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Enewald, darthkommandant - Darthkommandant is correct, the population behaved much like during Napoleon's invasion and left the city. This time, though, the German stay is quite permanent and they just leveled the Kremlin.
Inner Circle - Thanks, I knew I wouldn't be able to put three German words correctly
Enewald, Inner Circle - But I don't think I was going to post a title saying "To The Twilight of the Gods"
PrawnStar - No, their capital has moved east. That's partly explanated by saying that the population has left the city, so there was nothing to loot.
And now our little contest. Moscow has fallen on June 23rd 1946. The closest answer was that of ColossusCrusher, who is the winner of the contest. Ironically, I didn't make any effort to take Moscow five years and one day after the beginning of Barbarossa.
ColossusCrusher can now choose to have his name engraved on one of the future capital ships of the Kriegsmarine: either a Light Carrier, a Battleship, a Battlecruiser, or a Heavy Cruiser.
Inner Circle - Thanks, I knew I wouldn't be able to put three German words correctly
Enewald, Inner Circle - But I don't think I was going to post a title saying "To The Twilight of the Gods"
PrawnStar - No, their capital has moved east. That's partly explanated by saying that the population has left the city, so there was nothing to loot.
And now our little contest. Moscow has fallen on June 23rd 1946. The closest answer was that of ColossusCrusher, who is the winner of the contest. Ironically, I didn't make any effort to take Moscow five years and one day after the beginning of Barbarossa.
ColossusCrusher can now choose to have his name engraved on one of the future capital ships of the Kriegsmarine: either a Light Carrier, a Battleship, a Battlecruiser, or a Heavy Cruiser.
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Who said I'm not going to do any onther contest? About Stalingrad, for example... (hint hint)
Update soon.
EDIT - Update now, it's the end of June.
Update soon.
EDIT - Update now, it's the end of June.
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Die rote Götterdämmerung
1600 June 23rd 1946
II. SS-Panzerkorps, Moscow, Soviet Union
Field Marshal Hausser. Commander of II. SS-Panzerkorps, he was about to take control of 7. Armee in France; instead, he was now commander of Heeresgruppe Finland, now merged with Heeresgruppe Nord. And, most importantly, he was now among the first Germans to set foot on Moscow.
The sole division defending the capital was slowly grinded, while the population fled the city. Upon the total and final destruction of Russian defenses of the city, he could witness the unreal emptiness of the spot. Then, he had the dubious honor of issuing the order for the destruction of the Kremlin.
Also, the Red Square was now renamed the Grey Square. Mussolini in turn protested for he wanted it to be Black Square, or Blackshirts Square. No-one gave him any attention, as usual.
Also, the Red Square was now renamed the Grey Square. Mussolini in turn protested for he wanted it to be Black Square, or Blackshirts Square. No-one gave him any attention, as usual.
2100 June 23rd 1946
Baranowicze, Soviet Union
The battle of Baranowicze was easily won, and Busse was ordered to drive further east, if it weren't for a huge concentration of Soviet troops.
He would stay and wait for his other colleagues to finish their jobs elsewhere, as in Slonim.
1100 June 24th 1946
White House, Washington D.C.
"So what is it?" whispered the President of the US of A to himself, Harry S. Truman, while grabbing one of the many newspapers on his desk. "Huh? Moscow's fall? Fall to what?"
"German forces completed the last defenders? Marshall, since when Moscow was German?"
"Mr. President, that means that they have destroyed the defenders, not that they have completed defending the city."
"Ah, I see. So... it fell under the cut from the third Reich."
The President reflected upon it a little.
"Oh my... Marshall, the Germans have taken Moscow!"
"Looks like so, mr. President."
"Mr. President, that means that they have destroyed the defenders, not that they have completed defending the city."
"Ah, I see. So... it fell under the cut from the third Reich."
The President reflected upon it a little.
"Oh my... Marshall, the Germans have taken Moscow!"
"Looks like so, mr. President."
0700 June 26th 1946
Vitebsk, Soviet Union
Nowhere the Soviet forces were on par with their German counterparts in terms of quantity. Von Kleist had an easy job ousting the Soviets out of Vitebsk.
In fact, Vitebsk fell on the same day. With thirty or more Soviet divisions in Lida, the fall of Vitebsk meant that another big encirclement was not a distant option.
