Nov II 2nd couplet: Frost The initial salient produced by the Russian counterattack around Tula is squashed. But this does not deter the Russian attacks in their couplet as they start to tighten the winter screw. Nov II 2nd couplet losses Soviet: 4 Infantry divisions, 1 Motor rifle division German: 4 Pz steps, 1 Mot inf, 4 Inf steps VPs 28 3FP Dec I 1st couplet. Snow! At last the Russian's main ally joins the struggle. The snow falls forcing the Axis into an ever more defensive posture. All along the line in towns and cities hedgehog defences are adopted. 30 divisions reinforce the Soviet line (for the first and only time as we are using Peter's optional table from now on). Attacks open up along the entire front with the Germans grudgingly giving ground. The first attacks are launched across the Sivash Straits. Only by sacrificing Rumanians is the line held. Dec I 1st couplet losses Soviet: 7 infantry divisions, 2 Tank divisions, 4 Tank brigades German 2 Pz steps, 8 Inf steps, 1 Rumanian division VPs 28 3FP Dec I 2nd couplet. Snow The German line pulls back 40 miles from Voronezh in an effort to shorten and strengthen their line. No German attacks. The Russians pile on the pressure making the most of the last snow bonus turn. The attacks out of the Sivash Straits are combined with attacks out of Odessa to increase the pressure. Dec I 2nd couplet losses Soviet 9 infantry divisions, 2 Tank divisions, 2 Tank brigades German 2 Pz steps, 12 Inf steps, 3 Rumanian divsions VPs 28 3FP Dec II 1st couplet. Snow 21 steps are gained from the optional Russian replacement table. The Luftwaffe are nowhere to be seen and the Russian aircraft rule the skies in front of Moscow. The Germans manage to destroy the advance out of Odessa but have to commit a panzer corps from the main front to help seal the danger from the Sivash straits. Dec II 1st couplet losses Soviet: 10 Infantry divisions, 3 Tank divisions, 1 Cav division, 2 Guard steps , German:1 Mot inf, 4 Inf steps, 1 Rumanian division VPs 28 3FP Dec II 2nd couplet. Snow The panzer corps arrives at the Sivash Straits in time to plug the danger. Russian pressure north of Moscow now forces the Axis back to the last line of the Valdai hills. The German line in the centre bends but doesn't break as the Germans reinforce the the more vulnerable parts of their line. Dec II 2nd couplet losses Soviet: 4 Infantry divisions, 1 Tank division, 2 Guard tank brigades, 2 Guard inf steps, 3 Guard Cav steps, German: 1 Mot inf, 7 Inf steps, 4 Rumanian divisions VPs 28 3FP Jan I 1st couplet. Snow 24 Russian replacements are obtained from the optional table. More guard conversions take place. It is imperative that the Russians improve the average unit strength in time for the Axis summer offensive. Some partisans arrive west of Leningrad. The German line pulls back again to 60 miles east of Kursk and only 1 hex of the Valdai hills are left in their grasp after the Russian attacks. A fortified area is wiped out on the flanks of Bryansk. Jan I 1st couplet losses Soviet: 2 Infantry divisions, 1 Guard Tank brigade, 6 Guard inf step, German: 2 Pz steps, 1 Mot inf, 5 Inf steps VPs 28 3FP Jan I 2nd couplet. Snow More planned withdrawals by the axis. The Valdai is cleared of the fascist invaders. A real purple patch of attacks results in staggering losses for the Germans. Jan I 2nd couplet losses Soviet: 3 Infantry divisions, 2 Guard Tank brigades, 1 Guard inf step, 2, Guard Cav steps German: 2 Pz steps, 2 Mot inf, 14 Inf steps! VPs 28 3FP Jan II 1st couplet. Snow 21 steps from the replacement table. Below average but the Russians have been lucky with their combat results so swings and roundabouts. More withdrawing from Axis. Voroshilov and Orel are completely cut off but are well defended by troops in hedgehog formations and are suppliied by the Luftwaffe. These 'islands' are ignored and screened to continue the pressure along the front before the army runs out of offensive supplies. Jan II 1st couplet losses Soviet: 2 Infantry divisions, 1 Tank div, 4 Guard inf step, 2 Guard Cav steps, Partisans destroyed German: 1 Mot inf, 10 Inf steps VPs 28 3FP Jan II 2nd couplet. Snow The strain is starting to show on the Axis commanders face. A pep talk and a glass of port restore his focus after the turn and the Wehrmacht resolves to fight on. The Russian attacks are ruthless and this is probably the high point of the winter counter offensive. Jan II 2nd couplet losses Soviet: 3 Infantry divisions, 1 Guard mot step , 1 Guard inf step, 1 Guard Cav steps German: 4 Pz steps, 6 Mot inf, 5 Inf steps VPs 28 3FP Feb I 1st couplet. Snow Only 18 steps gained - still these things happen and it will turn around. The Germans attack the Sivash Straits with mechanised forces that have been refitting. The siege artillery assist and results in a 1 / 2 result but the straits hold. This turn is the first of the Offensive supply limitation. The front around Smolensk is targetted for the attack. The dummy markers doesn't seem to throw the Germans. Feb I 1st couplet losses Soviet : 5 Infantry divisions, 4 Guard inf step German: 1 Pz step, 6 Inf steps VPs 28 3FP Feb I 2nd couplet. Snow The Germans fall back to Smolensk. The winter counter offensive has pushed them back over 100 miles! But now they can see the limited danger over the front and can concentrate to meet the threat. The Sivash Straits hold (1 rolled) 2/1 result. Feb I 2nd couplet losses Soviet: 1 Guard cav step, 1 Guard inf step German: 1 Pz step, 4 Inf steps VPs 28 3FP Feb II 1st couplet. Snow 18 steps again! .........hmm......c'est la vie. The Russian attack finally stalls at the gates of Smolensk. The sector has been reinforced enough to make attacks costly. The Germans once again assault the Sivash Straits. At 2-1 a 6! is rolled. That's better for the Axis. 0/3 becomes a 0/4 result but also gives them a chance to force a retreat. Net 8 required with the original 0/3 result (before adding the artillery). -1 for the snow menas a 6 is needed. The die is cast...................a 6!. The Sivash Straits fall. The panzers advance. The Russians in their turn reinforce the sector to help defend Sevastopol. They weren't expecting an early breakthrough. (Players note. In the standard game we see no way to force the Straits with the rules as written as you can always feed this choke point with fresh troops.) Feb II 1st couplet losses Soviet :5 rifle divs, 4 Guard inf steps German: 1 Inf step only! VPs 28 3FP Feb II 2nd couplet. Snow Progress is hard now for the Russians. The Germans are now starting to rebuild their battered forces. Soon the air will return and mech upgrades will begin in preparation for Fall Blau. The Russians need to keep up the pressure but the lack of offensive supply is crippling. The Germans have survived the winter to their credit without losing a single victory point. The German sense of relief is palpable. The German commander casts a glance across the table at his adversary 'At last I have stopped the B"£$%rds!' Feb II 2nd couplet losses Soviet :1 rifle div, 2 Guard inf steps German: 1 pz step, 1 Inf step VPs 28 3FP "Never before in the annals of human conflict, have so many retreated so far and so fast......" DEC I to FEB II. Gosh what 3 months !! From Tula to the gates of Smolensk leaving a red trail of 120 miles of blood stained snow. I can not believe it, I do not understand how there is still a Wehrmacht standing on a continuous front.... It is more the lack of supplies rather than the Teutonic combat ability that has stopped the red - devils. Nevertheless I am throwing around 20 newly arrived albeit third rate infantry divisions, in the AGC sector, to try to stem the Soviet juggernaut... At least we did not lose any VP cities up to now, although I suspect that this lull will not last long...... Mar I 1st couplet. Snow/Mud in the South It was agreed to retrofit the air interdiction rules to Odessa. So the garrison was wiped out (8 RD, 2 RB) and 7 German inf steps were also destroyed. This turn 24 steps were added to the Russian forces. This turn saw the removal of the GAS line restrictions and the Germans were keen to get back on the attack. The Russians has some success in the north and managed a small advance. Mar I 1st couplet losses Soviet: 6 Infantry divisions, 2 Guard Tank brigades, 6 Guard inf step, 2 Guard Cav steps German: 1 Pz steps, 1 Mot inf, 4 Inf steps VPs 29 3FP Mar I 2nd couplet. Snow/Mud 47th Pz corps starts to advance towards Orel. The beleaguered troops in the pocket hear the rumours 'Mainstein, er kommt!'. Similarly attacks are made toward Voroshilov but the terrain is better suited to the defence in the hills to the west of Voroshilov. Mar I 2nd couplet losses Soviet: 7 Infantry divisions, 1 Guard Tank brigades, 3 Guard inf step, 1 Guard Cav steps, 2 tank divisions, 4 rifle brigades, 1 cavalry division German: 1 Pz steps, 5 Inf steps, 1 Rumanian cav div VPs 29 3FP Mar II 1st couplet. Snow/Mud The Germans comb out their rear areas of cooks and administrators but only the minimum numbers are forth coming. Army group north successfully destroys the Russian salient and the status quo there is resumed. The Germans are now winding up the pressure in the centre between Bryansk and Voroshilov. The recovering Panzers start