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Instead of withdrawing behind the Dniepr as ordered, the hot-headed Field-Marshal in command of AG South sees an opportunity to exact revenge and orders his forces to launch a full-scale assault towards Kharkov with the aim of utterly destroying the Russian forces opposing him.
He nearly managed to pull it off, but at least the picture taken of him before the great tractor works flying the German Flag will be a great collector's item after the war.
Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, saved from a German concentration camp by advancing Russian troops in September 1944, would later make the infamous comment that "this operation made the Charge of Light Brigade look like a sensible military exercise".
Increased the fighter output after the unexpected losses in the last turn. I have to calculate with my disadvantage in fighter tech. As long as i can´t engage the german fighters they remain a threat.
A good place to be for the russian footsoldiers. They are very successful. The complete german defense was knocked out and Warsaw was captured. The germans now feel what it means to fight with infantry only against attack forces with massive air and artillery support.
Near Kharkov i flew some successful air attacks and rebuild my defense line. If the germans decide to continue their attacks they´ll become the nuts in my nutcracker since my southern "jaw" (Stalingrad front) is already very close and i have massive air assets in range.
My Baku front smashed thru the Kerch Straight destroying any opposition in their way. But even they had a awesome artillery and air support the attackers lost about 50% of the infantry participating in the attack. Now nothing can stop the Baku front. Sevastopol will be free soon.....
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In the Ukraine they head West... some stragglers will undoubtedly be caught by the pursuing Russians, but the bulk of my forces have a good chances of escaping unscathed.
After the end of the two german army groups i wasn´t able to march to Berlin which would be the logical target for these forces Had to go south to clear the map and meet with my southern forces. No german opposition ready to fight me now.
After reoccupying the Crimea and Sevastopol my Baku front is on their way to enter Romania.
Near Kharkov the situation becomes critical for the holding germans. I´m close to cut their last supply line, so they have to go back or die. My forces will simply press them out of russia supported by the red air force which is now very close to the front for max support.
A not very spectacular end, but the Wehrmacht is really finished.
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Germany, Turn 60, September 14, 1944
My final turn and an anticlimactic one as well. Facing ever growing numbers of Russians and ever decreasing production I cannot do anything but run away... If only this game used some kind of manpower limit, things might have turned out differently
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The Dniepr front shows my last attacks of game, blunting the spearhead trying to get behind my front. If such an attack was launched in force from Smolensk with target Kiev ten turns ago, a spectacular victory might have been achieved by the Russians, but now it's too little, too late.
Still, my counter-attacking forces will probably be slaughtered by Seille's air force which is (too) close by.
The germans can´t longer inflict any higher losses on my side. While i enjoy now a huge production base (bigger than prior to the war) And it is still damaged. Warsaw is to 50% destroyed, Konigsberg nearly completely. Same for Kharkov and Sevastopol. With all these production facilities repaired i could send unarmed mens and would still win....
A last big screen showing how the front is melted away or better said the german territory
My forces are not longer to stop by Germany. All they can do is blowing up bridges and trying to defend in mountains or behind rivers. But with my actual forces concentrated in the south and the german production (what´s left from) i could eliminate any resistance by air and artillery attacks only.
German AG South was able to evade the pocket i was ready to close behind them, but it was only the 60 turn time-limit that saved them. And the lack of levelbombers on my side to destroy the key bridge in time 2 or 3 more turns and they would have gone the way AG Center and AG North has gone a few turns ago. But for now George did the best out of the situation and saved the lives of many of his heroic fighters.
I still don´t think this game end should be a draw or marginal german victory. These victory conditions are a joke since without the map end at Warsaw i would be in Berlin YET. Much faster than Russia was in reality. In addition the Wehrmacht is not longer existing. The few units would die very fast without enough reenforcements.
