The Campaign in the East - A 1941 Germany AAR

[NeuGemi]

22 June, 1941.

The Battle of Britain is over. The ‘Happy Times’ as called, is also over. German U-Boats are now getting sunk all more frequently. Nevertheless, the German U-Boats still pose a threat in the atlantic.

In the west, all alone against two tyrants, the British are gearing up for the inevitable; an invasion of Europe. Since things have been turning to their favour in Africa, the morale was at an all time high for them.

Through the early months of 1941, Hitler was planning his most risk filled invasion ever, an invasion of the Soviet Union. It was no secret that Hitler wanted to invade the Soviet Union. After all, he had written about it in Mein Kampf. It was nazi Germany’s arch enemy.

To not draw suspicion, the German army was to be slowly redeployed to the east in secrecy. Also, in preparation of the invasion, the army was upgraded and re-equipped to better face the Red Army. All they had to do now was to send the codeword and the largest invasion force ever in history would commence, Operation Barbarossa.

My plan is to have the Soviet Union capitulated before the 1941 winter. If I fail, I’ll do my best to either survive or capitulate them after 1941.

This is my first AAR, and I will play from the start of the scenario until I eventually win the war in the east!

Normal Game Rules
Mods:
-Battleplan Execution Adjustments
-GDW'S Army Insignias
-Strategic View Adjustments
-The Campaign in the East

 

[NeuGemi]

Preparations​

The German forces across the Soviet front consisted of three Army Groups, Heeresgruppe Nord (Army Group North), Heeresgruppe Mitte (Army Group Center) and Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South).

Standing next to the Soviet border was 82 Infantry Divisions, each equipped with two anti-tank battalions and one artillery battalion.

A total of 21 Panzer divisions were to participate at the start of Operation Barbarossa. 14 light tank divisions and 7 medium-tank divisions. Also, 5 Motorized SS-regiments and 7 Motorized Infantry were to participate.

Army Group North

The German "Heeresgruppe Nord", located at Eastern Prussia, commanded by Field Marshall Willhelm Ritter von Leeb, consisted of the German Eighteenth Army, Sixteenth Army and Panzergruppe 4. Army Group North fielded 318k men, or 23 Divisions.

-18th Army - Commanded by Colonel General Georg von Küchler, was deployed at Memel and consisted of 7 Infantry Divisions.

-16th Army - Commanded by Colonel General Ernst Busch, was located near the Polish town Suwatki and consisted of 8 Infantry Divisions.

-Panzergruppe 4 - Commanded by Colonel General Erich Hoepner, based between Army 18th and 16th, consisted of 3 Panzer Divisions, 3 Motorised Divisions and 2 Infantry Divisions.

In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, Army Group C was renamed to Army Group North on 22 June 1941. It's strategic goal was leningrad, with other territorial objectives such as the Baltic and securing Army Group Center northern flank

Army Group Center

In the center was "Heeresgruppe Mitte". located at Central Poland and commanded by Field Marshall Feodor von Bock, it consisted of the German Ninth Army, Fourth Army, Panzergruppe 3 and Panzergruppe 2. Army Group Center fielded 594k men, or 44 Divisions.

- 9th Army - Commanded by Colonel General Adolf Strauss, based near the Polish town of Bialystok, consisted of 9 Infantry Divisions.

- 4th Army - Commanded by Colonel General Gunther von Kluge, deployed near Warsaw, consisted of 12 Infantry Divisions.

- Panzergruppe 3 - Commanded by Colonel General Hermann Hoth, located between the Polish towns of Bialystok and Suwatki, consisted of 3 Motorised Divisions and 4 Panzer Divisions

- Panzergruppe 2 - Commanded by Colonel General Heinz Guderian, based near the Polish town of Brzesc Litewski, consisted of 7 Infantry Divisions, 1 Cavalry Division, 2 Motorised Divisions and 6 Panzer Divisions.

Army Group Centre's strategic goal was to defeat the Soviet armies in Belarus and to occupy Smolensk. Army Group Centre's other objectives was to support the other Army Group's northern and southern flank

Army Group South

In the south was “Heeresgruppe Süd” drawn along Eastern Poland, Hungary and Romania, it was to be the largest army group of the three. Commanded by Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, it commanded the German Sixth Army, Panzergruppe I, Seventeenth Army, Eleventh Army and the Romanian Fourth Army. Army Group South fielded 874k men, or 69 Divisions.

