what If 6

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Dec. 1st - 25th 1941:

Quiet time as both sides settle in for the winter and reinforce their positions. The Luftwaffe has only been able to bomb for 8 days only due to the weather. Light damage done to defensive lines. However both major rail systems leading into the Moscow area are smashed. Due to weather conditions it will take 2 months to repair.
Stalin is informed and postponed the attack until late Jan. at the earliest.
Meanwhile several Russian "SA" members sneak in behind Soviet lines to gather info on troop strength and any other valuable info. By the 20th word gets back to German high command on troop strength around Moscow and a rumor of a attack on German lines sometime in Jan. Moscow is defended by 1.4 million troops, 600+ tanks and many pieces of arterially.
Hitler calls a meeting on the 26th to address the new information.

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

German Side

Hitler is very alarmed by the build up but before the meeting can start news is rec'd the Russians have broken through on the Moscow front. Hitler canceled the meeting this is what he feared would happen and now it has.

Hitler........"HOLD THE LINE NOT ONE STEP BACK"



Soviet Side

Stalin meets with his staff

Stalin......."Comrades the Germans are just sitting their we know there tanks are worn out by the winter weather and bad weather on the 26th to the 31st their air force will be grounded I say attack give them hell"

For the first time his generals agree but only on the grounds of a limited offensive which Stalin agrees to.

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Dec 26th -31st 1941:

In a surprise attack from the Soviets, Soviet forces break through German line in 2 locations. Even though the Germans were caught off guard they recovered quickly sealing one breach in 8 hours. Trapping 50,000 Soviet Troops which were quickly destroyed. The 2nd breach was closed 24 hour later. The Soviets had hoped for bad weather through the 31st, but the skies cleared by the 29th. The Luftwaffe able to fly once again quickly pushed Soviet forces back to their original lines they started from.
The Soviets attacked with 150,000 men and 80 tanks. They lost 65,000 Troops and 30 tanks. German losses were moderate, but far less than what the Soviets suffered.

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

German side:

Field Marshal Kidel reporting:

My Fuhuer... The Soviet attack has been repelled and our lines are intact. The Soviets broke through in 2 places but both were sealed quickly. We trapped a large number of Soviet troops which were destroyed. The survivors surrendered. Estimates of the trapped forces was in the 50,000 range. Our lines are stable and we continue to reinforce the weak sectors.



Soviet side:

General Zhukov reporting:

Comrade President, The attack went well and we inflected damage on the enemy. General Monokoff's 2nd Russian Red force overextended their lines and became trapped. 50% of his forces did not escape and were destroyed. The General is on his way to head quarters to explain is actions to high command. If the weather had held we would have done better.
Rail system repair continues on schedule, we expect both routes operational by Jan 20th.

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

Both leaders decide to hold their positions and continual the build up, Hitler builds up in the south while Stalin ops for the Moscow front.

To be continual................Spring 42

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

Late February 1942

Soviet Side

Stalin meets with his staff to review the winter months and up coming Spring, Soviet losses have almost been replaced from the east, a German assault failed to take Moscow but the Germans are only 10 miles away. Stalin feels the Germans will have another go at Moscow and orders more troops to the area, by some miracle on the Leningrad front the Soviets have blunted the German progress but this has now resulted in a stand off.

Stalin....."Generals we have stopped the vile Germans taking Moscow but I feel we must continual the build up and defend the capital"

His generals in the south have pointed out a large German build up

Stalin....."Generals this is a typical German tactic they are really after Moscow, trust me"

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

Early March 1942

German Side

Hitler now knows Moscow can not be taken yet and blames his Generals for a lack of aggression and now focus his attention in the south.

Hitler....."Kharkov must fall well before June this will be are jump off point for case blue object to take Stalingrad and then swing north and out flank the Soviets defending Moscow, and end this war before the end of the year"

Some Generals feel this plan is way to optimistic and could cause major problems in the long term but for the moment they keep quite.

