Translated from French with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Setup
5 Octobre ( Tour 1 - End of Soviet turn )
8 October
The Romanian cavalry went up the west bank of the Tisza, took the bridges and destroyed the supply columns of the axis.
The Soviet motorized troops attacked the Sebes river and started to bypass Nagyvarad
12 Octobre
the battle of the Berrettyo river begins:
The 6th and 4th Cavalry Corps and the 18th Tk crossed the river with the aim of cutting the Axis forces in two and breaking through to Debrecen.The German counter-attack was severe and the 6th Cavalry Corps was annihilated in the furnace. On their side, the Stukas decimate the T34
The lines of the axis were re-established, but deprived of reserves, Nagyvarad had to be evacuated, leaving only a few delaying troops in the city.
The fall of the city may allow the development of the 2nd front in Ukraine.
In the east, the Axis began a retreat under pressure
15 Octobre
the supply of Soviet forces struggles to reach the front. Only the capture of Nagyvarad will allow to use the bases of the 2nd front as support of the troops in point.
19 Octobre
Nagyvarad has fallen. The capture of this vital road junction will allow a more efficient advance!
The Axis forces withdrew. In spite of the always effective strikes of the Stukas and the good holding of the Panzers, the weight of the number threatens to envelop any resistance...
22 Octobre (Light Mud)
The supplies flowed freely in the tanks of the T34 and the Sturmovicks of the Guard disorganized the Panzer regiments.
3 Soviet corps broke through west of Debrecen: the 18th Tk, 9th M and 4th Cav.
Hadjuboszormeny fell and Debrecen was almost surrounded.
Under pressure, the Axis troops evacuated their positions as quickly as possible in order to cross the Tisza as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, several infantry divisions in retreat from the Carpathians arrived north of Debrecen to stabilize the front and support the Pz divisions.
The fall of Hadjuboszormeny, taken by the 18th tank corps and the 9th mechanized corps seals the fate of Debrecen which is abandoned...
The retreat of the axis will now pass by the Tisza, then the Danube .
26 Octobre
The Soviet motorized troops have now the objective to take the control of Tokaj and to block the retreat of the Axis troops on the eastern bank of the Tisza!
The Hungarians are crushed and the T34 of the 7th and 9th mechanized corps rush to the river. A hurricane from the sky broke over both the defenders and the attackers, disorganizing all the troops in the plain.
Tokaj seems to be saved for the moment? but it is the equivalent of ten divisions of the axis which are in strong risk of remaining trapped
On the side of the axis, it is the sauve qui peut to cross the Tisza in catastrophe.
Gebirgsjager, Jager and cavalrymen counter-attacked to clear the bridge of Tokaj and retreating columns went up the Kraszna to pass to Csap
Following this last engagement, the 7th mechanized corps is withdrawn from the front to be reconstituted.
29 Octobre
It is the Tisza! The newly arrived 2nd mechanized corps and the remains of the 18th and 23rd Tk corps throw themselves on the columns of retreating troops
However the bridgehead of Tokaj will resist. The 23rd Pz came back to the rescue to block the enemy's advance and to give time to the infantry to ford the river.
1 Nov (Light Mud )
The situation of Soviet supply is dramatic after the withdrawal of stocks and 2 turns with the supply to the minimum. The attacks are all a failure and the VVS suffers strongly in front of the German hunt.
Nevertheless, between Tisja and Danube, the arrival of the 3rd Ukrainian Front poses a new threat to the Axis lines.
In the end, thanks to the lack of enthusiasm of the Soviets, the axis managed to get almost all its troops on the right bank of the Tisza, but already the river was threatened to be crossed... And in any case already crossed by the 3rd Ukrainian front.
The FHH crushes an attempt to cross the Tisza at Szolpok
8 Nov (Light Mud)
The 3rd Ukrainian Front spread between Tisza and Danube and gathered to try to cross in several points. Lacking supplies the 2nd front was not very active.
the 7th motorized corps and the 6th cavalry corps returned to the front with full strength!
Across the Danube, the Stukas continue their incessant attacks. The VVS will now have to try to eliminate the Luftwaffe which is a permanent nuisance!
The Germans take advantage of the inactivity in the North and redeploy as soon as possible in the shelter of the Tisza to counter the attacks in the South.
The Soviets were determined to try to cut off the road to Budapest, whatever the cost. They succeeded in making a good breakthrough west of Szolnok and projected the 2nd and 7th motorized corps towards the road junction of Mezokovesd.
The totality of the German motorized troops flee towards the south, passing on the belly of the Soviet armoured point. But many infantry troops, left alone in the north are going to leave feathers there
12Nov (Light Mud)
The VVS took the lead over the Luftwaffe, moving the Stukas away from the battlefield.
