The War is Not Lost, The War Will Never Be Lost!- Germany 1945

[serutan]

Two things. First of all, I noticed one of Hodges' armored divisions, 9th Armored 'Phantom' Division, has a strength of zero (fittingly enough). Is there any way, bar loading up as the Americans which I'd rather not do, to get rid of the division? It must be a glitch, and besides, I'll take any help I can get. Also, another of Hodges' armored divisions has only 1 strength, so if there is a way to remove the divisions without loading up as the USA, would the readAARS be fine with removing them as well? I'm iffy about that, but it does seem a little ridiculous the Amis would have a tank division with no tanks.

You can get rid of it by deleting it from the save file (--->make a backup copy first!<----). Load it into notepad++ (or notepad if you don't have ++),
and do a search on the division name. Make sure it's in Hodges' corps, then hack it out. Should be good to go at that point.

 

[Ticket Cookie]

That strange, usually the out of strenght divisions just disappear. Isn't it just that the unit has something like 0.3 point, that the game show as 0?

 

[Aniknk]

If you get ride of west allies, and soviets get ride of you, you'll make Europe sad, sad Panda.

Actually if you'll win Europe will be very sad Panda too.

 

[Slick0013]

Well if you loaded up as the Americans you could check what equipment was in the division. For all we know the division could be down to a handful of tanks and men. Although like 5 tanks and 100 men isn't much of a division.

 

[Eric8344]

Thanks. Worked like a charm!

I decided to only remove the 0 strength division.

Teivel should post a contribution this week.

 

[Teivel]

WARSAW: City of the Dead​

Guest Contribution: Teivel.

WARSWAW​

They heard the groaning wail of steel on stone long before they saw it.

Lieutenant Semenovski tapped one of his men on the shoulder and then took cover. The runner dashed towards a pile of black and grey rubble, only given significance from the thousand around it by the barrel of the T-34-85. Inside the noisy confines of the vehicle, the tank crew would rely on warnings from the infantry for the approaching armour.

The warning didn’t come a second too late.

“Tigr! Tigr!” the cry went up with a frenzy of accented fear from one of the sentries, seconds before it all began.

The mass of grey steel crawled out from behind a mass of rubble that had once been a store front and began rotation.

​

The T-34-85 let off it’s first round, the boom of the 85mm gun followed a fraction of a second later by the scratching ‘ping’ of the round ricocheting off the sloping glacis of the King Tiger. The exercise was repeated again, a SU-85 dug in further back slapped a round off the monster’s turret, all the while the grind of Germans tracks continued.

The monster’s turret slowly tracked toward the source of fire, and then the long 88mm gun roared.

The T-34, and Semenovski’s messenger evaporated as the armour piercing shot burst through the ammunition rack of the doomed vehicle, touching off the dozens of high explosive rounds contained within.

The tanks had been provisioned for city fighting, a high proportion of HE shells and almost none of the AP ammo, no one could have known that the Germans would thrown their heavy tank reserves in.

Semenovski barked orders. The tank had to be destroyed, before his own valuable armour was wiped out. His tank hunting infantry teams stormed forward in small groups, PPsh-43s and tank hunting explosives in hand.

Before they were even half way forward through the rubble, they began to fall.

In the fury of the initial German tank assault, none had noticed the SS Panzer-Grenadiers, cloaked in camouflage uniforms, slipping forward to cover the King Tiger. Like vengeful ghosts, their STG-44 assault rifles barked from invisible, covered positions, turning the Russian lane of advance into an anti-infantry kill zone. Desperately, Semenovski looked up to the still half standing church steeple that had once held his sniper, hoping some signal from the expert with the higher vantage point would be forthcoming. Instead he saw a body half slumped over the stone opening that had once been the firing point.

The Germans were fine snipers these days too.

“ HOLD FAST! HOLD FAST!” he called. The men were clearly shaken but with most of the Sergeants dead over the last two days, Semenovski had no choice but to command the men himself.

Verbally, over the cacophony of battle, he berated them up and into order. Nearly fifty men answered his demands and began sending speculative bands of fire out seeking the German infantry, even as another T-34 met its end by the King Tiger’s fearsome gun.

We can hold. He thought. These new Tigers killed tanks with ease, but that long gun was no good against soft targets, and the German’s wouldn't risk rolling forward with his men dug in hard among the ruins.

That thought was still fresh in his mind as a second heavy grinding of tracks meshed with the creaking of the German tank turret. The new Monster pushed through a pile of masonry to make itself known, still quite distant compared to the immediate threat.

It was clearly no normal tank. There was no turret. Instead there was a shear casemate of thick grey steel, surrounding a cannon so enormous that Semenovski took the chance to look twice, even in the split second environment of battle. The monster rotated a few more degrees, and then the ball mounted projector began to orient towards its target.

