Front (Norway): 8ya Armiya / Leningrad HQ:
"What do you mean, we have to go around the Norwegians? We're liberating this country from the Nazi oppressors, and they have the gall to stand in the way of the worker's revolution. They're a bunch of deluded Bourgeois royalists, and the only reason we're not sending them all to Siberia right now is because they went and cried to their British imperialist friends." - General Vlassov on the 28th of September
On the 22nd Our Mountaineers made it to
Haukligrend. Taking multiple shortcuts by climbing near-vertical rockfaces, they managed to cut off the retreat of 96 ID in the process. With no-where else to go, the 7.116 men of Genlt. Borowietz's Division were taken into captivity.
The outskirts of
Kristiansand were reached on the 25th. Further progress towards the port was halted by a depleted but dug-in Italian Division. MajGen Primakov T.S. launched an attack (1) at 4pm the same day. Breaking 15a DF's resolve just 25 hours and over 400 dead Italians later. The final port in Southern Norway was finally in Soviet hands, and just 100 riflemen paid the ultimate price for it.
Two more Mountain Rifle Divisions were delivered to Oslo by the Black Sea Fleet on the 22nd, they immediately started moving westward in an effort to contain enemy forces between them and the advancing Rifle Corps to the South.
On the 24th, just after both Moutain Divisions had left a German probe into Oslo (2) was easily rebuked by 2 VDD alone.
112 GSD arrived in
Rollag on the 26th, just in time to prevent 13 ID from slipping the noose. They retreated after a short skirmish. (3)
213 Sicherungs-Division, previously Oslo's Garrison, was overrun in
Bygland on the 28th, along with 9th Army. Another 6.611 enemy combattants were taken into custody.
Right next door, in
Skien, a revolt broke out. It seems partisans and guerrillas, funded and trained by the British and the Norwegian government in exile, had been lying low in this rather insignificant province. Once the German supply lines had been severed by the Red Army, they saw their chance and easily established a bit of Norway that was loyal to the king.
Before our riflemen could evict such royalist rabble, US liaison officers intervened, clarifying that the uprising had the official support of the Allies, and the Americans. This was confirmed when the American Ambassador arrived at the Kremlin in person a few hours later, stating in no uncertain terms that if our troops were to trespass into the sovereign Norwegian territory of
Skien, we would not be getting any more lend-lease aid, he suggested the British might even see it as an act of war.
| Forces engaged in battle: | Forces killed in action: | Prisoners (of war): |
Italy | 4.990 | 408 | 0 |
Germany | 14.131 | 71 | 13.727 |
AXIS | 19.121 | 497 | 13.727 |
Soviet Union | 28.985 | 139 | 0 |
| Air to ground damage | KIA air crew | Fighters deployed | Fighters lost | Bombers deployed | Bombers lost |
AXIS | 1.727 KIA | 0 | / | / | / | / |
Soviet Union | / | 6 | 128 x La-7VM (CAG) | 2 x La-7VM (CAG) | 128 x Il-10VM (CAG) | 2 x Il-10VM (CAG) |
CaptAF. 1st Class Zhavronkov's 1 & 7 KPA, based out of Oslo, continued to harrass 27 ID, which was slowly closing in on the Norwegian Capital. First, they bombed Brevik 6 times (20th-22nd), then Tonsberg 8 times (22nd-24th), and finally Drammen once (24th).
The ship-based CAGs of the RBBF concentrated entirely on Kristiansand. CaptAF. 2nd Class Knriukni's Il-10VM's performed 17 ground attacks over 5 days. (20th-24th).
All is quiet on the Danish front
Baltic Fleet & Northern Fleet: (Baltic Sea, North Sea & Norwegian Coast) RBBF & NF / Leningrad HQ:
"Captain. Sink those transports! Not a single crate of supplies, and nor a single enemy combattant will make it to Norway on my watch."
VADM Kuznetsov to the captain of Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya as the first transports are spotted slipping out of Fredrikshavn. Not ten minutes later the bridge was hit by a German-made 15" shell. The Vice-Admiral was unscathed, he was unable to rally his ships in time to focus fire on Tirpitz and save Krasnyi Kavkaz. Captain Moskalenko died in action.
Red Navy Port Strikes on
Fredrikshavn lead to two naval battles.
The first started at 8am on the 25th, shortly after the first port strike had ended. Seeking to escape the Navy's bombers, VADM Dönitz steamed his fleet right into VADM Kuznetsov's awaiting Red Banner Baltic Fleet.
The German fleet was centred around Battleship Tirpitz:
Tirpitz (BB), Nürnberg (CL), 1 ZG & 2 ZG (DD, G7-class), 5 ZG (DD, Z46-class), and 6 transport flotilla's (2 TTF, 3 TTF, 5 TTF, 8 TTF, 9 TTF, & 10 TTF).
