Gaming Barbarossa: September 1941
This is the last turn the Axis will enjoy so many advantages. Due to some sub-optimal play on my part they are behind where they were historically. I’m not sure they will be able to catch up now. But we’ll see.
Axis reinforcements include the strong 2nd and 5th Panzer divisions and the weaker 22nd Panzer, along with the Spanish Blue division. They also receive their only mechanized replacements for 1941 – five steps – in addition to their regular four steps of infantry. They have lost six total mechanized steps to date, so this will bring most of them back to full strength. Since the 1st and 2nd Panzer divisions get two activation chits (for the last time) in September, all of the armored replacements will go to their weakened units.
By special rule, all remaining Soviet Tank corps are removed from the game (almost all of them have already been destroyed – it is wise for the Soviet player to attack with them early on and use them for casualties as needed). These are replaced by two Tank Brigade markers, which are used similarly to the German Assault Gun marker mentioned in a previous post. The Soviets receive 11 more infantry armies, and tank brigade at Kharkov and they receive their first Guard infantry unit. Six of these infantry armies will join the one left over in STAVKA Reserve from last turn. The reminders are sent to Kiev and Leningrad.
The Germans move most to their air bases closer to the front. Since they are not moving beyond the normal 12-hex range all the Luftwaffe will be available this turn. Meanwhile, the Soviets are able to move four combat unit steps along the rail system beginning with this turn. All four are sent north to shore-up the front near Leningrad.
The Axis still have the initiative and choose the Move chit again to begin the Action Phase. This allows the Romanians and Germans in the far south to close in on Odessa. The 1st Panzer Army moves around to the south to attempt to drive into the unprotected Ukraine while several German infantry corps move up to assault the city. In the center the 2nd and 3rd Panzer HQ’s switch positions and the Panzers are rearranged to flank both sides of the Soviet line at Vitebsk and Smolensk. I wanted the 2nd to be on the south side of the advance where the terrain is more favorable to movement. It will receive 2 more move/combat chits this turn whereas the 3rd only gets one. This is the last turn the Germans will enjoy mobility. Switching the positions of the HQs is not really that realistic but I made a mistake in how they were placed for the advance to begin with. Further north, the Germans setup attacks at Velikie Luki and solidify their initial positions on the approaches to Leningrad.
The 1st Panzer chit is drawn. Two Soviet Infantry armies are encircled and destroyed due to the fact they cannot retreat. The costs the German one panzer step. The Ukraine is now wide open for exploitation whenever the next 1st Panzer chit comes into play. This is followed by the 2nd Panzer. Prepositioned during the Move chit, the panzers are now able to surround the left flank of the Soviet line before Smolensk. Two 3-1 attacks (bolstered by the Luftwaffe) both result in a “DR” result. Once again, since the Soviets cannot retreat they are eliminated. With their left flank destroyed, suddenly the Soviet center looks precarious.
Now the Counterattack! chit comes into play. The roll is a “10” so Stalin has mandated that many hexes must be attacked. (The Soviet has the option to eliminate any 1-4 infantry division for each attack not attempted, if so desired.) Near Leningrad, 3 such attacks are possible. At a cost of 3 steps the infantry manage to eliminate one panzer step. Another attack at Velikie Luki costs another Soviet step. Five additional attacks are made in the center at 1-2 and 1-1 odds, which causes a couple of German casualties at the cost of 4 Soviet infantry steps. The final attack is just south of Kiev but accomplishes nothing.
With the center threaten suddenly by encirclement, the Soviets will now “trump” the Action Phase and play the STAVKA chit. It makes sense to use this chit immediately following the Counterattack! chit since it allows of the Soviets to deploy reserves behind any weaknesses in the Axis lines created by the counterattacks. In this case, however, the threat of encirclement is great and there were no real weaknesses created by the previous attacks. So STAVKA will allocate whatever forces are available to stop the flanking maneuvers of the panzers. There are seven infantry armies in reserve and the Soviets roll an “11” – all seven get to enter play within range of the STAVKA HQ. There is only one attack, however, since favorable odds cannot be obtained elsewhere. It results in both sides losing a step.
