WWII: BtB, Turn 5, Spring 42

 

With a hand size of 5 by the events in Winter and the Spring Thaw during the two initial action rounds, we may have a quite beginning of the Spring Turn.

I did not calculate what is the probability of this  but again, Allied and OKW sent orders for an offensive at Africa. This is the third time in a row and Axis is not happy.

Axis is not allowing any mistake from Russian Commander and the risky advance of the shock armies at the end of winter was heavily punished in the first action when two infantry German Armies attacked at Velikiye Luki.

Following his mandatory orders, Allied attacked with the Desert Army for retaking Tobruk and defeating a combined German and Italian force.

The result of the defeat at Velikiye Luki forced Russian to redeploy many of his small size units along the whole front.  Army Group North with the refitted 3rd and 4th Panzer Armies increased pressure against Rzhev and menaced a big rupture there. German commander was trying to find some place to maneuver his superior mechanized forces and to avoid a frontal approach towards Moscow.

The push continued at Rzhev and Russian units were crushed and only the Shock Army survived the fight and it was retreated to Moscow. Stavka took a big decision at this time and the defensive line at Vyazma and Bryansk was abandoned. Russian hesitated a lot about this movement but realizing that the menace of Army Group North was too strong and Russian had not enough units to cover all the terrain, he had chosen the general retreat.

Fortunately for Russian the British gains at North Africa has diverted enough Axis resources and Soviet get some relief of the pressure. Desert Army begun a pursuit of German and Italian units along Lybia.

Both contenders called for more replacements and Allied launched a new bombing that reduces Axis hand size again for the next turn.

At the end of Spring we have heard that US war efforts are beginning to be increased and the first planning for an invasion in Europe and the opening of a second front are being discussed.

Situation in the Eastern Front at the end of Spring 42.

Losses this turn:

German: 8 steps, Italian: 2 steps

Russian: 11 steps.

VP: +13 for Axis.