The RBBF:
Oktyabrskaya Revoluciya (BB), Parizhkaya Kommuna (BB), Moskva (CVL), Leningrad (CVL), Krasnyi Kavkaz (CA), Profitern (CL), 1 FE, 5 FE, & 7 FE (DD, Novik-class), 4 FE & 8 FE (DD, Gnevniy-class), 3 FE (DD, Kiev-Class).
The old submarines of II Flot Podlodok, and IX Flot Podlodok were caught in the crossfire:
II FP: 11 FP, 17 FP, & 18 FP (SS, AG-boat), 1 FP, 2 FP (SS, Series II)
IX FP: 23 FP & 24 FP (SS, AG-boat)
Airpower was one-sided, as our CAGs operated with impunity, hampered only by the stormy weather and German AA:
1 KPA, 2 KPA, 7 KPA, 8 KPA: 127 x Il-10VM & 126 x La-7VM
For 7 hours, both sides traded blows in the midst of a storm. Despite the Red Navy's superior numbers, the German crews were better trained. They also chose their targets better, aimed better, and coordinated their fire to a high degree. Tirpitz's 380mm shells wreaked havoc, sinking Krasnyi Kavkaz first, and then destroying all 5 Novik-class destroyers of 1 Flotiliya Esmintsev.
Our submarines were targeted by the enemy destroyers: 2 Flotiliya Podlodok lost 2 of it's 5 Series II submarines, and 11 Flotiliya Podlodok lost 2 out of 7 AG-boat type submarines.
In return, Oktyabrskaya Revoluciya sunk a flotilla of transports (9 TTF), and Moskva's CAG sunk another (8 TTF). Of the enemy ships, Nürnberg was hit the hardest, having been reduced to a listing smouldering hulk, that managed to only just limp back into port along with the rest of the fleet. Tirpitz itself escaped with only minor damage to it's superstructure, as the Gangut-class's 305mm shells had trouble penetrating it's armour, and our CAG's were concentrating on the transports.
That night, VADM Dönitz attempted to sneak out two under-strength transport flotilla's under the cover of darkness, leaving RADM Saalwächter in charge of the main fleet in Fredrikshavn. The RBBF, having lost it's Heavy Cruiser and nearly 1.900 lives, was out for blood, and despite the storm and the darkness, they threw everything they had at the 8 transports as soon as they exited the port at 3am. This time, the submarines proved an asset, with 24 Flotiliya Podlodok hunting down and sinking all three transports of 10 TTF. Only 2 KPA was available, and with the weather even worse than during the previous day they couldn't do much. The other CAG's were over Fredrikshavn
In three hours, 4 of the 8 transports had been sunk, and another was listing rather seriously. It's unknown whether VADM Dönitz was on one of the surviving ships, or whether he was forced to get back to Denmark in a lifeboat.
| KIA sailors | Capital Ships Deployed | Capital Ships lost | Escorts/Subs deployed | Escorts/Subs lost | Transports deployed | Transports lost |
Germany | 3.936 | Tirpitz (BB) | / | Nürnberg (CL) | / | 24 (6xTP) | 14 (8 TTF, 9 TTF) |
Soviet Union | 1.967 | 2 x Gangut-Class (BB)
Krasnyi Kavkaz (CA)
2 x Moskva-Class (CVL) | Krasnyi Kavkaz (CA) | Profitern (CL)
20 x Novik-Class (4xDD)
5 x Kiev-Class (1xDD)
35 x AG-Boat (5xSS)
10 x Series II (2xSS) | 0 x Il-10VM (CAG) | / | / |
| Air to ground damage | KIA air crew | Fighters deployed | Fighters lost | Bombers deployed | Bombers lost |
Germany | 1.341 Naval Base Infrastructure
955 KM personnel KIA
Nürnberg (CL)
3. TTF & 5. TTF (TP) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Soviet Union | 0 | 36 | 125 x La-7VM (CAG) | 12 x La-7VM (CAG) | 126 x Il-10VM (CAG) | 12 x Il-10VM (CAG) |
At 4am on the 25th, with the RBBF parked right off-shore, port strikes on Fredrikshavn began. In total 4 GAG wings would participate: 2 KPA & 8 KPA from the Carriers Moskva and Leningrad, 1 KPA & 7 KPA from Oslo Air Base. One KPA remained on duty to provide CAP for the RBBF, on a rotating basis.
On the first mission it became clear that this would be a tough nut to crack. The ships in port were the following: Tirpitz (BB), Nürnberg (CL), 1 ZG & 2 ZG (DD(G7-class)), 5 ZG (DD(Z46-class)), and 6 transport flotilla's (2 TTF, 3 TTF, 5 TTF, 8 TTF, 9 TTF, & 10 TTF).
Following the first strike, VADM Dönitz sortied with his entire fleet to attack the RBBF (see above).
The port strikes continued on the evening of the 25th, after the German fleet had returned to port. The Cruiser Nürnberg, already heavily listing from the naval battle, was finished off first.
