East Front (Block Game)

Started a second game of East Front, the Columbia block game, last Saturday.  We got through all of the summer with a couple of rules oops that were cleaned up.  The one I remember is that HQs could move two spaces if they did not get used for combat support - I thought it was just one, this allowed the Russians to run away more quickly.  Another one I noticed later (not really a goof, just did not think of the implications till later) is that a unit can only disengage to a friendly hex, that could make a very big difference in my opening moves for the next time.

Opening Setup - Hey that looks familiar...

End of German June 41, A Blitz in the middle threatens to encircle a large Russian force.  Should have done two blitz moves!  Another one in the North would have bagged them!  Last game the first battles did not go as well...

End of Russian turn June 41, The forces that can retreat do so, others stay in place since leaving would allow parting shots by the Germans and this way the Germans forces are slowed up a little bit.

July 41

End of German first Impulse.  Pushing further on.   A number of Russians die from lack of supply.

End of Russian first impulse.

End of German second Impulse.  No big breakthroughs since the Russians are trading space for time.  It is using up German supply too.

Russian second impulse.

August 41

German first impulse, pushing forward and trying to hoard supply.  Odessa is in trouble.

Russian first impulse.  Odessa is left a token defender (can only supply one unit when hex is contested - which it soon will be).  The rest of the line pulls back where it can.

German second impulse, the advance continues  and Odessa falls.

Russian second impulse, trading more space for more time.

September 41

German first impulse, a blitz attack to get near Lenningrad (leaving that HQ only 0 supply).  Elsewhere the Germans move out from Odessa and on to Moscow!  (still two hexes away).

Hardly any changes in the Russian impulse, supplies are minimal and space is gone.

German second impulse, supplies for them are minimal as well. 

End of Russian second impulse.  The Germans are just within striking distance of both Moscow and Leningrad but supplies are minimal and a couple drops of rain fell in the last couple days, and the temperature has started to fall...