The grey tide

 The grey tide



The month of August will be a period of suffering and doubt for the Red Army. How far back? Should it abandon the towns or hold on "whatever it takes"? The decision taken is to hold on to the North while giving up on the other fronts. From 7 to 21 August, the Soviet army retreats, hampered by its lack of mobility. The infantry in zoc at the beginning of the turn cannot move in the special movement phase; the German game consists of sticking to the frontoviks to prevent their move. With 4 hexes of retreat per turn, it becomes easier to catch them and then surround them.


 German side is confident at the beginning of August: the Russians in full discomfort abandon the course of the Dnieper to run like hell towards the east. They left behind several sacrificed units that are going to act as fixation points, avoiding a too rapid German exploitation.


To the north, Smolensk is left to itself, Moscow needs protection. In the centre, the still solid Russian line recedes towards an Orel-Kharkov line. In the south, Dnepropetrovsk is fortified and filled with a guards infantry corps  and a complete army. 




The following week see the Germans set off in pursuit of the Soviets. Once again, the lack of manpower is flagrant. There are not enough troops to both lay siege to the towns and effectively pursue the fleeing troops. The Axist infantryman, like his Russian counterpart, is a slow mover.


The Russian side is organising itself to deprive the Wermacht of cities where to lay HQs. In the centre, the German logistics are still in the Pripet when it is necessary to attack Moscow, Kharkov or Stalino. Once again leaving units sacrificed, the Stavka blocks the towns of Rzhev, Briansk, Viazma and Sumy. Preventing the Germans from setting up a HQ there in August 3 meant making sure that the enemy's armored tip would not be supplied before September 3. Generals begin to look at the calendar.

In Moscow, it is decided to prepare a counter-attack. Offensive points are stockpiled. From Stalino, a front is created. It advances boldly towards the enemy, without attacking it for the moment.




The month of August finally comes to an end. Hopes of Russian collapse now seem chimerical. The Soviet Union has recovered. Anyway, for the first time since June, German HQs go into offensive mode. Odessa and Dnepropetrovsk are assaulted, without success. In Sumy, furious fighting just leads to a withdrawal of the 24th Soviet Army.
As a sign of immediate danger, HQ Centre moves to Rzhev. Moscow will be attacked!

In his turn, Stalin orders a general counter-offensive. The T34s supported by the Katyusha rush towards the German lines. The panzers taking part in the siege of Dnepropetrovsk are brutally assaulted and only hold out by accepting losses. The Romanian cavalry corps is driven out by the last KV1s still serving in the Red Army.



From Leningrad, another offensive comes to seize Novgorod. The Russian shows that he can bite.



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