​

Inside the armoured citadel the crew of the Sturmoser Tiger touched off the 380mm rocket projector. An entire block was engulfed in fire and flame.

Dozens of Soviets died. Others suffered terribly, wounded by shrapnel, eardrums destroyed. They would be cut down by the young men of the SS as they advanced.

Only a few Soviets would stagger back, deeper into the city, to meet the next wave of new Soviet arrivals.

--

Red Army Aid Post, Warsaw

Semenovski awoke later in the aid post. As his first memories began flooding back he knew he had been lucky again. As he had been so many times before. At Kiev, at Stalingrad… he was as close to a lucky man as one could get in this damn war.

“You’re awake Lieutenant.”

Through his blurry vision, Semenovski made out the triple red piped gold and four gold stars of a major.

“Major. Yes. The Germans have deployed some new kind of tank in the city.” He rasped.

The newcomer didn’t seem perturbed. “Yes, the Germans call it an Assault Tiger. Essentially a large rocket projector. We shall be able to overcome them.”

“They look cumbersome, if we could bring up the zveroboy..”

“Did you drop this Lieutenant?” interrupted the Major. He held out a little black bound paper book, a standard issue diary. “I only assume so because it features your name, talks of your exploits in Stalingrad and appears to have been written by a man actually capable of writing more than his name in Russian, a feat I understand is now beyond many of the men in your platoon.”

Semenovski reached for his interior pocket, the one where he kept his diary and pencils but felt only a flap of cheap material. The shrapnel had torn through his pocket.

A smile came over the veteran lieutenant’s face as he approached his superior. “Thank you Comrade, I feared I had lost it.”

The Captain didn’t smile, nor did the NKVD man who followed him into the makeshift shelter, sidearm drawn.


--

I hear some of the men have begun calling Warsaw the ‘City of the Dead.’ I would say if the army was not so desperate for men, that they should be purged for such stupidity.

There is no ‘city’ of Warsaw left.

Cities have buildings.

When the Poles rose up against the Fascists, some eighty five percent of the structures in the city were levelled. Those that remained were flattened during the liberation, or during the German counteroffensive. There are no flats, no city squares, no shop fronts or church steeples anymore, just a rolling landscape of shattered masonry and shell craters. Just like Stalingrad.

No,

Worse than Stalingrad.

Stalingrad, even at its most desperate was still a city.

Cities are made by their people.

And there are no people left in Warsaw. Only soldiers from foreign lands, ranging like rats over a corpse.

I arrived less a week ago.

As we marched in, we kept out faces locked forward, unwilling to engage with the long line of battered and beaten men marching beside us in the other direction. I recall a line of blood trailing from a stretched being born by four men…each had only one arm fit to dedicate to the task.

At the time we pitied them.

Now I envy them, their time in this hellhole is over.

The situation in the city is grim, and losses are heavy. The men still occasionally joke, defiantly, that for every one of us that falls, another ten shall take our place. In some sense they are right. The infantry at least remains constantly at full strength, replacements arrive daily, an infusion shot into the arm of a bleeding patient.

​

The replacements would hardly understand the joke however. I haven’t seen any Russian boys arriving for days now. Instead we have a flood of tajiks, kazakhs…men from republics I’ve never even heard of. They whisper in their alien tongues, many have at best a passing understanding of Russian, and even less of the nature of a battlefield.

One cannot organise an army that cannot speak the same languages, especially not under fire. But Russia has no blood left to give, her men are spent. One presumes they would send us more women, but by now they are all at work in the factories.

What worries me most is the change in the Germans that we have seen.

Few of the young soldiers know how much the Germans have changed over the years. During the early years we used to talk of the Summer Germans. The summer Germans were the most dangerous and ruthless of foes you can ever imagine. They dashed forward with speed and elan. They advanced regardless of casualties and hardships, slashing through the most stalwart of defences. For those first two years, only winter could break the Summer Germans.

The Winter German was a different beast. We could beat the Winter German.

The Winter German was stuck in an alien land. He struggled to survive in the cold, wore clothes ill-suited for his environment. He was tenacious on the defence, but incapable of launching offensives.

Both these Germans were dangerous, because, even in their darkest moments, you could see their ultimate belief in victory, their dedication to their evil cause.

The boys now know only the beaten German. After Bargration, that is all that we saw for a long time. The Germans sending in mere boys, untrained, unskilled, supported by an ever thinner line of veterans who no longer truly believed in their cause. The beaten German has fought fiercely of course, he hold each inch of ground with determination, spitefully demanding we pay for it….but he has lost his heart. He knew he had lost, but would hold his building or his trench until we overcame him.

Those are not the Germans I see now.

The boys are still there, but they do not merely wait in their foxholes anymore. They storm forward, clutching their new rifles and hand held rocket projectors. The infantry supporting the tank units have been brutally mauled, and the tanks themselves devastated by these new aggressive tactics.

