Doppelgänger: the Untold Story of the Third Reich

[Desslok]

Sweet merciful ----! I just can't take this!!!

Odnovo jazyka nikogda nedostatočno.

Off for my studies I think ...

 

[Enewald]

General Winter is coming soon... Just get the damn Pripets encircled.

 

[guillec87]

you really need to close those damned pockets once and for all

 

[Uriah]

Doppelgänger: the Untold Story of the Third Reich​

The end of October is approaching, meaning that winter is not far off. But that is not the most significant event on the horizon. General Keppler, the man on the ground, has issued a series of positive reports. His korps commander, Debes, supports his subordinate’s view that the fall of the city is close, and General Paulus is of course ecstatic that his Leningrad Armee is about to be the first to achieve the capture of a major Soviet city. (Smolensk is still safe from us, Kyiv is still causing problems and Odessa is proving more difficult than expected).

I may need to get some first-hand information on what is going on, avoiding the “screening” that sometimes occurs as a report passes up the organisational chain. And I know just where to get it. I made a quick call and passed on a message.

While waiting for a reply, I scanned the night’s results. The Italian cavalry got out of Nelidovo without too much embarrassment, we captured Nikopol, but at a cost. Holding it might be even tougher. Mahdalynivka was a shock, but it was never going to turn out well. The big surprise was Busch in Rahachow. I expected him to win, but to win without losing a single man was something I had not contemplated. That will show the Russian cavalry!

Busch shows how to defeat the enemy, personally overseeing his artillery fire​

Perhaps Rendulic can do the same in Golynki: less than 10,000 disorganised soldiers taking on 29.ID (motorised), the division that held out for days when surrounded by enemy troops. But at that time 29.ID was fresh and fully supplied: now it is in much poorer condition and may find it harder to keep its morale high.

10AM came and went, with no return call. We won the battle of Ovidiopol though, as is now normal, we lost double the casualties of the Soviets. The Russians were not dissuaded by yet another defeat: Kreysing has found two more armour divisions in the province and is in the process of pinning them down. Very bad news from Mitino. The Finns were heroic in their efforts, but simply not up to the task. 79.ID also suffered, but not to the extent of our more lightly armed allies. With four divisions now firmly established in the hills, Shtevnev appears to be secure for the present.

Fresh combat in Osinovets, but nothing to be concerned about according to Meindl. A small attack by von Schwedler in Kresttsy is a bit more alarming: 1st Ostmark must defeat mechanised troops and it has not impressed with its performance against any sort of armour. Still no telephone call – I was beginning to get annoyed. Did I have to make it clear that calls from the Reichskanzlei were not to be ignored?

In the Crimean peninsula, General Strauss pushed further south, into Simferopol. Resistance is minimal, only the battered 26th Tankovaya Diviziya available. Then, as the day drew to a close, the inevitable blow. Our attempts to take Novaya Ladoga, to push the Red Army a further 40 kilometres away from Leningrad, failed abysmally. Rather than assist our siege of Leningrad, all that Wilkama achieved is to bring about a collapse in morale across the whole of the Wehrmacht. At that I slammed on my hat and left the office. The aggressive phone call could wait. I was in no mood to discuss anything with anyone – I needed a quiet night with a bottle of schnapps and then a deep sleep untroubled by dreams of corpses slowly sinking into Soviet swamps.

How many more of our men must enter the swamps and never return?​

So the last thing I needed was my apartment phone ringing in the middle of the night. My bedside clock told me it was 3AM. What could this be? An urgent need to replace the Führer? As far as I knew he had nothing important scheduled – had he become ill? Or had there been an attempt on his life? All that flashed through my mind as I raced to the phone.

Although it had been many months, the line was horrible and there was a constant booming and banging in the background, there was no mistaking that voice. Major Werner Lehmann.

I put on my sternest voice and asked what he thought he was doing, ringing at this time of night. I need not have bothered. He knew that my ringing him meant I wanted something. “Sorry, “Signal” only managed to get a message to me by the end of the day, and getting a line from here is not easy.”

“And where is “here”?”

“Not quite sure, but about halfway between Gatcina and Leningrad”

Well, the fates were being kind. He was exactly where wanted him. I asked another question, but he asked me to repeat it, an escalation in the background noise having deafened him.

“What on earth is going on? Why can’t you ring from somewhere more civilised?”

“What is going on? We are assaulting Leningrad, that’s what’s going on. The whole Nordseeflotte is a few kilometres offshore, with every gun firing non-stop into the city. Hundreds of bombers are flying over me, dropping bombs on the outskirts. Not to mention dozens of 17cm K18 guns firing only a few hundred metres away. So it is a little noisy. And have you any idea how hard it is to get a phone line that works? I had to leave Gretchen at the front to come back here. And it cost me four packets of cigarettes and an Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class to get just a few minutes on this line. So you need to get to the point.”

A 17cm gun joins the bombardment of Leningrad​

I explained what I needed. An honest report of the situation, what was going on, whether we were really close to taking the city, what the troops were thinking, what condition they were in. He stopped me there.

“OK – I get the idea. It’ll take a few days, but I can tell you one thing. We are taking this city. The SS, the jägers, thousands of regular schutzen – they are all poling into the suburbs. Those captured French tanks, the Hotchkisses, they are blasting a way forward, the Stukas take out anything they can’t handle. And the centre of the city must be hell. The Kriegsmarine has been shelling it for days. The bombers come and go: the flak was murderous but is a bit less now. I don’t think much can be left of whatever defences the Ivans had further in. They aren’t admitting it, but they have no escape. Paulus has done it: trapped an army in a city, surrounded it and is breaking its back.”

Then silence. I hoped he had hung up and that a lucky Soviet shell had not taken out the artillery communications post he had bribed his way into.

The rest of the night was a deep and refreshing sleep: whether it was the last of the schnapps, the sound of Werner’s voice or his good news I cannot tell.

As a result of my disturbed sleep (surely not the best part of a bottle of schnapps) I decided to have a quiet Saturday, taking a stroll around the streets of Berlin. It was easy to detect a change in the spirit of the public. Many wore mourning clothes, and the weather (quite cold if sunny) was not the only reason for the lack of laughter and downcast eyes. The enormous causalities in the East had touched many families and few people would not have lost a close relative. Unless we can turn-around the situation Goebbels will have trouble keeping discontent under control.