Probably the first game that was ever played over the full rounds, so the victory conditions were never a problem. For me they are simply not well configured. The early fall of Warsaw was not honored. Same for the fact the Wehrmacht is nearly destroyed. I can still feel the frustration when the game ended in this situation simply cause i did not sit in Bucharest. The facts are the Wehrmacht is not longer existing and Berlin is fallen or close to with AG North and Center completely gone. I feel definitely like the winner even for 80% of the game this was not the case
Great AAR for the best Advanced tactics scenario which is worth the price of the game on its own. Perhaps someone will redo this scenario to include Berlin? Or better still, about time we had Advanced Tactics sequel
There are several little bugs in the scenario which need a fix. The victory conditions are another problem. I have a little list of things i found
The weather changes always happen in turn xx player 1, the german. Need to be random (player 1 or 2). A imbalance wich favors Germany.
I could do the needed changes, but i don´t want to do a mod xx of this scenario. When i do these changes which would definitely improve the scenario i want to replace the original scenario with, but actually no bigger game update is planned where this reworked scenario could be included. Sad thing, since there are really some bugs in the game. Maybe later. However, it is and will be my favorite scenario, too. With or without bugs
Followed this epic battle right from the start. Huge thx for sharing it with us in this outstanding AAR. (sad to see that is it all over now - maybe a rematch?? )
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Seeing the graph, the turning point was in early 1944, or possible late 43. Any comments as to when the tide started turning and some discussion on what lead to the turning point. Strategic/tactical etc. Would be interesting to hear you elaborate a little on that.
BTW, when will the epic HBO series based on this AAR start broadcasting?
The turning point was north of Baku when i moved my front back for a 1-turn-break. This way i reduced losses and allowed my fresh troops to get some experience. In addition i moved my planes down to attack between Stalingrad and Baku.
From my point of view this was the turning point in the south. A high impact had the destruction of the many german planes on the unguarded airfield near Stalingrad.
That was the key in the south in winter 43/44. In the north it was the successful defense and counter attack after the fall of Leningrad. Played very good there (in the south i made more mistakes...)
Over the whole game i was close to surrendering three or four times especially when the romanians kicked my ass after the fall of Baku with often 500+ infantry losses per turn. But i had always front parts that made me happy, so i continued
Some comments. (note. these are all my personal ramblings, while in high fewer etc).
First of all. I generally think that you both fought well. That being said. Notable tactical mishaps 1) Obviously when George forgot his 40-50 airplanes to close to the front in july 1943. I think the game could have looked differently if that hadnt happened. These things will happen in such a large game, but the magnitude is hightened by the fact that airforces were so concentrated. 2) The german airforces kamikaze attack in january 1942. Not realizing that the winter penalty applies to aircraft and loosing some 30 aircraft 3) Seilles fighting in Leningrad in april-may manning leningrad a little to easy and leaving some 15 fighters/divebombers within range of Georges forces. Notable strategic strangeties 1) Seille concentrating so much on his northern offensive that he ignored Georges thrust into Caucasus which in the end cost him Maikop, Baku and almost the game. 2) George not taking a couple of turns taking Crimea in 1942 (and instead using for example the SS to run around seemingly without a goal in 1942). 3) Seille never exploring or exploiting the huge gaps in german lines. I know. FoW. But still.
Time when it seemed most likely that 1) George would win the game. In januari 1943. He had captured Maikop and Stalingrad and cut of Baku from outside reinforcents even reaching the end of the map. This while still holding Leningrad. What did the Russians have left? 2) Seille would win the game. December 1941. George hadnt gotten anywhere or taken anything. And what he had he was retreating from (which altough a good tactic didnt seem as grand in the homeland newspapers).
Notable observations, differences, oddities in production etc 1) George constantly went for producing Mortars which Seille didnt to any large extent. Mortars are IMO the best unit in the game and a large reason (although only partial) why he constantly caused greater losses to Seille than Seille did to him (i know there were other factors also). 2) nobody used to any extent Bazookas, AT-Guns or Scouts.
Honorable mentioning to 1) The Romanian AG. Much maligned in the official newspapers these stout balcanic peoples showed the world where its really at. 2) The defenders of Sevastopol. "Wait, they are coming, no... doesnt seem so. Wait, now they are really comming. Still nothing." etc. The final fall of fortress Sevastopol must have had some instance of " a boy crying wolf about it"
< Message edited by Grymme -- 2/15/2009 5:47:03 PM >
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RE: George vs. Seille - A Russia 1941 AAR over 60 turns - 
RE: George vs. Seille - A Russia 1941 AAR over 60 turns - 
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