Kiev to Rostov Nov. 27 - 28th Soviet Offensive 1941 Part 2

The Soviet offensive releases their attacks on the unsuspecting Axis defenders. The first to feel the brunt of the Soviet fury are the German units to the north of Rostov. Tired and at low strength the Germans give way and are routed. 

Russian bombers pound the German 160th Recon Battalion and their anti air is weak as the Russians lose few bombers and drop ordinance on the hex. German and Soviet artillery thunder toward each other as the attack commences and the Germans fold, their unit evaporated as the Soviet 6th Armor Brigade and 68th Cavalry advance. The German men flee into the Russian steppes as their defense folds.

Just 5 miles to the south the German line is further attacked by the Soviets and the German 120th is forced to retreat, but they take more losses pulling out of combat and find their fighting efficiency destroyed as they are effectively eliminated as a combat unit. Russian forces advance. 

Further south around the bend in the Don River the Soviets throw themselves across the bridgehead known as Bridge 1, number 2 being one that leads into Rostov East defended by the Waffen SS. At 9-2 odds the Russians smash across the bridge even when the attack is poorly coordinated. The German 92nd regiment is overwhelmed and they falter, being eliminated as the Russians storm across the Don bridgehead. 

Next up the major assault into Rostov east against the dreaded but weakened SS Adolf Liebstandarte. Included in the attack is a fearful unit of Soviet rocket artillery, the 6 guards rockets. With Soviet artillery shelling the city the Waffen SS, though causing casualties, is forced to pull back but they are cut off and decimated as they retreat being eliminated. The Soviet units advance into the east half of Rostov liberating half of the major city. Following these attacks the Soviet forces fan out and secure their front, reinforcing the front lines and starting to cut off the defending German forces in and around Rostov. 

This ends the Soviet turn and we start game turn 81 next, which takes us into November 29th and the 30th. 

 

The next turn sees a weather determination and a aircraft readiness determination. The weather continues to be frost for the next two days, and the skies are clear. The Soviet bombers find safe skies and prepare to run more sorties. The German supply situation is now critical as all axis forces find themselves almost cut off and with no fuel or enough ammunition to mount counter attacks. A general retreat is in order.