T053: 05.07.43
Sector: Finland-Karelia
The 6th SS Geb Nord was forced to withdraw to the rear after losing almost 80 percent of its effective combat strength. This is a fantastic development. Without that division, the point of the spear has been dulled. Likely, this sector is secure for a while, after what looked like a very big flashpoint for an Axis offensive.
Sector: Yelets
Think of two boxers slugging away at each other, but neither going down or giving ground in any way. That’s pretty much what the Yelets sector has deteriorated into. It’s also forced me to cancel, or at least postpone, OPERATION: MEGAPHONE II. After surrounding but not destroying the 24th Panzer Division, the 2nd Guards Army was blown up by German reinforcements, wiping out at least 300 T-34s in the process. That loss hurts badly, but my lines are still in tact. Oddly enough, once I was able to launch a counterattack of my own, the 24th Panzer evaporated anyway. The losses for both sides at Yelets have been staggering, especially once you consider the lines have moved all of about two hexes since my initial offensive.
Sector: Black Sea Coast
The 40th Army was pushed back a hex by the advancing Panzer Korps--XIV & XLI--but held when it mattered most. The patchwork assembly of the 44th, 45th, 46th and 47th Armies is doing a very poor job of defending the northern wing of my position. But those four armies have been battered and beaten into a bloody pulp over the last two months. I’ll need to get a few fresh armies down here to relieve them.
Sector: Tripoli
The British have finally taken Tripoli. I’ll now begin shuttling the I Corps and V Corps back to Egypt for refitting.
Sector: Tunis
Rommel’s headquarters has been captured with several other remaining Afrika Korps and Italian units. North Africa is now under complete Allied control.
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