Few people on the streets – a sign that the public feeling on the war has turned sour​

After a few hours I had had enough of tear stained women’s faces and young men with missing limbs: I headed to the Reichskanzlei. At least there I could bury myself in paperwork, away from the harsh reality of war.

The population may be losing confidence but our commanders are still prepared to take the war to the enemy. Both Ordzhonikidze and Kremenchuk had been attacked overnight. Neither looked as though they would lead to an early victory. I got more enjoyment from the Luftwaffe reports: 10 units in operation. There was also the tremendous result from Lelchytsy and Malkowicze. If only we could manage a victory without losing thousands of men! That is not to take away the importance of both battles. Together they show that the “Pripyat Bulge” is now a focus of our efforts, and the Soviet reaction at their defeat in Malkowicze shows it has affected the entire Red Army. We have relieved 22.ID and simultaneously narrowed the Soviet supply line west to a single marshy province. And we took Lelchytsy, a nightmare region that had resisted our efforts to retake it for months, with just a few thousand casualties. A wonderful result, were it not for the size of our losses. Blaskowitz has moved his division into Nieswiez, another swampy area we recently lost. Our hope is he can repeat these victories, but with a shorter casualty list.

Moving into Nieswiez: nothing is easy in the swamps of the Pripyat​

As far as I could see, little news from the north, the only incident being a Soviet tank attack on Schlisselburg that Wilkama is treating as a desperate attempt to break the siege of Leningrad. He has assured Paulus that the ring of steel around the city is not about to be broken.

During the afternoon there was more activity in the north, Meindl again having to deter NKVD intrusions into Osinovets. Wünnenburg was not worried about these probes into his base of operations: he was quite happy to send SS Polizei Division into Valkjärvi. The link up to our Finnish allies is not far away. Von Boltenstern is trying to make some headway into Novaya Ladoga, but nobody has any real expectation he will do anything but tie up a few enemy formations.

Developments in the south were not as agreeable. The Slovaks were beaten in Ivanivka, though to their credit they made the Guards pay. Pukhov is active in Novovorontovska, his tanks against Wäger’s mixed Hungarian/German force. That was not all that worrying, Wäger has a lot of men and the province is not critical. I had more concern about the Soviet attack on Berezivka. Somehow the Odessa garrison is still able to make reasonable sallies on its besiegers.

The real bad news was from Kresttsy – we lost more than 10 men for every Soviet soldier killed or captured. The Ostmark divisions desperately need a boost in size and the Red Army is determined we will not approach a kilometre closer to Moskva.

All things come to those who wait, even infantry divisions. After long months of assembly and training, 101.ID has been declared ready for duty. General Konrad has been appointed to command the unit, which has two infantry brigades and artillery, panzerjäger and flak regiments. With 21,500 men, it is a substantial fighting force, able to handle most situations without assistance. Even better, it is the first of several units that will become available over the next week or so. It has been attached to Wodrig’s VI Armeekorps, Army of the Pripyat. The only downside: it will take at least a week before it has been organised enough to begin operations.

It will be needed soon: Gräser’s single division attempt to take Slawharad ended in ignominy. Had he had another division to assist, while he may not have succeeded, it is likely that his losses would have been less. There seems no reason that Rittau’s experiment in Pryluky will end differently.

Pinned down in a ditch, like most of Gräser’s men these soldiers were unable to advance far into Slawharad​

A very interesting situation arose sometime during the night: a mutual attack. From Vesele, Khetagurov has attacked General Sturm in Ivanivka. Simultaneously Sturm has ordered 78th Sturm Division to attack Abramovitch in Yakymivka. Can Sturm defend and attack at the same time, with only his one division? It seems unlikely, but we will have to wait and see.

The to-and-fro on the eastern boundary of our advance continued. This time it was “to”, with a victory to the north (Dukovshchina) and to the south (Ordzhonikidze) of the Pripyat marshes. Though 700 kilometres apart, the victories were very similar: both single divisions against smaller Soviet formations. To my dismay, the similarity extended to the results. In both we lost far more men than did the Red Army.

My quiet consideration of the progress of the campaign was interrupted by the telephone: the switchboard had a call from the headquarters of SS Panzergrenadier Division “Das Reich”. In seconds I heard Werner’s voice, much more clearly this time.

“Look, things are moving quickly here. I have come back to Keppler’s headquarters because both Gretchen and I got the impression that the tempo had been increasing, and we were right. The final assault will be launched in just a few days, definitely before the end of the month. The thousands of men from shattered units that had filled the gaps between the two NKVD Rifle divisions in the city have just evaporated. The pounding they had taken was just too much. So when the attack comes it will be at five to one in our favour: about 125,000 men from seven divisions against less than 25,000 enemy. Not counting the Luftwaffe and the Kriegsmarine.

But you should know that Keppler’s handling of this siege has been amazing. We interviewed him for my “Signal” article and he is very impressive. Of course he has the War Merit and Military Merit medals, but he is a master at battles and engineering, a logistical genius, and a lot more beside. Did I mention he is a master of dealing with fortresses?

Anyway, have to run. We’ve managed to get a ride on an ammunition truck heading to Sturmgeschutz Abteilung “Reich”: my chance to see these famed “Tiger” Jagdpanzers as they prepare to move in for the kill. I’ve arranged for you to get a copy of Keppler’s troop dispositions – will follow up from the front when I can.”

I’ve noticed that Werner has developed a bad habit of hanging up before I can ask him any questions. It is getting quite annoying.

While waiting for the documents to arrive (it should only take a day or so – the VVS is not able to interrupt the regular mail, medical and officer transfer flights to the front) it was back to more mundane events. “Siegfried” did not match its heroic name, retreating from Berezivka in the face of the 30,000 strong 6th Guards Rovno. We won Pryluky, Rittau able to defeat twice his numbers without bleeding his own units. Luckily he will never know of my lack of faith in his ability.

The Guards relax after their victory in Berezivka: the Kremlin makes sure that the world knows of Russian victories​

General Giovanelli is in a panic in Demidov. He fears 9th Motorised Infantry Division “Pasubio” will be overrun by Avdeev’s 7th Guards and 3rd Tankovaya Divisions. On past performance, he has good grounds for his concern. In the south, near Odessa, the tussle for Berezanka has begun again, as the Slovakian SS takes on 4th Mechanised Brigade.

The last battle of the day, Belov’s attack on Velizh, seemed just one more like the rest, but when looking at the details, I started to get an uneasy feeling. I needed to get a big picture view.

