August 1943.
German forces have pushed deeper into the USSR with the very gates of stalingrad now visible. Huge gains are beening made every month has the red army takes massive losses from the onslaught. Airpower is proving decisive with reports from stalin himself in less two months 40 soviet divisions were destroyed.
The Axis clearly have the advantage in the East now, only a massive effort by the US will save Russia and the war. The next few months before winter should be interesting, some big battle looming with both Stalingrad and Moscow bordered by Axis forces.
One thing i have learnt this session is how valuable experience is for airpower. Not commanders expeirence it helps but not a huge factor. Alot of my air units in the east are now at 100 expeirence, which is giving me a +50% in all battles, add to this most commanders are now skill 7 or 6 with some close to 8. You get 2% for each skill level. So a 100 expeirence group plus a 7 skill commander gives +64% straight away.
A decisive advantage that germany has in this game, that we probably havnt noticed before as we dont get this far often is. The upgrade pealities. Germany can and has upgrade most of its forces as the techs have become avalible. giving me a modern army and airforces which is at least 1-2 generations in front of soviet forces now. Major says its far to costly for the USSR to upgrade when most IC is going into units to replace loses (the 40 divisions he lost this session) replacements and supplies which i know all about the eastern front is very expensive. With his current slider bars it makes it pointless to upgrade even if he had spare IC. I think this is the decisive advantage, as major said he has the Turbojet Tech but cant afford to upgrade his planes or build them. Until he does he will likely lose this war.
The USSR is basicaly the same tech as Germany in 41, but come 43 with germanies advanatges in tech teams it pulls away from russia but is also able to upgrade at a reasonable cost, although by no way cheap. Took me nearly 1 and half years to get all 43 infantry, Me-262's and good tanks.
When you add this to germanies org difference and the 0.10 GDE penalty which will go in 44 it makes a big difference.
With the allies unable to put great preasure on germany im free to focus on Russia. Although i have left 16-20 jets in france at all times, so russia hasnt face my full airpowwe, perhaps 65-70%. Even in Persia and Africa Italy and Spain are doing most the fighting there, combined there are about 150 divisions in those areas, plus the large German and axis forces in France. By no means is russia fighting the full axis forces, probably 60% at most.
With all thes advantages that ive stated add on to that the Allies have failed to put any preasure on in the west. The UK has 100 divisions in Russia as well, which sure helps russia out but dosnt change the equation. Those UK forces would have been far more valuable sitting in the UK massing with the US forces to invade europe. All those forces enabled germany to do was put more forces in Russia and not have them spread out all over france. So having UK forces in Russia has enabled me to concentrate more of my forces on the 1 front. From Germanies point of view wondering where 100 UK divisions would pop up, would be a big headache as long as i see them in russia i dont have to worry as i know exactly where they are.
My 2 cents worth.