War Stories from the Great Patriotic War

[Pequod]

War Stories from the Great Patriotic War

Soldiers of the C Company, 3rd Reg., 8th Inf., 1st Corp, Central Front​

This is my second attempt at an AAR. I will be playing the 1936 Campaign using Total Realism Project v.83, normal/normal. I think my first AAR failed because I restricted myself in the method of its presentation (not to mention a pesky lack of freetime) so this time around I’ll do a little bit of everything; technical day-by-day reports, history textbook narratives, 1st person narratives and whatever else fits my fancy that update. I humbly ask the reader to voice their opinions on everything from strategy to writing style. Now sit back, relax and enjoy.
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The Spanish Civil War started on July 15th, 1936. The Nationalists under General Francisco Franco fought the Republicans under President Manuel Azaña in a bloody war that lasted 8 months. 200,000 soldiers from both sides died during the conflict with around 35,000 or so civilians plus untold number of assassinated political enemies. Of the 200,000 soldiers that perished, it is believed 105,000 of them were Nationalists while the rest were Republican. These figures include the International Brigades, and German, Italian and Soviet national forces. Of all of the foreign powers to intervene on one side or the other, the Soviets suffered the most casualties, around 35,000.
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September 18th, 1936

Nikolai Vladislav stepped off the landing craft and onto the beach. All around him various Soviet landing craft were shuttling elements of the 1st Infantry Corps to the northern coast of Spain, just east of the town of Oviedo. It was a long way from Leningrad and the troops were eager to offload. No one tried to stop the Soviet landing force. Not a single Nationalist soldier was in sight.
“I thought we came here to fight fascists, comrades!” surrounding soldiers chuckled at the officer’s remark.
Nikolai turned to his sergeant and said, “I have a feeling you won’t be disappointed comrade Borislav. I doubt the fascists will let us take the rest of this country as easy.”

Nikolai’s regiment, the 3rd Infantry, 8th Infantry Division, marched off the beach in column to a destination inland to the Corps bivouac. Elements of the 177th Infantry and 191st Infantry Divisions followed the 3rd inland.
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On September 18th, 1936, the Soviet Expeditionary Force (SEF), composed of 1 infantry Corps, the 1st, and 1 armored corps, the 1st Armored, landed in the Northern Province of Oviedo. Meeting little resistance, the Soviets quickly secured the surrounding countryside and began marching east towards Nationalist occupied Bilbao.

Soviet Order of Battle September 18th, 1936

1st Armored Corps under General Belov
-1st tank Division
-198th Motorized Division
163rd Motorized Division
1st Infantry Corps under General Timoshenko
-177th Infantry Division
-191st Infantry Division
-8th Infantry Division

Having never operated 2000 miles from the Soviet Union, the SEF suffered from an inefficient supply chain. Convoys brought everything but what was needed. Some 10,000 shoes accompanied the first landing forces in Spain. Later, when the SEF was fighting in Bilbao, instead of ammunition and food the convoys sent political pamphlets, fireworks, extra uniforms and plenty of alcohol. The ammunition that did make it to Spain wasn’t even guaranteed to hurt the enemy. A total of 45,672 blank rounds of ammunition were sent to Spain during the course of the 8 month conflict.
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Nationalist soldiers taking cover behind barricades.​

October 29th, 1936. Northern bank of Bilbao.

“MG! Second story, farthest on the left!”
Nikolai raised his rifle and fire a shot into the window, not knowing if he hit anything. A burst of gunfire confirmed his suspicions. Nikolai quickly ducked back behind the window and watched as tracers zoomed by just feet away, chipping away at the concrete.

“Damnit! What do we have that can take out that MG?” barked Borislav, Captain of C Company. Nikolai’s squad was pinned inside of a building on the north side of the town. The Nationalists trying to prevent the Soviets from crossing the river that bisected the town into two halves. They had barricaded the streets on the other side of the river and set up machine guns in the surrounding apartment buildings to fire on the Soviets from across the river.

Soviet forces attack the town of Bilbao on October 26th.​

A soldier nearby who was keeping watch out of a window facing away from the river cried out, “Comrades, incoming tank. Its ours!”
A few soldiers rushed to the windows to get a glimpse and sure enough, a lone T-26 was making its way up the road toward Nikolai and C Company’s position.

“Let that driver know that he’s going to be helping us cross this bridge!” shouted Borislav. Glancing at the surrounding soldiers, he took one by the shoulders and said, “Comrade… Alexei is it? Yes? Good. Get down to that tank and tell the driver to make his way towards the bridge, we’ll follow him. Now go, quickly! The rest of you, keep up your fire!”

Nikolai took a position on the far end of the building near a window and continued to take potshots at the Nationalists across the river 300 meters away. A few minutes later Borislav announced they were going to make another push across the bridge. The first time didn’t go to well.