Locking my office, I made my way down the corridors to the small and undistinguished (but securely locked) door that led down to my private planning room deep below the Reichskanzlei. It had been some time since I had been down this way, but apart from a few cobwebs it showed no signs of my neglect. The powerful overhead light flicked into operation immediately, and the huge relief map of Europe was revealed.

It took me a few minutes to bring the map up to date (depressing in a way: the front line had not moved all that far). But then I could see the situation north of Smolensk in its entirety. Stavka has not been making random attacks: there is a clear objective. Dukovshchina, held by Krüger’s 345.ID (mot), is under threat of being cut off. Is Hoth aware of this? It was too late to arrange for a suitably approved message – it would have to wait for the morning.

Dukovshchina: the trap is set​

The Partisan Suppression research project delivered their report on Monday morning. It was gratefully accepted, as our lack of troops has started to cause a few problems in the rear areas. Nothing we can’t handle, but we would not like it to get any worse. Anything to improve the efficiency of the garrisons and police units is welcome. Still no new projects authorised. We are struggling to maintain officer numbers at three quarters of the required level, let alone what we would desire.

Another new division was despatched to Zhytomyr, to join VI Armeekorps. Grasser must cool his heels, eager as he is to get his new command into action. Getting his men into condition to actually engage in combat will be some time. Göring was able to grab a few factories to manufacture a “Würger” geschwader, but the rest of the released capacity will be used to start a new panzer division. It will not arrive until the middle of next year, but nobody expects the war to be over by then.

Our existing panzers are not able to be used properly, many of them forced to defend rather than be used to smash through the enemy lines. An example was soon at hand, as Kirchner’s 14.PzD braced to withstand Ermakov’s Guards, cavalry and tanks in Bobrovytsya. The other attack was much more interesting, as 50th SS-Freiwilligen ID “Teufel” attacked the mass of irregular Russian soldiers who are the only thing preventing us from linking up with our Finnish allies. Kivennapa will not prove much of an obstacle: the elite SS against Opolchniye, remnants and NKVD detachments.

Unfortunately my warning to Panzerarmee Hoth was never sent. Overnight the trap was sprung, Demidov falling to the combined arms of General Avdeev. A counter-attack is essential, but does Hoth have any unit nearby that is capable of offensive action? He cannot seek help from List: Moskva Armee is already under pressure, as Fischer attempts to hold Peno with I.R.D.G. against nearly 90,000 enemy soldiers and heavy tanks.

There were mixed results from north of Leningrad. The SS were punished in Valkjärvi but the rabble in Kivennapa broke after only a few skirmishes. The important thing is that now we have an overland route to Helsinki. Our Finnish allies have little to fear. Any concerted push for the Finnish capital will meet more than lightly armed soldiers: we can intervene. The fall of Kivennapa prompted another suicidal attack on Osinovets, a single pioneer brigade against 22nd Luftlande Division. (The SS Polizei Division is withdrawing for rest and repair).

Not long after, the Red Army attempted another “mission impossible” as Yermatov’s 90th Tankovaya flung itself at Demjansk, held by 50.ID with Panzerabteilung (z.b.V) 40 backing it up. Even the attack on Borodjanka was likely to be dismissed as a ill-thought out stunt, an international brigade with some mechanised units against Lindig’s 7.ID. Only in Brovary did the Red Army display its strength, as three armour divisions spearheaded a deep thrust at Kullmer’s tired and dispirited defenders. Our plan to take back Dniprodzerzhynsk was not quite in the same league, but Hell does have a two to one advantage over Lopatin. He is not overconfident, but if he fails there will be some serious questions for him to answer.

As the day closed, another part of the Dukovshchina trap fell into place. Despite a valiant battle, Rendulic had to withdraw from Golynski, his men too exhausted to face another day’s battle. Krüger is on his own.

There was a last piece of good news: the plan for the assault on Leningrad was delivered in a satchel secured with some impressive seals. Werner is right: Keppler seems to be the man for the job. This attack is certain to succeed, and the Baltic will be ours.

The assault on Leningrad: the master plan​

(to be continued)

 

[Porkman]

Yes, the Fall of Leningrad and an actual important victory.

 

[Forster]

About damn time for something to go right for Uriah. Your battle losses just keep mounting. Hopefully Leningrad will go quietly.

 

[Andre Massena]

That's pretty funny if Leningrad falls before the other cities

Good to see Werner

 

[TheGreatLeader]

Great Update Uriah

Have located Latvian jokes on internet.

Is cruel. No Latvian like potato so big. Or have sad life. Much Latvians happy potato people.

Sorry to all Latvians: after reading a few it gets addictive.

EDIT:

Seriously, why Latvia and potatoes? I can understand Italians and spaghetti, Chinese and noodles and all the other links, including my own Irish ancestors and potatoes. (The English scored well with roast beef, the French badly with snails and frog legs).

But as someone in the southern hemisphere, I would never have linked Latvia and potatoes. I vaguely remember some US state is reputed to have a lot (Ohio? Idaho?) but try as I might, cannot think of any reason for Latvia. Is the climate/soil good for potatoes? Has it become a staple or favourite food? (I am sure it is not native - from somewhere in the Andes?).

Is there a cultural link? A film or song with Latvians and potatoes?

Is there a Latvian in the house?

To answer this question, I looked it up on the interwebs and found that Latvia was in particular bad shape when it was a Soviet Republic (and considering how bad it was to be just a Soviet Satellite like the Warsaw Pact members that's saying something) And the Soviet Government were very repressive in Latvia and many people were only left with basic stuff. So the joke is that the USSR (or Modern-day Russia with the Situation in ukraine and all) will come back to take what little the Latvians had left.

Sad story. Funny Joke :laugh:

 

[Enewald]

Will Soviets get some bonuses or event after the fall of Leningrad?

 

[guillec87]

well, about time for the Werhmacht to reach some of the key cities in the Soviet Union

 

[Desslok]

When it does happen, Leningrad will be the first inch of Russian soil that you have captured that IRL the Germans never did capture.

 

[Uriah]

Doppelgänger: the Untold Story of the Third Reich (part 2)​

It is amazing how being in a positive state of mind allows a deep and refreshing sleep. Instead of tossing and turning most of the night, I slept the sleep of the just, waking full of vigour and ready for the day. If this is what the mere hope of victory can do, how will I feel when Leningrad falls?

