what If 6

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Oct. 10th -22nd 1941:

For the last month German forces have been building up reserves for operation Typhoon for a all out attack and drive to Moscow and the Crimea with the oil reserves the Germans need.
On the 10th the attack begins in full force, catching the Soviets completely by surprise. Within 2 weeks Army group south quickly surround soviet forces around Krenenchug and Nepropetrovsk, capturing over 600,000 troops and 75 tanks. The city of Odessa is cutoff trapping 300,000 troops.
In the central area, Army group center quickly shatter defense lines and capture over 700,000 soviet troops in pockets at Vyazma and Bryansk. By the 22nd Mozhaisk is in German hands as Soviet force retreat toward Tula.
In the North Leningrad is at a stalemate as Soviet forces from Smolensk and Rostavl region were redeployed for the Leningrad defense by Stalin's orders. Leningrad is cutoff by Oct. 15th as Novgornd falls to the Germans. By the 22nd 17 Divisions of Finnish troops loyal to Germany attack Leningrad from the north and push Soviet forces to the city outskirts.

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

German side:

Field Marshal Kidel reporting:

My Fuhrer..... Operation Typhoon is going well and is more or less on schedule. Weather has slowed the advance, but for the last 24 hours the weather has improved and roads are starting to dry out. In the South the Crimea is well within our hands as we have captured over 600,000 troops and over 50 working tanks. Odessa is surrounded and cutoff from soviet lines.
In the central region over 700,000 troops have been captured and our forces are within 52 KM of Moscow.
In the North Leningrad is at a stalemate Leep has been able to surround the city trapping the Soviet defenders. 17 Finnish divisions have attacked from the north and have drove to the out skirts of north Leningrad.
Something to bring to your attention my Fuhuer... Several captured Russian commanders all along the front are wanting to fight for Germany to overthrow Stalin. Most say he is a butcher with little regard for his men and life in general. If we include the Russians wanting to fight it would give us a additional 21 divisions. What are your thought on this matter my Fuhrer?



Soviet side:

General Zhukov reporting:

Comrade President...... The situation continues to be grim. In the south Odessa is surrounded and we are in danger of losing the whole Crimea region along with most of our oil reserves.
In Leningrad the city is now surrounded , it seems the Finns are now allied with the Germans, as they have attacked from the north with 15 or more divisions.
German forces are within 50 KM of Moscow. Troops continue to fight hard but weapons and Ammo are in short supply, in some cases 1 of 2 troops have a weapon to fight with. Moscow will not fall!! We have the manpower to overwhelm the invaders. But the north and south area's have me very concerned. Factories in the east continue to produce war material as fast as possible. Plus fresh troops from the east continue to arrive in the staging area's for the front lines. All available manpower including women are coming to the defense of the motherland.
What are you orders comrade president?

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

Soviet Side

Stalin has been drinking heavily and shouts out at Zhukov

Stalin......."Get out of my Dacha"

The following day Zhukov returns and is stopped short in the room with Stalin a unknown person Zhukov over heres some of the conversation

Stalin......."We really have f***** it up for Lenin I want you to open up talks with the Germans and try to arrange a cease fire of some sort"

Zhukov backs off and waits outside for some time on his return Stalin is on his own

Stalin......."Are Zhukov come in what news" pauses to read the reports handed to him by Zhukov "The order of the day simple take Leningrad back and throw everything we got at the Nazis along the whole front"

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

German Side

Hitler is against this idea then Himmler steps in "They could be used for special operations that is high risk?" "And once we have defeated Stalin well we can get rid of them"

Hitler......."It 's your decision Himmler"

On that note Hitler leaves the room for the conference room

Himler......."Do it raise the divisions but I want a minimum of four the SS"

In the conference room

Hitler......."Good excellent progress we must keep pushing hard nothing must stop us"

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Late Oct. - Early Nov. 1941:

In the south Odessa is taken . 100,000 soviets troops captured. All oil fields and processing areas are secure and in German hands.
In the Central region heavy fighting near Tula as the Soviets throw everything they have at the Germans. progress is slow, but the Soviets have suffered very heavy losses. German forces are on the outskirts of Tula by Nov. 3rd and are only 35 KM from Moscow.
In the north Finn troops have broken through defensive lines around Leningrad and are fighting house to house in the north part of the city. German forces have cutoff 75,000 soviet troops as the southern line begin to crumble. by Nov. 3rd, German and Finn forces control 40% of Leningrad.
Meanwhile Himmler organizes 9 divisions of Russian troops loyal to overthrow Stalin. They are staged near Tula by Nov. 3rd.