“Comrades, our tank should take care of the machine guns. Move quickly and do not stop! Now lets go kill those fascist bastards!” A cheer erupted from the surrounding men of C Company. “Well, if they don’t know we’re coming, they do now.” Thought Nikolai.

In the street behind the apartment building the company formed, concealed from the Nationalist snipers across the river. The tank was across the intersection, read to go. At Borislav’s whistle the attack would commence. Nikolai gripped his rifle with sweaty hands and prepared himself. The tank rounded the corner and began to make it’s way across the bridge. Machinegun bullets glanced off of it’s armor and ricocheted across the street, making all sorts of noise. The main 47mm gun went off and blew a small hole in a building on the Nationalist side of the bridge. Nikolai hoped it hit a machinegun. The company waited for the tank to get out ahead. Then Borislav raised his hand and blew into his whistle.


C Company raced around the corner and up the street towards the bridge. As soon as the Nationalists saw them machinegun fire erupted from windows all along the river. The fascists new what was coming and had set up a murderous crossfire. The T-26 fired again and blew a machinegun nest to pieces; the gunner slid out of the hole and fell the 2 stories to the ground. Not a second later the T-26 jerked to a stop and jumped a few inches back. Smoke poured from the rear engine compartment. As Nikolai ran past it he glanced back and saw a small hole in the body of the tank. Anti-tank gun. Probably a 37mm from Germany. The hatched opened up and the driver crawled out, covered in soot, and was promptly shot by a Nationalist sniper. His body draped over the turret as C Company raced past.

“Keep moving!” cried Borislav, racing out in front of his men.

Machinegun bullets raked the Soviets as they charged across the bridge and many were cut down leaving a trail of carnage. As C Company reached the other side they began to receive small arms fire.

“Take cover! Into the buildings!”

Nikolai ducked into a small store, the street behind him riddled with bullets. Three men followed him in. Someone behind the counter yelled in Spanish. Nikolai raised his rifle and shot him. As he cocked his Moison-Nagent another fascist burst through a door and into the room toting an MP-40. The man behind Nikolai sprayed him with his PPD-34 and he fell in a heap on the floor.

Nikolai glanced quickly around the room. It looked to be a furniture store. He spotted some stairs. “Follow me comrades” Said Nikolai to the other men in the room.

As Nikolai approached the stairs he plucked a grenade from his uniform, armed it then threw it up the stairs. There was commotion, a few Spanish shouts then and explosion followed by silence. Nikolai motioned to the other men and they raced up the stairs.

At the top of the stairs was a long narrow hallway. Immediately to the left and right were two rooms, their doors blown off. A foot poked out of the door on the right. The man in front of Nikolai was suddenly riddled with bullets and fell down to reveal a MP-40 wielding Nationalist. The fascist pulled the trigger again but the action didn’t move. The gun had jammed! Nikolai raised his rifle and shot the man dead and quickly moved down the hall, clearing the rooms with the sole survivor of the original three who followed him into the building. It was the same man who saved Nikolai downstairs.

“This room is clear!” shouted Nikolai. The building was cleared of fascists. How many more had to be cleared he didn’t know. Nikolai approached his fellow soldier. The man was examining the foot sticking out of the door to the right of the stairs.

“Comrade, if there is a God, he is watching over you this day.” Said the man, glancing at Nikolai and then at the foot. The body was sprayed on the walls of the small bedroom.

“What is your name comrade?” asked Nikolai.

“Alexei. Yours?”

“Nikolai.”

Hand drawn map showing C Company’s assault across the bridge. Made by Sergeant Nikolai after the battle. ​

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And thus ends the first update. I'll post the rest sometime tomorrow. Hope you enjoyed it!

 

[unmerged(59253)]

Nice start..will follow this AAR

 

[unmerged(47162)]

nice start! this will be interesting...good luck!

 

[Pequod]

October 30th, 1936. Furniture store on the southern bank of Bilbao.

October 30th, 1936. Furniture store on the southern bank of Bilbao. ​

“Nikolai, wake up.”
“Hmmm…what, what, I’m awake comrade Alexei.”
“We’re making a push on the fascists this morning. You’d better get something to eat.”
“Right. I’m on it.”
Nikolai was never a morning person. He rubbed his eyes as he sat up bed. The mattress was riddled with machinegun bullets and the stuffing was spilling all over the floor but it was better than sleeping on the hardwood.
“I see you’ve found yourself a nice bed. How was the sleep?” asked Alexei, smiling as he toted his PPD-34 and looked at the dilapidated mattress.
“I’ve had better.” Replied Nikolai. He swung his legs over the bedside and grabbed his rifle.
“Alright, lets go.”


“Right. Yes Comrade Sir. Of course.” Captain Borislav handed the radio receiver to the radioman and greeted Nikolai and Alexei as they came down the stairs.
“Gentlemen, look what comrade Stalin sent us for breakfast.” Said Borislav, uncovering a crate full of paper. Nikolai took one and read it. It was the Red Star, a Soviet propaganda newspaper.

