The House of Cards A Soviet Union Hearts of Iron 2 AAR
Update Two
June 22nd 1941
It was 5am, and Captain2 was confused.
Like the other Field Marshalls, he had received the same transmission from Moscow claiming the Germans were not attacking. Unlike the others, he knew that the Germans were attacking. He knew this, because they were attacking
him.
Or, strictly speaking, they were attacking Siauliau, around 80 miles to the south of him. General Nodikus had managed to telephone Baltic Headquarters to confirm this.
Nodikus: Sir, its the Germans. Theyve broken through my lines heavy artillery, tanks - were withdrawing to the east.
Captain2: Are you sure that its Germans? Moscow tells us it is British spies spreading false information.
Nodikus: I...do you want me to turn around and ask, sir?
Captain2 never got a chance to reply, for at that moment the lines were cut. After cursing the underhand tactics of the British saboteurs, he began a review of the situation. Either his generals were confused, or Stalin was, and he quickly decided it was probably the former. Still, something was definitely happening at the front, and it had rattled Nodikus. Best to send additional units forward he could blame any incidents on Baltic partisans later.
Only Field Marshal Nuclear Kid of the Odessa Front joined Captain2 in moving reinforcements to the borders, though he was far less diplomatic in his reasoning. Already sure the Germans had invaded; he wanted as many troops as possible forward to launch an attack into Romania.
Red Army troops move to the front
It was only around midday that Moscow finally released a new announcement confirming the German attack, and that Russia was facing the largest invasion force in history.
Official announcement from the Ministry of Information to all Russian commanders
By Kan Sharuminar, 12:00pm June 22nd 1941
Comrades of the motherland, our nation is under attack! The treacherous fuhrer of Germany has betrayed all promises of friendship and turned his fascist dogs against us! The hour is upon you to fight off these hounds and turn them back to Berlin. The Red Army shall prevail against the enemy, guided by the wisdom of glorious comrade Stalin!
It has been confirmed that, beginning at 3am this morning, Germany began an attack into our Baltic, Belorussian and Ukrainian territories. These attacks have been thwarted by our brave soldiers at the front. Our air force remains in total superiority of the skies, having turned back hundreds of Luftwaffe squadrons.
Field Marshals are now fully authorised to begin operations against German units and any of their allies. Comrade Stalin has ordered a full counter-attack along the entire front generals are expected to repulse any German attack and take the fight into the German Reich itself.
It can also be confirmed that Finland have also broken all agreements and betrayed their promises of peace with us. It has only been a year since they were beaten by our glorious forces is there a commander among the Red Army willing to do so again?
For Russia! For the Motherland! For Comrade Stalin!
The truth of the matter was only one attack had been repulsed so far, and that had been a probing attack at Kowel, intended to weaken General Stewie0416s forces there and prevent him from assisting in the defence of Stryj to his south. In the north German forces had attacked and defeated Red Army forces at Suwalki and Siauliau with ease. It was clear that Hitlers intention was to drive his opening attacks between the designated Russian fronts, cutting themselves off from each other and, importantly, reinforcement.
German forces begin their offensive
It was simultaneously promising and worrying that Germany had not launched an assault along the entire frontline, meaning there were thousands of troops that had not entered the fight. Either Hitler was being uncharacteristically cautious in his approach, or the Red Army could expect the main attack to come in the coming days...