Over the course of 5 days and 9 bombing runs of anywhere between 56 and 192 aircraft, 3 TTF and 5 TTF were also sunk in port, with all the other naval units sustaining heavy damage. An estimated 1.000 Kriegsmarine personnel was killed, and 24 of our aeroplanes were lost.
Main Front Overview:
A Tiger II Heavy Tank of 1 sPzD, destroyed in Jurmala during an attempt to break out of the Riga pocket.
1st Baltic Front (1st BALT F. / Latvian SSR): 2 AG & Arm AG / Moskva HQ:
"They can try to break out all they want. Every man or vehicle they lose in their futile attempts will be one we won't have to face when we go into the city. They might not know it yet, but they are doomed." - 22nd of June, MajGen. Moskalenko is confident his three Divisions can repell Genlt. von Thoma's attempt to break the encirclement of Riga. He was later proven right.
Genlt. von Thoma's King Tigers had been trying desperately to break out of Riga through Jurmala (1) for three days, when, at 9am on the 22nd, MajGen Kuznec launched his 5-Division 4-pronged, offensive to liberate the city (4). 1 sPzD proved unable to protect it's flank and keep putting pressure on Jurmala. They surrendered at 11am. 58 ID and 197 ID, now lead by Genlt. Steiner, continued to resist the inevitable, until Steiner's 58 ID broke under the pressure at 2pm on the 25th. Genlt. Kleemann's stuborn 197 ID desperately held on against over six times their number, until they too could take no more. by 6pm on the 26th, 18.771 enemy combattants had been captured.
Close to 2.800 riflemen and over 3.900 Germans were killed in action.
A probe into Vainode (2) was called off when Dobele (3) was attacked by Genlt. von Bismarck's three-division force at 5am on the 23rd. MajGen. Remizov used the forest to his advantage, countering the enemy Shock attack with cleverly placed Ambushes. This wasn't enough, however, and by 9pm on the 21st, 9 TD was forced to withdraw, leaving only Remizov's 78 SD manning the line alone. The next morning the jig was up, and the general retreat was called at 8am.
The fight wasn't over though, for at 7pm that same day, 53 SD arrived in Dobele, blocking the enemy advance and triggering another battle (3 & 5). A flanking attack on Vainode (6) did't get very far, lasting just one night, and at noon on the 28th, 53 SD was forced to withdraw in turn. The red army suffered over 2.400 casualties in it's attempts to hold Dobele, inflicting fewer than 2.000 on the Wehrmacht.
A counter-attack into Dobele (7) was mounted that evening, and called off at 6am on the 29th with minimal casualties on either side.
| Forces engaged in battle: | Forces killed in action: | Prisoners (of war): |
Germany | 96.360 | 6.179 | 18.771 |
Soviet Union | 153.437 | 5.369 | 0 |
| Air to ground damage | KIA air crew | Fighters deployed | Fighters lost | Bombers deployed | Bombers lost |
Germany | | 156 | 85 x FW-190 (Ftr) | 52 x FW-190 (Ftr) | 186 x Ju-88 (Tac) | 26 x Ju-88 (Tac) |
AXIS | 2.716 KIA | 156 | | | | |
Soviet Union | 198 KIA | 106 | 372 x Yak-7 (Int)
248 x La-7 (Ftr) | 54 x Yak-7 (Int)
12 x La-7 (Ftr) | 495 x Il-10 (CAS) | 20 x Il-10 (CAS) |
FK II managed to drop some bombs on Jurmala on the 22nd before LtGenAv. Eremin's Yak-7's arrived to break up Genlt. Dörstling's bombers (1). The Ju-88's returned later the same day (2), but the Yak-7's were waiting for them. 52 Me-109's and 26 Ju-88's were downed, for the loss of 54 Yak-7's.
GenLtAv. Zhigarev's I ShAK flew 11 missions over Riga (21st-26th), and 3 missions over Saldus (Battle of Dobele, 27th, 28th).
The Il-10's of V ShAK bombed Saldus 7 times (Battle of Dobele, 23rd-26th)
2nd Baltic Front (2nd BALT F. / Lithuanian SSR North of the Memel): 2 AG & Arm AG / Moskva HQ:
"We have paid for this victory with thousands of our own. It is now our responsibility, our duty to the dead, to hold Taurage, to make the enemy pay dearly for any attempt at taking these bloodsoaked woods from us." - MajGen Malyshev riles up his forces after they liberated Taurage for the 4th time on the 22nd. In the end, his words were not enough in the face of overwhelming odds.
A rather optimistic attack on German forces in Plunge (3), staring on the 20th with a 2-1 disadvantage, turned into an unlikely victory after 19 SD reinforced MajGen Kamkov's own 91 SD, on the morning of the 22nd, breaking enemy resolve and forcing a withdrawal by 2pm.
