hatemf90
Posts: 305
Joined: 1/1/2009 Status: offline
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First a little history: In general after the first few turns the lines remains largely static due methodical approach of the Germans and intensive fortification building by the Russians, but also including limited but unstoppable attacks by the Germans and also limited but aggressive attacks by us, with major exception of Tyulenev front in the south which had back-and-forth battles all game and was the most destructive for both sides. Red Airforce was weak but able to launch attacks strong enough to hurt the Germans advance. june 41, Start of Barbarossa: Losses are massive, and there is total panic on the front, infact all armies are crushed and the survivors helpless, except 5th Army's Armor formations and 18th army near Odessa which mostly survived. The few mobile units left are retreated into newly set defensive lines. july 41: More advancement for the Germans towards major cities of Minsk, Kiev and Kirovgorad in the south, our forces are very weak and mainly consist of raw recruits. august 41: Ktrponos front: fortified defensive lines begin to emerge all along the front, especially the Kiev defensive line which was completed before the Germans arrival by sheer luck (any weakness in that line would've led to encirclement and eventual destruction.) Tyulenev front: The Germans cross the Bug river with a powerful bridgehead, and on the outskirts of Kirovgorad, we manage to cutoff and encircle this bridgehead, our first real victory in the war. sep 41: Our losses continue to be massive, averaging 1000+ infantry and corresponding number of artillery and tanks EVERY turn so far. Yeryomenko front: the enemy crosses the river and holds a powerful bridgehead on the other side, we realize this and rush reserves to plug the line, but the acquired bridgehead will remain in enemy hands for many months to come. Timoshenko front: we manage to evacuate all of the Minsk garrison by careful planning and a big fleet of trucks and use them as the core of a new defensive line. Yeremenko front: due to a mistake on the very first turn this front didn't receive any production, this error will cost me dearly later as it turns out to be the main direction of attack of the Germans in this part of the front, for now this front retreats helplessly. Oct 41: Yeryomenko front: the enemy fortifies his bridgehead and we reinforce the opposite side of the bridgehead, situation is under control but just barely. Timoshenko front: due to another error in planning, the Dneiper river which was supposed to be the main defensive line was left weak, allowing the germans crossing in mass and forces us to abandon it completely to avoid encirclement of Timoshenko front. Yeremenko front: more retreats with no end in sight, spearhead is lead by strong SS units. Ktrponos front: Powerful Kiev defensive line holds, allowing us to focus on more critical fornts. Nov 41: Siberian reinforcement arrives and help stabilize the situation in Yeremenko front which is desperate. After defeats in Timoshenko front and Yeremenko front (both holding the middle section of the front) we are pushed back completely from the Dnieper river and construct a major new defensive line called the Stalin line, starting from Smolensk in the north (Timoshenko) and ending with the already existing Kiev fortification line which is makes the southern anchor of this line. Many women, children and babies died in the building of this line. The Red airforce which was constant annoyance to the Germans is attacked in all its major basses and basically wiped out, from this point the Red airforce basically disappears from most of the front. Dec 41: Winter finally arrives, with mud in the south grounding all planes, this is a welcome news for Tyulenev front which has been in destructive battles so far, fighting bravely for Kirovgorad which changed sides 4 or 5 times and is now a burning rubble. Considering the Germans have been weared down, we decide to use this opportunity to retreat to a new defensive line or risk total destruction of the front.
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