Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Champagne

I can't speak for the company, because I'm just a regular customer. However, from my somewhat limited familiarity with the history of the campaign, I know that any start date of 15 May 1941 might give the Axis a DIS-advantage. I'm saying that a 15 May start date might actually benefit the Soviet side.

Here's why:

1) Spring Mud: Spring, 1941 was more rainy and muddy than usual. As such, any mechanized offensive beginning on 15 May 1941 would experience muddy conditions that will slow the advance and burn much more fuel, and probably ammo, because the Soviet infantry units would be moving to action points almost as fast as the German mechanized units.

2) German mobilization: It's a fact that, even on 22 June 1941, the German forces that attacked the Soviet Union were, just then, fully assembled and mobilized. However, a start date of 15 May would find the German mobilization and assembly for attack LESS than optimal. As such, the offensive would proceed with a less combat-ready force than the force assembled and mobilized on 22 June 1941.

3) Time for Soviet mobilization: Think what happens when a slower-developing Barbarossa opposes a Soviet mobilization that has more time to build defense lines at the Dnieper-Dvina River line and other defense lines further East towards Moscow and Leningrad. Would the German forces be better off compared to starting Barbarossa on 22 June? I am not sure. I think perhaps that the Soviets would have PREFERRED a 15 May start date, because they would have had more time to mobilize, once it became clear that Germany had launched an all-out attack. The Soviets would have had more time to mobilize because the 15 May Barbarossa would develop more slowly due to mud and due to incomplete German mobilization.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ObeseMonkey

Intersting, though thats exactly why It'd be fun to do. Bit of a challenge, and I often don't play to win (partially because I am awful).