To my now unjaundiced eyes, the world seemed a better place. The people in the street seemed, if not happy, at least cheerful, the weather was brisk, not cold. In my office, the outlook for the war was nowhere near as depressing as yesterday. The bombers were already in the air, the soldiers were pushing forward, progress was being made.

When I saw a report from Ovidiopol, my good mood was shaken for a second, but I need not have worried. It was a victory, and for once we did not pay a huge price for a win in that bitterly disputed province. Although the enemy numbered over 154,000, our casualties were only a thousand higher than theirs.

There was bad news, but it was all to the east of Odessa, where the Red Army was determined to push us back from the Dniepr. Gerasimov has two rifle divisions to drive de Angelis from Voznesenske (he took it easily before the day was out), Abramowitz a mechanised brigade to take Novovorontroitske. We lost Yakymivka, but we kept our losses below a thousand men. It was not all one way: Weise is attempting to take Vesele. Elsewhere the news was positive. A clear win to von Küchler in Hlusk and an even better win as Demjansk was successfully defended.

Then the newsflash: Leningrad had fallen. Paulus was claiming victory, that units of the Leningrad army had accepted the surrender of the last 30,000 defenders, who had realised that any resistance was futile. I had hardly registered the news when my desk telephone rang. A tinny but obviously elated voice was on the other end of the line. I didn’t ask how Werner had managed to get access to a telephone in what had been a war zone: sometimes it is better not to know of bribery or blackmail.

“It’s done – you would not believe the past few hours. The attack started at dawn, the Luftwaffe sending in bombers so low I thought I could touch them. As we got close to the centre of the city, the naval guns stopped, but there was no need for any more bombardment. Whatever defences the Russians had prepared were obliterated, as well as the defenders. Other than a few pockets of men who refused to accept defeat, there was little resistance.

The Luftwaffe did all it could to break Soviet resistance in Leningrad​

Keppler’s plan worked perfectly. Infantry and tanks moved up the long straight roads leading to the city centre, one covering the other. It was like clockwork. Gretchen and I just followed behind. I’m actually in Vorovsky Square – well that’s what the Communists called it. And you’ll never guess where I am calling from! The German Embassy! I can see the Marinsky Palace, St Isaac’s Cathedral, the Blue Bridge, the Hotel Astoria. It’s all ours, there are columns of prisoners marching out and our soldiers are lounging about like tourists. There might be more fighting tomorrow, but for today it’s a holiday. Got to go now – I think someone wants their phone back.”

Not all the Russian soldiers surrendered: some fought to the end​

I leant back in my chair. After so many months of trials and tribulations, a victory that nobody could deny. An emphatic victory, a critical victory. No heavy losses, no Soviets escaping to fight another day. A wonderful day.

The rest of the day was a blur. Nothing much occurred, definitely nothing to detract from the celebrations that started in the centre of Berlin and rapidly spread to every corner of the Reich. The benefits were not just psychological. By completely controlling the Baltic (we can ignore the staunchly neutral Sweden) we have boosted our supply of resources including the vital rare materials. Just as importantly, it has led to a sizeable increase in the number of young men coming forward who were suitable for leadership positions.

Although most of Berlin was suffering a hangover on Wednesday morning, I was bright eyed and bushy tailed. I had decided that the euphoria I was experiencing was enough for me, and had celebrated by starting to plan for the future. Now that the north was ours, we needed to consider our options and what needed to be done.

During the night, Stavka reacted as normal, by ordering a couple of pointless attacks. Neither Demjansk or Parfino had a hope of success, but I suppose some commander thought he must do something. The attack in Chavusy was more carefully planned and involved several divisions, including armour. Von Armim was not too confident and his uncertainty was proved real when he and 16.ID (mot) pulled out during the morning. But for real preparation, nothing could match Hilpert’s assault on Kyiv. 160,000 men acting as one, but Saladze with less than 15,000 men is standing firm, relying on the city’s fortifications.

General Biryukov’s armour and infantry race into Chavusy​

As daylight grew near, more attacks were launched at our positions, not just in the north but along the line. Malyn, Ivankov and the now isolated Dukovshchina were all threatened. All I could do was send an official order to the airbase at Tallin. The men of 345.ID (mot) would have plenty of supplies, or Göring would have some explaining to do.

Then a break in fresh activity, allowing a few reports to come in concerning battles ended. Generally negative, but nothing could disturb my good humour. Defeats in Bobrovytsya, Brovary and Vesele all involved thousands of German casualties in exchange for hundreds of Soviet soldiers, and all were important in terms of the strategic and tactical locations lost to the Red Army. No worse, however, than many others recently. Parfino, however, was a wonderful demonstration of what we can do: a 50 to 1 loss ratio. It is amazing how your mood can colour your interpretation of the same facts. Two days ago those same results would have plunged me into depression – today they are just something to be taken in my stride.

There was no need for rose coloured glasses to examine the battle of Toulouse. The Vichy forces, after a fierce battle against what seemed to be the whole Italian army, surrendered. Now only a small pocket of armed French resistance remains, and I would expect it to be cleaned up well before winter. The Wehrmacht has no more combat divisions in the west, so I cannot strip units for the east, but soon the fortress and garrison formations will be reduced in size, so we need the country calm before that date. The cessation of hostilities will also reduce the demands for supplies and reinforcements.

Touluose: fortunately for the town it was not bombed and the fighting was mainly in the suburbs​

But there was more. The Red Fleet had been trapped in Leningrad and, as our soldiers neared the docks, it had no choice but to leave and risk detection by the Nordseeflotte which had been bombarding the city. For a while the enemy commander may have thought the thick smoke from the fires in the port warehouse areas had allowed his ships to escape. He had forgotten the aircraft of the “Graf Zeppelin”. Within a few hours a transport flotilla had been sunk, and not long after the gunners of the main fleet had something other than land based fortifications on which to practice their skills.

From the first, it was clear this would be a one-sided contest. The Soviets had nothing that could even reach our ships, the only damage their guns achieved was to hit some their own transports. Our destroyers stood well back, screening the capital ships as the flung salvo after salvo of heavy shells at the virtually defenceless enemy vessels. By the time night fell and the Russians could no longer be targeted, 1st, 7th, 26th, 27th 36th and 58th Flotilliya Esmintsev had been completely destroyed and another transport unit was no more. Will the rest of the Russians make their way out of the Baltic? It seems impossible, but even if they do, they no longer have the ability to be anything more than a nuisance.

