My D21 attempt

[700851McCall]

In the Caucasus Operation Winter Dammerung ('Winter Dawn') is about to commence. The entirety of 4th Panzer Army has railed into the sector over several weeks, along with the Grossdeutschland division, railroad artillery assets to help with the breakthrough, and several other divisions. The ground either side of the railroad is covered with men and materials for a length of 50 kilometres, they are all waiting for the green light.

[700851McCall]

Operation Winter Dawn: Breaking through the Soviet MLR. This didn't pan out as well as expected due to failed force proficiency in the first round. Just what you need at the start of a major offensive:




And the situation after 1 week of fighting. The entire MLR was surrounded and destroyed. All but one of the railroad engineers is deployed here to repair the line running south-east. The oil fields at Grozny are only 100 km away. However we have run into an NKVD division with a heavy artillery unit dug into a mountain and blocking the advance. Our lead elements are too weak to tackle it.



***

I took the theatre option to upgrade SS Wiking to a panzergrenadier divison. I did not realise this would reduce their effectiveness from 100% to 80%. Oh well, live and learn.

On the Black Sea coast we make some gains but then a Soviet counterattack surrounds and destroys the 3rd Geb Mountain Division. Not good. Not good at all.

***

The Soviets continue to put pressure on the north flank of the Stalingrad salient. The situation here could deteriorate rapidly. 326 infantry division has railed in from AGC to help out. This leaves AGC with just one division in reserve. I have stripped the reserve from everywhere for the southern offensive and the Soviet now has a scary number of units piled up against my lines.

Note all the units he has sat on the frozen Volga. I really need the warm front to come in and unfreeze the rivers to take the pressure off but we are only in the first week of February so that is not going to be for a while yet.




***

Up in Finland the Soviet push was cut off from supply, surrounded and completely destroyed. The Finns are very short of replacements, though. Note the blown bridges and the Finnish ski troops cutting the supply road:

[700851McCall]

Mount Elbrus, the highest point in Europe, is captured:

[700851McCall]

February 14th 1943 (Turn 173)

The oil wells at Grozny are captured by recon elements of SS Das Reich div. But the city itself is heavily defended. We continue to be held up by 'NKVD Mountain'. In fact we cannot even shift the troops holding the approaches to it despite heavy bombardments. A siege mortar has been brought up.

Elements of SS Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler have arrived in theatre and moved straight to the front. Gross-Deutschland division is re-supplied and can re-join the fighting this turn. Note forward airbase with flak unit defending (circled). I've moved a few additional fighter squadrons down south for this operation. I don't think it is possible to get even local air superiority but it all helps. A unit of Brandenburgers is stationed there as well, ready to fly off and drop where they are needed.



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Overview of sector. Lines show advance and intended advances.




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The Southern front from space: (Stalingrad and Grozny marked) Arrows show lines of advance.

[700851McCall]

Mid February 1943

Grozny is captured by the panzer regiment of the G_D div after a massive bombardment reduces the NKVD defenders to a crust. A heavy enemy counter-attack falls on 503rd Heavy Panzer Bn. They hold off the Soviets against all odds, losing only 4 Tigers but expending all of their ammunition.

In the extreme east of the image below elements of Das Reich have cut the last remaining rail link with south. Unless the Soviets have another source of supply the units remaining in the Caucasus will be struggling.

'NKVD Mountain' was surrounded and destroyed. There are a few motley enemy units left in the sector that need mopping up but otherwise there will now be a general pause in the offensive while we resupply. Railhead is nearing Grozny.




***

The plus 2 to supply for holding Grozny kicks in immediately:




***

Further south on the other side of the mountain range the multi-national force of mountain troops assisted by 23rd Panzer div has succeeded in pushing forward to the edge of the wider coastal plain. The non-cooperation rule makes operations here a nightmare. Arrow shows direction of advance and our intent to flank around the defence to the east.




***

Just south of Stalingrad the enemy salient is pressed from three sides and finally collapses. The Soviet 179th tank brigade is the last formation left but they bravely fight us to a standstill. A week of resupply will be needed here now, but destroying the salient allows the line to be significantly shortened, freeing up divisions for the next offensive.

[DanNeely]

ORIGINAL: 700851McCall

Mid February 1943

Grozny is captured by the panzer regiment of the G_D div after a massive bombardment reduces the NKVD defenders to a crust. A heavy enemy counter-attack falls on 503rd Heavy Panzer Bn. They hold of the Soviets against all odds, losing only 4 Tigers but expending all of their ammunition.

