Suomi voittaa - A Finland AAR

[Gormytorysh]

Huh, I'm surprised you managed to fit that all in one update. To be honest, I'd love to see your updates in just a bit more detail?

Not saying it's bad so far or anything, but I feel some of the details I'm missing. Your Norway section was fine but you could have put a bit more into the Swedish section, imo.

Once again, not saying it's bad, it's not
Just a minor complaint.

Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it, and I will try to take it into account in future updates.

Jay, overthrow those Swedes and take revenge for their "occupation"
That should put you in a better position to take on the Soviets in round 2. Which I suppose should begin shortly.
! thing though, why on earth are the Baltic States still alive! The M-R pact seems to have been signed, judging by the border where Poland was.

I do not know how it works exactly, but I can only assume that there could be a delay due to the SU loosing the Winter War, something that normally does not happen if the AI is in control of Finland. Chain of events could be delayed.

Impressive AAR!!

Thanks and welcome!

The SU usually takes 4-5 months after the end of the winter war to take the Baltic States. I have no idea why, as it will only benefit them (more LS, MP, IC, rares etc.) :\
It'll happen by Germany's DoW though.

Hmmm, perhaps I should take the Baltic states.... or will it destroy the chain of events completely? :blink:

 

[sprites]

Oh land lease really gives a lot of IC ... well i don't see soviets holding long

 

[Gormytorysh]

Oh land lease really gives a lot of IC ... well i don't see soviets holding long

Very true and I gratefully use it when I can when playing a minor .

I finally had some time to play again and will get an update up hopefully tomorrow. Also.... man alive, how annoying the AI has been again, just had to get some frustration off my chest, but will give the details later. Otherwise I would only spoil the fun for everyone.

 

[Gormytorysh]

Barbarossa​

Soon after the surrender of Sweden a message was received about the Baltic states…..

The Baltic States are a part of the Soviet Union from now on​

Meanwhile, Germany was fighting the Allies in Western Europe and doing a good job by the looks of it…..

France under German rule, Vichy France created​

While the Soviet Union was strengthening their presence along the Finnish border, Finland stood pretty much powerless. With a lot population, especially compared to the Soviet Union, there were little men left to train troops. Only a few divisions were in the process of training, but only a basic training was offered in order to at least have some additional troops along the Soviet border. Germany warned Finland about the greatest offensive this world had ever seen which was due within about a year.

Southern Finland defences

Northern Finland defences​

In February 1941, Germany was sending troops to their Eastern Front and as a response (and luckily for Finland), the Soviet Union was moving troops along the border with Germany where the main threat was coming from. In June, 1941, Germany declared war on the Soviet Union, though did not call it’s allies to arms leaving Finland along the side-line, which was not a problem for the Finnish government…. At least, for now.

German – Soviet border

And so it begins…..​

From June to October Germany did not meet a lot of resistance and the Soviets were pushed back. November the fast-paced advance of the Germans was halted, and without being asked, Finland decided to join in……

Less Soviet troops along the southern border…..

…. And along the northern border

Finland is at war!​

Spoiler

Just a quick update about a boring period. From now on they will be more detailed covering less time per update

 

[Tanngnjost]

I was wondering the other day why there aren't any good Finnish AAR's currently. Glad I found one!

 

[Gormytorysh]

I was wondering the other day why there aren't any good Finnish AAR's currently. Glad I found one!

Always happy I could help and welcome of course!

 

[TehDarkMiner]

It's time to see how far you can get

btw, how far did the Germans get before they were halted?

 

[sebas379]

Time for Jätkosota (Continuation War)! I hope you have sufficient AT weaponry to deal with the Soviet tanks, they like to send a lot up north it seems.
Good luck taking the rest of Karelia!

 

[Gormytorysh]

It's time to see how far you can get

btw, how far did the Germans get before they were halted?

Yes, it is time to see how far I can get, especially with the minimum amount of troops. But it is a great challenge and I have to rely on the AI to do something intelligent, but I am not getting hopes up for that to happen any time soon .

Basically the front line is from close to Leningrad down to Odessa. As far as I can see it is more or less the German AI repositioning their troops along the front line.

Time for Jätkosota (Continuation War)! I hope you have sufficient AT weaponry to deal with the Soviet tanks, they like to send a lot up north it seems.
Good luck taking the rest of Karelia!

For the sake of not investing in AT tech, I only have division composition containing INF (x3) and ART. So I need a wee bit of luck and a lot of patience. As mentioned, the AI was doing their best to be stupid again .

 

[Gormytorysh]

Onward to Leningrad​

With so many Russian soldiers send off to the front line with Germany, defences that surrounded Leningrad were very limited. In order to complete the humiliation of the Soviet Union after their earlier defeat in the Winter War, Finland decided to attack Leningrad. 1st Corps and 2nd Corps were assigned with this task and were to capture the city before the Germans would break through the front lines and take the city. The Soviets had only one armor division and infantry division stationed north of Leningrad who were supposed to hold on long enough before reinforcements should arrive. That was just in theory as reality proved to be entirely different.

Soviets loose the battles and thus the region north of Leningrad​

On November 10th the siege of Leningrad started from the north and after 8 days, German forces almost cut off the supply lines from the south/south-west. The German army was reluctant to push forwards and did not cut off Leningrad entirely. Doing so would probably have shortened the siege considerably, instead, estimates stated it would take a few weeks before the Soviets would retreat.