Now it is the 4th Panzer’s turn. There is an all-out attack along the fortified line just south of Leningrad. The Soviets are forced back with minor losses in one battle and hold the line with both sides losing one step in the other. The 3rd Panzer is now within 2-3 hexes of Leningrad but it is depleted and beyond supply range. Which makes things difficult because the next chit drawn is Logistics. Only one Soviet infantry army (near Leningrad) is affected this time. It is out of supply (OOS). No other units are currently encircled except for a couple of stray ones left over from last turn. Air Supply keeps the 3rd Panzer going at Leningrad but the closest infantry corps’ are OOS. One panzer unit in the center is OOS as well. Overall, this was the least impactful Logistics chit pull of the game so far.
The 1st Panzer is pulled again. The Ukraine is wide open now, since the Soviets have concentrated their defenses along the road to Moscow. The Soviets can afford to trade some space here until they can properly reinforce the region in the upcoming October turn. The Germans advance and take Krivoy Rog, Dnepropetrovsk, and Zaporozhye, all VP cities, bringing the Axis VP total to 22. Another panzer division and supporting units is headed for the Crimea. There is no combat this time.
The 3rd Panzer is next. It really doesn’t command many units right now since the emphasis in available panzers went to the 2nd Panzer this turn. The position is consolidated, infantry within range of the 3rd HQ are brought up and one weak Soviet infantry division was destroyed (again, its retreat path was blocked).
Once more, the Soviet Move chit comes out late in the Action Phase. In the north, the Soviets consolidate their position near Leningrad. In the center, there is the threat of another mass encirclement, but the Soviets cannot pull back in substantial numbers due to the interlocking German zones of control. The STAVKA HQ retreats to Vyazma to avoid capture. In the south, infantry moving from the Caucasus region since the game began finally make it to Stalino in the Ukraine and Perekop at the bottleneck leading to the Crimea.
The second Axis Combat/Move chit is now drawn. It must now be used for combat since the move option started the turn. In the north, Tallinn falls for another Axis VP. Another Soviet infantry army is destroyed with all German panzer and infantry attacking along with Luftwaffe support. The road to Leningrad is open although the Soviets have it effectively garrisoned. A Soviet division is driven from Velikie Luki. In the south, the Romanians attack Odessa along with a weak German division and Romanian air support. The die roll yields an “Exchange” result. These can be particularly bloody in The Dark Valley. The defender is always eliminated in an exchange and the attacker must lose an equal number of combat steps – in this case three on each side, which greatly weakens the Romanian army. Still, Odessa falls for another victory point.
Seven German infantry corps attack Kiev. Since it contains a “City Defense” marker the Soviets will receive a column shift in their favor. Luftwaffe and assault gun support bring the odds to 3-1. The result is a defender retreat with one step loss. Kiev falls bringing the Axis VP total to 25. The City Defense marker is now free to be placed elsewhere by the Soviets in the End Phase of the turn. In the chaotic battle that has now been going on for three months around Vitebsk and Smolensk, the German panzers make two attacks. One succeeds in driving back the Soviets and tightening the noose around the remaining forces there. The other simply results in both sides losing a step.
The Action Phase ends with the 2nd Panzer chit being pulled. The panzers focus on a Soviet infantry army and division. With assault gun and Luftwaffe support while the Soviets throw a Tank Brigade into the mix. The result is another Exchange. Three Soviet Steps are eliminated and the Germans take three panzer losses that they can ill afford.
The Attrition Phase leads to one isolated Soviet infantry division being eliminated, small potatoes compared with earlier turns. Supply Depots advance in the north but there is nowhere for them to move in the bunched-up center. In the south one depot advances to Kiev while another advances closer to Dnepropetrovsk. Meanwhile, the freed up City Defense marker is placed at Leningrad.
The “easy” part of the campaign is now over for the Axis. They will continue to possess certain advantages and will acquire even more powerful units but gradually the Soviets will begin to gain parity the longer the campaign lasts. 1941 is the best opportunity for an Axis victory. But we are already halfway through the Barbarossa scenario. Time is beginning to favor Stalin’s battered armies...and the Germans are nowhere near Moscow.