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

April 1942:

In the south the Germans attack with massive force. Within 10 days they capture Zaporozhye & Lokhvitsa. Kharkov is surrounded by the 15th trapping 200,000 soviet troops. All across the south front Soviet forces continue to fall back as their defensive lines are shattered within days of establishing them. By the 30th Kharkov is captured along with 175,000 troops. Sevastopol is captured and elements of the German navy start to patrol the Black sea area. Soviet forces retreat past the Donets river.
In the north a slow push SE from Leningrad begins by the 30th. German forces have moved 75 KM.
In the Moscow area the standoff continues as Luftwaffe and Soviet air forces fight for control of the skies over Moscow. Little movement is made by both sides all month long.

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

German side:

Field Marshal Kidel reporting:

My Fuhuer.... German forces in the south have attacked in force and have caught the Soviets flat footed. All Objectives west of the Donets river are now in German hands. We are well ahead of schedule for "case blue".
In the north a slow push from Leningrad has started. Slow but steady progress has been made.
In the Moscow area. The Luftwaffe is gaining control of the skies over Moscow. Soviet defenses around Moscow continue to be massive. No move from the Soviets to reinforce the south. They seem content to defend Moscow and positions north.

Your orders my Fuhrer?

Soviet side:

General Zhukov reporting:

Comrade president...... The Germans have attacked in force in the south and have pushed our forces back to the Donets river. Moscow forces are complete and a slow push by the Germans heading SE form Leningrad. If we hope to stem the tide of battle in the south we must transfer forces from the Moscow area to reinforce in the south. General Zarpolf is in very short supply of men and material.

Your orders comrade president?

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

Early May 1942

German Side

Hitler..... "My Generals once again time is short speed is the business of the day how soon to finish off the Soviets trapped in Kharkov I do not want to see another Kiev it is you who prevented a great victory last year Moscow is a Thorn in my side I want results not delays crush Kharkov"



Soviet Side

Stalin....."My comrades I a sure you the Germans in the south will swing north we must protect Moscow"

One of Stalin's staff has notice Stalin was some what drunk.....?

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

German side:

Field Marshal Kidel reporting:

My Fuhuer.... We have just received word that Kharkov is completely in German hands and that up to 175,000 Soviet troops have been captured. German lines are in process of moving up to the south side of the Donets river. Project "Blue" is now ahead of schedule. I have ordered Luftwaffe units to start bombing Soviet positions north of the Donets in the next 12 hours. Once our forces stabilize and supply lines catch up with advance units we expect to be on the move again within 24 hours.


Soviet side:

General Zhukov looking over the battle maps realizes that Stalin is making a huge mistake by holding so many forces near Moscow. The Germans are focusing their attention in the south and north. If reinforcements do not arrive near Stalingrad soon. The city will be overrun in short order as Soviet defenders in the south are exhausted and are short of supplies. Another briefing is scheduled late tomorrow afternoon, hopefully Zhukov can convince Stalin to free up some resources to the southern defenders.

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

German Side

Hitler..... "Good press on to Stalingrad"



Soviet Side

Stalin....."Retake take Kharkov now"

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

June 1942:

Under Stalins orders the Soviets mount a counterattack that is swiftly pushed back by German forces. German forces within a week shatter the Soviet lines and push rapidly to Rostov and Morozovsk. South of the main lines elements of XI Army group push through and capture kerith, Krasnodar, and Maykop with little resistance. By mid June the XI group have linked up with Army group A and the 1st Panzers to prepare for a push into Stavopol. The soviets are falling back on all fronts in the south, due to supply problems and no reinforcements.

In the Central region Luftwaffe raid continue to pound soviet position around Moscow. Little movement is seen on either side.. In the North German forces have bogged down north and east of Leningrad as Soviet reinforcements continue to pour into the area.

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

German side:

Field Marshal Kidel reporting:

My Fuhrer, Operation blue continues to be ahead of schedule. Soviet forces in the south are falling back on all fronts and German forces are making very good progress. We are closing in on Stalingrad.

Soviet side:

General Zhukov reporting:

Comrade president...... Reinforcements are needed in the South or we will lose the whole southern region. The counterattack failed and our forces continue to be push back. Reinforcements are needed from the Moscow region as our eastern reserves are now fully engaged.

Your orders comrade president?

[richard]

Hi MarshalLaw,

German Side

Hitler..... "Good how soon when will we reach Stalingrad"



Soviet Side

Stalin and Zhukov are in a private meeting, Zhukov is pressing the case that Stalin must stop running the war out right but carefully worded