Narrative
New Wolf’s Lair 14th August 1944: Head of East Front Forces addresses the assembled Field Marshals of the Eastern Front:
“Gentlemen reports please”
Each in their turn, in solemn tone, delivers their situation reports.
First from Army of Norway: The situation is difficult; we are losing between two and three regiments each month and with few replacements we are forced to fall back south. I cannot guarantee the safety of our iron ore supplies unless I receive reinforcements immediately!
Then from AGN “We are holding the enemy here, and here, and have blunted his attacks here, but Konigsberg has fallen. We continue to hold the western suburbs and peninsular. In the south the Western Bug has been breached, here and here. Enemy mobile forces are reported to be moving towards Warsaw.”
And from AGC: “We have formed a line from the west of Brest Litovsk south to Lvow but the enemy have breached north and south of the city which is surrounded by the 9th Guards Tank corps.
Finally, AGS: “We are supporting our Hungarian allies along the borders and main rail lines to the interior. I must report that in Rumania our allies have proven less than effective but we are holding at Galati. Odessa remains in our control, but the enemy is massing artillery and rockets and is preparing to assault with engineers”.
“Thank you, gentlemen. I wanted to hear in your own words your reports before issuing these orders, from the Fuhrer himself; effective immediately.”
“The barbarian hordes aided by world Jewry have reached our borders. We have been betrayed by our allies who are already in secret negotiation for a separate surrender. But I have good news, our scientists are even now developing weapons which will turn the tide of the war. We are already striking at the capital of our western enemy with powerful rockets which are bringing them ever closer to the negotiating table. When we have secured their surrender, we can turn our full attention to defeating the Bolshevik hordes who threaten the Fatherland and our cultural superiority.”
“Until that time, it is vital that our homeland is kept clear of their ravages. I am asking, no demanding, that you show your loyalty and National Socialist Ardour to protect the purity of our racial integrity and keep the Untermensch from the Greater Reich. You must not allow the flower of Aryan motherhood to be ravaged by these unclean beasts from the east.”
“I therefore give you your orders, gentlemen, to be enacted without exception by the highest field Marshal among you to the lowliest private in the ranks. NOT ONE STEP BACK!“
Head of East Front: “Gentlemen you have heard the Fuhrer’s orders. In Norway forces will be dispatched to you. You must prevent the fall of Narvik if you value your head. AGN must counterattack immediately to reclaim the Western banks of the Bug. AGC, your orders are to eliminate the enemy forces encircling Lvow and ensure the enemy does not capture the city. AGS, Galati must be held and our allies must be kept in the fight.”
“Good luck and may God save us all”.
Turn Report
Weather: Mud in A rest clear.
Army of Norway: (No attacks) The ever-shrinking front is matched by an ever-shrinking army as the Soviets pick off units as quick as the reducing frontage allows them to concentrate. More troops trickle in but are held back at Narvik as a hedge against a Soviet amphibious assault.
The shrinking Army of Norway: Reduced by years of combat and supplying reinforcements to other fronts, Army Norway falls back, September 1944
AGN: (1 attack) Despite the Fuhrer’s entreaties some tactical withdrawals are made but the essence of the directive is followed with no wholesale withdrawals and a vigorous counter-attack mounted against the incursion over the Western Bug NW of Brest where a tank Corps is eliminated and the line restored.
AGC; (2 attacks) The pattern is repeated here where 3TK manages to move north and with powerful forces from the north of Lvow and reinforcements from the West smashes into the Soviet ring cadreing one Mech XXX and eliminating a Tank XXX. This results in the supply to Lvow being restored and the line held.
AGS: (No attacks) The rump of the Rumanian Army and the remains of AGS together with a few German reinforcements form a line at Galati which arcs north to the Carpathian foothills. Without substantial armour assets they cannot directly take on the Soviet Tank corps bearing down from the North East but plan to be positioned in a way that will allow them to concentrate should the Soviets over-extend themselves as they reach the limit of their supply lines.
Air Combat: Most aircraft are devoted to DAS which provides a very real boost to defence factors along the front line. A raid on Liepaja against a couple of Aborted foe is ineffective and no hits are scored.
Combat Report
Attacks = 3
Losses: German = 16.
Soviets = 15 (Isolated), 36 (Non-Isolated). Total = 51.
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