The General Vol 24 No 1 (17.98MB)

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Table 1
Reinfopcement rrnd Repkement Factors
German Rtlssian
NovlDec - 47 47
10 -
Total 1944 1 59 60 282 282
*: Archangel die roll stam; assume average die roll of 3
": Estimated maximum.
***: Replacement factor rate doubles.
Table 2
Worker Units: Hypothetical Piay
Number of Factors
Total
dded ' leatir- Destroved Location Remhim Eh.
-
Total 1941 12 6
NovlDec - - - 7 192
Total 1943 1 5 7 192
tance has already been discussed. To the east lie two
major cities: Gorki and Saratov, both likely homes
for worker units. To the south are more major cities:
Stalingrad and Rostov. Even farther south are the
oil fields of the Caucasus Mountains; another
worker unit can be expected in Astrakhan.
If the German has lost two or more armored units
on the drive to Voronezh and there are workers re-
maining anywhere on the steppes, then a drive south
may be the way to go. On the other hand, if the
German has planned his attacks well and has had
good die rolls, he will not need the additional oil
wells. The Russian player may have reacted to the
drive through the steppes and placed worker units
farther north in Tula and Kalinin. If so, then it is
time to consider turning to the north for the knock-
out punch.
As stated above, the situation will dictate what
to do next; however, one thing that the Gennan must
understand is that this is an eitherlor decision. He
will have neither sufficient forces nor time to mount
two separate drives in opposite directions. Besides
being in a central position at Voronezh, the other
factor still allowing him the offensive initiative is
the concentration of power to break through at will,
with the aid of Stukas of course. He should never
dilute this strategic advantage by splitting his own
forces after having accomplished the same against
his opponent.
Having outlined the "Steppes strategy" above,
what numerical impact can it have on the game?
How many worker units will be eliminated? Table
2 attempts to demonstrate the effect of this strategy.
The placement of workers reflects the likely Russian
reaction to a thrust by panzers through the steppes.
Worker units worth "2" are placed to the extreme
north and south. Lesser worker units are first placed
in major cities, and then in minor ones. Worker units
destroyed in the table follow the pattern outlined
here, with a final push in 1943 aimed at Moscow.
The conclusion from Table 2 is not that 15 worker
units could be destroyed by the end of 1943. Much
more important is the ripple effect of worker units
destroyed early in the game (i.e., the cumulative
total number of factors eliminated from play). By
way of example, say that Kiev is cleared in JulIAug
1941; two factors are lost not only that turn, but
every turn thereafter. A total of 38 factors removed
from the Russian for the destruction of one worker
unit! And remember the rate is doubled beginning
MaylJune 1943. The right-hand column tells the
complete story: a successful Steppes strategy can
eliminate 192 replacement factors through 1943.
That is the equvalent of 35 to 45 armies!
Conclusion
The German player in THE RUSSIAN CAM-
PAIGN cannot make the same mistakes as his histor-
ical counterparts and expect to win. Hitler and the
OKW staff wanted to make drives to the extreme
south and north when they invaded Russia. Halder
and the OKH staff lobbied for a single thrust in the
center towards Moscow. What resulted was a com-
promise. "In a real sense, it can be said that the
German Army had no strategic guidance in 1941. "
(Bryan Fugate, Operation hrbarossa, pg. 301)
Germany was unable to concentrate sufficient forces
for a strategic victory in 194 1. In TRC, the German
player must develop a centralized strategy and
aggressively pursue it while minimizing his losses.
Russian worker units must be taken into account in
the mathematics of the campaign. Otherwise, history
is likely to be repeated. *