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

German side:

Field Marshal Kidel Reporting:

My Fuhuer... The Crimea is secure along with all oil fields and processing centers intact. We can begin Petrol production and distribution within 5 days. Soviet forces have retreated on the other side of the Dniepr river.
In the central region we have advanced to Tula despite very heavy fighting from the Soviets. 9 divisions of Himmler's Russian friends are staging near Tula to help with the push into Tula.
In the North General Leep reports 40% of Leningrad is taken, and continues to box in the Soviet defenders.

We are one day behind schedule on operation Typhoon. Gen. Von Bock is expected to attack Tula within the next 48 hours. weather continues to be clear as winter has not set in fully yet.


Soviet side:

Gen Zhukov briefs general staff without Stalin who is sleeping off another drunken night:

Generals.... The Crimea is lost and we are in danger of losing Leningrad. The Tula defenders are stable for now. Fresh troops and supplies are due to arrive in Moscow in the next 26 hours from the east. We need to prepare defensive lines around Moscow . Tula will fall soon. So time is short to prepare. I will inform Comrade president of the situation once he awakes. If there are changes in orders I will inform you.
Meeting ends........

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

Soviet Side

Stalin holding a private meeting with the NKVD in his Dacha

Stalin......."Generals I am only giving one order to you to give to your troops in their pillboxes machine gun nests and so on" "if they see a private to a general retreating kill them on site I don't care if you have to kill 10,000 of my own troops they will in the end get the message to stand and fight"


Five hours latter Stalin arrives at his command post for a briefing the news is bad but he remains calm

Stalin......."Gentlemen Comrades we must prevent the enemy getting anywhere near Moscow we must fight to the last breath we must not allow the Motherland fall in to the hands of these thugs" "We will in the end win and drive these pigs back in to the dirt where they belong"

This has a up lifting feeling for those at the meeting

"If Hitler wants this land he will have to fight for it the time has come comrades total war"

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

German Side

Hitler......."Moscow must fall at all cost" "continual the attack on the northern front for Leningrad" " and for the south stabilize the lines for winter dig in I have plans for next year in the south"

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Nov. 3rd - Nov. 30th 1941:

In the south defensive lines are established as German forces prepare for the winter. Oil production is started and the first supplies reach German units by Nov. 18th.
In the central region Tula is attacked on Nov 6th by 9 Divisions of anti Stalin Russian troops. At first Tula defenders think it is a reinforcement group, and allow them up to the lines before firing a shot. The 9 divisions pour in and overwhelm the S.E. corridors defensive lines. A foot hold within the city is secured by the "SA" troops and German forces pour in the breach. By Nov 22nd after very heavy fighting Tula is taken. By the end of the month German forces have drove to 10 KM of Moscow. Soviet forces continue their defensive buildup around Moscow, setting up 3 defensive lines with over 1 million men.
In the North Leningrad is taken by Nov. 25th. Soviet forces establish a defensive line NE of the city. German forces begin digging in for the winter at Leningrad.
Winter has arrived by the 30th as the temp. turns bitterly cold.

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Soviet side:

Gen. Zhukov reporting:

Comrade president.... Leningrad and Tula have fallen. Our forces are 10 to 15 KM outside of both cities. Defensive lines around Moscow are nearly complete. The 3 defensive lines are manned by 1 million men and 150 tanks. With more men and equipment in route.
Winter weather has arrived and has slowed the German advance to a crawl. German lines average 15KM from the Capital.
We expect the Germans to dig in for the winter in the Moscow region as they are doing in the North and south. In the North and South our defensive lines are stable.
Tula defenders report that fellow Russian troops fighting with the Germans. 7-9 divisions estimated attacked Tula. It is unclear if they were forced or if it is some kind of plot to overthrow the gov. ?
What are your orders Comrade president?