This avenue was exploited quickly. An attack on Orsha was carried out the following day, and the Luftwaffe revealed that the city of Minsk was empty, and that little else wearing Soviet uniforms was south of it. There was a real possibility about the encirclement of Lida; von Rundstedt was right when saying that, with an attack on Lida, another encirclement would be feasible. Now, von Kleist faced another easy task as sheer odds were against six Soviet divisions.
1100 June 27th 1946
Slonim, Soviet Union
Another salient was drawn with the conquest of Slonim. The Soviets possessed something less than ten divisions occupying a 150km-long strip of land deep into Heeresgruppe Nord's presence.
This salient would soon become a pocket, as the Soviets could only watch helplessly.
The attack on the last free Soviet corridor, Bielsk, was already a declared German victory, although several Soviet units still bravely prevented the total occupation of Bielsk.
0300 June 29th 1946
Mozhaisk, Soviet Union
The fall of Moscow didn't mean certain victory, and Hausser would not stop there. He drove South, where a dozen Soviet divisions escaped death after fleeing Moscow.
Another win scored, another province to occupy.
0600 June 29th 1946
Heeresgruppe Nord, Soviet Union
The end of a black month for the Soviets was approaching, and nothing led to the hope that July would be any better. Six battles were in progress during June 29th, of which only two were a Soviet initiative, and those were failing too.
While von Rundstedt was spearheading the attack on Lida, where thirty Soviet divisions were attempting to put up a stoic defense, further north the attack on Orsha was threatening a flank of the Soviet flimsy defense, and was putting at severe risk the logistical integrity of thirty Soviet divisions in Lida. Another salient was about to take shape.
The battle of Bielsk ended with a German victory. Most importantly, another pocket was formed.
The pocket held nine Soviet divisions, all of them immediately attacking Grodno, hoping to break the encirclement. Orders were immediately given to attack the two provinces: Suwalki, holding four divisions, and Bialystok, holding five. Suwalki fell after one day of fierce fighting.
The Soviets actually had a slim chance at breaking the pocket, as only one German division was operationally able to defend against the nine divisions, but the German attack on the pocket made those hopes vain. The Soviet attempt officially failed on June 30th.
0000 June 30th 1946
Westwall, Germany
A small amount of Germany's resources was still being devoted to the construction of the Westwall. The violation of German lands once didn't mean that it couldn't be repeated twice by the Allies.
And so, three new Garrison divisions protected the shores of the hearth of the Fatherland.
0900 June 30th 1946
Bialystok, Soviet Union
Another pocket was officially liquidated as Bialystok fell on June 30th.
Soon, the Soviet Union would have nine less divisions to count on the defense of their motherland. With another pocket destroyed, Heeresgruppe Nord could focus on new targets beyond the existing ones in Lida.
0000 July 1st 1946
Reichstag, Berlin
News reached the Reichstag about the expansion of Germany's still small Nuclear Reactor.
Bormann had many doubts about its usefulness, if it weren't for the fact that the Nuclear Reactor behaved like a magnet for Allied aircraft. If they were so willing to waste hundreds of planes to bomb it, it had to be rather important for a reason. If only the German scientists could know why.
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Battleship!
KMS ColossusCrusher (or Colossus Crusher, if necessary) sounds so awesome. You can Germanize it if you want, to make it more "accurate".
Of course, that creates KMS Koloss-Zerkleinerungsmaschine
So there might be a problem...
KMS ColossusCrusher (or Colossus Crusher, if necessary) sounds so awesome. You can Germanize it if you want, to make it more "accurate".
Of course, that creates KMS Koloss-Zerkleinerungsmaschine
So there might be a problem...
Lols, why bomb a small reactor? :rofl::rofl:
Ach, how much experience do Hausser and his kumpels have?
I mean the other generals and marschalls.
A fall in Moscow during a sommer?
Nice gameplay!
Ach, how much experience do Hausser and his kumpels have?
I mean the other generals and marschalls.
A fall in Moscow during a sommer?
Nice gameplay!