Responding to our own flanking attack on Vainode (see above), a German two-division force ehaded up by Genlt. von Randow's SSD (mot) 'Reich' charged into Plunge (8) early on the 27th. MajGen. Kamkov's two divsions managed to hold the line, until 183 ID reinforced the enemy offensive on the 28th, forcing our forces to withdraw at 9pm that same day.
This back and forth cost the Red Army close to 1.400 men, for just over 1.250 enemy combattants neutralised.
The battle for Taurage (1 & 2) had started as a single Division attack on the 17th. Genlt. Phleps must have felt rather confident, having both 5 sPzD and 169 ID to repell our riflemen. He even managed to turn back the red army's Assaults with heavy Counter-Attacks. However, 2nd Army Group persevered, funneling ever more rifle divisions into the meatgrinder. 120 SD reinforced on the 17th, 34 SD, but also 83 ID, on the 18th, and 50 SD on the 20th. Only on the 20th, after three full days, was MajGen. Malyshev to pull out his 235 SD, handing command of the offensive to MajGen Vasilev. The latter immediately proved why he had been chosen by ordering Shock attacks to ensure the enemy was unable to delay his forces as they waited for reinforcements. This soon proved too much for 169 ID, which was routed at noon that same day, and two days later, at 9am on the 22nd, victory had been achieved.
It all proved rather shortlived as 34 SD found itself under attack (4) from three directions by four enemy divisions, as soon as it arrived in Taurage on the 24th. After just 30 hours of combat the area was vacated once again.
The Wehrmacht didn't prove any more capable at solidifying victory. Genlt. Haase's own 4 ID arrived in Taurage on the 25th, but with numbers on his side MajGen Tamruchi dispatched the enemy infantry in a single day (1 & 5).
Arriving too late to save 4 ID, Genlt. Ruoff's 35 ID still managed to beat our forces into the province on the 27th, leading to another day and a half of fighting (1 & 5) before Taurage was finally secured. It was a costly victory: Over 4.400 riflemen paid the price, killing over 4.700 of the enemy.
A German probe into Taurage (9) this morning (30th) was easily repulsed, showing that, for now, the area is in our grasp again.
On the 27th, two enemy probes were easily repulsed by our forces in Jurbarkas (6) and Kaunas (7). Another attempt on Jurbarkas (6), on the 30th, wasn't any more successful.
| Forces engaged in battle: | Forces killed in action: | Prisoners (of war): |
Germany | 213.617 | 6.714 | 0 |
Soviet Union | 263.039 | 5.965 | 0 |
| Air to ground damage | KIA air crew | Fighters deployed | Fighters lost | Bombers deployed | Bombers lost |
Germany | | 142 | 111 x FW-190 (Ftr) | 54 x FW-190 (Ftr) | 165 x Ju-88 (Tac) | 22 x Ju-88 (Tac) |
AXIS | 2.586 KIA | | | | | |
Soviet Union | 0 KIA | 103 | 496 x Yak-7 (Int)
248 x La-7 (Ftr) | 9 x Yak-7 (Int)
20 x La-7 (Ftr) | 201 x Yak-4 (Tac)
248 x Il-10 (CAS) | 3 x Yak-4 (Tac)
34 x Il-10 (CAS) |
Genlt. Sperrle got his FK I intercepted over Plunge on the 28th, by LtGenAv. Astakhov's II IAK before reaching his targets.
LtGenAv. Goryunov's Il-10's bombed Taurage 3 times (21st-22nd), and Palanga 4 times (Battle of Plunge, 27th-28th).
The Yak-4's of I BAK flew 3 missions over Plunge (21st-22nd), 3 missions over Pogegen (Battle of Taurage, 24th-25th), and 5 missions over Taurage (25th-26th, 28th)
3rd Baltic Front (3rd BALT F. / Lithuanian SSR South of the Memel): 2 AG & Arm AG / Moskva HQ:
Mariampolè became a favoured target for Red Army cross-river probing attacks. One from Kaunas (1), and two from Alytus (3) on the 27th, another from Alytus on the 28th (3), and then two attempts at a pincer attack on the 30th (1 & 3). Enemy defenses in Kybartai (5) and Tilsit (6) were also tested earlier today. All of these attacks were called off after a few hours.
Enemy counter-probes weren't any more succcessful: One into Alytus on the 27th (2), and 2 into Kaisiadorys on the 28th (4)
| Forces engaged in battle: | Forces killed in action: | Prisoners (of war): |
Germany | 200.193 | 822 | 0 |
Soviet Union | 290.886 | 836 | 0 |
| Air to ground damage | KIA air crew | Fighters deployed | Fighters lost | Bombers deployed | Bombers lost |
Germany | 1,777 Infrastructure
261.271 t of supplies
8.021 m^3 of fuel | | | | | |
AXIS | 418 KIA | | | | | |
Soviet Union | 0 | 44 | 243 x La-7 (Ftr) | 2 x La-7 (Ftr) | 72 x TB-3 (Str)
495 x Il-10 (CAS) | 4 x TB-3 (Str)
5 x Il-10 (CAS) |
The TB-3's of 1 DBAD continued their Logistical bombing, hitting Cranz 9 times (21st-29th), before changing targets to Labiau (1 mission, 30th).
