Aug I

Axis North:

Two exchanges and Soviet reinforcements halt the advance on Murmansk and Kandalaksha (so much for The Arctic Runaway!). However, the Finns detect that an overrun into Leningrad may be possible, and quietly shift troops from the advance on Petrozavodsk to accomplish this. AGN, almost totally bereft of c/m forces by this time, is still trying to clear up pockets of insurrection and resume the advance to Leningrad, which has been badly derailed. Further south, the bulk of the AGN infantry and artillery forces reach Velikie Luki, and the battle for the Valdai Hills is joined.

Axis Center:

Some sharp blows are delivered around Rzhev, but this is a feint: the main body of troops continue a direct lunge to Moscow, with the main body now around Smolensk. While other commands engage in loud table talk, AGC keeps quiet, focuses on its objective, and draws little attention. Corps markers serve to mask the power of the German advance.

Axis South:

1st Panzergruppe mops up all resistance outside Kiev, and moves up to threaten Kharkov. The Romanians move within striking distance of Dnepropetrovsk and Zaphoroze. Odessa holds fast.

USSR North:

Chris Lundvall steps in to run the north wing this turn. The only Soviet attacks are spoiling attacks against beleaguered AGN. The Valdai Hills receive major reinforcements. The city of Moscow is unfortified and seems oblivious to any threat. The Tula factory transfers to the Urals.

USSR South:

The fort line is complete, but still weakly held. The arrival of new forces near Kharkov does allow several c/m corps to form a reserve.

Aug II

Finland:

The Finnish and AGN commands are consolidated (Rick Cambron moves on to the WWI demo). The Arctic mires down in stalemate. The Soviets sniff out the overrun at Leningrad and retire into the city. The Finns are now off balance, and the advance to the Svir stalls.

Axis North:

AGN continues to have trouble clearing Estonia. The advance on the Luga River east of Lake Peipus gains some ground due to an unforced Soviet retreat behind the Luga River. Fighting in the Valdai is turning in the Axis favor with several key Soviet units chewed up. The main push is down the road toward hex 2224, but there is steady pressure throughout the area.

Axis Center:

Some hit-and- run attacks north of Moscow draw Soviet attention from the cavalcade of forces sweeping through Vyazma.

Axis South:

AGS destroys the Soviet line north of Kharkov and advances aggressively between Kursk and Orel to threaten in three directions simultaneously. Supply is becoming a real problem, despite the use of three trucks to extend logistics.

Romania:

Air interdiction sinks a Soviet CL at Odessa, and the Black Sea fleet retires to the Caucasus for the duration of the campaign. Odessa will be unsupplied next turn. The two Dnepr bend cities are invested by Romanians, Italians, and a few stray German infantry divisions.

USSR North:

The Russians consolidate their positions from Narva to Kalinin. Soviet c/m units try to pop a couple of 7-6 infantry in the Rzhev sector, but achieve disappointing results. Security at Moscow remains lax.

USSR South:

The Reds launch a full-scale counterattack to cut off the spearhead (four divisions) of 1st Panzergruppe. ("Now it's my turn to have fun," the Southern Front C-in-C says with a smirk.) A swarm of tank brigades strike a German Motor XX near Orel, while two of the five Soviet tank corps of the southern wing hit Wiking SS Motor XX in Kursk. Both divisions are cadred, and the Soviets have their encirclement. The operation consists entirely of c/m units and artillery, as no 6-MP units can reach battle positions.

Sep I (Clear)

Axis North:

The Axis suffer further disarray in Estonia: 18th Army just can't get its act together. The Luga front is quiet; the Germans are very weak here. The Valdai meat grinder continues to take a toll on the Soviet defenders.

Axis Center:

AGC announces it has a decent attack on hex 3417 of Moscow. OKH allots all air necessary to make it a sure thing, and the hex is taken. A panzer thrust north of the city breaks through and reaches the Moscow River. Other panzers maneuver south of Moscow. The trap is sprung!

Axis South:

AGS regains the initiative at Kursk, aided by the arrival of the newlyreplaced 6th Pz XX. All encircling Soviet units are destroyed or neutralized, and 1st Panzergruppe regains complete mobility, albeit after a turn's delay. The Soviet command believes it was worth the cost.

Elsewhere, attacks against Kiev and Odessa achieve an AR and AS respectively.

USSR North:

A major counterattack near Luga catches AGN off guard, cuts off several divisions and sweeps adjacent to Pskov and into Duo, where an Me109 is caught on the ground and destroyed.

At Moscow the Soviets start fort construction in the city (finallyl) and counterattack north of Moscow, cutting off two Panzer XXs. They say the loss of 3417 is no big deal-the Germans will relinquish it soon. STAVKA is unaware of the true strength of the German assault, as several fullstrength infantry corps (with the bulk of the German artillery) are not yet engaged. In the only major air action of the war, the Soviets take disastrous losses trying to fly DAS, and the WS is docile for the rest of the game.

USSR South:

With the arrival of AGS's infantry at Kharkov and the looming threat to Moscow, the Soviets disengage and fall back to screen Voronezh and Rostov. Several c/m corps hotfoot it for Moscow, ending any further offensive potential in the south.

Sep II (A = Mud)

Axis North:

Distressed by the chaos in the Leningrad sector, OKH allocates major reinforcements. Aided by the withdrawal of Soviet units to Moscow, the situation is restored. Success in the Valdai continues; about half of the wooded rough hexes are now in German hands.

Axis Center:

Hex 3318 of Moscow falls to a 4-hex attack at 7:1 (-1). (The fort started last turn is not completed, despite quick construction.) The Soviets are amazed at the odds, and only now fully comprehend the amount of German artillery present. Furthermore, except for a few divisions left with 1st Panzergruppe, all German c/m divisions are now at Moscow. Fifteen Pz XXs attack, and slaughter occurs north and south of the city. All on-map rail links between the Soviet northern and southern wings are cut by Motor units.

Axis South:

Half of 1st Panzergruppe moves north to Moscow. The remainder turns the Soviet flank at Valuykie, while infantry move adjacent to Voronezh. The Russian southern wing is teetering on the brink of collapse, but the Axis armies are themselves weakened by transfers and the many divisions tied up starving out various hero cities. This burden lightens when Kiev and Odessa fall.

USSR North:

Fully alerted to the danger facing Moscow, STAVKA calls off all offensive action, and shifts its available reserves to save the capital. This attempt is greatly hampered by the disrupted rail net and swarms of Luftwaffe harassment bombers. A lone Russian attack fails miserably.

USSR South:

The Russians grab what reinforcements they can, and continue to limp back toward Rostov. Voronezh is reinforced, but by no means strongly defended.

Second Front: First Battlefield Report Origins/Europafest 1994

Sudden Storm at the Fest Teams and Set Up
June and July 1941
August and September 1941
October 1941 and Conclusion