ColossusCrusher - The choice is yours, though I don't see the problem with a Zerkleinerungsmaschine, or "The Maus of the High Seas"
Enewald - Quite a lot of experience. I prefer to disclose them at the end of the year, though. Moscow's fall is antithetic to the joyous nature of Summer, so it is clear that it is a German summer
Ding ding... new contest. Three new names for the Kriegsmarine. Just not now
Enewald - Quite a lot of experience. I prefer to disclose them at the end of the year, though. Moscow's fall is antithetic to the joyous nature of Summer, so it is clear that it is a German summer
Ding ding... new contest. Three new names for the Kriegsmarine. Just not now
Cabinet Meeting July 1946
0000 July 1st 1946
Reichstag, Berlin
"Men and women of the glorious Third Reich! Stand up and be proud! Our vaunted armies brought civilization to the Soviet beasts, as Moscow greets our soldiers as liberators from the Communist oppression!..."
Martin Bormann turns off the radio, while sipping his vodka, recently arrived from Russian soil.
"Excellent work with that, Albert. Hitler's pitch is quite uncommon, and it's a grace we found someone with his same voice."
"The hilarious thing, Martin, is that he was a socialist."
"Oh!"
"But we... sort of 'persuaded' him." Speer chuckled.
Bormann and his ministers never conceded themselves a moment of optimism during the two years after Hitler's demise. Not even after the miracle at Cracow, which was arguably the biggest turning point in history of warfare; this time, however, the news of the capture of Moscow was so motivating that the whole cabinet enjoyed drinking the finest of Russian vodka, something they had never tried due to Hitler's ban on alcohol and smoking.
"I... *hic* prefer beer, actually!" Göring muttered, barely stressing the syllabes clearly enough to be understood, sitting on a comfy sofa. Everyone laughed at him, as his inebriation clearly stated the opposite.
"Anyways, gentlemen... before things degenerate completely... Ernst, are you still sane?"
Ernst Kaltenbrunner stood up "I am Martin, and I have my usual briefing" and he extracted some paper from his folders.
"Ow come on, sith down anth relax, won'th you..."
Kaltenbrunner glared at the usually untarnished Julius Ringel.
"Let them be, Ernst, they haven't had a break for two years! Now, people, a bit of dignity please... listen to Ernst!"
Generals and ministers unwillingly obeyed and somehow seated in order, listening to Kaltenbrunner.
"Alright..."
Martin Bormann turns off the radio, while sipping his vodka, recently arrived from Russian soil.
"Excellent work with that, Albert. Hitler's pitch is quite uncommon, and it's a grace we found someone with his same voice."
"The hilarious thing, Martin, is that he was a socialist."
"Oh!"
"But we... sort of 'persuaded' him." Speer chuckled.
Bormann and his ministers never conceded themselves a moment of optimism during the two years after Hitler's demise. Not even after the miracle at Cracow, which was arguably the biggest turning point in history of warfare; this time, however, the news of the capture of Moscow was so motivating that the whole cabinet enjoyed drinking the finest of Russian vodka, something they had never tried due to Hitler's ban on alcohol and smoking.
"I... *hic* prefer beer, actually!" Göring muttered, barely stressing the syllabes clearly enough to be understood, sitting on a comfy sofa. Everyone laughed at him, as his inebriation clearly stated the opposite.
"Anyways, gentlemen... before things degenerate completely... Ernst, are you still sane?"
Ernst Kaltenbrunner stood up "I am Martin, and I have my usual briefing" and he extracted some paper from his folders.
"Ow come on, sith down anth relax, won'th you..."
Kaltenbrunner glared at the usually untarnished Julius Ringel.
"Let them be, Ernst, they haven't had a break for two years! Now, people, a bit of dignity please... listen to Ernst!"
Generals and ministers unwillingly obeyed and somehow seated in order, listening to Kaltenbrunner.
"Alright..."
"So, here's the Soviet Union. Numbers have shrunken considerably. Twenty-seven less infantry divisions, a severe shortage of resources and a loss of forty-four industrial complexes. A non-existant airforce. Their only good thing, they have devised a new Encryption device, but nothing unknown to us. Their Army should be about 260 divisions strong, around thirty divisions less since the beginning of this Summer offensive. And I'm not counting in the latest, 10-divisions strong encirclement."
"The US. No concern for us. A new Anti-Air model devised. Looks like they have grown tired of this war since the invasion of France."