The axis aims at withdrawing via the mountain roads in Slovakia. At the same time, motorized troops secured the area north of the Danube loop and 2 divisions were sent to counter attempts to cross the Danube in the south.
15Nov ( Light Mud)
For several days, supplies have been flowing again on the Soviet side.
3rd Ukrainian Front: Attempts to cross the Danube were repelled by artillery concentrations.
4th Ukrainian Front: In the North, the groupings of troops of the axis are damaged. The risk of seeing them being cut off from their rear is strong, which would be a real disaster.
2nd Ukrainian Front: North of Budapest, the 5th Tank Corps is cut to pieces by the Tigers, but the Panzers are retreating ...
on the Axis side, on the contrary, the supply convoys do not arrive ...
22 Nov
4UF : the progression against elite mountain fighters is very difficult
2UF : all the motorized troops try in vain to bypass Budapest by the North, but the confrontation against the panzer turns into a trench war
3UF : the well defended Danube is a very difficult obstacle to cross. A small bridgehead is however created west of Zabadska ... The material for heavy pontoons is still missing.
The Stavka is unhappy, the offensive seems to be at a standstill. Only positive point, the VVS has now clearly the control of the sky
26 Nov ( Light Mud )
Thunderclap: The Soviet hunt has moved away the Stukas and BF109. Sturmovicks outdo each other. The Russian tanks chose the Salgotarjan road, sheltered from the artillery barrages and crushed the Panzers of the 1Pz , stuck in the mud . 5Tk and 2M covered themselves with glory and almost captured the III PzK HQ.
29 Nov ( Light Mud )
In front of this beginning of breakthrough, Malinovski obtains for the 2nd front of Ukraine the totality of the available supplies and launches 4 corps in the furnace.
The German lines explode under the shock and on the 23rd Tk exploits and crosses the Garam to seize the rich unguarded supply depots (I know, I know it is not done :) ) ....
BUT horror the trucks and depots all escape the enemy tanks !!!
In spite of everything, it's again the "sauve qui peut" for the defenders.
On 1 December, the Germans once again brought in panzers to plug the gaps. They crushed the unfortunate 23rd Tk and re-established a semblance of a front.
The suburbs of Budapest and the Danube are now the line of defense.
Will the mud slow down the devastating progression of the T34 ?
But the Soviets finally got the means to cross the Danube by force.
01 Déc ( MUD )
All Soviet logistics were already at the limit of their possibilities and the mud blocked all movements.
In spite of enormous deliveries of supplies, the tanks are almost blocked.
But finally the heavy crossing equipment arrived and the Danube could be crossed.
The Hungarians "collapsed" the effect was weak because their troops were already decimated.
05 Déc ( FREEZE)
gathering of the troops of the 3rd front, west bank:
The 2nd front is licking its wounds
8 Déc ( Mud )
12 Déc ( Frozen )
The liberators decided to strike a blow and spent without counting the phenomenal quantity of supplies available.
Margit line, south of Budapest: a breakthrough towards Szekesfehvar, was narrowly avoided by the intervention of the 8th Pz.
Along the Danube, the 8th Pz also intervened and blocked the attack.
Tolbuhkin is mad with rage and sends the 4th mechanized corps to the attack. This superb unit is annihilated but succeeds in breaking through the defenses. The cavalry rushes into the breach, tries to ravage the rear lines ... but falls into terrible traps ( 6 in defensive surprise by 2 times ... )
A breakthrough is made, but will it be enough?
The defenders call up the 24th Pz to reinforce the 8th and 1st already on the spot and try to fill the gaps. Unfortunately, their counter-attacks lacked air support and they too fell into bloody ambushes.
On the side of the 2nd front of Ukraine, the crossing of the Ipoly river is done, but the defensive artillery barrages calm down the ardors of the attackers.
15 Dec ( Light Mud)
New assault of Tolbukin to take Szekesfehvar....
This time, the support of artillery and VVS are finally effective. The infantry takes the city and opens the way to the 9th and 7th mechanized corps. The German lines no longer exist.
The Budapest garrison was reinforced by numerous reinforcements.
19 Dec ( Light mud )
The troops of the 3rd Ukrainian front reached the north of the Danube loop. Only the bridge of Esztergom still allows to connect Budapest to the lines!
But the logistical lines were bogged down and the advance became delicate. The road network, in a star shape from Budapest, was to the advantage of the defenders.
After almost 3 months of battle on the game, and 2 months of "real life", the generals, have decided on a well deserved cease fire...