In the extreme east of the image below elements of Das Reich have cut the last remaining rail link with south. Unless the Soviets have another source of supply the units remaining in the Caucasus will be struggling.

'NKVD Mountain' was surrounded and destroyed. There are a few motley enemy units left in the sector that need mopping up but otherwise there will now be a general pause in the offensive while we resupply. Railhead is nearing Grozny.

To the north, the rail line running behind Stalingrad via Astrakhan should keep supply flowing. To the south Baku is a 100% supply point and there's a 50% on the Iranian border representing lend lease send via the middle east.

All the units you've got trapped north of the mountains are going to be hurting badly though because of the gaps in the road at the tops of the passes.

[700851McCall]

Thanks for the intel, Dan. I wondered if they might have a supply point down there somewhere. No matter, we will be at Baku within a month!

At least that's what we're telling the Fuhrer...

[700851McCall]

Here's an example of what the Soviets have along most of the front (except the far south). Look at the size of these stacks and they are full of armour. He's probably got more tanks here than there are in the entire Axis army and this is just one tiny section of a very long front. And don't forget this is just what the Axis can see. It may look like the steppes are empty behind those tank units but in reality they will be thick with arty, HQ and other units.



***

The Soviets continue to attack aggressively at points all along the line. Sometimes they obliterate an entire division. It costs them very dear, and then they can't exploit the hole; but I then have to wait 6 or so turns before the division is rebuilt and returns, then another couple while it gets up to strength. These are full strength German divisions he is destroying, mind. Full fortified, on 150% supply and backed by at least 2 artillery units/HQs, also on over 100% supply.

Here he has destroyed a division and got an armoured brigade an infantry div and a cavalry unit into the breach. The nearest reserve is a regiment of Romaian marines 200 km to the south and the Hungarian panzer div 150 km to the north.




****

I like to pile my flack units up on the airfields to protect my planes, if there are any spare I break them down and use them for 'Korsett Versteifung' or 'corset stifening'. The Germans would sometimes stick a company of German troops with 2 companies of minor allies to increase their chances of holding the line. You can't do that at the scale of this game so here I have deployed these flak units with these Hungarian infantry divisions who are faced with a chunk of Soviet armour. A few extra 88mm guns can be a big advantage in the defence.



***

Just south of Stalingrad there is chance to surround a bag of Soviet units, mostly HQs.




But they cannot be moved despite being attacked from front and rear. In the end we have to settle for pushing back the units immediately to their west and shortening the line. There's no ground shock advantages from now on in, both sides have 100%.

It's worth considering the victory conditions at this point. The stipulation is that the Soviet must capture Berlin by May '45 or the Axis win. Despite the fact that he still has masses of units in play I can't really see the Soviet getting to Berlin from here. His plus 5 supply bonus has expired so with the penalties for the loss of the oilfields and the Volga traffic he can't have any better supply than I do. And he's got to build his own rails all the way back from Stalingrad to Berlin in less than 30 months? Good luck with that!

Hitler's ultimate goal was to push the Soviets back behind the Urals. Then a fortified line would be established along the mountain range, from the Caspian to the Artic. There would always be fighting on this front, forever. The idea was that it would be where new recruits would be sent to get their baptism of fire, and experienced troops would rotate in and out. This way they would never become 'soft'. Absolutely crackers of course but I am going to adopt this as my own victory condition as it is technically the historical German objective.

***

In Finland we can do nothing more until the bridges wrecked by the enemy advance are repaired so that supply can flow. The Finnish engineers are making a meal of it, which is odd as they had no trouble with the bridges further south. After a month of no progress AGN sends all its engineer assets up there to help.

[700851McCall]

The Soviet attacks have put pressure on to wrap up the operation in the Caucasus. The week long pause in operations that was planned is reduced to just a couple of days.

Intel reports that the enemy do not have many forces south of the mountains. Baku is still a long way away but this is really just a big mopping up job now down here. Gross Deutschland div will provide the muscle for any stubborn hold-outs. Further north there's a general move forward to the Volga delta from the west whilst an SS panzer div and supporting troops push up the rail line from the south.

The intention now is to get up and behind Stalingrad and unhinge the entire Soviet front. I need to crack the enemy before the end of '43 and this appears to be the only strategic option open. The first warm front has arrived, and the Volga and the lakes in the Stalingrad sector have unfrozen, taking the pressure off a little. Here's an overview of the south showing the lines of advance.