Various generals yawned.
Various generals yawned.
"The UK. A new Tank Destroyer and a new Submarine."
Suddenly Dönitz was awakened "Ach! They can't be ahead of us when talking about my precious U-boote!" and he returned to profound sleep immediately after.
"Yes. Well, that's it." Kaltenbrunner felt pretty uncomfortable with his role that day.
"Right, Ernst. Joachim, you have some news from the East, right?"
"... Joachim?"
"Uh? Ah, right."
Suddenly Dönitz was awakened "Ach! They can't be ahead of us when talking about my precious U-boote!" and he returned to profound sleep immediately after.
"Yes. Well, that's it." Kaltenbrunner felt pretty uncomfortable with his role that day.
"Right, Ernst. Joachim, you have some news from the East, right?"
"... Joachim?"
"Uh? Ah, right."
"Well, the Americans gained much useless land in Siberia, and the British still hold those wastelands... er, steppes in Mongolia."
"Iran, this region has seen the Soviets pushing the Brits as far as Baghdad, but somehow they managed to be beaten back here too."
"Eh? Didn't the French surrender a long time ago? Or were those the Italians?" Ringel asked, laughing loudly.
"Right... please Joachim, continue."
"I'm finished, Martin."
"Oh well. A brief report about the Soviet Union? Julius?"
Ringel barely stood up in balance.
"Oh, nevermind... Heinz?"
"I will."
"Eh? Didn't the French surrender a long time ago? Or were those the Italians?" Ringel asked, laughing loudly.
"Right... please Joachim, continue."
"I'm finished, Martin."
"Oh well. A brief report about the Soviet Union? Julius?"
Ringel barely stood up in balance.
"Oh, nevermind... Heinz?"
"I will."
"Here are our latest moves. As you can see we are on the process of capturing nine Soviet divisions in the Suwalki-Bialystok pocket, and we are moving ten divisions to Baranowicze which will assist Heeresgruppe Nord's new attempt at encircling Lida. Von Rundstedt's been attacking it for days and we don't want those thirty Soviet divisions somewhere throwing bullets at us."
"We can clearly see that we're attempting an encirclement as we are attacking Orsha, which is steadily falling to our forces. With Minsk devoid of troops, it only remains to know if the final corridor of this soon-to-be salient, Bobrailsk, contains a Soviet force large enough to stop our attempt."
"This is the Eastern front in general. The capture of Moscow on June 23rd has been a great incentive to our moral, as we can certify in this room... *groan*, and we have made an astounding progress since May; it looks like we're back on the happy days of 1941; it only remains to know if the Soviets can endure this same kind of pain twice."
"With Leningrad and Moscow in our hands, I really doubt that. Albert?"
"Good day Martin, and goodnight to the others. Our situation is fairly good, except for Oil, as we exhausted our reserves once again, and Rare Materials."
"With Leningrad and Moscow in our hands, I really doubt that. Albert?"
"Good day Martin, and goodnight to the others. Our situation is fairly good, except for Oil, as we exhausted our reserves once again, and Rare Materials."
"We can cover all Germany's needs except for two thirds of our Army's upgrades, eventhough most of those are done. Our latest Nuclear Reactor expansion is due in September, and I don't think we'll have the need to halt production. About manpower, we've lost around 100,000 men since May 1st. Half of these losses are yet to be replaced."
"That's nothing compared to the black years pre-1944" Bormann added.
"Indeed. Our manpower pool is sufficient enough for all our needs at the moment."
"Very well. So this ends all the boring stuff, I guess."
"Pretty much so."
"Well then, let's take a bit more of this vodka, can't we?"
"That's nothing compared to the black years pre-1944" Bormann added.
"Indeed. Our manpower pool is sufficient enough for all our needs at the moment."
"Very well. So this ends all the boring stuff, I guess."
"Pretty much so."
"Well then, let's take a bit more of this vodka, can't we?"
Thats a lot of losses!
Germany has lost too many sons in its wars... the future might be dark.
But still shiny over the soviet hordes of east!
Germany has lost too many sons in its wars... the future might be dark.
But still shiny over the soviet hordes of east!
Pretty good ratio losses wise compared to the Soviets.
From what country is that airplane currently flying in Dagaupulis?