LtGenAv. Goryunov's Il-10's flew 2 missions over Tilsit (30th)
I ShAK made a single bombing run on Mariampolè (30th)
1st Byelorussian Front (1st Byel. F. / Byelorussian SSR Nyoman/Memel bend): 2 AG & Arm AG / Moskva HQ:
| Air to ground damage | KIA air crew | Fighters deployed | Fighters lost | Bombers deployed | Bombers lost |
AXIS | 272 KIA | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Soviet Union | 0 KIA | 2 | 124 x La-7 (Ftr) | 0 x La-7 (Ftr) | 248 x Il-10 (CAS) | 1 x Il-10 (CAS) |
IV ShAK flew a single bombing mission over Sokolka (Battle of Wolkowysk, 27th).
2nd Byelorussian Front (2nd Byel. F. / Byelorussian SSR between the Nyoman & Prypyat): 2 AG & Arm AG / Moskva HQ:
"The enemy will not soon forget this Battle. I want to underline the vigour and speed with which we have struck. Speed is the future of warfare gentlemen, the Germans may think they invented it, but today, they're the ones with the bloody nose." - MajGen Biriuzov is tiumphant as he adresses his men following their stunning victory in Wolkowysk on the 22nd. The province would be lost within a week, but the dead Germans would remain dead.
Our armoured cavalry spearheaded a three-division offensive into Wolkowysk (1) on the 20th. Facing three enemy infantry divisions, the odds initially looked relatively even, but after two days, the German units started to break, 29 ID (mot) at 8am, 33 ID at 4pm, and finally 4 Leichte Division at 7pm on the 22nd.
As soon as 3 KavD arrived in Wolkowysk during the night, they came under attack (3) from 18 ID. A motorised rifle division reinforced the defence at noon, and the battle was won by 10am the next morning.
Almost 1.350 soviet, and over 3.200 German casualties were counted.
Buoyed by the success in Wolkowysk, and sensing a weakness in the German lines, 6 KavD charged into Rozana (4) on the 26th, routing a pair of battered infantry divisions in no more than 3 hours.
In the early hours of the 27th, with only a battered 84 MSD holding the area, Genlt. van Faber du Faur launched a two-division attack into Wolkowysk (5). Predictably it ended in defeat 26 hours later. German troops have yet to occupy the province.
Malkowicze, defended by an already disorganised 9 KavD, held just 30 hours against a single division attack (2) ending at 7am on the 24th.
MajGen. Shumilov's 81 MSD managed to slip into Malkowicze before it was occupied, but the tired Motosied riflemen proved even less able to hold the line, breaking at 2pm on the 27th after just 15 hours of combat.
A courageous attack on Domonovo (6) started in the afternoon of the 26th, with 36 MSD facing off against two dug-in Infantry divisions lead by Genlt. Rommel. Our forces made little headway. 41 hours and over 650 soviet casualties later, MajGen Maslennikov called off the operation, which did succeed in delaying the enemy occupation of Malkowicze. (2)
| Forces engaged in battle: | Forces killed in action: | Prisoners (of war): |
Germany | 98.626 | 4.420 | 0 |
Soviet Union | 104.334 | 2.641 | 0 |
| Air to ground damage | KIA air crew | Fighters deployed | Fighters lost | Bombers deployed | Bombers lost |
AXIS | 3 Heavy AA Guns
0,611 Infrastructure
40.463 t of supplies
1.579 m^3 of fuel
2.698 KIA | | | | | |
Soviet Union | 0 KIA | 58 | 248 x La-7 (Ftr) | 10 x La-7 (Ftr) | 81 x TB-3 (Str)
201 x Yak-4 (Tac)
248 x Il-10 (CAS) | 2 x TB-3 (Str)
8 x Yak-4 (Tac)
8 x Il-10 (CAS) |
LtGenAv. Rudenko's IV ShAK flew 3 missions over Wolkowysk (21st-22nd), followed by 6 over Swislocz (Battle of Wolkowysk, 23rd-25th), and 3 over Domonovo (Battle of Makowicze, 26th, 28th).
I BAK's Yak-4's bombed Domonovo 7 times (23rd, 27th, 29th-30th)
Two Logistical strikes were flown over Maloryta (27th-28th), but the presence of Heavy AA has dissuaded any follow-ups by MajGenAv. Reshetnikov's 2 DBAD. Another target will have to be selected.
