WIELKOPOLSKA - Phase 2 - Cutting Off Essen
October 26, 1939 - 16:00 - Recapture of Stralsund (again):
The straggling
Armia Lodz and
Armia Pomorze begin now to trickle into Stralsund...as it turns out, just in time.
October 26, 1939 - 17:00 - Rostock:
Just as
Armia Lodz arrives in Stralsund, the Germans launch a surprise night attack from Rostock on Potsdam in a bid to either recapture Berlin or connect with Cottbus (with the AI, who knows which). I only have a single infantry korp defending Potsdam, but I seize the opportunity to flank attack Rostock with my newly arrived troops. I lose in Postdam, but wear the Germans down in Rostock preventing them from exploiting their victory. To further pressure the Germans, I then attack Lübeck in the hope of trapping the Germans divisions in Rostock before they can retreat. After 3 days of continuous combat, I recapture the initiative and both battles in Rostock and Lübeck are won. I had hoped to capture some of the German ships docked in Rostock, but unfortunately I fail.
October 29, 1939 - 6:00 - Dortmund:
Now that my infantry has arrived in Kassel, I'll attempt another attack on Dortmund...this time with a lot more support for the cavalry. Taking Dortmund is an important objective since its capture will effectively doom all German forces in the north by cutting them off from their supply source in Essen.
November 1, 1939 - 7:00 - The Approaching Winter:
Already, signs of winter can be seen. I've already experienced some winter fighting in the Bavarian Alps of Lech, but gradually I'm beginning to see signs of lower temperatures and frozen terrain at lower elevations as well.
November 1, 1939 - 9:00 - At the Doorstep of Essen:
1. Korp Kawaleria arrives in Dortmund at 9:00 and immediately launches a probing attack on Essen which is lightly defended with a single German garrison division. I decide to not press the attack until my infantry can catch up.
November 2, 1939 - 0:00 - IC Status:
I'm climbing, Germany's declining. There it is.
November 2, 1939 - 6:00 - Hannover:
Now that I have the German forces in the north cut off from their supply source, I'll press the advantage and send
POLSKA 1 into Hannover. The battle ends quickly although I expect to meet sporadic resistance as the Germans attempt to move their forces south in an attempt to break out of the encirclement.
November 3, 1939 - 0:00 - A New Garrison Division:
Another garrison division is now ready for deployment. I decide to put the garrison in Bratislava since this area currently has the highest revolt risk coupled with 8 IC giving me the greatest return on my IC/manpower investment. Notice that the garrison unit also lower revolt risk in adjacent provinces.
Garrison Police arriving in Bratislava by Armored Train
November 3, 1939 - 3:00 - Nazis Attempt to Retake Kassel:
Right after midnight, the Germans attempt to cut me off in Dortmund by attacking Kassel where I'm relatively weak (Kassel is defended by only 2 infantry korps). The German attack is 2-sided, 1 from Münster (which is cut off from supply) and the other from Saarbrücken (currently in supply). I respond immediately with my own 2 pronged attack and after a day's fight the battle is won. I've sent my cavalry to advance into Saarbrücken. It's capture will isolate the remainder of Germany from their supply source in Essen.