Air reconnaissance and the big guns of ships like the “Scharnhorst” were the key to our victory in the Inner Gulf of Finland.​

The late afternoon was a repeat of the morning, but in repeat order. Four battles decided (Berezanka, Malyn, Demjansk and Peno), three of which were defeats of varying severity, with the one victory (Demjansk) a decisive win. Then four battles commenced, only one of which I thought boded well for us.

That one battle was Ilyushino. Strauss has two excellent infantry divisions and his opponent just one. The one enemy unit, 90th Rifle, is a veteran of many battles, however, and our soldiers are already showing signs of disorganisation. Liezna is winnable, as long as the Italians supporting 29.ID (mot) don’t break. Even less impressive is the situation in Berezan, where a Slovak division has placed itself in the way of Fyodorov’s armour/infantry formation. The last was the worst, the one that should never have occurred. Three of the Italian divisions which arrived a month or so ago had somehow moved into Malyn, just as Denisov arrived with his armour and NKVD division. The Italians number 50,000 but they are ill-trained and even less well armed. I believe the Russians are about to carry out a massacre.

So we come to the end of September, with Leningrad under our control and the Finns safe. Once again our casualties are far too high, both as an individual figure and in comparison with the enemy’s losses. On the other hand, the figures do not include the 30,000 prisoners taken when Leningrad fell. We can be quietly satisfied with recent events. The arrival of new divisions will give a small boost, but we must now use those units and those freed from the north to crush the Odessa pocket and also to squeeze the Pripyat bulge. Not to forget Kyiv, that now seems almost within our reach.

One last push before winter: October will be an important month for the Wehrmacht.

Finalised Battles for Barbarossa Days 482 to 487 (Sep 25 – 30 1942)​

Location (Armee)	Result	German losses (engaged)	Soviet losses (engaged)
Nelidovo (MA)	Defeat	157 (17,456)	1 (7,876)
Nikopol (RA)	Victory	2,461 (20,353)	1,256 (47,434)
Mahdalynivka (RA)	Defeat	3,912 (22,983)	410 (37,793)
Rahachow (PAH)	Victory	Nil (20,353)	1,788 (13,751)
1st Ovidiopol (AotC)	Victory	2,688 (98,403)	1,145 (38,122)
Mitino (MA)	Defeat	7,739 (40,311)	321 (93,446)
Novaya Ladoga (LA)	Defeat	15,608 (68,370)	4,293 (44,759)
Lelychtsy (AotP)	Victory	2,214 (44,071)	512 (28,395)
Malkowicze (PAH)	Victory	8,629 (64,775)	13,536 (178,855)
Kresttsy (MA)	Defeat	3,128 (13,994)	289 (51,365)
Slawharad (PAH)	Defeat	3,887 (21,279)	1,498 (32,062)
Ordzhonikidze (RA)	Victory	1,154 (20,488)	414 (10,890)
Dukovshchina (PAH)	Victory	1,071 (22,478)	661 (17,626)
Berezivka (AotC)	Defeat	232 (13,540)	101 (30,465)
Pryluky (PAvM)	Victory	1,412 (39,530)	1,070 (79,986)
Demidov (MA)	Defeat	1,205 (11,785)	40 (41,262)
Valkjärvi (LA)	Defeat	4,180 (12,005)	560 (54,518)
Kivennapa (LA)	Victory	24 (22,488)	220 (42,563)
Golynski (PAH)	Defeat	2,553 (42,600)	2,272 (26,449)
2nd Ovidiopol (AotC)	Victory	5,540 (92,001)	4,680 (154,306)
Hlusk (PAH)	Victory	2,569 (17,786)	5,296 (49,909)
1st Demjansk (MA)	Victory	232 (37,473)	1,305 (8,480)
Yakymivka (RA)	Defeat	912 (22,931)	1,846 (23,021)
Leningrad (LA)	Victory	382 (149,979)	8,820 (39,842)
Bobrovytsya (PAvM)	Defeat	2,908 (18,212)	618 (74,886)
Brovary (AotP)	Defeat	4,193 (53,964)	806 (63,897)
Parfino (LA)	Victory	38 (80,198)	1,594 (9,712)
Vesele (RA)	Defeat	3,067 (12,083)	86 (58,109)
Berezanka (RA)	Defeat	2,207 (21,733)	42 (35,218)
Malyn (AotP)	Defeat	1,453 (22,988)	243 (52,256)
2nd Demjansk (MA)	Victory	116 (37,165)	1,071 (7,753)
Peno (MA)	Defeat	2,734 (14,371)	1,453 (98,109)
Total	15/17	88,605	58,247

Probe

Location (Armee)	Attacker	Result	German losses	Soviet losses
Krasnyy (MA)	Soviet	Defeat	3	11
Mahdalynivka (PAvM)	German	Defeat	21	19
Dniprodzerzhynsk (RA) x 3	Soviet	Defeat	4, 2, 2 (8)	42, 1, 7 (50)
Kyiv x 6 (PavM)	German	Defeat	135, 32, 129, 212, 60, 29 (597)	3, 55, 6, 24, 4, 23 (115)
Boryspil x 4 (AotP)	Soviet	Defeat	Nil, 2, 1, Nil (3)	47, 114, 344, 232 (737)
Sestroresk x 3 (LA)	Soviet	Defeat	1, 8, Nil (9)	26, 79, 15 (120)
Malkowicze x 3 (PAH)	Soviet	Defeat	3, 20, 19 (42)	51, 10, 14 (75)
Baranowicze x 2 (PAH)	Soviet	Defeat	3, 38 (41)	44, 131 (175)
Ilyushino (MA)	Soviet	Defeat	9	224
Osinovets x 2 (LA)	Soviet	Defeat	Nil, 7	160, 46 (206)
Parfino (MA)	Soviet	Defeat	2	24
Lida (PAH)	Soviet	Victory	Nil	27
Volhov (LA)	German	Defeat	97	Nil
Nowogródek (PAH)	Soviet	Defeat	11	17
Rahachow (PAH)	Soviet	Defeat	Nil	28
Chavusy x 2 (PAH)	Soviet	Victory	548, 1,139 (1,687)	431, 100 (531)
Chavusy (PAH)	Soviet	Defeat	2	17
Malaga Vishera (LA)	German	Defeat	870	14
Stepan (AotP)	Soviet	Defeat	Nil	30
Andreapol (MA)	Soviet	Defeat	3	21
Kresttsy (LA)	German	Defeat	74	10
Voznesenske (RA)	Soviet	Victory	1,693	169
Novotroitske (RA)	Soviet	Defeat	1	5
Total			5,180	2,625

