Turn Report
Army of Norway: (no attacks) The perimeter shrinks noticeably as the German forces contract back on Narvik passing the moribund Soviet Marines isolated on the perimeter North of Alta. Knowing of the need for troops on the main front they are supprised to be able to welcome the arrival of an SS Mtn regiment into Narvik.
AGN (4 attacks); Lazarus Unbound. Any casual observer viewing the German Army at the end of July 1944 would be forgiven for thinking that it was a spent force and that the Soviets were now involved in a simple mopping up operation. After all, the previous two weeks saw the single most bloody fortnight of losses for the Wehrmacht and her Allies. Particularly devastating was the record number of irrecoverable Isolated losses. Once again however the ability of the German Army to recover and fight back is revealed as no less than 8 new and rebuilt divisions are fielded including two Panzer divisions plus a host of armoured regiments and brigades. Germany and her Allies are not about to roll over.
The Panzers move onto the offensive eliminating the remaining cadres trapped outside Bialystok and counterattacking the Soviet penetration around Konigsberg. They eliminate entirely a 12-8 Guards Mech XX and attack two infantry stacks as target of opportunity with no strategic value other than to cause losses. This they achieve in both cases with DE results. It may have been possible and was contemplated for a moment to launch a general counteroffensive on the back of the success at Bialystok but the threat south of Konigsberg is too great to ignored and the Germans are mindful of the last strategic offensive at Daugavpils where they ended up in a desperate fighting withdrawal to save the attackers from elimination. They therefore accept that the glory days are over and adopt a defensive posture thickening the line with the armoured divisions and cadres returning from the Bialystok battles.
The Axis counter attacks south of Königsberg and at Bialystok, August I 44 Axis Turn
AGC: (No attacks)
“Hey, Alexandra, want to hear a joke?”
“Well it had better be better than the last one”
“Ok here goes; “Where does the German Fuhrer keep his Armies?”
“I don’t know, Where does the German Fuhrer keep his Armies?”
“Up his sleevies”. Hey, Hey, good joke, Yes?”.
“No, as usual a dreadful joke but you are right on one thing. Where are the German Armies?” “We have been driving west now for 150 miles and have not met any resistance. It is as if they have just upped sticks and left.”
The Ukraine has for all intents and purposes been evacuated by AGC. The entire Army Group now consists of only 3 full strength Panzer Divisions, a Panzer-grenadier Division (ZOC’d) an Infantry Division (Pocketed) and a miscellany of engineers, security units and other low strength units desperately trying to form a line between Brest and Lvov. They are joined by a couple of new Infantry divisions and a collection of supported infantry regiments. They can enjoy a brief breathing space to absorb the retreating Panzers and any more replacements and transfers simply because the Soviets are unable to keep pace with the precipitous retreat West.
AGS: (1 attack)
There’s a hole in my pocket dear Boris, dear Boris there’s a hole in my pocket dear Boris, a hole.
So fix it Svetlana, Svetlana, Svetlana, so fix it Svetlana, Svetlana, fix it.
With what shall I fix it? dear Boris, dear Boris, with what shall I fix it? dear Boris, with what?
With tank corps Svetlana, Svetlana, Svetlana, with tank corps Svetlana, Svetlana, with tanks.
From where shall I get them? dear Boris, dear Boris, from where shall I get them? dear Boris, from where?
From Odessa, Svetlana, Svetlana, Svetlana, from Odessa Svetlana, Svetlana, from there.
……They’re stuck in a pocket dear Boris, dear Boris, their stuck in a pocket, dear Boris, they’re stuck!
The Odessa pocket extends like a balloon from the mouthpiece at Odessa in a great circle some 50 miles in diameter. The western side of the balloon is held by a narrow sliver of Soviet mobile units which have inserted themselves between the retreating Axis forces and the Rumanian border. In a remarkable volte face the Axis mount a breakout West. 14th Panzer (16-10) commandeers all the remaining supply stockpiles which had fortunately just arrived by truck convoy and places all of the “balloon” north of Odessa into full supply. Recon patrols find the weakest link in the chain and the 14tth Panzer leads the mixed unit charge. Surprising the Soviets with their new-found strength and mobility they attack and brush aside a stack of 2×3-2-8 Tk x, 1x 2-8 M/C x and a mot rkt 4-1-8III. In exploitation they race towards the Rumanian Border and freedom. They maintain contact with a 6-5-8 Hungarian cavalry division who cannot keep pace with the advance and ensure that the head of the Soviet snake to the west of Odessa is, in its own turn, isolated.
The Odessa bubble deflates, August I 1944
Air Combat: Little to report as the retreat exceeds the range of Soviet fighters little activity in the centre or south but in the north where the line is relatively static the Luftwaffe lose two machines to Soviet patrols and intercepts.
Combat Report
Attacks= 5
Losses: Axis = 2 Air.
Soviets = 9 Isolated, 38 Un-isolated. Total = 47
