Narrative
The Axis may have believed the Gods of War were on their side this turn but the Gods are fickle and have few favours to dispense in the affairs of man. And so as if to prove this point they share their largesse equally this turn.
With the decimation the main armoured spearheads by German counterattacks the Soviets decide to change tactics this turn. They are close to the western map edge and need to consolidate their forces for a final push. They cannot therefore afford to fritter away their remaining tank and Mech corps. Byelorussian Army group only has one effective tank army plus a mech corps detachment. Ukraine similarly has been reduced to a single tank army plus the tank corps mired in the forests Northwest of Lvow. Steppe Front is better endowed with two tank armies engaged against the Hungarian and Rumanian positions. Accordingly therefore rather than concentrating for a few high odds attacks the Soviet forces attack on a wide front in a series of low odds attacks at the equivalent of 3:1 odds. These attacks risk “No Effect” results and a multitude of exchanges together with some having a 1/6 chance of an AR result. However out of 23 attacks no ARs are rolled, only 2 NEs and 3 Exchanges. The effect of this is a devastating barrage against the German positions eliminating or reducing to cardres 10 infantry divisions. Up to this point the Germans may have been forgiven for thinking they had a good chance of preventing the Soviets exiting the map in force. It now seems that only a change in the weather is likely to enable them to realise this expectation.
Turn Report
Arctic Front: (1 attack) The amphibious invasion planned for the north of Narvik does not start well. Poor visibility compounded by a navigation error sends the fleet off course towards the North Sea. Only the attention and quick wits of an astute navigation officer spots the error in time to redirect the ships to their correct target point at 5B:0709. Landing unopposed the marines storm inland. Using portable dinghies they cross a swollen river and launch an assault on Bardfoss. Taken completely by surprise the AA units guarding the airfield are wiped out to a man by the well trained marines who occupy the airfield. Fortunately for the Luftwaffe most of the Me110E squadron is fuelled ready to go on patrol and manages to escape to Narvik.
Byelorussian front: (12 attacks). The tank army which occupies the furthest point West on this front gains a further hex by retreating a defending stack however a parallel attack along the coast is stalled primarily because its 10 points of anti-aircraft fire fail completely to inflict a single hit on the defenders DAS. Allenstein finally succumbs to a 5:1 (-2) attack. The defenders retreat allowing Soviet forces to occupy the city dispersing the Fortified Area. This has been a linchpin of the German defence in this area and its loss will be a severe psychological blow to the defenders. Further attacks occur along the line; retreating units, eliminating forts and penetrating the German line by advances. It is however the series of attacks West of Breast Litovsk partly by this Front and partly by Ukraine Front which rips open the German line eliminating entirely an infantry division and reducing to cadre two others. All three are adjacent and this presents the Soviets with a dilemma in exploitation. Do they exploit deep into the enemy interior fanning out to occupy vacant forts, airfields, overrun lone engineers etc or overrun the retreated cadres and consolidate their gains? The decimation of 19th Army earlier in the turn has left them with only one Tank Corps in this sector and this demands caution. The Corps with brigade support manages enough points and overruns the two 1-2-6 German Inf Cadres. It remains adjacent to its own front line a 16-mile projection into a wide empty void leading West. However there are so many tempting targets that the Army releases an Engineer Regiment, Tank Brigade and a supported 3-8 Mech with NKVD accompaniment to make a daring and, no doubt, suicidal lunge over the Vistula bend south of Warsaw overrunning an unguarded Fort and Airfield sending 3 Aircraft to Remnants (2xFW190e, Me109G).
An overview of the Eastern Front in late September 1944
Ukraine Front: (8 attacks). With last turn’s advanced forces mired in the thick forests the armoured elements swing East of this blockage and attack North. A DE result eliminates a Police 2-5xx and carders a 4-6-6xx. They resist the temptation to drive through and attempt to link with the Byelorussian advance thus isolating German units because once again here, as there, the Soviets have been reduced to single effective tank army in the swirling battles to the west of Lvov and so exercise caution. They content themselves with overrunning a couple of carders and consolidating with a two hex advance northwards.
Infantry and artillery assault the fortified line protecting the Western edge of the map anchored on the Hungarian mountains and the southern end of the Vistula. The fortified line effectively ceases to exist with the exception of one un-attacked fortress hex. With no units to exploit the Soviets must content themselves with a one hex advance.
Steppe front (8 attacks) Stragglers East of the Bucharesti defensive line are mopped up. The most decisive action on this front is a classic pincer attack around Bucharesti; 2 attacks to the north, 1 to the south smashing 3x 4-6-6 infantry divisions. Powerful armoured units overrun the cadres and exploit tightly around the city isolating it from any assistance that may enter from the west edge of the map. To the south of the Danube an advancing tank destroyer brigade enters Bulgaria and occupies the coastal city of Burgas. Two German transports are scuttled to prevent capture by the advancing Soviet patrols while a third escapes to sea. A second TD brigade exploits along the rail to the North. On the south Coast an advancing Soviet cavalry division is destroyed when attempting to wrest control of Varna from a Rumanian 1-3-4 static. The Rumanians put up a spirited defence eliminating the cavalry attackers but themselves are so mauled by the attack that they cease to be an effective fighting force. (HX).
The Admiral of the Task force intending to land at Constanta withdraws his support for the operation on news of increased U-Boat activity and reconnaissance overflights reveal additional gun emplacements in the city. In any event the pace of the ground advance has made the operation somewhat unnecessary.
In northern Hungary a 15-12-8 infiltrates through the mountains but does not engage the SS Cavalry screening its advance. Elsewhere on this front the Soviets are too weak and supply lines too stretched to continue the advance against stiffening Hungarian resistance at the Border. One attack only is mounted and the Hungarian 4-6 inf xx defender moves west in good order.
Air Combat: The Soviets carry out a few top up missions to avoid any suicidal odds and succeed in this aim. Remaining aircraft Harass the enemy particularly trying to protect the deep recon probes over the Vistula. The most damage to the Luftwaffe is done on the ground by these exploitations where two 3 stack unguarded airfields are overrun. While this appears negligent the desperate need for troops at the front is reducing reserves and rear security to dangerously low levels.
Combat Report
Attacks = 29 of which 2 are automatic. Exploitation eliminates 4 x 1-2-6 cadres, AA, Railway engineers, a Fort and 3 aircraft.
Losses:
Soviets = 15,
Air = 5.
Axis:
Forts = 7
German = 57,
FAs = 3
AA = 3
Transports = 2
Air on ground = 6
Air = 1.
Rumanian Isolated = 9
Un-isolated= 2
Air = 1.
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