“I’m allergic to paper sir.” Said a nearby soldier.

Borislav looked at the private. “Very funny. It looks like we’ll have to scavenge for food, again. Dimitri, see what you can round up.”

“Yes comrade.” replied Dimitri with a crisp salute. He disappeared into the back of the store.

Captain Borislav snatched up a piece of paper and scribbled out a quick map of C Company’s position.

“Alright, here is the plan. B Company will make a push on the right from the church and into the department store. When we hear them start their attack we’ll begin out attack directly across the street. It’s estimated there is about company strength or more. We’ll leave our heavy machineguns in the upper stories of this building and the one next to us to cover our attack. A Company will be in reserve and ready to come across the river as soon as we’ve opened up the beachhead. As far as I know that tank yesterday was the only one we’re getting for a while. High Command is reluctant to use them in urban terrain. When you hear my signal, attack. That is all.”

The men around Borislav saluted before going off to meet with their men. Nikolai went back upstairs to talk with his squad. Alexei followed him. Sergeant Korilev, Nikolai’s squad leader, was killed in yesterday’s action.

“Looks like you’re our new NCO Niki.”

“Imagine that Domni. Never thought you’d see the day, eh?” replied Nikolai, smiling. No one mentioned the sergeant. “Alright, I have this straight from the top. We’re to take the apartment buildings across the street as soon as B Company begins its assault on the Department store down the road across from the church. We’ll leave our heavy machineguns in the windows to cover our attack. We aren’t expecting any sort of tank support for this one so we’re going to have to move quickly. Everyone understand?”
The soldiers nodded.

“Right. Then prepare yourselves and await the signal. Dismissed.”



“Comon’ comrades! Forward!” shouted Nikolai. He lifted himself up over a window sill and jumped down into the street. The door to the left of him burst open and men of C Company spilled out and bolted across the barren thoroughfare. Above, M-27 machineguns belched fire and riddled the windows of the buildings across the street. The Nationalists weren’t caught sleeping and various small arms and machine guns fired into the charging Soviets.

The man in front of Nikolai released his grenade. The explosive tumbled through the air and into a second story window. It exploded seconds later and sent dust and debris shooting out of the window in a plume. Nikolai put his left hand on his helmet as a reflex to the blast and gripped his rifle in his right and kept running. Then the man in front of him was riddled with machinegun bullets and crumpled to the ground. Nikolai glanced at him as he ran past; the man’s face had a look of calm about it.

Nikolai slammed his body against the concrete wall of the apartment building next to a door. Several soldiers did the same. Suddenly, a grenade fell next to a man 20ft down the wall. He was oblivious. It exploded and sent him flying into the air, along with the 3 surrounding men. Before they landed Nikolai was already through the door.

A fascist popped up from behind an overturned table and sprayed the door with his MP-40. Nikolai fell to the ground and raised his rifle and fired but missed. The man behind Nikolai fell down dead on top of him. Then an explosion erupted in the room. Nikolai couldn’t hear a thing, his eardrums were ringing. The muffled sound of battle filled his head as saw fellow soldiers stepping over him and rushing into the building, racing up the stairs and tossing grenades. A hand reached out and flipped him over.

“Comrade, Are you ok?” said Alexei.

“I think I’ll be alright.” Replied Nikolai, shaking his head.

“Your friend upstairs must still like you.”

Just as Nikolai stood up and began making his way towards the stairs a 700kg bomb plummeted through the roof and exploded. The whole building shook as the 3rd story collapsed on the second, killing everyone in the uppermost stories. It was a miracle the whole building didn’t collapse. The blast was followed by the whine of a Ju-87 Stuka dive bomber.

Ju-87 Stuka dive bombers preparing to attack Soviet positions inside of Bilbao.​

Nikolai looked up at the ceiling. One bomb had just taken out almost a fourth of C Company. Without AA, C Company would not be able to keep up the attack.

“Enemy aircraft!” Shouted Nikolai “Everyone back across the street! Fall back!”
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Casualties were heavy among the frontline infantry units as inexperienced officers lead their men into an unforgiving urban battlefield. The river at Bilbao was particularly troublesome to the Soviets in taking the town. All three divisions of the 1st Infantry Corps suffered 60% casualties over the course of the battle. Some companies lost 75% of their men in doomed frontal assaults on fortified Nationalists positions. On the first day alone C Company of the 8th Infantry Division, 1st Infantry Corps suffered 25% casualties. The stream of wounded overloaded the already stressed Soviet supply chain. Transport ships at Oviedo ferried the severely wounded back to Leningrad and brought fresh replacements. Of the roughly 30,000 infantry who attacked Bilbao, around 18,000 were listed as casualties. Nationalist casualties were significantly lower at around 10,000.