And behind those boys…

Behind those boys are the dead faces and black caps of the German tank commanders. Men who have fought, in some cases for years. Men who used to merely hold our advances.

Now they strike forward, they flank us, they envelop and punish us and deploy shock and terror as a weapon.

These are summer Germans, and once again they believe they can win.

Myself, I no longer know what to believe.

Diary of Lieutenant Ivan Semenovski,

Executed for Cowardice and Defeatism
March, 1945.

 

[Gukpa]

This was surely the best Update,and It is sad that he didn't escaped,poor Ivan

 

[unmerged(73100)]

That was very good Teivel! This whole AAR is great!

 

[tooichan]

That was absolutely amazing. Words cannot describe how beautiful it is.

 

[blitzthedragon]

Love the Soviet update. I think I'd have liked the American one better if the spelling and grammar were fixed.

 

[Enclave]

Superb work Teivel.

 

[Lucifer]

A very pleasing AAR. And a very good idea to have such good contributors.

 

[Eric8344]

Teivel: That was undoubtedly MacArthur’s reasoning. But when your divisions have no strength, “inflicting higher organization damage” means “running out of cover to lightly tap a tank.”

Migthy: Thank you! I plan to bring Romania back to the Axis, of course. I’m thinking von Ribbentrop will be escorted to Bucharest with a column of tanks.

Everyone discussing translations: I just go by what the map says.

Aniknk: Did you not see the video in the previous update !

[video=youtube_share;Di2bA3QMbfc]http://youtu.be/Di2bA3QMbfc?t=4m9s[/video] (start at 4:10)

Enclave: Of course! And I WILL DESTROY THE SCOURGE AND PESTILENCE OF BOLSHEVISM!!! as we all know.

Serutan: Thanks for the technical support!

Ticket Cookie: That is precisely why I wanted to edit it out.

Slick0013: I didn’t want to load up as the Americans as that would reveal troop disposition in France. But thanks for the support anyay!

Teivel’s contribution + related posts: Thank you Teivel! Very cool, very well written! Hopefully it will inspire more contributions.

Previously, on the AAR…
• The Soviets pour several disorganized and demoralized troops in Warsaw- Guderian inflicts huge casualties on the Russians in return for very few Germans. The battle rages.
• Two American divisions are destroyed in combat. A third division, the 9th Armored ‘Phantom’ Division, is disbanded by the Americans as it is de facto non-existent anyway.
• Von Rundstedt nearly encircles 5 Allied divisions. Similarly, 5 Soviet divisions in Klaipeda are on their way to being encircled.

On with the show!

The Darkest Hour
February 1945
Week 3: Pay No Attention to the Army Behind the Iron Curtain
​

0:00 February 15

Victory in Bourg-en-Bresse and Maribor (3,500 Russians + 45 tanks, 1,500 Germans)

Guderian’s HQ 10:00

The battle for Radom is finished- 10,000 Russians are lost to 3,000 Germans. Meanwhile, the Battle for Warsaw is winding down. Outnumbered and outclassed, Rybalko will withdraw soon.

Von Manstein’s HQ 13:00

Von Manstein is set to win the second battle of Banska Bystrica. Victory here will not be as useful as it would’ve a week ago, but whether we push the Soviets back 10 meters or 10 kilometers, we’re pushing back regardless!

1:00 February 16

The Soviets attack Bratislava- Germany is fielding more men here, but the Red Army is in better shape here than elsewhere.

Meanwhile, at Guderian’s HQ…

Warsaw is won! 16,500 Soviets die in the final (most likely) phase of the Battle for Warsaw. The arrival of Rybalko’s armor inflicted somewhat higher losses on German forces than before- 5,000 Germans are lost in the ruins of the city.

Meanwhile, at Model’s HQ…

The Allies continue the Siege of Lorient, which has been going on for months now. General Keitel (not that one!) and the garrison continue to hold on- the Allies are deploying 5-7 divisions, including 2 armor divisions lead by General Patton, in the Siege.

Meanwhile, at von Rundstedt’s HQ…

5 Allied divisions are trapped in Grenoble. Now, General Heissmeyer will just need to hold on long enough to prevent the Americans from relieving the trapped divisions.

Von Manstein’s HQ 11:00
The beleaguered Soviets fall back from Banska Bystrica, leaving 3,500 men. 1,500 Germans are killed in the assault- not good numbers, especially given the Soviets’ exhaustion in the battle. Von Manstein blames poor hospital facilities on the frontline.

Von Manstein had ordered an attack on the Soviet armored corps in Ljubjana, to delay Soviet operations and hopefully inflict a sharp defeat on the tankers. An attack on Maribor forced his men to withdraw! 3,500 Russians and 82 tanks are destroyed, while 2,000 Germans are killed.

