June 22nd-23rd

TL:DR
The almost double turn for the Axis exposes the fragility of the Soviet defense and preparedness. I suspect the 20/20 hindsight here will be/was helpful, as Germans will not ‘pause or delay’ as they did historically. They must drive hard on the Soviets to keep their OODA loop ‘broken’.

As the Soviet – the game plan is to fortify Leningrad, and delay, delay. Trading massive space for time.

The Details

 

There are a handful of special rules at the open and a swag of units on both sides that may not move on Turn 1 or even two or three. There are skipped phases, and items not done during the initial turns, but primarily Turn One – June 22-23.

 

All good. Pay attention. Do not fuck it up.

Working North to South as the initial four AM barrages allowed the night sky to return to its subtle moonlit splendour, millions of Germans and their allies pressed forward across perhaps the largest single land-based front in the history of mankind. 

In hindsight, as we look at the loss of life, capital and the fracturing of the very worlds peoples it was indeed a fool’s errand.

However, today is not that day. Today is June 23rd and across a narrow front an evil dictator had declared that Germany required more space. More resources for economic and military stability. Well actually he was just fricken crazy douche canoe set upon world domination. Much akin to the leader of the country he was invading this very moment.

Hitler, under various directives drove his armies East.

Leningrad for our purposes is the ultimate goal, shadowing and protecting the flank of Army Group Center, it was the role of AGN, Army Group North to capture the Communist stronghold of Leningrad also. To place a nail in the coffin of the propaganda of the Communist momentum.

First Panzer, Sixth Panzer and 8th Panzer were supposed to cover a broad front once they penetrated into Soviet Russia proper and progressed past Lithuania, and the somewhat openly forested flatlands of Latvia.

Riga, Tallinn, Leningrad and points due east as far as Vishniy Volochyok NW of Moscow, slightly NE of Rzhev! All of which in the grand scheme of things are immaterial. It was always going to be about Leningrad. Three roads lead into it from the South. 

 

In order to secure any of the approaches Latvia’s Riga and Daugavpils where the first order of business. Along with clearing or isolating the coastline for any nautical adventures aimed at securing the Estonian town of Tallinn as a launch point for naval activity in the Gulf of Finland.

Lake Iimen formed a natural Eastern boundary for an advance via Veliky Novgorod for the Axis right flank. While Pskov framed the eastern approach to Leningrad. The challenge would be dealing with : 

1. Russian reinforcement via Eastern reaches across a broad North-South Front. 
2. Managing the Soviet Naval escapades and neutralizing any potential marine efforts.
3. The fortress of Leningrad and its ability to be reinforced from the east.

 

At the outset the Jure river provides a natural dividing line for the three Panzer Divisions. Though I had decided for now to press all three North East. Infantry and some extra Arty would take care of Kaunas, while the three Panzer formations and 3rd and 36th Mot. powered NE.

The progress along the coast was substantial and the results of a handful of 1’s on a 1d10 made a big impact, clearing the way.

The mass of arty, armor and mech smashed away at the fragile NKVD units and cleared the roads seven hexes into Skaudvile and Raseinia.

Rail conversion pushed up. Soviets were hamstrung with no ability to react due to Scenario rules, Interdiction of HQ’s and a paucity of units. 

 

The second activation required the expenditure of Attack Supply. This forced some thoughtful choices, but still enabled over runs and 6 solid attacks with only one in the South not clearing the hex.

Siaulilai is the first VP hex [2 ] acquired ( two turns ahead of schedule) and also a significant road junction for the Axis advance. The motorized phase was used to consolidate formations and press up to lunge forward in the coming days. How the Axis take some of these locations by turn 3 {27th of June) is beyond me!

Soviets:

In this second ‘turn 1’ action Soviets are still locked up on Mech moves unless its to counter attack. We modelled one of those and the Germans merely Reaction Move into the Defenders hex and force an disadvantageous odds swing. Or ‘reinforce’ a soak off attack ‘No Bueno‘ Discretion here is still the better part of valor and armor preservation may well matter later on. So a few foot sloggers move up and we await Turn 2 to release forces.