It seems they are already doing that. Those troops in Sofia are walking off somewhere.
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germanpeon: No, Artillery.
Kurt_Steiner: Yes, but that's not all...
As Papagos retreats to Larisa for a last stand to defend Greece, the German commander of Sofia decides to push further deep into Bulgaria. This would make the Roman forces stationed in northern Bulgaria vulnerable to an Axis attack from the north. The commander also make plans to capture Kavala which would isolate Greece from the rest of the Empire. The march into central Bulgaria is successful and Plovdiv falls to the German Army on June 30th.
Plovdiv falls to the Germans
However, the choice to advance further deep into Bulgaria would soon prove to be a grave mistake. Even though Plovdiv was captured by German troops, they left a very weak force to defend Sofia. The Balkan Command quickly draws up plans for an encirclement of the enemy forces controlling Plovdiv, but is interupted by a secret message from Field Marshal Demestichas, who stationed in the hills south of Sofia. In the message, Demestichas describes a daring plan, a plan that if it succeeded could perhaps turn the tide of the war on the Balkan Front. Accordingly to local intelligence and air reconnaissance by the Roman Air Force, von Kluge have left a small force in Pristina to defend his rear flank as he advances into Greece. Demestichas suggest that an attack should be made against both Pristina and Sofia simultaneously, creating the possibillity that a large encirclement could be made of Stip.
Even though the plan is bold and perhaps suicidal, the Roman Empire is in need of crucial victories and decides to gamble. A small but sufficient combat group of some of the best Roman soldiers is ordered to re-claim Sofia at all cost and cut of the German forces in Plovdiv. In Albania, General Graves launches an attack against Kosovo. The order is to reclaim most of Kosovo to ensure that no supplies reach von Kluge in Stip. Being very successful at start, Roman forces defeats the German Army in Kosovo and have only four days later re-claimed most of Kosovo. The Roman Army also arrives in Sofia during the first days of July and the soldiers of the 1st Motorised Division quickly destroy the supply depot at Sofia. As von Kluge seems aware of the danger of being both encircled and out of supplies, he launches a retaliating strike at Sofia.
The 1st Motorised Division has no reinforcements to put up against the German attack and is forced to abandon the area. But the damage is already done. With the supply depots destroyed and Sofia not yet pacified as it's still controlled by Roman troops, von Kluge sends a request to Berlin, asking for orders to withdraw from Hitler which is replied with "no retreats, resistance to the end".
Realising his mistake, the German commander in charge of Plovdiv turns his army around to reclaim Sofia. But he is stopped by a Roman attack from Constantinople and only a few hours later finds himself surrendering his forces to the Roman Empire.
With Kosovo and Sofia under Roman control, the city of Stip and it's mixed Axis force of Romanian, Hungarian and German units are completely surrounded. Demestichas's plan has worked and even though it had succeeded in it's first phase, von Kluge's Army was going to be a hard nut to crack.
The Imperial Roman Air Force, together with British and American planes, began raining tons of bombs over the enemy forces in Stip. Hitting several command posts, ammo depots and various other targets, the organisation of the enemy shrunk rapidly. On the morning of July 5th 1942, the battle that would be called one of the most important victories on the Balkan Front began.
The attack force consisted of Field Marshal Demestichas's Army attacking from the east, General Graves would launch his attack from the west and General Papagos ( who had re-establish himself at Edessa again) would fight from the south. A small portion of the Roman Army in Kosovo was sent to provide cover in the north.
During the inital stages, Demestichas and Graves had a hard time gaining any ground in Stip. The Axis forces fought like beasts and refused to surrender even a inch of it's conquered land. Both sides suffered horrendeous casualties. Most Roman divisions lost almost a quarter of their strengths, making it the bloodiest battle at present fought at the Balkan Front. But even though the Germans were surrounded and attacked from several directions, they held their ground and soon Demestichas ordered a stop to the attack. The casualties had been to great and the organisation of the fighting Roman forces were dwindling. Fourtunely, the same situation was with the Germans.
They had managed to hold their ground for two days, but the German casualties had been enourmous and the Allied Air Forces continued their bombing campaign which was taking it's tool on the soldiers morale. A daring attack by four Panzer divisions against Kosovo was initated but ended in a failure as the Roman Anti-Tank guns proved too powerful.
Seeing the risk of the annihilation of the Army in Stip, the German High Command launches an attack against Kosovo to open the road to Stip and relieve the Axis forces after the failure of Lt. General Radow. This time, they succeeds and the Roman troops are forced to abandon Pristina. Soon German forces would arrive to save the Army in Stip, stopping Demestichas's plan from it's highest goal: the destruction and capture of the Axis forces at Stip.