[700851McCall]

March 10th 1943 (Turn 180).

The front lines from space before anyone has moved. In the south arrows show the line of advance and intended advance. The plan is to cross the Volga at Stalingrad and just south of Stalingrad and unhinge the entire Soviet line, simultaneously rolling it up and driving deep behind it to cut supply. I can use the rail line that runs directly north from Astrakhan for supply. Note the Ural mountains on the far right of the northern map.


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***

SS Totenkopf division has returned to theatre and is currently waiting at Rostov. There is a shortage of rolling stock and it had to be used to ferry units to Soviet breakthroughs further north. Totenkopf is a huge division with a heavy tank regiment and recon elements. It will spearhead the initial drive across the Volga. Spring storms period will soon be here which will halt all operations for a couple of weeks. After that passes the main offensive will be back on!




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Operation Winter Dawn reaches its final objective of Makhachkala on the Caspian and is concluded.




****

Near Moscow the Soviets succeed in retreating the 17th infantry div. But look at what it costs them! Over 1000 infantry squads and over 500 guns and mortars. There were 150 T34s in this attack, too, but only 15 were lost. My infantry need panzerfausts!

[700851McCall]

Panther tanks arrive at the front with 51st Heavy Panzer battalion.




They are immediately thrown into the attack, with disastrous results. 34 Panthers are destroyed and the objective is not achieved. The veteran 25th Motorised div is brought up and crushes the remaining resistance.

***




This lakeshore fortress just south of Stalingrad is now becoming a major problem. After a heavy bombardment 75th infantry div had a go at it but with little result. There are fortified infantry and two tank battalions in there. While it still holds, enemy reinforcements are able to stream across the Volga behind it. We are gathering for a major assault from three sides.



***




A little further south and recon elements of the SS Das Reich div reach the suburbs of Astrakhan! The railhead is just to the south out of frame.



****




And further south still, pioneers of the SS LAH div are just over 100km from Baku. Nothing can stop us now!

[700851McCall]

March 31st 1943 (turn 186).

Here is the situation in the south. Baku is captured but we are out of supplies. Railhead is still 200 km to the north. There is only a Soviet supply unit in the area but it cannot be attacked at present. It presents no threat, however.

There are still quite few Soviet units left in between the mountains and the Turkish border. And they still have supply from somewhere.

We have crossed the Volga just north-east of Astrakhan and have established a bridgehead (circled) with 21st Luftwaffe Field Div and the heavy panzers of SS Das Reich. Railhead is 150 km to the south and most troops need re-supply. A pause in the advance, although undesirable, is necessary.



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Baku. There is no supply down here. Note the trapped Soviet supply unit. These things are tougher to kill than you'd think.




***

This salient around Staritsa is causing us some problems. The Soviets have a bridging unit over the Volga ( where the arrow is but not currently visible) and are continuously reinforcing over it. We have enough divisions in this sector to attack in rotation, but they are mostly Romanian and they tend to make heavy weather of it. If I can crush this salient that ends Soviet resistance on the west bank of the Volga from the Caspian to north of Stalingrad.





****

That's the good news. The bad news is that the Moscow sector is under increasingly heavy assault. Like here, 50km due east of the city, where Ivan has ripped a 30km hole in our lines:






Or even more worryingly here to the north of the Smolensk-Moscow highway which is the main 'roller-conveyor' for the entire front. The pink line shows the original front line at the end of 1942. The Soviets have pushed us back gradually over months as there has simply not been any reserve to counter-attack with. Now they are within 10 km of the critical road and railroad (highlighted). All reinforcements are now scheduled to this sector.

[700851McCall]

April 4th 1943 (Turn 187)

It's mostly good news in the news. Supply bonus of plus 2 for holding Baku kicks in and production is up 5% due to Speer kicking ass. It's really a good thing for the free world that he did not get given the job in 1933 instead of 1943 when it was already too late for him to really turn it around.

But I digress. Here's the news. As well as supply and production the spring mud season begins, several days later than the meteorological data suggested.




***

Here's the southern front 'from space' with the Astrakhan bridgehead circled and projected lines of advance marked with arrows. At the moment there are not enough free divisions to move further forward. There are a lot more Soviet units to clear in the Caucasus than were expected. The arrival of the mud will delay any offensive further. Nevertheless the projected operation is given the codename 'Thor's Hammer', or, in the German, 'Thor's Hammer'. Detailed planning commences.




