Turn 49, May 21st 1942



We did it!

With the weather clearing up the giant pincers of Operation Alberich have finally closed, cutting off vast numbers of Soviet formations! 7 Panzer and 5 MotInf divisions with more than 750 Panzers have paved the way for one of the greatest battles of annihilation of the war so far. The fighting has been tough but we have now cut off a major part of the offensive power of the Red Army.




And in the Vyshnyvolochek area the infantry divisions of XXVI and X Korps have managed to trap another 2 tank corps, 3 rifle divisions and a rifle brigade.




Also, the attack in the Tula area, Operation Hagen , has met with great success! 6 Panzer and 3 MotInf divisions have cleanly broken through the Russian front and have cut off a massive number of Soviet units, among them no less than 15(!) tank corps! Together with the armoured forces cut off during Operation Alberich the Red Army is now threatened with the loss of more than half its operational tank forces.



In the South the next offensive starts, with the 3 Panzerkorps converging on the city of Stalingrad, Operation Himmelblau.

Both pincers advance rapidly, with the leading elements closing in to within 60 miles of the city on the Volga river. Special commendation goes to the SS Wiking division that advances more than 200 miles in a frantic dash East.

The Red Army in this area quite obviously lacks the means to conduct a meaningful defence due to losses incurred earlier.




And finally: the Crimea.

After some major reorganizing I brought up all the heavy artillery of XXX Korps and 11th Army and blasted the Russian fortifications at the isthmus of Feodosiya. In heavy fighting the 61st, 50th and 72nd infantry divisions finally broke through! Immediately the infantry of I and LIV Korps advanced and battered aside all Russian resistance. Then the LVII Panzerkorps rolled forward, towards their 1st objectives: Novorossiysk and Krasnodar.

14th MotInf division has reached Anapa, with the foothills of the Caucasus in sight!

Oh, and yet another Russian tank corps has been cut off...



Good times!