1st Ukrainian Front (1st Ukr. F. / Ukrainian SSR between the Prypyat & Western Bug): 3 AG & Arm AG / Brjansk HQ:
"This is where we stop the Hun dead in his tracks, today is when the enemy runs into a brick wall. The Bug will not be crossed again in Luboml, the Soviet Union depends on us to make it so. We will not let them down." - MajGen Ptuhin riles up his troops for the defense of Luboml on the 23rd.
After over three days of fighting, MajGen. Kravchenko halted his attack on Switaz (1). It had started of rather well on the 18th, with 14 TTGvD taking the upper hand against 20 ID (mot), but 26 hours in, the defence was reinforced with a fresh 13 ID (mot), and it all went downhill from there. The Red Army lost 1.350 elite soldiers for fewer than 1.000 Wehrmacht losses.
On the 27th, a second attempt was made to liberate Switaz (5). This time, MajGen Chernyak attacked with three fresh rifle divisions. With only pair of battered motorised divisions to stop them, they took the province at 3pm after just 11 hours of fighting.
A battered 19 ID was easily evicted from Zamosc on the 21st. That evening, 5 PzD slipped into the area, prompting another battle (2), and proving a tougher nut to crack. At 6am on the 23rd, 62 SD called it quits, having suffered twice as many casualties as the enemy.
MajGen. Ptuhin found himself having to defend Luboml from a two-division, two-pronged assault (3) on the 23rd. Lucky for him, he had 4 rifle Divisions to do so. Genlt. von Roques did manage to reinforce his attack with 5 PzD late on the 24th, flanking our forces from the West (4). Despit this, both panzer divisions were attacking across the Bug river, and two days later, at 3pm on the 26th, the enemy stopped coming. As the smoke cleared the terrible toll of the battle became clear: Close to 1.600 Soviet corpses, and over 3.300 German ones were counted.
Taking advantage of a weakened 5 PzD, 49 SD charged into Zamosc (2) on the 26th. Genlt. Balck had a few tricks up his sleeve, as he skillfully countered MajGen. Rivkin's attack with a series of counter-attacks. This wasn't enought to save him, and by 5pm on the 28th, the German tankers could take no more.
| Forces engaged in battle: | Forces killed in action: | Prisoners (of war): |
Germany | 77.921 | 5.763 | 0 |
Soviet Union | 120.867 | 4.735 | 0 |
| Air to ground damage | KIA air crew | Fighters deployed | Fighters lost | Bombers deployed | Bombers lost |
AXIS | 2.255 KIA | | | | | |
Soviet Union | 0 KIA | 30 | 248 x La-7 (Ftr) | 4 x La-7 (Ftr) | 495 x Il-10 (CAS) | 13 x Il-10 (CAS) |
IV ShAK hit Switaz once (21st).
MarshallAv. Novikov's II ShAK flew 2 missions over Zamosc (22nd), followed by 8 missions over Switaz (24th-26th), and another 4 missions over Zamosc (27th-28th).
2nd Ukrainian Front (2nd Ukr. F. / Ukrainian SSR between the Western Bug & Dniestr): 3 AG / Brjansk HQ:
Jaroslaw (1) was lost at 4am on the 21st, after a bloody drawn out battle that had started three days earlier. With just a single infantry unit en either side, over 1.050 Soviet and over 600 German casualties were counted.
That evening, a a two-pronged three-division offensive into Rawa Ruska (2) was launched by MajGen Nikishin. 223 ID was on the recieving end of the operation, which was spearheaded by 10 TTGvD. Unsurprisingly, victory wa ours at 5pm on the 22nd, after just 24 hours. The red army suffered fewer than 250 losses for more than 1.300 inflicted losses.
Further to the South, a weakness in the enemy lines was discovered. Humenne was held by a single tired Hungarian division, which was quickly swept aside (3) on the 22nd.
When 9 TP arrived in the area that night, a second battle started (3), and by 9am the path was clear once more. The first Slovakian province has been liberated, but Bratislava is still a long way away.
A Soviet probe into Gorlice (4) on the 27th failed to get anywhere.
At 7am on the 29th, a Slovak-Hungarian offensive was launched to take back Humenne (5). The 3-pronged 4-division operation was spearheaded by none other than DivGen Jany's 2 Pesi Divize. MajGen. Purkaev's outnumbered 183 SD managed to hold out just 30 hours, sounding the retreat just one hour ago. (5pm on the 30th). Almost 950 Soviet casualties were counted, for fewer than 150 Slovaks and fewer than 300 Hungarians.
| Forces engaged in battle: | Forces killed in action: | Prisoners (of war): |
Germany | 15.742 | 1.932 | 0 |
Hungary | 59.537 | 429 | 0 |
Slovakia | 8.997 | 137 | 0 |
AXIS | 84.276 | 2.498 | 0 |
Soviet Union | 109.703 | 2.343 | 0 |
| Air to ground damage | KIA air crew | Fighters deployed | Fighters lost | Bombers deployed | Bombers lost |
Germany | | | 50 x Me-109 (Int) | 47 x Me-109 (Int) | | |
AXIS | 2.255 KIA | | | | | |
Soviet Union | 0 KIA | 41 | 372 x Yak-7 (Int)
124 x La-7 (Ftr) | 0 x Yak-7 (Int)
37 x La-7 (Ftr) | 248 x Il-10 (CAS) | 2 x Il-10 (CAS) |
II ShAK's Il-10's bombed Debica twice (Battle of Jaroslaw, 21st), and Gorlice 4 times (Battle of Humenne, 29th-30th).