German side:

Field Marshal Kidel reporting:

My Fuhrer.. In the south all is secure and southern forces have dug in for the winter. Oil production has started. and deliveries are being made to front line units.
In the North we have taken Leningrad. The Soviets have stabilize their lines 15 KM N.E of the city. Our forces are digging in at Leningrad for the winter.
In the central region we have taken Tula with the help of our Russian friends. We have pushed to within 15 KM of Moscow. Air recon reports a very large buildup of Soviet forces in a crescent shape defensive line 3 lines deep.
My Fuhrer, we do not have the resources to breach so strong a defense. Plus winter has set in which will further hamper our efforts. I recommend we dig in at our current position for the winter. Use the winter months to reinforces and resupply. Then launch a new offensive in the early spring.
As for the "SA" divisions Himmler has raised, 2 divisions were destroyed in Tula the remaining 7 are badly beat up.

Himmler responds:
My Fuhuer.... I can have another 5 "SA" divisions ready to go by the end of the year, and be able to reinforce the 7 divisions that fought in Tula.

What are your orders My Fuhrer?

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

Soviet Side

Stalin reads a report from the NKVD they are ready to kill on site if any soviet solider retreats
Stalin thinks to himself I will teach these cowards to stand and fight

Stalin......."Comrades I trust we are ready to defend Moscow your very lives are at stake fail and you will all be shot" "We wait and see what Mr Hitler's next move will be"




German Side

Htler......."I want a full detailed report in the next 24 hours what are we up against on the Moscow Front?"

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Soviet side:

All general staff nod their heads in silent agreement and leave the meeting to continue to coordinate Moscow's defense.

German side:

30 hours later general staff meeting starts.

Field Marshal Kidel reporting:

My Fuhuer... My apologies for the delay.. Recon info was slowed by weather conditions from the front to the Wolfs lair.
As you can see from the aerial photos, there are massive buildups south, west, and east of the capital. Photos show at least 200-300 tanks and estimates of at least 1 million or more troops. Several aircraft were involved in the recon of the area and there was also seen heavy rail activity from the east heading into the Moscow area. A huge amount of field artillery is now in the area.
Based on this new data, it would be impossible to breach these defenses with the existing forces we have in place.
I recommend my Fuhrer that we sit tight where we are and reinforce during the winter for a major attack in the early spring. Also through out the winter have the Luftwaffe pound the positions with daily bombing strikes as weather permits. Winter gear for the troops are already in route and will arrive in the next 3 days.

Himmler responds:

Fuhuer... With the extra time I should be able to make ready a additional 10-12 "SA" divisions for a spring offensive. The remaining captured troops are in process of being sent to labor camps near by in building decent roads into Russia instead of the mud holes we have had to use.

Your Orders?

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

German Side

Hitler broods over the reports and thinks his generals are stalling but when he looks at the aerial photos he flies in to a rage for a while and feels cheated before meeting his staff

Hitler......."Can you take and secure Tula?"




Soviet Side

Stalin gives a big rally speech to the party

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

German side:

Field Marshal Kidel responds:

My Fuhuer.... Tula is Completely in German hands, as stated in our briefing yesterday. Von Bocks forces are digging in awaiting further orders. Soviet forces defending Tula have retreated to the new Moscow defensive lines.
Winter clothing and supplies for our troops have arrived in Smolensk and in Pskee in the north. we expect these winter supplies to be in our troops hands within the next 24-48 hours. Winter supplies for the troops in the south will be in the area within a week.

Soviet side:

Gen Zhukov reports to Stalin after his speech:

Comrade president... No movement from German forces in the last 24 hours. Several German recon aircraft have been over the Moscow area, but that has been it. I'm sure they are sizing up our defensives.
Troops and material continue to arrive in the Moscow area. Defensive lines will be complete in the next 12-24 hours.

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

German Side

Hitler is taken ill he issues one order hold firm do not give up any ground

Field Marshal Jodle........"Generals you herd the order I suggest you to follow that order"



Soviet Side

Stalin meets with his staff

Stalin......."Comrades start planing for a attack for mid to late December on the Moscow Front"