Siege of Leningrad on November 18th 1941​

 

[TehDarkMiner]

Nice job!
I see your interceptor in your last screenshot - is that actually attacking Soviet forces or is it just constantly air intercepting to that location for no reason? You may have to recreate its air intercept mission as it's annoyingly bugged. Just a minor thing
Good to see you'll take Leningrad though. Once their counter attack finishes, you can strike them with the true force of the Finns!

 

[sebas379]

Leningrad should be doomed now. IRL it would probably have fallen if the Finns joined in, especially with the kind of force you'r throwing at them.

 

[Gormytorysh]

Nice job!
I see your interceptor in your last screenshot - is that actually attacking Soviet forces or is it just constantly air intercepting to that location for no reason? You may have to recreate its air intercept mission as it's annoyingly bugged. Just a minor thing
Good to see you'll take Leningrad though. Once their counter attack finishes, you can strike them with the true force of the Finns!

Yes, my interceptor is doing air superiority mission over my two own provinces. I noticed 1 small Soviet tactical sqdrn attacking my troops and I thought the least I could do is making it a little more difficult for them. After that, they disappeared. I guess they are bothering the Germans now . What exactly is bugged? I have to say I usually neglect my airforce because I hardly see the results of using them.... but that may be me .

Leningrad should be doomed now. IRL it would probably have fallen if the Finns joined in, especially with the kind of force you'r throwing at them.

Leningrad is indeed doomed, as TDM says, just wait till I fenced off the counterattack and we are good to go. Will see what I will do after that though as Karelia is going to be a nice struggle. I think if I played at normal level, I would have taken it for sure. Just having less IC and MP really shows to be a hindrance now.

 

[Gormytorysh]

From Vidlitsa to Petrozavodsk and Murmansk​

Shortly after the initial attack a second front was opened north-east of Lake Ladoga. The intention was to move towards Lake Onega and hold the frontline along the river between the lakes. The battle of Vidlitsa was a hard fought battle between Finland and the Soviet Union. Including the Winter War, most men died on both sides and given the fact that the Soviets battled bravely and fiercely, they had no intention of giving up that easily.

Many men died and Finland was victorious​

A third front was opened in the far north, where Finland wanted to occupy Murmansk. With very little troops up north this could be a risk. There were no intelligence reports about the amount of troops the Soviets had in Karelia, so this basically was a risk with an unpredictable outcome.

Finland moving to the east in the far north

Finnish ski troops in the north​

 

[sebas379]

Be careful with your manpower, those are some heavy losses in a few battles and you don't have a lot left!

 

[TehDarkMiner]

Oh yeah, that is really low manpower

It will slowly cripple you. I'd recommend only fighting in one region at a time, it will help minimise your losses.

 

[Gormytorysh]

Be careful with your manpower, those are some heavy losses in a few battles and you don't have a lot left!

Manpower is a struggle, especially on hard level (-25% I think), though I try to keep it close to zero. Even if it means I have to call off an attack or retreat and give up a province or 2.

Oh yeah, that is really low manpower

It will slowly cripple you. I'd recommend only fighting in one region at a time, it will help minimise your losses.

Thanks for the recommendation, and I think I will use it.

Been away for a while, very busy with work, kids etc. and also lack of inspiration to write something. Will get an update up today, even if it is a small one. Just need to done one more in 2014 ..... though, when you read it TDM, it might already be 2015 .

 

[Gormytorysh]

The Battle of Leningrad​

Whether a wise decision or not, Finland opened up 3 fronts. The northern front was ordered to take Murmansk, the middle front was to eventually cut off any Soviet forces from the rest of mother Russia and the southern front was obviously there to take Leningrad. With the Germans south of the city and the Finnish soldiers stationed north of the city, it was bound to fall, though who would take the city? With Germany’s reluctance to push on and cut off the city from supplies entirely, it was imperative to capture the city before Lake Ladoga would freeze offering the Soviets to supply the city from that side.

Battle of Leningrad​

In chronological order the battle of Leningrad:

November 10th: 1st Corps attacks the westside of the city and tries to cross the bridges leading to Petrogradskiy. 2nd Corps advances to the Neva river but does not try to capture any bridges.
November 11th: 1st Corps takes over one of the bridges and moves into the western part of the city. Soviet troops leave their posts overlooking the other bridges retreat to the old city and Vasilyevski Ostrov. 2nd Corps holds a defensive position.
November 14th: Soviet defenses in Vasilyevski Ostrov are wavering and start retreating to the old city.
November 15th: 1st Corps start an intensive offense to the old city from the north while 2nd Corps gets ready to move in from the south east to cut off supply lines.
November 16th: 2nd Corps moves in and with most Soviets fight the north bank of the Neva river, the advance is swift. German forces close in on the city from the south west. 1st Corps advances through the old city driving Soviet troops back.
November 18th: Soviet troops are surrounded and retreat to Vitebsk Station and Moskva Station. 1st and 2nd Corps try to isolate both stations separately.
November 19th: Both stations are isolated and massive attacks begin from (almost) all sides.
November 20th: Soviet troops defending Vitebsk Station surrender.
November 21st: Soviet troops defending Moskva Station surrender. Other troops fighting in the outskirts of Leningrad retreat to Tosno.

11 days after the battle of Leningrad started, the Soviet troops surrendered or retreated from the city and the Finnish troops took over control of Leningrad.

Surrender of Leningrad

Russian citizens leaving Leningrad​

Finland controls it’s Gulf​

 

[sebas379]

Great job taking Leningrad, that will hurt the Soviets quite a bit.
Lovely map too, looks great!

 

[TehDarkMiner]

That resource modifier is rather high

Nice job taking it though, yeah. That map gif is actually amazing