The July Crisis

It has been a month since war was declared. German troops are advancing everywhere except in the center. Relying on the Dnieper, the Red Army has re-established its position, which is gradually being built up. Only the wings are a cause for concern. In the north, the breakthrough of Velikye Luki threaten Smolensk, Moscow and Leningrad. In the south, only the lack of supplies slow down the panzers. 

Help for communism finally comes from the sky. Everywhere in Russia, summers storms break and stick to the ground the German planes which cannot support the attacks any more. It is a hard blow for the axis. Without ground support, it is difficult to exceed a 3 to 1 ratio. Combined with the lack of supply of two thirds of the front, this will spare Soviet blood. 

In the north, the Germans approached Leningrad. In the center, they stick to the Vitebsk - Kiev line. Only in the south did a large-scale movement begin to encircle Odessa. The supply of the Romanian HQ is essential to take the city. 

In his turn, the Russian reacts in Odessa by slowly withdrawing its troops toward the city which will be transformed into a fortress. Food and ammunition arriving by sea will create a fixation point in the area. A motorized unit from the Ukraine tries to get out of the pocket but everyone agrees that it will soon abandon its vehicles and turn into a partisan. 

Finally in the north, unable to decide where the threat would come from, Stalin leaves the door open to the schwerpunkt. The Smolensk line is strong; if the panzers rush toward Moscow, they would be cut off from their line; as for Leningrad, the terrain is not favorable for armored vehicles. 

An attack in Ukraine allows the 44th and 9th Soviet armies to disengage. 

From where will the blow come ? 

Run, Forest, run !

The last week of July remain rainy. Two complete turns without seeing a plane take off, that's what makes the axis doubtful. In the Red Army, everybody wants to join the air force, a quiet position. 

In the north, after careful consideration, the panzers are launched towards Leningrad. Operating a vast hook through Demyansk, three armored corps take Novgorod and insert themselves in the middle of the Russian defense. Without complete supply, the maneuver lacks punch but perhaps it will induce the Soviet to move, forcing him to leave valuable swamp hexes. 

Here they come ! 

In the center, the front calmed down, it seems for a long time. Reserve infantrymen are assigned to the river bank where fishing on both sides is taking place. 

It is in Ukraine that the action is concentrated: the outskirts of Kiev being free, the city is stormed while an attempt to cross the Dnieper further north is repulsed. Panzers are stacked, a sign that things will heat up in a short time. The two armies that had escaped from the pocket earlier are again surrounded and one of them perishes in battle. The Central HQ, renamed HQ extreme south is assigned to the Bug . Three HQs in the area promise action. 

Finally in Odessa the Romanians contribute to the war effort by eliminating a cavalry corps. Can do better. 

Fortress Odessa 

We have stopped on this situation. It is now up to the Soviets. If would-be strategists wish to help Comrade Stalin, let them address their advice to him in the commentaries. You can speak without fear of the Abwehr, the German has already played. Thanks for Joe!