Bombing Summary for Barbarossa Days 482 to 487 (Sep 25 – 30 1942)​

Luftwaffe

Location (Armee)	Commander	Air Unit	Casualties
Dukovshchina (MA)	Schweickhardt	VI Kfk	41, 205, 183, 49 (478)
	Wever	II Kfk	120, 194, 53, 92, 91 (550)
Nelidovo (MA)	Wever	II Kfk	51, 222, 190 (463)
Leningrad (LA)	Löhr	X Kfk	82, 221, Abort (303)
Leningrad (LA + MA)	Löhr + Schweickhardt	X + VI Kfk	71, 357, 192, 178 (798)
Vesele (RA)	Bülowius	II Skfk	241, 251, 182, 91, 197, 237 (1,199)
	Kesselring	I Skfk	116, 150, 184, 79, 201, 209 (939)
	Sperrle + Bülowius	I Kfk + II Skfk	215, 239, 225 (679)
Mitino (MA)	Kühl	C.S.I. R.	22
	Fröhlich	III Kfk	251, 154 (405)
Nikopol (RA)	Von Richthofen	V Kfk	55
Zhlobin (MA)	Pflugbeil	Escuadrilla Azul	47, 18, 27, 47 (139)
Chornobai (MA)	Kesselring	I Skfk	89
	Von Richthofen	V Kfk	116, 191, 60 (367)
	Grauert	IX Kfk	80, 202, 60 (342)
Kresttsy (MA)	Lörzer	III Skfk	130, 198, 59 (387)
	Schweickhardt + Fröhlich	VI + III Kfk	136, 297, 106 (539)
Simferopol (RA)	Bülowius	II Skfk	176
Brovary (RA)	Sperrle	I Kfk	180, 218 (398)
Brovary (AotP)	Korten	VII Kfk	55, 199, 180, 173, 209 (816)
Lelchytsy (AotP)	Korten	VII Kfk	96
Ordzhonikidze (RA)	Bülowius	II Skfk	138, 55 (193)
	Von Richthofen	V Kfk	187
	Grauert	IX Kfk	83
Smolensk (MA)	Fröhlich	III Kfk	203
Yakymivka (RA)	Bülowius	II Kfk	100, 180, 53 (333)
	Sperrle	I Kfk	151, 194, 54, 160, 201, 55 (815)
Kremenchuk (RA)	Sperrle	I Kfk	80, 175, 63 (318)
Kozelets (AotP)	Korten	VII Kfk	200
Valdaj (MA)	Fröhlich	III Kfk	233
Dniprodzerzhynsk (RA)	Grauert	IX Kfk	87, 141, 137 (365)
Total			12,170

VVS

Mahilyow	Komarov	207, 211 ShAD (2 x CAS)	Abort (Klepke)
Borodjanka	Astakhov	5th Ftr, 52 BAD (MRF, TAC)	31
Chavusy	Danschin	1st CAS, 263 ShAD (2 x CAS)	Abort (Klepke)
Kamianka	Abramovitch	208, 209 ShAD (2 x CAS)	Abort (Mensching)

Unternehmen Barbarossa Days 482 to 487 (Sep 25 – 30 1942)

Nationality	Ground Losses	Bombing Losses	Total
German	88,605 + 5,180 = 93,785	31	93,816
Soviet	58,247 + 2,625 = 60,872	12,170	73,042

Unternehmen Gegenreaktion

Finalised Battles

Toulouse

Victory

2,136 (491,273) [105]

7,231 (65,861)

Probe

Oleron

German

Victory

32

55

Unternehmen Gegenreaktion: Ongoing Casualties

	Current	Prior	Total
German Ground Losses	2,148	73,088	75,236
German Bombing Losses	Nil	227	227
German Total Losses	2,148	73,315	75,463
French Ground Losses	7,286	204,457	211,743
French Bombing Losses	Nil	19,963	19,963
French Total Losses	7,286	224,420	231,706

Barbarossa at midnight 30th September 1942: ongoing battles

Leningrad Armee (Paulus)
Objectives: Petrodvorets, Tosno, Schisselburg, Osinovets, Leningrad, Sestroresk



Victories: Kivennapa, Leningrad, Parfino
Defeats: Nova Ladoga, Valkjärvi

With Leningrad secure, time for a brief rest for Paulus’ troops


Moskva Armee (List)
Objectives: Demjansk, Peno, Valdaj, Pstashkov, Krasnomayskiy

Victories: 1st and 2nd Demjansk
Defeats: Nelidovo, Mitino, Kresttsy, Demidov, Peno​

Ilyushino (Forest) 4.2 degrees
Strauss (Attack): 23.ID
Korovin (Defend): 90th Rifle Division

23.ID can do no more: it has failed

Novaya Ladoga (Forest): 1.7 degrees
Von Boltenstern (Attack): 1.ID “Palanga”
Korovin (Defend): Proletarian Division, NKVD detachments, 24th “Samara-Ulyanov Iron” Rifle Division

1.ID has done its job and held off any relief for Leningrad – now it is time to pull back

Liezna (Plains): 4.2 degrees
Muzichenko (Reckless Assault): 4th “Smolenskaya” Rifle, 66th Tankovaya Diviziya
Messe (Ambush): Corpo di Spedizione headquarters, 9th Motor Division “Pasubio”

The Italians need to get out, and fast.

Panzerarmee Hoth (Hoth)
Objectives: Smolensk, Krasnyy, Golynski, Minsk, Salihorsk, Hlusk

Victories: Rahachow, Malkowicze, Dukovshchina, Hlusk
Defeats: Slawharad, Golynski​

Nieswiez (Plains): 4.0 degrees
Blaskowitz (Shock): 2.ID (mot), 12.PzD
Korovnikov (Defend): 11th Rifle Division, Red Army remnants

Blaskowitz is not likely to outlast the determined defence

Dukovshchina (Forest): 4.2 degrees
Volskiy (Defend): 2nd, 51st, 57th Tankovaya, 21st Rifle Diviziya
Krüger (Defend): 345.ID (mot)

Even with plentiful supply thanks to the Luftwaffe, Krüger’s men are under extreme pressure. Their only hope is if Hoth can assemble a force to break them free for the ring of enemy that has surrounded them.