From what country is that airplane currently flying in Dagaupulis?
I guess Stalin is going to be feasting on some red army commander meatballs after their utter failure to defend the motherland.
Also will you build any Naval Bombers?
Also will you build any Naval Bombers?
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Enewald, Connavar - That's pretty light indeed. Considering that it's WiF, long battles are common and so are high casualties. A Portugal flying scrap metal is enjoying the freedom of skies in Dagaupulis.
ColossusCrusher - Aye, but that's at your own risk
cloneof - If there will be one Nah, they will make it to 1947 for the usual first year's day interlude.
darthkommandant - There are plenty of potential meatballs-wannabe to use for Stalin. Zhukov is among them, for example. Naval Bombers are not in my book and I will fight the might of the Allied navies with my puny doctrines.
And now, a little new contest...
I. You need to specify your answer in ORANGE color.
II. This contest will end when I say so . Just not now.
III. The first to answer correctly to a question will have his name graciously painted on a capital ship of choice of the new Kriegsmarine. Previous contesters are allowed to have another name in.
IV. Rules may change. Don't argue .
I will post a linked reminder of the contest every now and then.
ColossusCrusher - Aye, but that's at your own risk
cloneof - If there will be one
Nah, they will make it to 1947 for the usual first year's day interlude.darthkommandant - There are plenty of potential meatballs-wannabe to use for Stalin. Zhukov is among them, for example. Naval Bombers are not in my book and I will fight the might of the Allied navies with my puny doctrines.
And now, a little new contest...
**********
1) What reference about a certain video game can be found between pages 18 and 27 of this AAR? Please quote the relevant sentence(s). Answered by ColossusCrusher.
2) What reference about a famous Hearts of Iron 1 AAR can be found in this AAR? Please quote the relevant sentence(s). Answered by darthkommandant.
3) What nation will be the next nation to be annexed by Germany?.
4) When will Tokyo be freed? Specify Day, Month and Year.
2) What reference about a famous Hearts of Iron 1 AAR can be found in this AAR? Please quote the relevant sentence(s). Answered by darthkommandant.
3) What nation will be the next nation to be annexed by Germany?.
4) When will Tokyo be freed? Specify Day, Month and Year.
I. You need to specify your answer in ORANGE color.
II. This contest will end when I say so
. Just not now.III. The first to answer correctly to a question will have his name graciously painted on a capital ship of choice of the new Kriegsmarine. Previous contesters are allowed to have another name in.
IV. Rules may change. Don't argue
.I will post a linked reminder of the contest every now and then.
**********
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Die rote Götterdämmerung
0300 July 1st 1946
Bobraisk, Soviet Union
While the Bialystok pocket was yet to be fully formed, another encirclement was already envisioned by von Rundstedt, who proposed a frontal attack towards the thirty Soviet divisions holding Lida, with the sole purpose of flanking their sides and taking them from behind. The only uncertainty was the entity of Soviet presence in Bobraisk, the only other fortified province behind Lida. On July 1st, twenty-two German divisions would thoroughly test this entity.
The result would be excellent. Only four Soviet divisions were allocated to defending the back of thirty divisions. In a few hours, and after almost ten thousand casualties, victory was attained and one step closer was made to another pocket.
As Luftwaffe recon missions had already predicted, Minsk was indeed left undefended: Busse seized the opportunity, confident of the fact that Orsha was about to fall soon.
Busse's was no gamble: he knew that his northern flank was about to be secured. After days of heavy struggle, and a division near to total destruction, six Soviet divisions pulled back from Orsha and left the province for German grabbing. With Busse closing on Minsk, the Lida salient was now becoming another pocket.
And Busse arrived on July 2nd; thirty-seven Soviet divisions would not be given a single chance to escape: twenty divisions were about to fill the province of Bobraisk, so that there would be no chance for the Soviets to break the imminent pocket.
1500 July 2nd 1946
Kaluga, Soviet Union
Further northwards, the other forces were not idle as Hausser devised another operation of medium entity, which also envisioned the capture of Smolensk, which was under the original propositions for the Summer campaign, but most importantly, envisioned the encirclement of other ten Soviet divisions.
The first step of this operation was the capture of Kaluga. The Soviet divisions were easily dislodged, and all was ready to move westwards.