The nonexistence of air cover would haunt the SEF for the rest of the campaign.

The logistical problem could be to blame for the defeat at Bilbao. By October 29th, superior air power coupled with a lacking Soviet supply network resulted in a Soviet withdraw. In the first true engagement of the 8 month campaign, the SEF has suffered its first defeat. It would be a month before the Soviets could recover and launch another effective attack.

The Winter Offensive of December and January​

As the first Infantry and 1st Armored licked their wounds after the failed attack on Bilbao, the 2nd Infantry Corps under General Kashirin landed in Oviedo on December 5th. By the 8th the 2nd Infantry was launching another attack on Bilbao.

This second attack went much better for the Soviets and lasted only a few hours before Nationalist forces were routed and the city captured. As a political gesture the Soviets didn’t take the city proper and waited for Nationalist forces to occupy it. Instead the 2nd Infantry moved south, into Sarraguuon.

The 1st Infantry, now re-supplied and up to full strength, moved west of Madrid to halt the advancing Nationalists at Badajoz. The 1st Armored advanced into Castellon unopposed and then pushed on to Valencia while to the west the newly arrived 2nd Motorized Corps pushed on into Guadalajara. The Nationalist forces crumpled under the number of soviet divisions. AA helped to keep the Stukas honest but in reality the Soviets still suffered appalling losses due to dive bombings. The Soviet AA did little to protect the advancing columns of men from the flocks of Stukas that would descend on the men like birds of prey.

Soviet AA gun fires an approaching German Stuka dive bombers.

Soviet Advances during December.

Republican situation end of December, 1936.​

By January of 1937 the Nationalist forces ceased to exist as a coherent fighting force. The 1st Infantry advanced into Badajoz unopposed on January 6th. By the end of the month Barcelona would fall to a combined Soviet and Republican assault. Again, the Soviets yield the city to the Republicans.

Huelva, Albacete, and Mulina fall to Soviet forces by February. The last bastion of Nationalist forces prepares to fight to the last man in the mountains of southern Spain.

Republican forces enter Barcelona on January 20th, 1937.

The 2nd Infantry, 1st Armored and 2nd Mechanized race across southern Spain to mop up the last of the Nationalist forces in late January. ​

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MLG, lifeless: Glad you enjoyed it and hope you stick around.

What do you think of the hand-drawn maps? I don't have any other photo editing software besides MS Paint and I thought the hand-drawings would add a sense of realism and uniqueness.

EDIT: Swastika removal.

 

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excellent work! but what are those slanted|X| with | at the top?

 

[Pequod]

excellent work! but what are those slanted|X| with | at the top?

Those would be enemy companies. I'm using the NATO military symbols to show formations. For a better explanation, click here.

 

[Pequod]

End of the Spanish Civil War

As soon as the 1st Infantry Corps arrived in Huelva General Timoshenko ordered an attack across Guadalaquivir River into Seville on March 1st. The attack was repulsed with the Soviets suffering heavy casualties. The 2nd Infantry Corps under General Kamenev launched an attack into the mountainous province of Jaen and a stalemate ensued. It was up to the 1st Armored to swing around south and attack from the rear of the Nationalist positions and seize Jaen, breaking the stalemate.

By March 5th the 1st Armored has succeeded in routing the last Nationalists. During the course of the battle the Soviets noticed Germans fighting on the Republican side. Anti-Nazis in Germany had formed a brigade to fight against their countrymen in Spain. The brigade, the Thaelmann Brigade, named after it's founder, saw action in Southern Spain. It distinguished itself as a capable fighting force in fighting near Seville in the later part of the war.

Germans of the Anti-Nazi Thaelmann Brigade march off to fight their countrymen in the battle for the last Nationalist stronghold in Seville.​

By March 20th the Nationalist forces were surrounded in the province of Seville. After repulsing another frontal assault from the 1st Infantry Corps the Nationalists succumbed to an attack by the 1st Armored and 2nd Infantry from the rear. On March 25th the Nationalists surrendered. The only Nationalist forces left were in exile in Africa and the Azores. As soon as Republican forces gained control of southern Spain the SEF boarded transports and sailed back to Leningrad victorious. Communism had prevailed! But at a steep price.


Spanish Civil War Casualty List

1st Infantry Corps
-177th Infantry 3,514 Out of 9,857
-191st Infantry 5,441 Out of 10,506
-8th Infantry 5,821 Out of 10,112 (C Company: 632 Out of 842, ~75% casualties)

2nd Infantry Corps
-122nd Infantry 2,361 Out of 10,752
-184th Infantry 1,231 Out of 9,748
-12th Infantry 981 Out of 8,426

1st Armored Corps
-1st Tank Division 41 Out of 8,489 (32 T-26’s Destroyed)
-198th Motorized Division 349 Out of 7,891
-163rd Motorized Division 846 Out of 8,754

2nd Motorized Corps
-210th Motorized Division 268 Out of 8,421

Total Casualties: 20,853 along with 32 T-26’s

 

[unmerged(47162)]

wow the 191th inf got mauled! well at least the survivors gained some exp!