Genmaj. Fisser attempted to disrupt the missions over Golrice with his 50 Me-109G's. Despite the intervention of GenLtAv. Rychagov's IV IAK, 36 La-7's were shot down. 27 Messerschmitts were also shot down, leaving JG 4 with just 23 planes out of 112.
3rd Ukrainian Front (3rd UF. / Hungarian Border West of Skole) 3 AG & 4 AG / Odessa HQ:
A two-pronged three-division offensive into Svalava (1) proved too much for 143 SD, despite the superior tactics used by the red army. They folded at 6pm on the 22nd, after nearly three days of fighting, having killed two men for every one they lost.
On the 25th, Genlt. Conrath, buoyed by the Hungarian success, sent his 231 ID into Uzhorod (2). The Germans hit a wall, MajGen Erastov's three rifle divisions. Even the late arrival of 12 ID on the 26th couldn't stave off the inevitable, and at 10am on the 27th all offensive operations ceased. Almost 1.600 German soldiers had been killed for fewer than 450 Soviet ones.
Surprisingly, the first enemy division to enter Svalava on the 27th was Bulgarian. Regardless, it found itself on the recieving end of a pincer attack (3), which resulted in a Soviet victory before sunrise the next day.
| Forces engaged in battle: | Forces killed in action: | Prisoners (of war): |
Germany | 7.945 | 1.596 | 0 |
Hungary | 19.998 | 1.085 | 0 |
Bulgaria | 7.554 | 360 | 0 |
AXIS | 35.497 | 3.041 | 0 |
Soviet Union | 65.561 | 1.037 | 0 |
| Air to ground damage | KIA air crew | Fighters deployed | Fighters lost | Bombers deployed | Bombers lost |
Hungary | 1,208 Infrastructure
229.657 t of supplies
6.526 m^3 of fuel | 47 | 367 x CR.32 (Int) | 47 x CR.32 (Int) | | |
AXIS | 1.530 KIA | | | | | |
Soviet Union | 0 KIA | 77 | 372 x Yak-7 (Int)
248 x La-7 (Ftr) | 0 x Yak-7 (Int)
7 x La-7 (Ftr) | 81 x TB-3 (Str)
493 x Il-10 (CAS) | 0 x TB-3 (Str)
35 x Il-10 (CAS) |
LtGenAv. Kutakhov flew 8 missions over Mukacevo (21st-22nd, 26th-27th).
On that final day, Genlt. Rakosi's 1 VE arrived to spoil the party. Once again, the biplanes did their work, downing 23 Il-10's. IV IAK's Yak-7's soon arrived to chase them away, downing 47 CR.32's.
After some R&R and the rotation of one of it's Assault bomber Divisions, III ShAK was back, flying 4 missions over Sop (29th-30th).
As previous Logistical strikes were already having an effect, MajGenAv. Reshetnikov's TB-3's proceeded to hammer any and all infrastructure links between the front and the Hungarian interior. After 10 more missions (27th-28th), the flow of supplies had been reduced to a trickle.
4th Ukrainian Front (4th Ukr. F. / Hungarian Border East of Dolina) 3 AG & 4 AG / Odessa HQ:
1 SD took another crack at the mountains of Rachov (1), held by a single Hungarian division this time, on the 23rd. After just 23 hours, the attack was called off. It's unclear why as casualties were even and progress was being made.
The attack on Chust (2), starting that same morning forced 2 Gly and 231 ID, both out of supply and battered, to withdraw, reducing it's opposition to 36 ID (mot). However, despite making some progress, the operation was called off at 3pm on the 24th.
| Forces engaged in battle: | Forces killed in action: | Prisoners (of war): |
Germany | 15.936 | 143 | 0 |
Hungary | 37.536 | 174 | 0 |
AXIS | 53.472 | 317 | 0 |
Soviet Union | 32.992 | 416 | 0 |
| Air to ground damage | KIA air crew | Fighters deployed | Fighters lost | Bombers deployed | Bombers lost |
AXIS | 968 KIA | | | | | |
Soviet Union | 0 KIA | 22 | 124 x La-7 (Ftr) | 4 x La-7 (Ftr) | 248 x Il-10 (CAS) | 9 x Il-10 (CAS) |
MarshallAv. Novikov's Il-10's flew 2 missions over Chust (23rd)
III ShAK bombed Rachov twice (23rd), and Chust twice (24th).