1600 July 2nd 1946
Lida, Soviet Union
Von Rundstedt found his job much more simple now that all the enemy's supply lines had been broken. The battle was about to end with a crushing German victory, and thirty less divisions on the field.
Not a single Soviet division was left unscathed by the firepower of twenty-eight German divisions, technically inferior in numbers, but much superior in doctrine, as they had inflicted a terrific amount of casualties well before the encirclement was made.
The numbers spoke clear. Since the battle of Lida started, that is June 22nd, after ten days, von Rundstedt's divisions inflicted around 140,000 casualties, at a rate of 14,000 every day, opposed to the mere 30,000 German casualties, or 3,000 per day. For every German killed, the Soviets lost five.
In the meanwhile, Busse was being attacked by the other seven Soviet divisions trapped in the pocket. The attack was futile, as Minsk was a city large enough to be protected against frontal assaults, and even two divisions, even if only sufficiently rested, could hold this with ease against seven divisions without supplies.
Victory was finally attained after eleven days since the battle of Lida began, and von Rundstedt's plan about the encirclement of Lida was proven successful. Thirty divisions dislodged in Lida and seven divisions in Molodeczno meant that the pocket held thirty-seven Soviet divisions.
Upon his arrival, General Förtsch wasted no time and unleashed hell upon the seven last Soviet divisions. In less than seven hours they begged for mercy to their new overlords.
0300 July 4th 1946
Bialystok, Soviet Union
The start of July was no good news for the Allies and the Comintern. It would surely ruin the July 4th celebrations in the US, and this news added to the displeasure of many in the non-German world.
The pocket of Bialystok was finally destroyed, and the ten Soviet divisions within surrendered in short time.
Another pocket that would surrender very soon would be that of Lida. The thirty retreating divisions would soon be welcomed by General Heissmeyer. Such gloomy news of the Red Army, in such short order, would be lethal to the faint-hearted. It seemed as time went on, such encirclements became more and more frequent. But the correlation was not with time: it was with the disintegration of the Soviet lines, as it now became increasingly easy to outmaneuver and pocket the thin Soviet defenses.
0500 July 5th 1946
Mogilev, Soviet Union
And the trail of gloomy news would not end here, as Kesselring and Hausser were already creating another pocket. Kesselring was isolating the southwestern flank of Smolensk, defended by a reasonable amount of Soviet forces, while Hausser was taking care of its southeastern flank.
The battle of Mogilev was an incredibly easy one, as four Soviet divisions lost around 10,000 in two hours. It is quite reasonable that, in such circumstances, a commander would order immediate retreat after two hours.
Seeing how easy was securing the southwestern flank, an attempt was made to expand the salient by attacking Klintsy, but Hausser would soon change his mind and interrupt the attack.
Field Marshal Hausser, a man of military talent, had adapted to many different scenarios during his extremely intense campaigns lived immediately after the invasion of Normandy. It was uncommon that he didn't possess the skills in a certain military doctrine: he possessed many, and was able to exploit them all at once. The battle of Roslavl saw no exception, as four divisions had not been given mercy. Five hours were sufficient for Hausser to bring annihilation among his enemies' troops.
Another pocket was therefore formed with impressive speed, and the important city of Smolensk was included within. Finnish forces in the north would immediately proceed to shrink the pocket to reasonable levels.
The forests of Toropets saw a small battle between three Soviet divisions and Field Marshal von Mannerheim on July 7th. It took him one day to persuade the Soviets to leave.
0700 July 14th 1946
Smolensk, Soviet Union
It took one week to concentrate the Soviet pocket into the city of Smolensk. Unsupplied for more than one week, the ten Soviet divisions stood little chance to survive.
A week was needed to occupy Toropets and Vyazma. One would understand the criticality of the Soviet Army when the primary concern of the German High Command was the time needed to move divisions across the various Soviet provinces.
Von Kleist was given the honour of finishing the pocket once and for all. On July 15th, thirty-one German divisions assaulted the entrenched positions of ten Soviet divisions, severely unsupplied. Nevertheless, they fought tenaciously for three long days, but their endurance had a limit, and on July 18th, the ten divisions surrendered and the city fell.
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Blitzkrieg at its finest. But I wonder, will the death of the Führer ever be revealed?