Seeing that time is of the essence, Demestichas orders a second attack on Stip on the morning of July 8th. Having only two days of rest, the skill of the Roman Army is tested to the limit as it fights with a greater ferocity that no field commander has ever seen. At first the German Army holds their ground for almost one day and a half, but the result of the constant bombings and lack of supplies shows itself as the Roman forces breaks through at July 10th. Suffering terrible casualties and with no retreat available, both Erwin von Witzleben and Gunther von Kluge decides that it's better to surrender and save the men from certain destruction. At four o'clock on July 10th 1942, the German Army at Stip surrenders to the Roman Empire. Around 40 divisions are lost to the Axis forces on that day, making it the greatest victory achieved by the Roman Empire yet. The victory is soon known across the entire world and the leaders of the Allied Nations congratulates the Roman commanders for their outstanding leadership. The mood of the war has suddenly lifted in a Allied favour...
***
Current tech development so far:
Night Strafing Doctrine: A doctrine that was developed by MKEK and provides great training for pilots to keep the control of the air in the night as well as attack targets during the blackness of nights
Improved Light Tank: Created by OASA, the new tank prototype is based on American ideas and construction. Seeing the usefulness of the tanks of the German Blitzkrieg through France, the idea of having tank divisions in the Imperial Army sees by many as way to win this war easily.
***
Kurt_Steiner: Yes, but that's not all...
Balkan and African Front: March 19th - July 10th 1942
Part 2
Part 2
As Papagos retreats to Larisa for a last stand to defend Greece, the German commander of Sofia decides to push further deep into Bulgaria. This would make the Roman forces stationed in northern Bulgaria vulnerable to an Axis attack from the north. The commander also make plans to capture Kavala which would isolate Greece from the rest of the Empire. The march into central Bulgaria is successful and Plovdiv falls to the German Army on June 30th.
Plovdiv falls to the Germans
However, the choice to advance further deep into Bulgaria would soon prove to be a grave mistake. Even though Plovdiv was captured by German troops, they left a very weak force to defend Sofia. The Balkan Command quickly draws up plans for an encirclement of the enemy forces controlling Plovdiv, but is interupted by a secret message from Field Marshal Demestichas, who stationed in the hills south of Sofia. In the message, Demestichas describes a daring plan, a plan that if it succeeded could perhaps turn the tide of the war on the Balkan Front. Accordingly to local intelligence and air reconnaissance by the Roman Air Force, von Kluge have left a small force in Pristina to defend his rear flank as he advances into Greece. Demestichas suggest that an attack should be made against both Pristina and Sofia simultaneously, creating the possibillity that a large encirclement could be made of Stip.
Even though the plan is bold and perhaps suicidal, the Roman Empire is in need of crucial victories and decides to gamble. A small but sufficient combat group of some of the best Roman soldiers is ordered to re-claim Sofia at all cost and cut of the German forces in Plovdiv. In Albania, General Graves launches an attack against Kosovo. The order is to reclaim most of Kosovo to ensure that no supplies reach von Kluge in Stip. Being very successful at start, Roman forces defeats the German Army in Kosovo and have only four days later re-claimed most of Kosovo. The Roman Army also arrives in Sofia during the first days of July and the soldiers of the 1st Motorised Division quickly destroy the supply depot at Sofia. As von Kluge seems aware of the danger of being both encircled and out of supplies, he launches a retaliating strike at Sofia.
The 1st Motorised Division has no reinforcements to put up against the German attack and is forced to abandon the area. But the damage is already done. With the supply depots destroyed and Sofia not yet pacified as it's still controlled by Roman troops, von Kluge sends a request to Berlin, asking for orders to withdraw from Hitler which is replied with "no retreats, resistance to the end".
Roman troops advanches into Kosovo yet again
Realising his mistake, the German commander in charge of Plovdiv turns his army around to reclaim Sofia. But he is stopped by a Roman attack from Constantinople and only a few hours later finds himself surrendering his forces to the Roman Empire.
With Kosovo and Sofia under Roman control, the city of Stip and it's mixed Axis force of Romanian, Hungarian and German units are completely surrounded. Demestichas's plan has worked and even though it had succeeded in it's first phase, von Kluge's Army was going to be a hard nut to crack.
The Imperial Roman Air Force, together with British and American planes, began raining tons of bombs over the enemy forces in Stip. Hitting several command posts, ammo depots and various other targets, the organisation of the enemy shrunk rapidly. On the morning of July 5th 1942, the battle that would be called one of the most important victories on the Balkan Front began.
The attack force consisted of Field Marshal Demestichas's Army attacking from the east, General Graves would launch his attack from the west and General Papagos ( who had re-establish himself at Edessa again) would fight from the south. A small portion of the Roman Army in Kosovo was sent to provide cover in the north.
