Second Lesson

The monthly phase begins with the perception of reinforcement and resources points. With the announcement of the Soviet income, the German understands that the war will be long. A card or two is also selected for each side. We both choose one card of great influence rather than two smaller ones.

The initial German situation is not bad. To capitalise on it, I use the "German Generals" card which allows to keep two HQs in offensive mode for free. This way, the armoured spearhead will remain in supply at the end of the turn.

In the Special Movement Phase, the Centre HQ takes up residence in Sarnov, Ukraine. It is ideally placed for an offensive on Kiev. However, it will have to wait three turns before it becomes operational again.

The air phase saw the Ju88s bombing the Ukrainian railway centre with some success. Four stacks were left without supplies and the Russian lost one point of rail capacity. The result is subject to chance but in this case it is a success. Learned from my previous game, I know that the Russian will not hesitate to counter-attack and I prefer to see him without supplies.

The rest of the German air force supports ground attacks. I suffer from the soft lance syndrome during this round, causing few casualties.

Good news though : Riga, Kaunas and Minsk fall.

The Romanians enter the dance and lead two attacks. They have the first prize for participation.

The Romanians enter the dance and lead two attacks. They have the first prize for participation.

In turn, the Russian plays "Emergency Mobilisation" which allows him to raise four additional troop points per turn. They are numerous reinforcements but not very solid.

However, they will be enough to calm the Furor Teutonicus  in Leningrad. Hidden in the marshes, the frontoviks await the attack without fear. On the Smolensk side, the force was reinforced with a HQ that was in the process of reorganising itself. This point of the front is difficult to hold for the Russian without an operational HQ. It is impossible to launch counter-attacks without supplies.

Finally in Ukraine, a thick line of infantry armies hold the ground.

The operation began three weeks ago. The Russians are up to the task now and  play the "Scorched Earth" card, which blocks the progress of the recovery markers for one turn. In turn, the German plays "Army Organisation" which allows a HQ to become immediately operational. German supplies arrive at the gates of Kiev! The card is very strong and allows to regain the tempo in a sector.

In the north, the only thing to be done is to clean up the survivors of the first line. Vilnius falls. The progression towards Leningrad is slow while the Northern HQ  lands in Pskov. The German infantry conquers the cities on the Baltic coast.

The three panzer corps still in the area take Polotsk and Veliuke Luki. But it is felt that the main effort is not going to be in the area. One panzer corps takes the road to the south.
 

In Ukraine, the HQ South and its Romanian counterpart are now supplying a large area that includes Kiev and Odessa. The panzer corps breaks through the Russian line and take Zhitomir, and once again the Ju88s hit the Kiev supply line, preventing a possible counter-attack.

 

In turn, the Russian received numerous reinforcements. Three fighters are now operational. The watchword is to retreat to the south to protect Kiev. A line is formed around Odessa. Some infantry corps are left as lost children to slow down the germans. On the Smolensk side, the line is now strong, especially as German supplies no longer arrive. Little risk there. Another six weeks of summer to be endured on the Soviet side.