to make their presence felt. The first Pz grenadier division joins the action. Added to the onslaught is the 56th Pz corps which was stationed in the captured forts of the Sivash Straits which is now held but the Axis allies. The Russians launch their first attacks against Voroshilov backed by engineers and have some success (2/1). Mar II 1st couplet losses Soviet: 10 Infantry divisions, 1 Tank div, 3 Guard inf step, 2 Guard Cav steps, 1 Guard tank brigade, 5 rifle brigades, 1 cav div, 1 engineer reg German: 1 Mot inf, 2 Inf steps, 3 Pz steps, 1 Pz Gr step VPs 29 3FP Mar II 2nd couplet. Mud The attacks in the centre continue. The central front is getting smashed. This forces to Russians to deploy a rifle brigade screen for next turn as the weather will still be poor. This will cost rifle brigaes but will gain valuable time for Russians to reorganise their defences. Orel will certainly be relieved but Voroshilov, attacked again (2/1), is slowing being worn down. The Fallschirmjaegers are putting up a good defence. Mar II 2nd couplet losses Soviet: 12 Infantry divisions, 3 Tank divsions, 2 Guard rifle brigades, 1 rifle brigade, 1 GTB German: 1 Pz steps, 3 Inf steps VPs 29 3FP Apr I 1st couplet. Mud 24 steps are gained for the Russians. They need them! As expected the rifle brigade screen is wiped out almost to a man. However from the environs of Rostov 5 new Red tank corps arrive and head straight for Voroshilov. Lending their weight to the assault the defences start to collapse. Mar I 1st couplet losses Soviet : 8 Infantry divisions, 1 Guard inf step, 1 tank step, 2 Cav divs, 10 rifle brigades German: 3 Pz step, 6 Inf steps, 1 assault gun battalion VPs 29 3FP Apr I 2nd couplet. Mud/ Dry in the south The Germans continue to hurt the Russians in the centre. The line has been forced back over 80 miles at some points. Voroshilov finally falls. The first VP town/city recaptured on the game. The recapture of Voroshilov will free up some troops to reinforce the defences in the centre. Apr I 2nd couplet losses Soviet: 8 Infantry divisions, 1 Guard inf step, 4 Guard Cav steps, 2 Cav divs, 5 rifle brigades German: 2 Pz step, 3 Inf steps VPs 28 3FP MAR I - APR II 1942 Schlammperiode !! A sea of mud in which men, equipment animals and machines stick like flies... We have recovered somewhat our forces from the winter blows, stabilized the front and launched two counterattacks. In OREL we managed to save our belaguered comrades, but alas despite our most determined efforts in the Donets basin, Kleist's 1 PzArmee could not make any substantial progress. We lost Voroshilovgrad and the II Falschirmjaeger Corps ! (40,000 men dead or captured). If it was not for the VP required, I would not launch any sort of attack (Fall Blau) this coming summer. The state of Werhmacht is appalling. As Hitler once said for the upcoming Kursk Offensive "every thime I think of time my stomach turns..........." Apr II 1st couplet. Mud. 24 repl steps for the Russians The Germans advance 20 miles along the Front between Orel and Smolensk occupying territory relinquished by the Red Army on the previous turn. 13 inf divisions are withdrawn, from the Crimea, to the Stavka reserve. Apr II 1st couplet losses Soviet: 5 Infantry divisions, 1 Guard Tank brigade, 3 Guard inf step, 1 Guard rifle brigade 5 rifle brigades German: 3 Pz steps, 1 Inf step VPs 28 3FP Apr II 2nd couplet. Dry The dry weather spurs the Wehrmacht into action. The partially rebuilt and upgraded German mechanised forces hurl themselves at the Russian line. East of Bryansk the line shatters and only a screen of 2 inf divisions bars the path to Kaluga. In response the Russians withdraw completely from the salient between Smolensk and Kaluga. All the hard won ground won over the winter is lost at a stroke. Apr II 2nd couplet losses Soviet: 15 Infantry divisions, 1 Tank brigades, 2 Guard inf steps, 3 rifle brigades, 3 cavalry divisions German: 4 Pz steps, 2 Inf steps VPs 28 3FP May I 1st couplet. Dry 24 Russian repl steps 7 Guard division conversions and the reserve formed from the Crimea help to stiffen the line. The Russian line is hit hard again and reluctantly Stavka withdraws back once more behind the Don. A large offensive is launched against Army Group North spearheaded by 7 freshly arrived Tank Corps. The attacks, although promising so much, fail to deliver and the commander in invited to Moscow for a private audience with Stalin himself. He expects to be away from the front for 'some time'. May I 1st couplet losses Soviet: 5 Infantry divisions, 2 Guard inf steps,1 Guard tank brigade, 4 rifle brigades, 2 tank brigades German: 