- 6th Army - Commanded by Friedrich Paulus, based in the far east of the Polish/German - Soviet Border, consisted of 11 Infantry Divisions

- Panzergruppe I - Commanded by Ewald von Kleist, near Lwow, consisted of 5 Medium Tank Divisions, 1 Motorized Infantry Division and 3 SS Divisions.

- 17th Army - Commanded by Johannes Blaskowitz, located near Slovakia, consisted of 19 Infantry Divisions (Including 3 Slovakian and 3 Hungarian Divisions) and 1 Mountain Division.

- 11th Army - Commanded by Gotthard Heinrici, deployed in Romania, consisted of 13 Infantry Divisions.

- 4th Romanian Army - Commanded by Ion Antonescu, based in Romania, consisted of 10 Infantry Divisions, 2 Mountain Divisions and 2 Light Armour Divisions.

Army Group South's strategic goal was to capture Kiev and Sevastopol. It was to also secure Army Group Centre's southern flank.

Starting Positions:

The Luftwaffe is also to play a vital role in this Operation. Supported by 2000 fighters, 500 CAS and 600 Tactical Bombers.

 

[Dragon50]

It shouldn't be that hard, right, right?

(Subbed)

 

[guillec87]

subbed

 

[NeuGemi]

It shouldn't be that hard, right, right?

(Subbed)

"You only have to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure will come crashing down"

No, but really, I have high hopes in winning this.

 

[stnylan]

Welcome to AAR writing.

 

[NeuGemi]

Initial Advances

​

On 21 June 1941 Army Group North (Heeresgruppe Nord) received the codeword Düsseldorf, signaling Operation Barbarossa would begin the next morning. Army Group North then sent it's own codeword, Dortmund.

The following day, an all frontal attack begun. the 18th Army crossed the border in modern day Lithuania, capturing the vital harbours in Siauliai and Kurzeme. With the ports captured, Panzergruppe IV, supported by the 16th Army, thrusted forward to Riga in an attempt to trap the troops in Lithuania.

In Army Group Center, the same was to happen in Bialystok. Panzergruppe II and III were to capture Grodno and Brzec Litewski and then link up in Baranowicze, trapping 15 Soviet Divisions. But before Panzergruppe II could push forward, Panzergruppe II had to attack the same fort they attacked two years earlier in the Battle of Poland. To aid in capturing it, 4 infantry divisions had been temporarily assigned to Panzergruppe II.

The Bialystok Pocket.​

Panzergruppe I was to attempt and capture Lwow and then Stanislawow in an attempt to encircle all Soviet Divisions along the Hungarian border. If successful, it could neutralize two whole armies.

On 15 July, Ewald von Kleist radioed that the divisions were fully encircled, although a significant majority managed to escape. Panzergruppe I later circumvented the pocket and drove on towards Kiev, leaving it to the infantry.

The Stanislawow Pocket​

By 25th July, German High Command reported that 557k Soviet soldiers had been killed. In comparison to that, 111k German soldiers were killed. Although the number of Germans killed seemed high at first, especially in comparison to the Battle of France and Poland, it was to be expected.

On 31 July, Army Group North received 4 divisions as reinforcements to help with the increased frontline.

There was also a serious lack of oil now in the german army. With only days until the reserves run out. To combat this, the Kriegsmarine was to only perform missions of the highest priority, and suspend all other missions and operations deemed unnecessary. All heavy and light ships were to stay in port, with only U-Boats operating in the Atlantic and arctic route. The luftwaffe also stopped with Air Superiority missions, and instead focused on interception and placed a heavier emphasis on tactical bombing and close air support

 

[NeuGemi]

Breakthrough

With the Lithuanian pocket finished, Army Group North continued their push onward to Tallinn and Leningrad, capturing Tartu and Pskov on their way and encircling another 3 divisions. By 15th August they were advancing with practically zero resistance. The way to Leningrad so far looked like an easy task.