The First Attack at Stip
During the inital stages, Demestichas and Graves had a hard time gaining any ground in Stip. The Axis forces fought like beasts and refused to surrender even a inch of it's conquered land. Both sides suffered horrendeous casualties. Most Roman divisions lost almost a quarter of their strengths, making it the bloodiest battle at present fought at the Balkan Front. But even though the Germans were surrounded and attacked from several directions, they held their ground and soon Demestichas ordered a stop to the attack. The casualties had been to great and the organisation of the fighting Roman forces were dwindling. Fourtunely, the same situation was with the Germans.
They had managed to hold their ground for two days, but the German casualties had been enourmous and the Allied Air Forces continued their bombing campaign which was taking it's tool on the soldiers morale. A daring attack by four Panzer divisions against Kosovo was initated but ended in a failure as the Roman Anti-Tank guns proved too powerful.
The hope of establish a supply route fails by Lt. General Radow through Kosovo
Seeing the risk of the annihilation of the Army in Stip, the German High Command launches an attack against Kosovo to open the road to Stip and relieve the Axis forces after the failure of Lt. General Radow. This time, they succeeds and the Roman troops are forced to abandon Pristina. Soon German forces would arrive to save the Army in Stip, stopping Demestichas's plan from it's highest goal: the destruction and capture of the Axis forces at Stip.
The German Army routs the Roman troops at Pristina
Seeing that time is of the essence, Demestichas orders a second attack on Stip on the morning of July 8th. Having only two days of rest, the skill of the Roman Army is tested to the limit as it fights with a greater ferocity that no field commander has ever seen. At first the German Army holds their ground for almost one day and a half, but the result of the constant bombings and lack of supplies shows itself as the Roman forces breaks through at July 10th. Suffering terrible casualties and with no retreat available, both Erwin von Witzleben and Gunther von Kluge decides that it's better to surrender and save the men from certain destruction. At four o'clock on July 10th 1942, the German Army at Stip surrenders to the Roman Empire. Around 40 divisions are lost to the Axis forces on that day, making it the greatest victory achieved by the Roman Empire yet. The victory is soon known across the entire world and the leaders of the Allied Nations congratulates the Roman commanders for their outstanding leadership. The mood of the war has suddenly lifted in a Allied favour...
Second Battle at Stip
The Romans break through!
The Victory at Stip
***
Current tech development so far:
Night Strafing Doctrine: A doctrine that was developed by MKEK and provides great training for pilots to keep the control of the air in the night as well as attack targets during the blackness of nights
Improved Light Tank: Created by OASA, the new tank prototype is based on American ideas and construction. Seeing the usefulness of the tanks of the German Blitzkrieg through France, the idea of having tank divisions in the Imperial Army sees by many as way to win this war easily.
***
Does anyone else seem to notice that Germanys Campaign against the Romans bears some simularities to Germany vs the Soviet Union
I'd tell you to repeat that a couple more times, but that would be an unspeakable exploitation of the AI.
Did you bag any German air divisions when you took Sofia?
And how does your order of battle compare to the Axis?
Did you bag any German air divisions when you took Sofia?
And how does your order of battle compare to the Axis?
That was amazing! Looks like the road will soon be clear for an offensive into former Yugoslavia. Keep up the good work!
And here I thought the American tanks were pretty backwards and generally sucky throughout WW2.
Still, good work.
? what have you been smoking? sure, they had their fualts, but later designs were good. AND they were easy and fast to build .... which is what they designed them for.Charle_88 said:And here I thought the American tanks were pretty backwards and generally sucky throughout WW2.
Still, good work.
Nice Job! 41 divisions in a single pocket! von Kluge would probably of been shot several times when he got back for that loss. That should even the playing field.
What? Byzantine Empire in WW2? I havent even noticed this AAR and I call myself Byzanteen? :rofl:
Well, I hope not to come too late to see how the Romans conquer the world
Well, I hope not to come too late to see how the Romans conquer the world
Well this is certainly getting interesting! It does at least look like now Germany won't be attacking the USSR any time soon so your 2nd front may be a long time off. If i were you I might try giving the USA some land in the area (North Africa possibly) to see if you can get them to commit some troops to the European front.
Also what happened to the British forces? Did they just sail off to attack the French?
Also what happened to the British forces? Did they just sail off to attack the French?
The story is moving along very well.
I found it funny that your manpower in the one picture was 666
I found it funny that your manpower in the one picture was 666
Well, 41 divisions gone... You should have an easier time to get to Vienna
My dear maño... late, as usual... you've missed the beginnings, but at least you've got in the right moment...
DarkReborn said:
My dear maño... late, as usual... you've missed the beginnings, but at least you've got in the right moment...