4 Inf steps, 4 Pz steps VPs 28 3FP May I 2nd couplet. Dry The Axis attacks hit a real 'purple patch'. The Soviets watch in awe and envy as their line starts to fall apart in places. Even at Rostov the spearheads advance and destroy improved positions in which the defenders felt they were safe. May I 2nd couplet losses Soviet: 8 Infantry divisions, 2 rifle brigades, 2 GTB 5 Guard inf steps, 3 Guard tank steps, 2 tank brigades German: 5 Inf steps VPs 28 3FP May II 1st couplet. Dry 24 Russian repl steps The front line is now almost back to where it was at the start of winter 1941. The Russian defence is now fully back behind the Don. The only positive point is that the Valdai hills are still completely behind the Russian lines. The attacks against the fascist contine in the North with more success. The Rostov front is further squeezed. The Germans now too start to see their losses mount. May II 1st couplet losses Soviet: 12 Infantry divisions, 4 Guard inf step, 2 tank step, 1 mot div, 1 Guard tank brigade German: 2 Pz step, 1 mot inf, 13 Inf steps, VPs 28 3FP May II 2nd couplet. Dry AGS pushes on toward Rostov gaining more ground. The suburbs are Tula are now within sight. The German commanders are calling for one big effort. Case Blue may soon be called to crack the weakening line. May II 2nd couplet losses Soviet: 13 Infantry divisions, 8 Guard inf step, 2 Guard tank brigades, 1 Guard rifle brigade, 1 tank step, 1 tank division German: 4 Pz step, 8 Inf steps VPs 28 3FP Berlin 29th of May 1942... OKW released today the news that the Furher promoted to the rank of Field Marshal, Colonel - General der Panzertruppen Hans Reinhardt whose 3rd Panzer Armee smashed the Soviet Front between Orel and Bryansk and advanced in a month of hard fought campaign under the most severe mud conditions more than 140 miles to the outskirts of Tula !! In handing him the FM's baton and oak leaves with diamonds to the knight's cross 1st class, the Furher remarked to the superior teutonic skills in warfare, sure sign that the final and total victory belongs to the Grosses Reich. This spectacular as well as unexpected victory means that the great upcoming summer offensive can be launched against Moscow, from the line Kaluga - Tula, less than 100 miles from the Kremlin itself! June I 1st couplet Dry 21 replacement steps for the Russian 4 motorised inf div upgrade to Pz Gren divs to boost the Axis mechanised armoury. Gross Deutschland Pz Gren div also appears. The Germans advance to the southern outskirts of Tula. 7 Russian tank corps are released from around the steppes in front of Rostov to meet the German armour head on. June I 1st couplet losses Soviet: 11 Infantry divisions, 4 Guard inf steps German: 10 Pz steps, 3 Inf step VPs 28 3FP June I 2nd couplet. Dry Reinhardt's 3rd Pz army further envelops Tula. Guard inf take the brunt of the attack. In the south the German high command demand much, (perhaps too much) of ther forces. Again and again they assault the the Soviet line with little progress. Gross Deutschland is blooded on the steppes. They realise the propaganda heard when their proud division was forming was not all true. June I 2nd couplet losses Soviet: 7 Infantry divisions, 2 Guard Tank brigades, 7 Guard inf steps, 1 engineer regiment German: 9 Pz steps, 2 Inf steps, 1 mot inf step, 1 Hungarian division VPs 28 3FP June II 1st couplet. Dry 18 Russian repl steps Even the massive Soviet industry can not match their losses. Guard tank brigade cadres are left off map as the industrial output can't equip them with new tanks. Many on map guard inf divisions are short of vital equipment to allow them to function fully. Further pressure in the centre enforces another withdrawal behind the Don. All of their troops are now on the east bank. Tula has a narrow lifeline out of the city to supply the Guard army which now defends the citadel. June II 1st couplet losses Soviet: 8 Infantry divisions, 2 Guard inf steps,1 rifle brigade, 3 tank steps German: 3 Inf steps, 4 Pz steps, 5 Pz Gr steps VPs 28 3FP June II 2nd couplet. Dry The armoured confrontation continues in front of Rostov. It means the Russians can't support any other part of the front for offensive action for now but Rostov must hold and to hold we must be able to counter-attack. Tula will have to make do with defensive action for now but there are signs that the Germans are swinging more forces to the Tula district to reinforce their success in this region. June II 2nd couplet losses Soviet: 10 Infantry divisions, 2 rifle brigades, 2 Guard inf steps, 3 tank steps German: 3 Inf steps, 4 Pz Gr steps, 4 Pz steps VPs 28 3FP