 

[unmerged(47043)]

Nice update..I like the way you made the casualty list

 

[Edzako]

Nice self made pics realy made impression of battlefield report.

 

[Pequod]

Victory!

March, 1937 Seville, Spain.

“We need those tanks comrade! My men are getting slaughtered out there trying to take that bridge!” screamed Captain Borislav into the radio receiver. The men around him and Company HQ stood around nervously.

“Yes comrade. I’m sure you will comrade.” Borislav hung up the receiver and turned to his men surrounding him. “We aren’t getting any tanks. Again. I’m beginning to wonder why comrade Stalin had them built.” He rubbed his hand over his balding head and said, “Alright, we have orders to attack again. Regiment wants that bridge taken so the rest of the 1st Corps can move up. The fascists have us bottlenecked here and its killing us.” He paused to see the look on the men’s faces. They were good men, he thought to himself. Especially that Nikolai, the new sergeant of 2nd Squad; Borislav remembered him at Bilbao and how he lead his men across the street. He’ll go far.

Borislav continued, “Konstaninov, you’ll take 1st Squad and make a move on the bridge again. Spevak you’ll take 3rd squad and move in behind them. Vladislav?”

“Yes comrade” replied Nikolai.

“You’ll take 2nd Squad and support the attacking force. I think your men need a rest.”

“Yes, comrade.”

“Alright men, you know what to do. Keep your heads down, and good luck.”

Borislav hated not going into battle with his men but after the disaster at Bilbao Division had ordered that all company commanders refrain from participating directly in engagements. A regiment in the 191st Infantry had lost all of its company commanders in the fighting at Bilbao.
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“So where to sarge?”

“The bridge. We’ll be covering 1st and 3rd Squad.” Replied Nikolai, snatching his rifle from a camp table. The squad occupied a ridgeline overlooking the river. “Get ready. They should be making the attack soon.”

At around 08:00 a faint whistle blew down below the ridge where 2nd Squad was positioned. The road to the bridge cut through the ridge that 2nd Squad was on, bisecting it. From the ridge 2nd Squad could almost see into the fascist trenches across the river it was so high.

Nikolai saw the 1st and 3rd Squads moving forward. “Alright comrades! Open fire!” The two M-27’s under 2nd Squads possession opened up on the fascists trenches across the river. Nikolai could barely make out the puffs of dirt the bullets made on the other side.

The Nationalists waited until the Soviets were within range before they opened up. MG-34’s opened up from concealed positions and sprayed the advancing Soviets with lead. Once Nikolai’s M-27’s saw the muzzle flashes of the MG 34’s the machine gunners targeted them and opened up.

Mortars from 4th Squad began falling on the MG-34 positions. One shell landed directly on a forward machinegun nest and blew it to pieces in a plume of smoke and upturned earth. The machinegun and its gunners were nowhere to be seen.

“Comon’, comon’.” Nikolai muttered to himself. He willed the attack to succeed. “Keep up your fire on those MGs!” He ordered over the drone of M-27s. His men fire their Moison-Nagent rifles with careful aim. Nikolai raised a pair of binoculars he snatched from Company HQ and peered through them. He could make out Nationalist infantryman scurrying about in their trenches amid puffs of dirt from rifle shots while mortar rounds exploded in the background. It looked like total chaos over there.

“Sir, they’ve broken through the trenches!” exclaimed a soldier.

Nikolai put down the pair of binoculars and looked to the left. 1st and 3rd Squad had indeed taken the left-most part of the enemy trenches. The mortar rounds stopped from 4th squad and Nikolai ordered his M-27’s to fire on the trenches to the right. Nikolai put the binoculars up to his eyes again. He saw a Soviet in the enemy trench, running crouched. The soldier stopped to toss a grenade but the fell down out of sight. The grenade went off suddenly right where he fell. His comrades rushed past him, throwing grenades of their own. After some distant fierce fighting, the battlefield was silent.

“Ha, Ha! We’ve done it comrades!”

Alexei shook Nikolai awake. “Wake up Niki, we’ve arrived at Leningrad. And what were you dreaming about? You were yelling.”

“I haven’ the slightest idea comrade”

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The return home to Leningrad was a victorious one. Battle weary but glad to be alive, the SEF returned to a hero’s welcome. As soon as they got off the transports they were showered with confetti and swarmed with young girls. The Red Army Choir accompanied by the Red Army Band struck up The National Anthem of the Soviet Union and then Internationale. Red banners bearing the images of Lenin and Stalin were paraded down Leningrad’s main thoroughfare along with the victorious troops. The celebration continued for 2 days before the entire SEF was loaded onto awaiting trains to Moscow where they would march again in a victory parade in Red Square.