And here is what the same sector really looks like from space. Note the 'Caspian Depression' to the immediate north of the Volga Delta. I had to look it up. Main points to note are that the lowest point is 433 feet below global sea level, and that there are lots of insects. In the game it is about 20 x 25 hexes of badlands terrain with no trails or roads, so effectively impassable. (Photo: NASA. Public domain).

[700851McCall]

May 2nd 1943 (Turn 195)

Mud season ends and we can crack on. Ivan has been busy railing troops into the Stalingrad sector. Here is the Astrakhan Bridgehead with the troops deployed to commence operation 'Thor's Hammer.' The problem is there are not enough troops. Too many units are still engaged in the Caucasus.

Nevertheless we have to start moving in order to keep Ivan off balance. The first task will be to attack north towards Stalingrad and clear the east bank of the Volga there. This will allow the Romanian army to move across the river to the east. The Romanians will have the job of rolling up the Soviet line whilst the mobile troops exploit into the interior.




***

At Stalingrad you can see the Soviets are as thick as fleas on the East bank. Also note the mass of the Romanian army all ready to go.

[700851McCall]

May 9th 1943 (Turn 197)

The Soviets drop a brigade of paratroopers in the countryside just to the north-west of Moscow, which is currently un-garrisoned. It's unclear exactly what the enemy plan was, but the bold paras soon run into difficulties and dig in. They are quickly surrounded. 69th div, just arrived in theatre, will do the honours and dispatch them.

It's a good indicator of how feisty the Soviets are getting now.




****

On the Black Sea coast the 'Mountain Army' and attached units finally make it all the way down the coast and wheel east to continue the mop up of enemy resistance in the Caucasus. There are a few Soviet Guards divisions down here but otherwise the enemy does not seem to have the stomach for it. He has blown all bridges in the sector out of sheer desperation.

See below that dotted red line? That's Turkey.




***


Overall situation in the Caucasus. There are friendly formations advancing from the east as well which are out of shot, so the Soviet is being pressed on three sides. I don't know exactly how many enemy are down here and I have not devoted too much strength to this operation so I have to proceed carefully and not get a tiger by the tail.




***

The Stalingrad sector (the city is marked 'S'), and operation 'Thor's Hammer' goes ahead despite having only about half of the troops originally envisioned for it. You can see how both elements are advancing in their respective directions around the Caspian Depression.

The Soviet salient (circled) has been cut off from supply. Our river patrol sailed up there and destroyed their pontoon bridges. The northern thrust is spearheaded by three SS panzer divisions, 14th Panzer div and two heavy tank battalions. They are bashing the enemy aside with ease so far.

If we can roll up the Volga and get behind the Soviets besieging Stalingrad there is the chance to make a significant bag.

[700851McCall]

May 16th 1943 (Turn 199)

Soviet attacks increase all along the front. At Stalingrad, the 22nd Infantry div, a veteran division and fully dug-in and fortified, is completely destroyed. (X marks the spot where they stood). Soviet losses are horrendous and only a single recon battalion advances into the breach. They go on to inflict casualties on a brigade of heavy artillery before fresh Romanian troops overwhelm them.

Note the Soviet squadron on the airstrip to the east, in range of my siege artillery. Also note SS Wiking div at far right of image advancing from the east to close the trap.




****

The enemy have been repeatedly attacking the airfield at Stalingrad so it was spiked with over 400 anti-aircraft guns in readiness for their next visit.




And along they came. Over 250 Soviet planes are crippled or destroyed. There were no Axis fighters in attendance, this was all from triple A:




Nevertheless the air war is being lost. The enemy just have overwhelming numbers now.

[700851McCall]

May 19th 1943 (Turn 200)

Turn 200! Approaching the halfway point in the game (there are 405 turns in total).

I've got into a mess in northern Finland, The enemy were too strong to crush and now I have to withdraw along the only road. The Waffen SS will be on rearguard. The Finnish troops here are completely shattered. I am now regretting my decision not to go on the offensive here in '41.




Another of my favourite German AFVs, the 'Elefant' arrives in theatre. 89 of them! The main problem with this vehicle in original form was it had no machine guns. So if you got separated from your infantry, close defence of the vehicle was impossible while buttoned up. Later they did stick a machine gun in it.

On the plus side their armour is very thick and they have an excellent gun. They are bound for the East bank of the Volga where we will see how they fare.





****

Operation 'Thor's Hammer', and the right hook of the advance approaches the Emba oilfields and a sizeable concentration of Soviet air power.