Axis reinforcements include the strong 2nd and 5th Panzer divisions and the weaker 22nd Panzer, along with the Spanish Blue division. They also receive their only mechanized replacements for 1941 – five steps – in addition to their regular four steps of infantry. They have lost six total mechanized steps to date, so this will bring most of them back to full strength. Since the 1st and 2nd Panzer divisions get two activation chits (for the last time) in September, all of the armored replacements will go to their weakened units.
By special rule, all remaining Soviet Tank corps are removed from the game (almost all of them have already been destroyed – it is wise for the Soviet player to attack with them early on and use them for casualties as needed). These are replaced by two Tank Brigade markers, which are used similarly to the German Assault Gun marker mentioned in a previous post. The Soviets receive 11 more infantry armies, and tank brigade at Kharkov and they receive their first Guard infantry unit. Six of these infantry armies will join the one left over in STAVKA Reserve from last turn. The reminders are sent to Kiev and Leningrad.
The Germans move most to their air bases closer to the front. Since they are not moving beyond the normal 12-hex range all the Luftwaffe will be available this turn. Meanwhile, the Soviets are able to move four combat unit steps along the rail system beginning with this turn. All four are sent north to shore-up the front near Leningrad.
The Axis still have the initiative and choose the Move chit again to begin the Action Phase. This allows the Romanians and Germans in the far south to close in on Odessa. The 1st Panzer Army moves around to the south to attempt to drive into the unprotected Ukraine while several German infantry corps move up to assault the city. In the center the 2nd and 3rd Panzer HQ’s switch positions and the Panzers are rearranged to flank both sides of the Soviet line at Vitebsk and Smolensk. I wanted the 2nd to be on the south side of the advance where the terrain is more favorable to movement. It will receive 2 more move/combat chits this turn whereas the 3rd only gets one. This is the last turn the Germans will enjoy mobility. Switching the positions of the HQs is not really that realistic but I made a mistake in how they were placed for the advance to begin with. Further north, the Germans setup attacks at Velikie Luki and solidify their initial positions on the approaches to Leningrad.
The 1st Panzer chit is drawn. Two Soviet Infantry armies are encircled and destroyed due to the fact they cannot retreat. The costs the German one panzer step. The Ukraine is now wide open for exploitation whenever the next 1st Panzer chit comes into play. This is followed by the 2nd Panzer. Prepositioned during the Move chit, the panzers are now able to surround the left flank of the Soviet line before Smolensk. Two 3-1 attacks (bolstered by the Luftwaffe) both result in a “DR” result. Once again, since the Soviets cannot retreat they are eliminated. With their left flank destroyed, suddenly the Soviet center looks precarious.
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| Beginning of September 1941 in the north toward Leningrad. Some of the panzers are in air supply. |
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| End of September. Tallinn falls and the Germans are near the gates of Leningrad. |
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| The bloody stalemate in the center around Vitebsk and Smolensk. The German panzers have used their "Move" chit to maneuver around the flanks of the massive Soviet front in an attempt at mass encirclement. |
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| By the end of September, the Germans had maneuvered into a position threatening the Soviets with mass encirclement. Many of the Soviet units cannot retreat due to German zones of control. But this came at a price. Many panzer divisions are weak. |
With the center threaten suddenly by encirclement, the Soviets will now “trump” the Action Phase and play the STAVKA chit. It makes sense to use this chit immediately following the Counterattack! chit since it allows of the Soviets to deploy reserves behind any weaknesses in the Axis lines created by the counterattacks. In this case, however, the threat of encirclement is great and there were no real weaknesses created by the previous attacks. So STAVKA will allocate whatever forces are available to stop the flanking maneuvers of the panzers. There are seven infantry armies in reserve and the Soviets roll an “11” – all seven get to enter play within range of the STAVKA HQ. There is only one attack, however, since favorable odds cannot be obtained elsewhere. It results in both sides losing a step.
Now it is the 4th Panzer’s turn. There is an all-out attack along the fortified line just south of Leningrad. The Soviets are forced back with minor losses in one battle and hold the line with both sides losing one step in the other. The 3rd Panzer is now within 2-3 hexes of Leningrad but it is depleted and beyond supply range. Which makes things difficult because the next chit drawn is Logistics. Only one Soviet infantry army (near Leningrad) is affected this time. It is out of supply (OOS). No other units are currently encircled except for a couple of stray ones left over from last turn. Air Supply keeps the 3rd Panzer going at Leningrad but the closest infantry corps’ are OOS. One panzer unit in the center is OOS as well. Overall, this was the least impactful Logistics chit pull of the game so far.