Soldiers from the SEF board trains that will take them to the victory parade in Red Square​

Once in Moscow the SEF was paraded through Red Square with all the pomp and circumstance befitting a victorious army, and then some. The freezing temperatures didn’t stop throngs of people showing up to wave the victorious army through. During a ceremony rarely made this public, General Timoshenko of the 1st Infantry Corps was promoted to the rank of General of the Leningrad Front on the steps of the Kremlin by Stalin himself. His 1st Infantry Corps cheered with extra enthusiasm for their commander. Little did they know Timoshenko would again lead them in battle against a different enemy almost two years later.

The victorious SEF marches in parade in Red Square​

​

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NEXT UPDATE
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The Wrath that Stalin Wrought

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lifeless: The 8th was worse. The entire 1st Infantry really go the worst of it. I remember during the early part of the campaign the whole corps was down to around 30 manpower each.

Edzako and Juste: Thank you for the replies and I hope you enjoyed this update!

 

[unmerged(47043)]

good update..Keep up the good work!

 

[unmerged(45985)]

I like this AAr very much and I have been planning on doing a Russian AAr explaining the voyage of a division from dfeat to victory. It seems that somebody has again telepathically stolen my idea .

I'm a wannabe-perfectionist so I would like to remind you about some things.

Moisin-Nagent=Mosin-Nagant

Mp-(19)40 didn't exist in '36 or '37, and I don't believe that German army had submachine gunners in squads at that time already. I might be wrong about that.

T-26's main armament is 20mm, not 47mm AFAIK.

I don't want to seem like I'm whining, but aren't there 3 platoons to a company and 3 three squads to a platoon (each platoon has 1st, 2nd and 3rd?).

Just a few pointers to make me a happier readAAR.

 

[Pequod]

Juste: Will do.

Jacko The Panda: Thank you! I'm glad you like the AAR and I'm glad you've pointed those things out.

I'm having trouble finding information on the Red Army before '41 on the net. The stuff I do find is from sources dated '41 and I just use it for the lack of anything better. If you could point to a place where you saw that information that'd be great. I just recieved two awsome books on the Eastern front by David M. Glantz and I'm just begining to read them. Both are very informative, so hopefully they'll clear some things up.

Using the source I just found the T-26 had a 45mm gun from 1933-1939. It is a little vague though ('33 and '39 are seperate dates but the 45mm bar covers them both) and there were probably many different versions of the T-26. (Isn't there a T-26s and T-26b or something like that in the game?)

As to the platoon question, I know a Russian Division was about the size of a western regiment. The scale of units was very different to western armies, so that's my excuse there . I just recently (about 10min ago actually) discovered a diagram showing the chain of command in a Russian infantry division (Western regiment). I'd post it but the thing is so huge it distorts the forums so I'll just give you a link. I'm going to be using this from now on.Linkage

I can't explain the MP-40 or "Moisin-Nagent". Chalk that one up to my...poetic license . I know better then that. Thanks for pointing that out!

I've realized a I'm made a few mistakes in the unit sizes and I hope to *cough*disguise*cough* them by the Red Army reformations and unit changes coming up (I've already written the update, it should be up soon.)

For all the rest of you guys out there that've read this AAR and like it, post a "Good job!". I take those posts and feed them to the slave I have writing my updates. He's getting hungary.

 

[Pequod]

The Wrath that Stalin Wrought

Hello? Anyone out there? I can see you!

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“I’d be careful if I was you, comrade. These are treacherous times.”

“I don’t care. Those Generals served the Soviet Union just like you and I. They didn’t deserve any of that.”

“Deserve any of what?” asked Commissar Mikhial Vlechko, C Company’s new Political Officer, as he lifted up the tent flap and strode into the company’s command tent.

“Traitors don’t deserve to serve the Soviet Union, comrade.” Replied Lieutenant Sergei Pacho promptly before Captain Borislav could reply.

“Of course they don’t, comrade.” Said Vlechko eyeing Borislav. The Captain held his tongue; if he spoke out against Generals Kashirin’s and Belov’s recent executions he could be next. The Generals were good men, thought Borislav, and didn’t deserve that fate. The three stood and complete silence for a few moments.

“Well, if you don’t have anything else to say comrades, I’ll get back to the men.” said Vlechko and with a crooked smile disappeared behind the tent flap.

“I hate that man.” Muttered Borislav.

“What?” asked Pacho.

“Nothing, comrade. Nothing.”

The Wrath of Stalin: The Purge​

Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union during the Purge​

In the late 1930’s Stalin began another systematic purge of the Communist Party. Earlier purges conducted by Lenin the 1920’s sought to expel Party members who had only joined the party to be on the winning side of the Revolution but who could care less about socialism. Some 800,000 party members were purged from the party during Lenin’s purges. None of them were executed or sent to labor camps. Stalin’s purges would be radically different from earlier “cleansings” of the Party.

