Welcome, Comrade. Mother Russia needs you to guide her sons through the coming storm. The fascist beast approaches. You must slay her, Socialism must prevail!
OOC |Archive Thread
Current Date: 22 June 1941
1st Campaign: Operation Barbarossa | Episode 1: The German Onslaught
1st Campaign: Operation Barbarossa | Episode 1: The German Onslaught
Phase One
(Current Phase Map)
Squares indicate battalions of the 917th, Squares with a line represent the tank companies of the attached 115th
Colonel Alexander Nikolayevich Dovorov was awoken from his bed by frantic shouts from his aides outside his door. Major Ivchenko was pale in his face and could barely speak. Dovorov was not in a mood to handle this man and said "Speak" rather tersely to the major. The major finally managed to utter the words, "The Germans have attacked us. We believe at around 3 this morning. No word from headquarters and retreating soldiers and streaming into the city."
In a rare moment of visible surprise, Dovorov was shocked. For a moment a flash of worry struck the man but he quickly composed himself. Attempting to appear composed before his men, Dovorov slowly reached for his coat hanging next to his door, put it on, and lit a cigar. If one could have seen his hands through the darkness of the room, they were trembling and lighting his cigar was almost difficult before Dovorov took a deep breath. His calming demeanor mastered he said to the gathered staff officers, "So it begins."
He made his way through his makeshift headquarters in a commandeered mansion in Vilnius's south-eastern outskirts. He looked to the major, "Do we have any intelligence?"
The major shook his head, "We have only vague estimates. The retreating soldiers have put the advancing Germans at over 10,000 backed by 100 armored vehicles."
Dovorov cut the man a deathly stare, "I WILL NOT tolerate the ramblings of cowards. Those numbers are the fantasies of whipped dogs and shall not be repeated. The correct response, Major, is that we have limited intelligence suggesting sizable infantry and armored elements but not more. How long till they arrive?"
The Major contemplated his response, "Our front lines are crumbling, they will likely be here by midday."
Dovorov looked around the room at the assembled Senior officers, "Comrades, we must hold here. The river crossing behind us will not be used by the Germans to flank our southern brothers. Our first line of defense will be along the rail lines. We have terrain advantage when the approach from the west. Our second line will be formed before the bridge head. If the first line falls, all units are to fall back through the city to the bridge and regroup for a counter attack. They have the initiative now, once we know our enemy's strength, we will take it from them. Deliver this message to the field officers - 'Germans have attacked with infantry and armor, hold a defensive line across the rail line at all costs.' "
The message was short but it was all the men needed to know for now. Dovorov's mother had insisted there was no God. He hoped she was wrong.
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Midday 22 June 1941
The retreating men did not seem to be too far off in their estimates. Contact with the enemy had been made across the entire line. Dovorov still had no word from headquarters. German infantry and armor had hit them hard. The Germans did not seem to have any air support at the moment. In the absence of orders from above, Dovorov took control of the situation. he radioed into the local airfield and commandeered several air elements of Yak-1 fighters and Il-2 Ground-Attack craft. He hoped that air superiority here could help stall the German advance.
Germans have attacked along the lines in the map above and will reach Soviet lines by midday. Officers, your first post may include your reaction to word from the German attack but it should also include your first contact with the German enemy.