In Army Group Center, the two Panzergroups had captured Minsk and were on their way towards Smolensk and Gomel. They were expected to reach Moscow in at least two months.

7. Panzer Division capturing a strategically important airfield​

Panzergruppe I, assigned to Army Group South had just reached Kiev. It was uncertain whether or not they capture it in a time fast enough that their advancement wasn’t halted. But, by 20th August, they had captured Kiev

In the farer south, the 11th Army have just entered Crimea, and were on their way to capture Sevastopol. They were hard-pressed and had a difficult time advancing.

On 25th August, the German High Command reported again that the Axis losses were 272k against a reported loss of 1.43 million Soviet losses.

By 13th October it was becoming all more clear that Army Group Center would not reach their goals by the end of October, and perhaps not by November. The Soviet Union had reportedly managed to raise and additional 60 divisions to slow down the German advance, most of it deployed to fight Army Group North and Center.

Army Group North was now only a few kilometers from Leningrad however, so hopefully they would capture it before an organized Soviet resistance was formed.

15th August, Overview​

 

[NeuGemi]

At the Gates of Moscow
12th November

Gates of Moscow​

Army Group Center’s attacks to Moscow had been halted for now by the Soviets. To ensure it is under Axis control before winter, 2 Panzer Divisions had been diverted from Norway to Panzergruppe II.

The divisions at the front had been suffering heavy organization losses due to repeated Soviet attacks. The question now is, should they wait and reorganize, and possibly not have Moscow by December. Or should they divert forces from the other army groups and make a hasty attack?

14th November

Operation Typhoon​

Panzer Divisions from Panzergruppe I and IV were diverted to Army Group Center. The operation, called ’Operation Typhoon’ was to begin on 20th November.

The hastily drawn plan was to attack Moscow from 3 different directions. Panzergruppe II and III was to attack Moscow from the Northern and Southern side, leaving the center to the 4th Army, consisting of 14 infantry divisions. The 9th and 17th Army would protect the Army Groups flanks. The attack would be supported by 940 Fighters and 939 CAS or Tactical Bombers.

20th November
Operation Typhoon commences
​

With everything prepared, the attack begun.

Immediately upon attacking, Panzergruppe II and I were making some small advances until the attack came to a halt. They were having heavy troubles in breaking the defence. After all, they were outnumbered 1:2. It was in fact the infantry in the center that was making the advances. They had already broken through in one sector and were now hours away from breaking through in another sector. Hopefully it would pave the way for the panzers.

It was also today that a very disturbing report reached the High Command. Japan had attacked an American fleet in Pearl Harbor, causing USA to join the Allies. The German Reich was now at war with USA. It had become all clearer that attacking Britain was but a fantasy by now.

28th November

As the events unfold​

The infantry had now assisted in attacking the Soviet forces near Panzergruppe III, opening up a way for the panzers to advance. With only some kilometers to Moscow, and the Soviet resistance in the area nearly beaten, the generals sighed with relief.

That was, until disaster struck. On the 8th December the russian winter hit hard, severely disrupting the Axis attack.

The attack came to a grinding halt. Panzers stopped working if you didn’t regularly maintain them. Soldiers, equipped with only summer clothing froze to death. And, probably the most surprising of them all, Germany was now being pushed back from Moscow. To combat this, the bulk of the forces in the west had been withdrawn to the east and was slotted in as they came. Even Panzers from Army Group South reinforced Army Group Center. That, and combined with the infantry from the west, Kampfgruppe Jodl was raised to help protect the 4th Army. With the 17th Army and most of Panzergruppe I being deployed in Moscow, Army Group South was now at a skeleton strength. To prevent another Soviet attack, but this time in the South, Hitler ordered several of Romania’s troops to be transported to the east.

Despite lacking 25 000 Infantry Equipment, Hitler also ordered 9 Infantry Divisions to be hastily raised and immediately deployed in the East. Equipped with only heavy artillery and anti tank guns, it was mainly used as cannon fodder.

 

[guillec87]

things are grim! what are the losses so far?

 

[NeuGemi]

things are grim! what are the losses so far?

Around 850k Axis losses and 2.3 million Soviet losses.

 

[stnylan]

So close...