Zhlobin (Plains): 4.2 degrees
Schwantes (Assault): 1st schwere Panzer Division
Romanenko (Defend): 77th Tankovaya Diviziya, 3rd Heavy Tank Brigade

1.sPzD has too few tanks to handle both a river crossing and the enemy on the far bank

Armee of the Pripyat (Dollman)
Objectives: Borodjanka, Malyn, Korosten, Zhytomyr, Volodarsk Volynski

Victories: Lelchytsy
Defeat: Malyn, Brovary​

Ivankov (Plans): 4.2 degrees
Andreef (Shock) (nullified): 14th, 16th Tankovaya Diviziya, 2 x NKVD detachments
Clössner (Ambush): 18.ID

18.ID has been worn down to a point it can barely fight

Borodjanka (Plains): 4.2 degrees
Bondarev (Attack): IV Cuerpo Internacional, 5th Mechanised Brigade
Lindig (Elastic Defence): 7.ID

Lindig has ordered his men to stand firm: should they break their comrades in Ivankov could be in trouble.

Malyn (Plains): 4.2 degrees
Denisov (Attack): 4th Tankovaya, 2nd NKVD Rifle Division
Unknown (Defend): 2nd “Sforzesca”, 3rd “Ravenna” and 5th “Ravenna” Infantry Divisions

Although not part of Dollman’s Army of the Pripyat, these ill-trained and poorly equipped Italian divisions were posted to Malyn to hold the province while being upgraded. They were never expected to have to fight, and heavy losses are expected.

Rostov Armee (Henrici)
Objectives: Defensive line along the Dniepr

Victories: Nikopol, Ordzhonikidze
Defeat: Mahdalynivka, Yakymivka, Vesele, Berezanka​

Kyiv (Urban): 4.2 degrees
Hilpert (Blitz): 8, 11.PzD, 90th leichte, 303, 61, 32, 211.ID, 10.ID (mot)
Saladze (Defend): 5th Mechanised, 90th Border Guard Brigade

While Kyiv is cut off from assistance, we may be able to seize the city. It appears likely, however, that the Red Army will break through to the north and establish a supply route and possibly provide fresh reinforcements

Dniprodzerzhynsk (Woods): 3.4 degrees
Hell (Attack): 19.PzD, 86.ID
Lopatin (Defend): 21st Tankovaya, 36th “Zabalj’skaya” Rifle Diviziya

This is touch and go: Hell may take the city in the end, but he may need a little help

Kremenchuk (Plains):
Behlendorff (Shock): 16th divize, 12, 212.ID, 3.ID (mot), 6th Gebirgsjäger Division
Zhirov (Defend): 46th, 42nd, 5th Tankovaya Diviziya

Another battle in the balance

Berezan (Plains): 4.0 degrees
Fyodorov (Reckless Assault): 2nd “Belorussian” Rifle, 24th Tankovaya Diviziya
Von Sodenstern (Defend): 1st Pesi divize

The Slovak infantry cannot last much longer

Novovorontovska (Plains): 4.2 degrees
Pukhov (Reckless Assault): 11th, 15th Tankovaya Diviziya, RES: NKVD detachment
Blümm (Ambush): 2 Motorizáit Hadosztály, 11 Gyaloghadosztály, 1st Gebirgsjäger Division, 9th divize

Blumm’s multinational force should survive the Russians, even when the NKVD arrive.

Panzerarmee von Manstein (von Manstein)
Objective: Boryspil, Berezan, Pryluky, Pyriatin, Brovary, Borodjanlka

Victories: Pryluky
Defeats: Bobrovytsya​

Chornobai (Plains): 4.2 degrees
Von und zu Gilsa (Masterful Blitz): 10.PzD
Kurasov (Defend): 96th Tankovaya, 18th Guards Rifle Diviziya

Our panzers are worn out and must stop soon (24/9)
Surely the arrival of the Guards has convinced von und zu Gilsa that it is time to cut his losses?

Army of the Crimea (von Falkenhorst)
Objectives: Telenesti, Rezina, Balta, Lyubashevka

Victories: 1st and 2nd Ovidiopol
Defeats: Berezivka​

Tighina (Plains): 4.1 degrees
Cranz (Attack): 1st and 2nd Marine Division, 52nd SS-Freiwilligen ID “Berlin”, 8th Gyaloghadosztály, 2nd Huszarhadosztály RES: 4th Alpini “Cuneense” Division
Belous (Defend): 8th Tankovaya Diviziya

The Marines are strong enough to deal with the fatally weakened Russians (24/9)
Although the Soviet infantry was replaced by armour, Cranz has received enough help to swamp them


Unternehmen Barbarossa: Ongoing Casualties

	Current	Prior	Total
German Ground Losses	93,785	4,026,070	4,119,855
German Bombing Losses	31	6,577	6,608
German Total Losses	93,816	4,032,647	4,126,463
Soviet Ground Losses	60,872	4,057,886	4,118,758
Soviet Bombing Losses	12,170	569,438	581,608
Soviet Total Losses	73,042	4,627,324	4,700,366

War at Sea

		Current	Prior	Total
U-boat losses		Nil	12	12
Convoys	German	Nil	29	29
	British	Nil	384	384
	French	Nil	25	25
	Canadian	1	35	36
	South African	Nil	7	7
	New Zealand	Nil	60	60
	Australian	Nil	32	32
	Belgian	Nil	5	5
	Norwegian	Nil	37	37
	Greek	Nil	17	17
	Soviet	Nil	10	10
Total	Allied Convoy Losses	1	612	613

Escorts	German	Nil	11	11
	British	Nil	303	303
	Canadian	Nil	32	32
	French	Nil	12	12
	New Zealand	Nil	20	20
	Australian	Nil	44	44
	Belgian	Nil	9	9
	Norwegian	Nil	9	9
	South African	Nil	22	22
	Greek	Nil	6	6
	Soviet	Nil	7	7
Total	Allied Escort Losses	Nil	463	463

Destroyers	German	Nil	1	1
	Norwegian	Nil	2	2
	Soviet	6	19	25
Torpedo Boats	German	Nil	2	2
	Norwegian	Nil	2	2
	Russian	Nil	1	1
Coastal BB	Norwegian	Nil	2	2
Aux Vessels	German	Nil	2	2
	Soviet	2	4	6
Subs	Norwegian	Nil	1	1
	Russian	Nil	4	4

 

[Enewald]

When it does happen, Leningrad will be the first inch of Russian soil that you have captured that IRL the Germans never did capture.