Black Sea Fleet (Black Sea, Aegean Sea & Mediterranean Sea) BSF / Odessa HQ:
| Air to ground damage | KIA air crew | Fighters deployed | Fighters lost | Bombers deployed | Bombers lost |
Bulgaria | | 4 | 95 x He-51 (Int) | 4 x He-51 (Int) | 0 | 0 |
Soviet Union | 0 KIA | 1 | 128 x La-7VM (CAG) | 1 x La-7VM (CAG) | 128 x Il-10VM (CAG) | 0 x Il-10VM (CAG) |
Once more the Bulgarians tried to have their fun with I Avianosets' air patrols over the Northern Aegean on the 26th. Genmai. Ayrjanov's fighters were unable to do much in the middle of the night, and just one groupe of 4 Heinkel bi-planes managed to make contact. All four were promptly shot down, for the loss of just 1 La-7VM.
Totals losses:
Last 10 days | Engaged in Battle | Killed in battle | Killed by bombs | Air Crew KIA | KIA at sea | Total KIA | Prisoners of War |
Slovakia | 8.997 | 137 | / | 0 | 0 | 137 | 0 |
Bulgaria | 7.554 | 360 | / | 0 | 0 | 360 | 0 |
Hungary | 117.071 | 1.688 | / | 47 | 0 | 1.735 | 0 |
Italy | 4.990 | 408 | / | 0 | 0 | 408 | 0 |
Germany | 740.471 | 27.640 | / | 345 | 3.936 | 31.921 | 32.498 |
AXIS | 879.083 | 30.233 | 16.013 | 396 | 3.936 | 50.578 | 32.498 |
Soviet Union | 1.169.804 | 23.481 | 198 | 815 | 1.967 | 26.461 | 0 |
Norwegian Resistance in Skien.
GPW (100 days) | Engaged in Battle | Killed in battle | Killed by bombs | Air Crew KIA | KIA at sea | Total KIA | Prisoners of War |
Slovakia | 52.836 | 3.049 | / | 269 | 0 | 3.318 | 0 |
Bulgaria | 337.018 | 12.353 | / | 60 | 310 | 12.723 | 0 |
Hungary | 2.178.708 | 34.219 | / | 1.275 | 0 | 35.494 | 0 |
Italy | 176.350 | 6.498 | / | 573 | 1.003 | 8.074 | 0 |
Germany | 7.020.264 | 231.055 | / | 7.423 | 12.148 | 249.671 | 57.984 |
AXIS | 9.765.176 | 287.174 | 148.947 | 9.602 | 13.151 | 458.234 | 57.984 |
Soviet Union | 12.683.350 | 236.059 | 2.619 | 6.478 | 3.234 | 249.451 | 68.482 |
Aeroplane losses:
GPW (100 days) | Fighters | Small Bombers | Medium Bombers | Large Bombers | Transports |
Slovakia | / | 89 x A.304 | / | / | / |
Bulgaria | 64 x He-51B | / | / | / | / |
Hungary | 299 x CR.32/CR.42 | 272 x Ju-87B-2 | 389 x Ju-86K-2 | / | / |
Italy | / | / | 53 x SM.79-III
41 x CZ.1007bis | / | 11 x SM.75bis |
Germany | 1.159 x FW-190A-3
908 x Me-109G-5 | 159 x Hs-129B-2 | 1.285 x Ju-88A-4 | 61 x Ju-290 | 8 x Me-232D-1 |
AXIS | 1.173 x Int, 1.053 x Ftr | 520 x CAS | 1.667 x Tac, 53 x Nav | 61 x Nav | 19 x Tra |
Soviet Union | 1.082 x Yak-7
993 x La-7
254 x La-7VM | 1.056 x Il-10
254 x Il-10VM | 513 x Yak-4 | 72 x TB-3 | 47 x Li-2 |
Except for the annoying Norwegian insurgents, the Southern Norwegian campaign has gone to plan, with thousands of Axis soldiers and officers marched off into captivity, and the remaining forces cornered and cut off from all avenues for supply and reinforcement. One does wonder whether more British-trained insurgents and commando's will pop up in Norway. We do hope not, as the post-war diplomatic minefield that follows would be problematic to say the least.
A German Heavy tank Division was taken out of the war as Riga was finally liberated. A breakthrough to the Lithuanian Baltic coast remains elusive as ever, with many back and forth battles, and little progress towards the encirclement of the remaining Axis forces in Latvia.
The Red Army has made significant net gains in the centre, liberating chunks of Byelorussia, and Northern Ukraine. In the South, we've even started moving into enemy territory, both in Western Poland and Slovakia. An encirclement of Hungarian troops between our forces and the Romanian border now also seems ever more likely.
The Army lost no units while taking 5 Axis Divisions out of the fight, and trapping another 4 on the Southern Norwegian coast.
As always, your input is valued,
Greetings,
'Odin'