Turn 9: 18-24 August 1941
The enemy is putting up a fierce and fanatical fight
[image]https://i.ibb.co/Pz5h3Ts/typhoon.jpg[/image]
Italian Allies have joined the struggle against the USSR and OKW is providing a detailed situation report
Heeresgruppe Nord
Operation Würgegriff continues this week with the elimination of all enemy units south of the Neva. L AK, I AK and XXVI AK have pushed the scattered and demoralised Soviets and reached the outskirts of Leningrad. 291.Inf.Div. supported by 86.Inf.Div. and 4.SS-Pol.Div.have managed to reach Gorelovo and 21.Inf.Div. and 217.Inf.Div. are besieging the Fort of Kronstandt.
[image]https://i.ibb.co/MMhq7NQ/T9-AGN.jpg[/image]
X AK has moved towards Kolpino and Pushkin but strong enemy defences prevented them from advancing any further. II AK has checked the enemy east of Lake Ilmen and XXIII AK is continuing its northern advance protecting the overextended flanks of 16.Armee
[image]https://i.ibb.co/QcHhTxZ/battle-moscow22.jpg[/image]
Anti-tank emplacements in the center of Leningrad in anticipation of the German attack
LVI Pz.Kps drove parallel to Volkhov scattering and destroying everything in its path. 8.Pz.Div. reached Novaya Ladoga and SS-Inf.Div. mot. Totenkopf reached the outskirts of Kobona. XXXXI Pz.Kps supported LVI Pz.Kps and the two armoured formations forced all enemy units to retreat either inside Leningrad of past the east bank of Volkhov.
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PzKpfw III of 10.Pz.Rgt. of 8.Pz.Div. advancing through the forest towards Novaya Ladoga
By achieving to reach both the Baltic Sea and Lake Ladoga the city of Leningrad and all its defenders are isolated. Based on reconnaissance we can see that the defences of the city are truly formidable, something very impressive, especially given the short time the Soviets had to prepare them, but lack the necessary strategic depth. A siege is now initiated and OKW expects the city to fall within the next few weeks.
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Fuel facilities in the Kronstadt Naval Base destroyed by the Luftwaffe
Heeresgruppe Mitte
Building on the momentum created by the encirclements of Operation Nibelungen Gold, VI AK and VIII AK advanced towards Rzhev with 161.Inf.Div. capturing the city in the early hours of 22 August after heavy fighting. Clearing operations are expected to continue for a couple of days but the city is in our hands. V AK continued the elimination of the encircled enemy formations in Vyazma but the city is well defended.
[image]https://i.ibb.co/nkp8Bt0/T9-AGC1.jpg[/image]
XXXIX Pz.Kps and LVII Pz.Kps supported by XX AK conducted a coordinated pincer encircling the enemy formations in Borodino. It appears that the enemy is retreating towards Moscow and abandon their defensive positions in front of our armoured units. Detailed discussions are taking place in OKW regarding the possibility for a direct assault in Moscow by the armoured formations or the need for infantry support. A high level meeting is called for 20 August and decisions on the next stage of the attack are expected to be taken there.
[image]https://i.ibb.co/wJ5YsWv/T34-soviet-tank-36.jpg[/image]
Destroyed Soviet T-34 in Zubtsov
XXIV Pz.Kps and XXXXVI Pz.Kps advanced towards Kaluga with 10.Inf.Div.mot capturing the city. Determined defence and numerically superior enemy formations though stopped the advance towards Tula. At the moment we have managed to cross the Oka at multiple locations but the enemy is digging-in on the eastern bank and we expect a tough fight on the way to Tula.
[image]https://i.ibb.co/4MHH40M/Untitled1.jpg[/image]
Destroyed PzKpfw IV in Kaluga
Further south XXXXII AK continues the elimination of the encirclement achieved in Kirov during Operation Nibelungen Silber but the enemy is putting up stiff resistance. XXXXVII Pz.Kps supported by XXXXIII AK advanced towards Orel but faced strong resistance. Our attempts to cross the Oka failed and the city remains in enemy hands.
[image]https://i.ibb.co/bvtZYQq/T9-AGC2.jpg[/image]
Heeresgruppe Süd
XII AK and VII AK attacked the enemy positions along the front but the enemy managed to repel them. XIII AK, IX AK and XXXXIV AK continue their advance as after last week's Panzer drive to Kharkov the enemy has abandoned their positions are retreating along the open ground.
[image]https://i.ibb.co/bJBy0rt/T9-AGS1.jpg[/image]
The disintegration of the enemy defences in the area offered a unique possibility to switch schwerpunkt and XIV Pz.Kps supported by III Pz.Kps drove northwards towards Kursk that fell into the hands of 16.Pz.Div. This northern strike is expected to destabilise the enemy positions around Orel and Tula, thus allowing 2.Panzerarmee to make significant gains.
[image]https://i.ibb.co/tZCn7Xz/151794433-1601709520217792-1579019351653103181-n.jpg[/image]
Motorised Infantry SS-Regiment Westland of SS-Inf.Div. mot. Wiking advancing in Schigry
LV AK and XVII AK are moving towards Kharkov but so far determined enemy resistance stopped them from crossing the Donets. XXIX AK has reached Kharkov and the city is now isolated. XXXXVIII Pz.Kps have pushed passed the Soviet defences towards Kupyansk while creating a bridgehead on the Donets bend.
[image]https://i.ibb.co/ZBmQ2Gn/Untitled3.jpg[/image]
Observation post of Infanterie-Regiment 528 of 299.Inf.Div. overlooking enemy defences over the Donets
Further south the lack of motorised units render the advance slow but our forces are pushing the enemy further into the steppe. IV AK, LI AK and XXXIV AK have managed to reach Dnepropetrovsk and almost isolate the city. Downstream the Soviets are building their defences on the far bank of Dnepr but 7.Rum.Cav.Abt. has managed to create a small bridgehead.
In Odessa fresh Italian divisions are arriving to take control of the siege.
[image]https://i.ibb.co/pLLhTVP/T9-AGS2.jpg[/image]
Operational Summary
This week we have suffered 39,659 casualties (13,191 killed, 119 captured and 23,349 disabled) and lost 389 Guns, 86 AFVs and 32 airplanes. The Soviets have suffered 163,370 casualties (26,759 killed, 82,537 captured and 50,038 disabled) and lost 2,756 Guns, 306 AFVs and 1,150 airplanes.
[image]https://i.ibb.co/gZj6DQS/Stukas-refuelling-at-a-captured-base-in-france-May-1940.jpg[/image]
Ju-87 of I/StG2 refuelled and rearmed prior to another sortie