The Struggle for Europe PBEM

[klesh]

July of 1941

This month saw advanced elements of the main Soviet concentrations in the north brush aside the meager German defenders in the center of Poland. Word soon reached back to the HQ, that we had reached the German national border! Cheers went up from the crews of the tanks which have driven countless miles and worn several pairs of treads in this war.

The North has been split and now the port of Danzig is all that remains as an escape route for those Germans trapped in East Prussia.

Plans are currently being drawn up for the grand winter offensive. Stalin has promised his people that the war with Hitler shall be over come springtime.

Poznan captured.

-Vasily Kleshnikov.

[Case]

In responce to the Soviet advance to the very borders of the Fatherland, Minister Gobbels has gone on radio to appeal for the public to give their all for the war effort:

"Fight on with us against hated Bolshevism, bloody Stalin and his Jewish clique; for freedom of the individual, for freedom of religion and conscience, the the abolition of slave labour, for property and possession, for a free peasantry on its own land, for your own homestead and freedom of labour, for social justice, for a happy future for your children, for the right to advancement and education without regard to origin and for state protection of the aged and infirm"*

In unrelated news, German forward patrols report laughter erupting from Soviet and British trenches shortly after that broadcast was made.


------------
*This is an actual quote! (source: 'Barbarossa' by Alan Clark, pg 367)

[Case]

Marko, it's your turn

[Marko]

No important news.

[academia]

Marko:
Could you play your turn in Civfanatics´ TSFE PBEM?

[Case]

Poznan Recaptured!

In a lighting attack, Army Group Oder has thrown the Soviets out of the Polish city of Poznan. Owing to the city's poor geographical position, the German forces have withdrawn back into Festung Berlin.
Nevertheless, the attack has given the Soviets a severe check, as a full Soviet Tank Army was destroyed in the fighting in and around the city.

[klesh]

foreshadowing victory...

"Hitler's ranks must be thin indeed if he claims our advanced recon units as 'a full Soviet Tank Army'! I will show him this month what a real Soviet Tank Army consists of!"

-Vasily Kleshnikov
upon hearing Hitler's broadcast

[Case]

Paging Mr Kalmer, Paging Mr Kalmer

[I sent him a PM 3 days ago]

[Kalmer]

I'm busy with my school. I'll try my best..

[Grothgar]

Nothing much happened in spain. The troops waiting by ponta are getting factious

[Grothgar]

missed the attachment

[The ANZAC]

Nothing to report

[klesh]

Kleshnikov gambles...

In a daring manouver last month, personally drawn up and excecuted by Marshal Vasily Kleshnikov, the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Armies as well as the 112th, 91st, 34th, and 65th Guards Infantry Divisions (veteran divisions from Operation Chetepaka) moved from their stalemated positions opposite the German Army Grupp Danube under the cover of night into attack positions just southwest of the Nazi stronghold of Budapest, Hungary... just out of view of the German garrison.

There was a tense moment, as a German armoured patroll came quite close to spotting the ammased Soviet armour, planes and infantry divsions, huddled within their camoflage netting.

[klesh]

August of 1941, Major Soviet Victories!

The combined divisions (rumoured to number in the 30's) attacked at dawn on August 1st, Kleshnikov's birthday. He had only a slight idea what he was about to face, before him was to be fought the largest single battle heretofore seen in this war. The Battle of Budapest.



In a two step pincer manouver, the Soviet troops were able to encircle the city and advance toward the center from several positions. This is said to have been the key to the horrific losses suffered by the Germans, and the less than expected losses encured by the Soviets. Initial reports reveal German losses as:

1 Fortification
2 AA Batteries
2 SS Infantry Divisions
3 Heer Infantry Divisions
2 Armoured Divisions (PzKwIV, 38t)
4 He 111 bombergroups
1 Stuka support wing


This victory is key, as the entirety of Budapest was made into a Hornet's Nest after the invasion of the Balkans. Units from all over Germany were rushed there to erect some kind of defense against our tanks. As our troops tired from the continuous advance, we could not crack Budapest, and a stalemate ensued with much slaughter along the Danube.

Only Operation Trezub, the invasion of Poland could've lodged the Germans from Budapest at the height of their garrison there. With the Germans in Budapest fearing encirclement, and the very border of Germany being threatened, we observed reinforcements traveling northwards, to halt our advance across Poland.
This was just the break needed by Kleshnikov to move his forces into a better attack position.

The movement of the advanced recon into Poznan last month was a feint to draw attention away from the intended target. No longer shall Soviet boys die at the gates of Budapest! Kleshnikov has been awarded the Order of Lenin, and will be visited by Stalin himself for the presentation. This will be occuring at an undisclosed location, possibly Kiev, as Stalin fears German assasins may be in the Union looking for him.


The push was not finished in the south however, as troops moved westward and captured the city of Zagreb as well. Reports then conclude that the advanced elements of that Army were able to excecute a hit and run attack on the coastal city of Rijeka.

Meanwhile in the north, General Andrikov is at it again! This month he excecuted a hit and run attack on Poznan, recapturing the city and destroying 2 more He-111's as well as 2 unidentified units. He then swung his attack northward and enguaged a German Veteran Panzaer battalion consisting of PzKw IV's. This was quickly overwhelmed without losses, and the remaining garrison at Danzig laid down their arms. Königsberg is now officially under seige, and plans have been made to assault and capture it next month.

The lone German city of Kracow is deep behind the front lines now, with only one one roadway as a gap for escape. The noose will be tightened upon that city as well, as it is expected to fall next month. Pamphlets have been dropped on the surrounded Germans, urging them to retreat and leave Kracow to us. Only time will tell if this warning is headed.

Due to the lawlessness being experienced in some of our newly aquired territories, Stalin has introduced NKVD attatchments, which will travel with the main armies ensuring that the People's army behaves in a true bolshevist fashion. They are being outfitted now, and are expected to enter service next month.

Cities Captued:
Rijeka.
Zagreb.
Budapest.
Poznan.
Danzig.

-Vasily Kleshnikov.

[Case]

Argh!