Beginning in January of 1937, as Soviet armies were sending the Nationalist forces in Spain reeling, 17 lesser known figures in the Soviet government were accused of conspiring with the exiled Leon Trotsky. In highly publicized trials that were open to Westerners, all 17 men confessed to the charges of treason and were executed. This was the beginning of a reign of terror that would last until Stalin’s death.

Just weeks after the victory parades in Red Square celebrating the triumphs of global socialism General Kashirin and General Belov, commanders of the victorious 2nd Infantry Corps and 1st Armored Corps respectively, were put on trial for treason and executed some time afterwards. Of the 4 generals that commanded the SEF, 2 were dead. It is not known why Stalin didn’t take down Timoshenko, the most popular and influential of the SEF generals and who now commanded the Leningrad Front. General Sokolowskij of the 2nd Mechanized Corps was spare along with Timoshenko for unknown reasons.

The trials of early 1938 were only the beginning. By mid-1939 5 of the 4 front commanders had died (Timoshenko being the only survivor.), 53 of the 61 Army Corps commanders, and 2 of the 3 Navy Admirals. 104 of 130 division commanders were killed, including all SEF division commanders. Untold thousands of officers not found loyal enough to the Party were sent off to Siberia or sent to the firing squad.


By the end of 1939 Stalin and his inner circle realized that the purges had gone too far and relieved Nikolai Yezhov, head of the NKVD and responsible for most weeding out “un-loyal” Party members, eventually purging the very man who preached the purge methodology. Stalin later revoked the Orders of Systematic Repression and suspended the implementation of the death sentence. This ended massive, over zealous purges that crippled the Red Army.

The damage was done and there was little Stalin could do to reverse it, if he had wanted to. Virtually all the commanders who had gained any experience fighting fascists in Spain had been killed. The common infantrymen, however, still remembered the lesson’s learned in Spain. It was up to their inexperienced divisional commanders to see them through the conflicts that would threaten the Soviet Union in the coming years.


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NEXT UPDATE
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The Winter War

 

[unmerged(47162)]

Timoshenko sure is one lucky bastard it seems..

 

[unmerged(47043)]

I normally say no to the purge seems like a waste of good leaders

 

[Pequod]

"By mid-1939 5 of the 4 front commanders had died (Timoshenko being the only survivor.)"

5 of the 4....yeah, Timoshenko is pretty lucky...

 

[unmerged(47043)]

"By mid-1939 5 of the 4 front commanders had died (Timoshenko being the only survivor.)"

5 of the 4....yeah, Timoshenko is pretty lucky...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

 

[Pequod]

The Winter War​

Ever since Finland’s declaration of independence in December of 1917, Soviet-Finnish relations have been icy at best. Stalin’s demand of a 25km border adjustment in favor of the Soviets near Leningrad plus a lease on the Hanko Peninsula for thirty years to construct a naval base in exchange for parts of Karelia were unacceptable to the Fins. On November 14th, 1939, 31 Soviet divisions totaling 400,000, including support personnel, poured over the border. Stalin hoped for a short war.

The Soviet Order of Battle, Winter War, Nov. 1939

* =Light Armor Brigade Attachment
** =Heavy Armor Brigade Attachment
~ =Artillery Brigade Attachment
E =Engineering Brigade Attachment
AT = Anti-Tank Brigade Attachment
Underlined Divisions were formed in September of 1939 and are considered Green.

Leningrad Front
1st Infantry Corps (General Timoshenko)
-191st Infantry Division *
-177th Infantry Division *
-8th Infantry Division *
2nd Infantry Corps (General Tyulen)
-122nd Infantry Division ~
-104th Infantry Division ~
-14th Infantry Division E
1st Armored Corps (General Konev)
-1st Tank Division *
-198th Motorized Division **
-163rd Motorized Division *

Central Front
1st Specialized Infantry Corps (General Voroshilov)
-138th Mountain Infantry
-47th Mountain Infantry
-17th Mountain Infantry
-63rd Mountain Infantry
55th Army Corps (General Sokolovskij)
-189th Infantry Division ~
-169th Infantry Division *
-130th Infantry Division ~
-54th Infantry Division AT
-71st Infantry Division ~
-78th Infantry Division ~
-70th Infantry Division
-73rd Infantry Division
-75th Infantry Division
3rd Mixed Corps (General Kulik)
-136th Infantry ~
-24th Cavalry Division AT

Kem Army Group
23rd Army Corps (General Chuikov)
-142nd Infantry Division ~
-43rd Infantry Division E
-210th Motorized Division AT
-199th Infantry Division **
-197th Infantry Division *
-190th Infantry Division ~
-88th Infantry Division ~
-86th Infantry Division
-90th Infantry Division