Nope, that would be the provinces around Lenigrad, east and north of the city.

 

[Uriah]

Its a common joke to associate Latvia with a desperate search to find a potato

Not in Australia it isn't - it takes a long time for jokes to get here.

There is no potato. Politburo come and take potato. Is also cold.


The joke is cruel. There is no happiness. Such is life. Soviets come and take everything. No potato was spared. Is dark.

I find those joke quite addictive: after a while I start talking like that. Is sad.

Idaho it is. Also Maine to a (much) lesser extent.

Great AAR, by the way . . .

Thanks for the update on USA potato production: all I know is the song "You say pot(ay)to, I say pot(ar)to, I say tom(ay)to, you say tom(ar)to ..." Sorry for no IPA symbols: too hard to get them into paradoxland.

And, as always, praise is accepted gratefully.

2 in each, that is a waste, they are much more effective with one in 4 than 2 in 2

And a request: could we get some closeups on the important combats (for example Leningrad and later Odessa, Sevastopol etc.), ie. the attack overview (if possible with the combat stats).

I would change them if I had the time to pull a lot of units from the front and swap things about. Or could build some extra units. Unfortunately I must live with my mistakes. Though they do take a lot of punishment and now I have added an extra mot they are good at shifting enemy far larger than themselves.

Was the double update on the fall of Leningrad enough?

Sweet merciful ----! I just can't take this!!!

Odnovo jazyka nikogda nedostatočno.

Off for my studies I think ...

I am not sure if you are referring to events, my gameplay or the writing. Whatever it is, it will pass. Do that mean something about learning a new language?

General Winter is coming soon... Just get the damn Pripets encircled.

Watch the temperature in the "Ongoing battles": it is steadily declining. But as my graph a few weeks showed, I actually lost less men during winter, probably because units moved much slower, leading to less fighting.

you really need to close those damned pockets once and for all

Believe me, I am trying. Now Leningrad is over, I will have some spare units. It will take a while to get them south to Odessa though.

Yes, the Fall of Leningrad and an actual important victory.

Enjoy it while you can: I don't get too many.

About damn time for something to go right for Uriah. Your battle losses just keep mounting. Hopefully Leningrad will go quietly.

Leningrad, when it finally went, went "quietly into that good night".

That's pretty funny if Leningrad falls before the other cities

Good to see Werner

See, that is how my strategy is different. It will not lead to the historical failure but a hypothetical victory.

Great Update Uriah


To answer this question, I looked it up on the interwebs and found that Latvia was in particular bad shape when it was a Soviet Republic (and considering how bad it was to be just a Soviet Satellite like the Warsaw Pact members that's saying something) And the Soviet Government were very repressive in Latvia and many people were only left with basic stuff. So the joke is that the USSR (or Modern-day Russia with the Situation in ukraine and all) will come back to take what little the Latvians had left.

Sad story. Funny Joke :laugh:

Thanks for the compliment and the info on the Latvian potato mystery.

Will Soviets get some bonuses or event after the fall of Leningrad?

Not as far as I know. They get something for Kyiv and something for Odessa, but not for L'grad as far as I know.

well, about time for the Werhmacht to reach some of the key cities in the Soviet Union

"some" of the key cities? I think it is the first. I haven't even taken Smolensk, a city that fell in the first weeks of Barbarossa.

When it does happen, Leningrad will be the first inch of Russian soil that you have captured that IRL the Germans never did capture.

The post below beat me: the Germans never made it east or north of Leningrad.

Nope, that would be the provinces around Lenigrad, east and north of the city.

Correct, though I am a bit hazy on where exactly to the east they got.



Apologies to all if there is a delay: essay on the Trial of Socrates due Friday, final Greek exam Saturday, Linguistics: Morphology on Tuesday, oral hearings (videolink to Canberra) for the High Court on Friday morning, Linguistics: Semantics on Friday afternoon and last exam on following Tuesday. So pretty busy. I suspect my wife has a list of jobs for Wednesday morning.

But I may be able to do a bit of AARiting when it all gets too much.

 

[misterbean]

Leningrad falling is always a good sign. Now you have an extra, major port through which to supply the front. Well done!

Does that come with any extra benefits (apart from the Baltic) in BICE?

 

[Desslok]

I guess Marshal Enewald is correct about the Germans not making it east or north of Leningrad IRL as those areas were held by Finns for quite a while I think ... but they were axis controlled.

I hate to say it but I think 345 ID is a goner.

Regarding the Pripyat area, I submit a proposal to close off just the west end of the bulge, which you almost have done anyway, and leave the eastern part alone. I posit that idea because it looks like, at the beginning of the next update, the Russians will have captured the port at Mykolaiv and are breaking out of the Odessa pocket just as a large push is coming across the lower Dniepr from the east. They just might link up which would be horrendous for you. I'm pretty sure you currently have enough troops that you could bring south to reduce the western end of the Pripyat by early winter which would be a significant victory in an of itself.

 

[George Parr]

I don't think the Finns reached those areas either, they stopped at the old border and refused to move any further. Kind of a stupid approach. Their only chance of ever keeping the land they just took back, was for the Soviet Union to lose the war, something that could have been more likely if the Finns had helped taking out Leningrad.
Operation Nordlicht was supposed to take the areas east of Leningrad and remove the ability to supply Leningrad over Lake Ladoga, but that one didn't even start because the units planned for this operation had to be used to fend of a Soviet counter-attack and weren't strong enough to attack afterwards.


I doubt that there is much hope to save the division either. Getting pushed back in the few spots were you could re-connect, with the unit being attacked from all sides by sizeable force, that sounds more like Stalingrad than Demjansk pocket

The AI does seem incapable of handling the Odessa pocket. The one area that must be closed off is the one that is now open. Who cares if the Soviets try to break through to the north, west or south, there is nothing to achieve there, but the east, that's the one way they should never have been able to go.

 

[Andre Massena]

Huzzah!

 

[guillec87]

I like how the front is getting lineal by the day

 

[Forster]

Congrats on Leningrad. How much of your forces are you sending towards the swamp to close the pocket? You might do better trying to hook around behind the Soviet line from Leningrad to create a pocket north of Moscow. That would draw a lot of units from the center to protect Moscow, and would relieve quite a bit of pressure on you. Just be sure to provide the Finns with some help in sealing off the Karelian if my memory isn't playing tricks on me) peninsula.