Guderian’s Blitzkrieg II (including Enemy at the Gates and Case Blue)
26th to 28th October 1941
Weather DR = 1 so CLEAR Air Condition DR = 1,2 so NIL
Initiative DR Axis = 3,4 Soviet = 5,5
Soviets decide to move first
Turn 8 (Soviet)
Replacement DR = 1,1 (-1) = 1 so 0(+1) Pax.
On-map rebuild of 9th Cavalry Div
Supply DR = 3,2 so 18 (+1) SP
The weather suddenly changed. The skies became heavily overcast, preventing air operations. At the same time, however, the ground dried rapidly (perhaps strong winds?) and mud ceased to be an issue.
Andreapol – Nelidovo - Rzhev
The Red Army surged forward in strength past Andreapol, chasing the retreating Germans. The clear weather allowed them to reach the enemy lines, but they were not combat ready and so were unable to mount an attack. Still, the Germans are vastly outnumbered and will be hard pressed to hold a concerted attack.
In response, 3rd Motorised Infantry Division, which had been held in reserve, fuelled up and moved north.
Infantry pulled back slightly near Rzhev, as there was no need to keep a supply line open. (The previously endangered units took advantage of the good travel conditions to reach supply lines to the north). There was some consternation by the Soviets when the German 189th Assault Gun Bn also used the good conditions to overrun a worker brigade which was preparing to send target co-ordinates to artillery in the rear.
Sychevka – Spas Demyansk
Around Sychevka, there was also a slight withdrawal, but it appears the troops freed up were used to fill the gap in the lines to the south. Several elite units were sent to block the way towards Vyazma.
The solitary panzer battalion that had pushed north of Yukhnov had a charmed life. Desperate attempts to hit it with artillery failed and the Soviets were reluctant to commit a huge number of troops against a unit of such quality. They did, however, send an elite cavalry unit to cut off the road link to the rail depot at Spas Demyansk.
There was some evidence of the beginning of a push towards Saps Demyansk from Sukhinichi, but the situation is not clear. As is now usual, a worker brigade was sent forward to what appears certain death.
Bryansk – L’Gov
Certain death is the fate that stared the troops around Bryansk. Even the good weather was not enough to allow the trapped Ivans to escape. The German stranglehold forced the Russians to head away from safety, and the capture of the supply dump in the city means the link to the forward wagon depot is the only hope of survival.
Orel and Kursk remained calm. No attempt was made to send forward troops to spot for artillery.
Poltava – Zaporezh’e
A few divisions from the huge Khark’ov garrison moved west and formed a defence line, but a larger number headed north to Belgograd. To the southwest of Khark’ov, the garrison of Pavlograd quietly slipped out of the besieged town. It will, however, be more than two weeks before 261st Strelkovaya is available for combat again.
The huge force concentrated in front of Zaporezh’e was not quite prepared for attack, though there was one large battle at the east end of the German line. Battered by artillery and hit by several divisions, the infantry took losses but did not concede any ground.
Kherson
In the far south, the Soviet build up continued. The Rumanian “Korne” motorised cavalry battalion did not survive an artillery barrage and as a result several Soviet units were able to cross the tributary of the Dneiper that was the front line. Close to the coast, artillery again was effective and the shattered German infantry division was wiped out. They fought bravely, however, covering the escape of a nebelwerfer unit.
Supply: Soviet rec’d 19 SP
Soviet used 25.2 SP
German used 2.1 SP
Dead Units
German 5(4)4 “Korne” Motorised Infantry Battalion (Rumanian)
20(4)3 73.ID
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