WWII:BtB, Turn 12, Winter 44

 

After a turns of calm, again OKH gave orders to the German Armies for attacking Allied positions whereas Stalin command his Fronts at Rostov, Kharkov and Pskov to Stand Fast.

Opening movements saw the Germans trying to stop Allied invasion in France and reinforcing his Caucasian Front.

With the knowledge of German movements for this turn given by the play of Enigma, Allied answered by successfully attacking at Calais for opening the beach before German could play for Atlantic trenches. In spite of the losses suffered by the British Armies, Calais was liberated and German force retreated to Antwerp.
Then, the three German SCU units still deployed at Norway and Denmark were called back to help into the defense of the Western Front to make a defensive lines at Reims and Antwerp. But Allied continued to push and assaulted Antwerp with a combined American-British force.

In Russia, Soviets have retaken Riga and advanced into Perekop menacing Hungarian positions at Melitopol from their rear.  But Hungarian resisted the attack and kept Melitopol at Axis hands.  Winter conditions did not help for the Russian offensive and with the Allied fully concentrated in the Invasion of France the operations were halted at this Front.

After the Battle for Antwerp Allied took a breath in their offensive and a series of strategic operations were seen in the Western Front.

 

First, both sides sent reinforcements to the area. German deployed 1st FJ Army at Ruhr and Allied sent to the beaches the 1st Canadian Army that it was the first unit to enter Belgium. German finally pushed their production industry by playing Speer that will allow the built of two more Panzer Armies. Both commanders played for replacements and, by the end of the turn, Axis decide to retreat to defensive positions at Saar and Ruhr in France. Allied ended Winter by Clearing the Scheldt, opening the port at Antwerp and establishing there their supply source that will allow to bring more units closest to the battle.

Map at the end of Winter 44.

Losses:

Russian: 4, US: 3, British: 5 steps

German: 12 steps, Hungarian: 4 steps.

VP: +7 for Axis (lost of Antwerp and failed to make MO).