And just slightly to the northwest the left hook of the offensive reaches a Soviet MLR at Stalingrad and digs in. To the west the Soviets are attacking and have gained some ground. The bulk of our forces have eliminated the remaining Soviets and are in the process of crossing the river on a small army of engineer units.

There is supply on the far side, the railheads are almost at the front lines. There are more panzer and motorized divisions coming across the Volga that will join the advance and carry it forward whilst the units which began the offensive re-supply.

[700851McCall]

May 30th 1943 (Turn 203)

So, past the halfway point and it turns out there is a big flaw in the planning of Operation 'Thor's Hammer.'

You may recall part of the plan was to use the Romanian army to roll up behind the main Soviet MLR west of the Volga, trapping and crushing it up against my MLR. To do this they need to wheel west just north of Stalingrad. But no-one thought to check to see where the nearest crossing of the Volga was, north of Stalingrad. It turns out that it is at Saratov, over 300 Km to the north!

A bit of a cock up.

So yes we have bridging units and a bundle of engineers so it should be possible to get some people across but supply will no doubt be terrible and it won't be the crushing blow I had hoped for. Otherwise there is nothing for it but to drive on Saratov. It is an industrial centre so will hurt enemy production once taken. The railroad runs right to it. The Volga will protect our left flank as we advance, but a screen will be needed for the right flank. A 300 kilometre long screen!

Here's the overview, Saratov circled at far north of map, our advance column moving due north up the railroad, arrows show intended advance, wavy line is the Volga.





Closer look at the terrain we have to advance across. Fog of war is on so there are likely shedloads more Soviet units than are visible in that massive expanse of Mother Russia. On the plus side the railhead is right behind the advance units and headline supply is at 30 thanks to all the oil wells we now control. On a rail line it is at 33 so units resting on one do not take long to recuperate at all.

The ground is flat, no forests, ideal country for tanks and mobile infantry. Trouble is the Soviet is no longer short of either. This could be my Kursk.

[700851McCall]

June 6th 1943 (Turn 206)

Overall situation in the Caucaus. Progress is slow, there are a lot of Soviets down here and we don't have enough units to drive forwards as he will have our flanks if we try. So we are just edging forward.




Tblisi is under assault from 387 inf div and 4th Geb Mountain div. The defenders have already been softened up with barrages from corps artillery. Tblisi is a main road and rail junction and a production centre so capturing it will reduce the Soviet's overall ability to fight. They are still getting supply down here; I cannot yet drive down to the Iranian border and cut the lend-lease route. I don't even know where the route goes. A rail line presumably.






The Soviets once again ruthlessly violate Turkish neutrality (circled). Not sure what to do about this. Am I allowed to go in after them or do we have a Vietnam-type situation here where Turkey is for the Soviets like Cambodia was for the VC? I will probably leave the Romanian security units down here once the area is secure.




***

Further north the drive on Saratov continues. Our lead elements are now only 170km from the objective. Once there we will consolidate and then drive west to cut supply to the Soviet lines north of Stalingrad. Once the Soviets are out of supply we will attack all along the Southern front, the intent is to destroy all Soviet units South of Kharkov before the autumn mud. If it works the Soviet Union will be effectively defeated.





Supply on the way to Saratov. The only railroads in the sector are highlighted. Note that if the Soviet wants to attack our right flank he must cross 200 km of wilderness with no roads or rail. This is why I think I can get away with a light screen here. All that's required is to protect the north-south railroad from interdiction, as that is the sole source of supply for the whole advance. The railhead is keeping pace and is still right up at the front



***

Currently the best unit in the German army is, surprisingly, the 376th Infantry Div. 100% proficient. Here defending against the Soviet hordes just to the northwest of Stalingrad. It spent some time dug into fortifications up in AGC and defending the line against repeated enemy assaults; so seeing a lot of action but taking relatively few casualties. This seems to be the best way to increase proficiency.

[700851McCall]

Here is the Soviet pocket at Stalingrad. The enemy fortress (targeted) next to the Volga landing prevents any attack on the pocket from the west so it is being slowly crushed from the east. The Soviets are still getting supply in here and I couldn't figure out why but it seems that there is a supply point in the river. Patrol boats have moved onto it to capture it, we'll see if that makes a difference. The defenders have been under heavy and continual bombardment from all the Axis siege and railroad assets for several weeks and so can surely not hold out much longer in any case.