The 1st Panzer is pulled again. The Ukraine is wide open now, since the Soviets have concentrated their defenses along the road to Moscow. The Soviets can afford to trade some space here until they can properly reinforce the region in the upcoming October turn. The Germans advance and take Krivoy Rog, Dnepropetrovsk, and Zaporozhye, all VP cities, bringing the Axis VP total to 22. Another panzer division and supporting units is headed for the Crimea. There is no combat this time.
The 3rd Panzer is next. It really doesn’t command many units right now since the emphasis in available panzers went to the 2nd Panzer this turn. The position is consolidated, infantry within range of the 3rd HQ are brought up and one weak Soviet infantry division was destroyed (again, its retreat path was blocked).
Once more, the Soviet Move chit comes out late in the Action Phase. In the north, the Soviets consolidate their position near Leningrad. In the center, there is the threat of another mass encirclement, but the Soviets cannot pull back in substantial numbers due to the interlocking German zones of control. The STAVKA HQ retreats to Vyazma to avoid capture. In the south, infantry moving from the Caucasus region since the game began finally make it to Stalino in the Ukraine and Perekop at the bottleneck leading to the Crimea.
The second Axis Combat/Move chit is now drawn. It must now be used for combat since the move option started the turn. In the north, Tallinn falls for another Axis VP. Another Soviet infantry army is destroyed with all German panzer and infantry attacking along with Luftwaffe support. The road to Leningrad is open although the Soviets have it effectively garrisoned. A Soviet division is driven from Velikie Luki. In the south, the Romanians attack Odessa along with a weak German division and Romanian air support. The die roll yields an “Exchange” result. These can be particularly bloody in The Dark Valley. The defender is always eliminated in an exchange and the attacker must lose an equal number of combat steps – in this case three on each side, which greatly weakens the Romanian army. Still, Odessa falls for another victory point.
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| A wide view of the situation in the south. German infantry are massed before Kiev while the 1st Panzer presses into the Ukraine along the Dnepr River. Further south, Odessa is surrounded by mostly Romanian troops. |
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| By the end of the turn the panzers have advanced deep into the Ukraine and are poised to penetrate further with little Soviet resistance to stop them. Kiev has fallen to a massive infantry attack. Odessa has fallen at a costly price for the Romanians. |
Seven German infantry corps attack Kiev. Since it contains a “City Defense” marker the Soviets will receive a column shift in their favor. Luftwaffe and assault gun support bring the odds to 3-1. The result is a defender retreat with one step loss. Kiev falls bringing the Axis VP total to 25. The City Defense marker is now free to be placed elsewhere by the Soviets in the End Phase of the turn. In the chaotic battle that has now been going on for three months around Vitebsk and Smolensk, the German panzers make two attacks. One succeeds in driving back the Soviets and tightening the noose around the remaining forces there. The other simply results in both sides losing a step.
The Action Phase ends with the 2nd Panzer chit being pulled. The panzers focus on a Soviet infantry army and division. With assault gun and Luftwaffe support while the Soviets throw a Tank Brigade into the mix. The result is another Exchange. Three Soviet Steps are eliminated and the Germans take three panzer losses that they can ill afford.
The Attrition Phase leads to one isolated Soviet infantry division being eliminated, small potatoes compared with earlier turns. Supply Depots advance in the north but there is nowhere for them to move in the bunched-up center. In the south one depot advances to Kiev while another advances closer to Dnepropetrovsk. Meanwhile, the freed up City Defense marker is placed at Leningrad.
The “easy” part of the campaign is now over for the Axis. They will continue to possess certain advantages and will acquire even more powerful units but gradually the Soviets will begin to gain parity the longer the campaign lasts. 1941 is the best opportunity for an Axis victory. But we are already halfway through the Barbarossa scenario. Time is beginning to favor Stalin’s battered armies...and the Germans are nowhere near Moscow.
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