20th Juni 1941 - 20th July 1941
While we consider the 'Ostfront' as our priority, the British don't want us to forget them: that's why the RAF has launched a successful attack against our factories in Düsseldorf
Our response came immediately in the form of a newly created Jagdkorps equipped with our deadliest fighter: the FW-190
Stationed in the middle of the RAF's routes to attack the Vaterland, they will defend our industries, now 1.200 FW-190 protect the Western skies along with 800 Me-110
In order to better supply our frontline troops, the transport of supplies through the Baltic was authorized and the Batlische Flotte protects our convoys against Soviet Subs
Brest-Litowsk has finally fallen! and with it, the key of the Soviet defenses in the Center
But again, the British were jealous of the attention paid to the Soviets and launched a successful landing in Bretagne:
somehow, we missed the notification of the attack, does not matter, our troops will handle them (note who is in British command)
the rest of the troops surrendered their weapons and went into captivity with Monty
Sadly news for the Monarchists: Der Kaiser ist tot:
And after almost two months of battles in the East, it came evident to all in Berlin that the PzIV, while an excellent tank, needs a better weapon to fight the Soviet T-34, so it was approved the brand new long barrel for our Panzertruppen
the construction of the Marder becomes available now
While the Northern pocket was easily closed and 110 thousand Russian soldiers were captured, the South was a little more difficult: after heavy fighting and a lot of dead, we managed to form to separated pockets, and the number of troops trapped surprised everyone:
counting casualties till the moment of the picture, it was calculated that the encirclement had actually captured over 630.000 Soviet troops
with Monty gone, the Brits still tried to test our defenses in France and a new landing was planned, sadly for them, this time we did notice it and the Flotte was dispatched to prevent it
HMS Conqueror was one of the brand new Battleship the Brits have constructed, and not a month in service and now is resting in the bottom of the sea
Here is the overall situation of the Eastern Front at the 20th July: with the destruction of the Southern pocket the 1. Gebirgsarmee, the 7. and 8. Armeen and the 2. Panzergruppe were now free for new operations, at the moment their are being redeployed to new positions and a new operation will start very soon... 'Unternehmen Schwarzer Sand'
total casualties of the period are 104.000 Germans and an estimated of 780.000 Soviets (counting the captured troops in both the North and the South)
… you are right, that’s what I’ve planed, but as you quoted it, my plan didn’t survive the very first hour of war… I preferred to surround those troops, more south would mean a thinner line to hold them, better 350.000 Ruskies trapped than none
