At the end of Turn 28 the Axis need 24 VPs to avoid automatic Soviet victory. At the start of the turn they have 22. Getting that final hex in Stalingrad will keep them in the game. However, failing to get that will rob the Soviets the enjoyment of their long awaited and carefully prepared winter offensive. So what ever happens, I will play on.
The first week of winter, November 11 to 19, is snow. This means no air units for the Axis and movement is reduced by one. Winter as well means rivers (except the Volga) freeze and Axis combats strengths are reduced by one.
The Axis keep putting resources in towards capturing Stalingrad.
On the Black Sea coast fighting starts for two key cities.
The Soviet commence Operation Uranus.
Which includes continuing to attack towards Stalingrad.
The first part of the Soviet offensive has been successful,
with Axis forces pushed back.
Once the Soviet offensive starts the Axis get The Interchange Turn before the Soviets then start Turn 29
The Axis have repaired the holes in their northern front (they think).
The Axis advance continues in the now snow covered steppes.
And on the Black Sea coast the fighting continues.
Turn 29
The weather clears. Which side will benefit more?
The Soviet offensive gathers pace.
They also keep attacking towards Stalingrad.
The Axis keep attacking Stalingrad.,
shrinking their northern perimeter to maintain troops for the city fight.
The Black Sea offensive is a set of sieges.
The Axis are a bit careful in which ones they prosecute.
The big picture heading into the last week of November.
Just realized I'd missed a combat in the Steppes.
The Rumanian attack failed,
maybe they will get lucky next time?
The snow starts falling again.
The Soviets concentrate on the offensive in the north.
and successfully rescues the trapped Hungarians.
The attacks on Stalingrad continue
and the Axis inch closer to its capture.
The attacks in the south, while limited,
are successful, if somewhat bloody.
the rest of front looks rather favourable for the Axis.
Not much to see here.
Slow progress is being made down south, but it is progress, kind of.
The fighting here and at Stalingrad
requires the Soviets to keep directing supplies
and reinforcements to these sectors.
As a result their northern offensive might run dry.
Well, that answers the question, I guess, whether things are as gruesome for the Axis near Voronezh as they look....!
ReplyDeleteThey have reinforcements coming, but I don't think it is going to help. The Soviets get extra VPs (or rather the Axis lose VPs) when they reach the map edge so there is good motivation.
DeleteHi, well i take it under the rules the Germans lost by 2 points but you are continuing the game.?
ReplyDeleteAs above it appears the tide is also about to turn.
Yes, "officially" the Axis lost to a Soviet automatic victory. But such an end would have denied the Soviet player all the fun of their offensive.
DeleteGetting up to the exciting bit.
ReplyDeleteSure is/was. Would have been sad to miss out on this stage just because the Axis failed (just) to keep up with the historical VP objective count.
Delete