Kesselring’s HQ 13:00

Victory at Plock! 2,750 Russkies to 750 Germans.

0:00 February 17
Von Ribbentrop stepped off his plane, pleased with himself. Several tons of oil were acquired from Venezuela, in return for basic oil refining technology and a barrel with a window, which von Ribbentrop assures the Venezuelans is the most advanced U-Boat design yet.

Guderian’s HQ 10:00

The Soviets foolishly put another tank division in Radom, where it is swiftly punished. 750 Soviets will perish to a negligible number of Germans.
Meanwhile, Doenitz’s massive sub fleet is reduced by 50% and is temporarily rebased to Koenigsberg.
On the Western Front, premature victory at Evreux. Wuennenburg arrives in Falaise, hopefully the Evreux pocket will be closed. Lorient holds against the odds!

Model’s HQ 7:00 February 18
Wuennenburg’s divisions are now supporting the attack on Caen. A swift victory is needed to overrun the 3 American divisions in Evreux! Model suspected the Americans would elude him yet again. On the plus side, Alanbrooke finally gave up the battle for Florence- 25,000 British men die in the battle, while 10,000 Germans die. But the road to Rome is now open!

On board the Gneisenau 16:00

Grand Admiral Saalwaechter was biting his nails- it was beginning to look like Field Marshal Jaenecke wouldn’t make it… Jaenecke would retreat to the waiting transports if needed.

Von Rundstedt’s HQ 9:00 February 19

Le Creusot is almost captured. The Allies have reinforced France a great deal, von Rundstedt is thoroughly convinced offensive operations are no longer possible without R&R for the troops and possibly reinforcements. JACKBOOT remains the bright spot for High Command, as the British are thrown out of Livorno as soon as they arrive. Hopefully, Livorno will be captured before the British can mount a serious defense.

Model’s HQ 15:00

Model was getting anxious. The Americans were legendary for unwittingly escaping encirclements… Also, MacArthur is apparently no longer in command, as the threadbare division wisely chooses to avoid combat rather than seek it.

In the East, another Soviet division reinforces and is promptly beaten out of Radom, losing 500 men to an insignificant amount of Germans.

Victory at Le Creusot and Caen! General Brandenberger will arrive in Caen in just two days…

Guderian’s HQ 7:00 February 20

Guderian and his armor arrive in Radom- the rest of the army is right behind him! Russian numbers are deceitful, as they are extremely disorganized and demoralized- they always are these days it seems. Guderian, with some hesitation, orders the army in Warsaw to cross the Vistula- Soviet weakness must be capitalized on!

Model’s HQ 9:00

UUUGGGGGHH!

-End Week-​

• I’m not so good with pinning attacks.
• Knowing my luck, the Grenoble pocket will be rescued, too.
• I disbanded a few headquarters divisions as they slow the tanks down and waste fuel and supplies. I have over 20, that’s plenty!
• I’m thinking Spring will see me on the defensive in France and the offensive in Italy. Hopefully Summer will allow me to reverse any losses in France.
• Fingers crossed Janecke traps Klaipeda/Memel. 5 divisions is nothing for the Red Army, but it’s a start.
• ADR this update: 44,000 (this includes several minor battles which were not in the update.) [Edit]
• ADR overall: 303,000 [Edit]
• ADG this update: 14,500
• ADG overall: 123,750
• Dead in Warsaw: 53,000 Russians, 9,750 Germans. The Soviets suffered 5 times as many casualties because they kept putting in troops with little to no organization. Unfortunately, the Red Army is huge so the casualties are inflicted along the entire army, meaning most of their army is still in fighting condition. Compare this to the Americans, who suffer less casualties but field almost non-existent armies, because I inflict casualties where it counts there.
• Bolshevik Cowards and Traitors: Jape, Aniknk
• Also, how do I create a table of contents for the AAR?

 

[KaiserWilhelmI]

Great update! Also:

How do I create a table of contents for the AAR?

Hope this helps.

 

[Eric8344]

Thanks KaiserWilhelmI ! Are you ever going to finish "Mussolini is always right"? [Edit] Ahh I just saw it's only on hold. nevermind. [Edit]

 

[Gukpa]

Eric,after crushing the allies in France,you will create a French Puppet state to give you some troops?Or you will keep it occupied?

 

[whatguts]

watch your man power... you're dropping roughly 20 each day

 

[unmerged(291207)]

Encirclements, great! Fingers crossed.

@Battle Bunny
Thanks!

@bliitzthedragon
As to grammar I don't know if I can do much better. Sorry. But thank you for reading.

Edit:
I forgot to mention that I'm impressed by Teivel's post, too. I like how historical knowledge serves drama there. Though where are those IS-2? or ISU-152? Not fair for Ivan

 

[Aniknk]

Wow! You can actually do this!

But this oil...

 

[Eric8344]

I MUST DIRECT THIS PERSONALLY​