Kandalaksja Front
4th Infantry Corps (General Trubinkov)
-85th Infantry Division
-80th Infantry Division AA
-79th Infantry Division ~

Northern Front (Murmansk)
5th Infantry Corps (General Frolov)
-99th Infantry Division*
-173rd Infantry Division E
-240th Motorized Division*

Soviet High Command’s Plan to invade Finland in November of 1939​

Soviet generals planned out the offensive with little preparation; Stalin had sprung the possibility of war with Finland without warning, and had just enough time to put together a few contingency plans. The final plan, adopted on the 1st of November, 1939, involved a massive infantry assault all along the border to pin Finnish divisions down and then a massive push in the south supported by air power and armor to seize Helsinki quickly and then advance up the coast. The green 4th Infantry Corps under General Trubinkov would seize Oulu and hopefully cut off Finnish troops in the North and allow the 5th Infantry under General Frolov to break out of Murmansk.
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The T-26’s engine turned over and roared to life. Exhaust bellowed from the rear engine compartment grate as it idled in the snow.

“Comon’, comrades! Helsinki or bust!” shouted Nikolai to his men as he hoped up on the T-26 Light Tank. There wasn’t much room but he was sure all 10 men of his squad could fit onto the tank. The last of the smiling men climbed on the little tank and then it jerked forward, almost knocking a few off.

Nikolai was glad High Command had allowed the tankers to operate directly within infantry formations. The 8th Infantry just received a Light Tank Brigade of 42 of the newest T-26’s before going to fight the Fins and now 2nd Squad was riding one of them. Nikolai looked behind him. The entire company was riding the little tanks down the narrow snow covered road.

Nikolai turned to Alexei and said, “This is the only way to travel!”

“Agreed!” replied Alexei with a smile while he adjusted his PPD-34.
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08:00 hours, November 14th, 1939. Russo-Finnish border.

“Open fire!”

The 76mm and 122mm artillery pieces of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Battery, 8th Infantry Division belched fire from their muzzles and hurled shells toward the Finnish lines. A few seconds later artillery Captain Dymitri Pavlov peered through his binoculars to watch the shells explode.

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Soviet Mortar team prepares to support Soviet advance into Finland. BACKGROUND: Men of 2nd Squad, C Company await the signal to attack.​

A 76mm shell screeched over Nikolai’s head and smashed into the earth a few hundred meters ahead of him. The artillery barrage had begun. In a few minutes it would stop and the 8th Infantry would be in the First Echelon of attack in the war against Finland.

“Ready comrades!?” shouted Nikolai over the exploding shells. The squad shouted back at him in approval. To the left of Nikolai the rest of C Company was beginning to advance through the snowy woods up a slight incline. “Forward!” ordered Nikolai.

The T-26’s that had brought them this close had stopped 100 meters back in the woods. Now they lurched forward, racing ahead. C Company had begun advancing through the woods. They were the front lines, the first wave. Division had ruled recon out of the question: there wasn’t enough time. Stalin demanded the attack be commenced now.

Nikolai and 2nd Squad treaded slowly through the woods. The shells had stopped ahead and he could only hope that they hit their marks. Somehow, he knew they hadn’t though. Without reconnaissance, the artillery was firing blind.

Suddenly, a M26, a Finnish light machinegun, opened up from behind a carefully crafted log pillbox. Nikolai curse himself for not seeing it as he threw himself behind a downed tree. The log absorbed the 7.62mm bullets that followed Nikolai to the ground.

“Get down!” shouted Nikolai back at his squad. He saw none of them. Where did they go? Was he alone?! He smiled as he saw Alexei poke his head out from behind a large tree. Soon the rest of the squad became visible. They didn’t need an order to take cover when someone was shooting at them.

The report of a T-26’s main gun going off startled Nikolai. He took a chance and peered up over his log and stole a glance where the log pillbox should have been. It was blow to pieces. “2nd squad! On me!” barked Nikolai as he snatched his rifle and began running ahead through the snow.

No sooner had 2nd squad got out of cover were they being fired upon again from a second pillbox, this one to the left of the first. The gun was concealed in a slit dug into the ground covered with pine boughs and then snow. The bullets zipped by Nikolai as he ran through the forest. He glanced at the tank and saw its turret rotating towards the new threat. The firing stopped and Nikolai smiled as he imagined the face of the Fin who was looking down the T-26’s barrel. He wasn’t going to stick around long enough to find out what happened next.

After a few hundred more meters of running through the snow C Company came to a halt. They’d taken the small hill they were assigned with minimal casualties. One person tripped while running and fell on a rock and broke his collar bone. He was carted back into the rear. Other then the two machineguns quickly dispatched by the T-26, C Company encountered no noteworthy enemy resistance. Nikolai turned to his squad, who were sitting in the snow, catching their breath.

“This is too easy.”

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NEXT UPDATE
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Breaking The Mannerheim Line