 

[guillec87]

Around 850k Axis losses and 2.3 million Soviet losses.

against 650k and almost 7M in real life... I think you are going to have an interesting challenge...

 

[NeuGemi]

Between the Operations
1st April, 1942​

With the crushing defeat for Army Group Center, having lost ground until March. And with the High Command seeing no realistic way of regaining the grounds they once took, their attention turned towards the South.

The severe lack of oil that had accompanied them since the start of Barbarossa had persuaded Hitler to launch an attack towards the rich oil fields in the Caucasus. That, and the lack of stockpiled equipment proved that an all frontal attack would be too costly and impossible reading the situation.

An Army Group (Heeresgruppe B) would also push towards Stalingrad to cover Heeresgruppe A’s attack to the Caucasus. Army Group B’s mission was to capture Stalingrad and then drive past the Volga river, which would be the Soviets last defense in the area. If that succeeded they could also swing up North and relieve Army Group Center’s unfortunate position, winning the war.

Army Group A’s mission was to capture the oil fields in the Caucasus. They would also attack from Crimea and hopefully do a pincer movement trapping several Soviet divisions.

The operation ‘Case Blau’ would commence on 28th June.

 

[NeuGemi]

Allied Movement
20th June, 1942​

On the 18th June, Mussolini met up with Hitler were he with great stress and reluctance said that a joint-allied operation succeeded in capturing Sicily and had now made another naval invasion in Taranto and were advancing without any resistance. This made Hitler extremely infuriated in that Mussolini had not told him earlier nor done anything against it.

The Italian Situation​

All of Germany’s effective fighting force were also tied up in the East and therefore couldn’t be diverted.

Only days after the news in Italy, 36 British divisions landed in Normandy, opposed by only 3 German Divisions. With the help of Himmler, the German Reich managed to raise 11 Divisions with manpower from occupied territories. Five of them would go to the West to hold of the British and the rest would go to the south and fend of both the British and American troops.

 

[stnylan]

The pressure is definitely sounding like it is on.

 

[NeuGemi]

The pressure is definitely sounding like it is on.

Indeed.

 

[guillec87]

I do not see how Brits and Amies could get that amount of troops on the field so quickly

 

[NeuGemi]

Case Blue
28th June

On 5 am, 28th June, Case Blue commenced. Heeresgruppe A (Caucasus) made promising gains on the first days. They pushed forward and captured Rostov and Voroshilovgrad and would later advance forward to Salsk and meet up with the 11th Army which was fighting in Crimea.

Heeresgruppe B (Volga) made little to no advancements on the first day. The defense on the way to Voronezh was ferocious. Not even with the help of 1500 Fighters and 2000 Tactical Bombers or CAS could they advance. It was only days later when the 11. Panzer Division and 75. Infanterie Division managed to cross the river that the defense was finally broken. The road to Stalingrad was open.

On 10th July, elements of the 11. and 14. Panzer Divisions captured Voronezh and then drove on southwards toward Stalingrad.

The planned pincer movement with the 11th Army turned out to be nothing but a dream. When the two armies finally met in Krasnodar, all Soviet divisions had managed to retreat. Nevertheless, they pushed on forward to Stavropol which was a major producer of Chromium.

On 31st July, the 6th Army had reached Stalingrad. To help in capturing it, 3 Panzer Divisions and 3 Motorized Divisions from Panzergruppe IV had been attached to the 6th Army.

So far there had been no successful attacks in capturing Stalingrad, and the High Command were again worried that they wouldn’t achieve their goals by winter.

By 6th October, the 6th army were being pushed back from Stalingrad and the Soviets had launched an all-out attack on Army Group B. There were also serious threats of being encircled. The enemy had captured Voronezh and were advancing even further, causing a tear in our frontline. Same thing happened south of Stalingrad. To prevent an encirclement, Army Group A retreated a bit to reduce their front and then easier control the flanks. Unfortunately, same thing couldn’t be done in the north due to Army Group Center being stretched thin. They simply had to try and crush the Soviet advance to prevent such an encirclement.

Intelligence also reported that the Soviet Union now had 6 million deployed manpower, compared to Germany’s 2.85 Million.

 

[stnylan]

The news is not good. There are just so many Russians.