The Germans were the losers during the Moscow Campaign (Sept. 20 to 31 Dec. 1941). The Germans lost more because of their own mistakes than because of anything the Russians did (or could have done). There were a number of reasons for the German defeat (or collapse, which may be more accurate). The Germans began the campaign under strength and nearly out of supply. Soon after they began their final push on Moscow they were out of supply, and this condition worsened as the end of the year approached. The weather also changed, for the worse. First came the mud, and then the snows. The intense cold caused the German transport system (primarily railroad) to collapse. Without supply, the already outnumbered and weakened German divisions were still more than an even match for the more numerous and supplied Russian divisions.
Between June and September 1941 the Germans had destroyed whatever military forces the Russians put in their way. But this effort had taken its toll. German units were under strength and far from their original bases of supply. German railway troops rebuilt supply lines as quickly as they could, but it was a hopeless task. For the Russians, the situation improved as the German's worsened.
Despite the enormous losses, the Russian armies were not destroyed. Russian forces were in a considerable state of disorganization. Masses of men and equipment were called "divisions" and literally thrown in the way of the advancing Germans. This usually slowed down the Germans, the Russians involved often did not survive. In the end the Germans were unable to overrun all the Russian units thrown in the way. The arrival of stronger Russian units from Siberia in November and December gave the Russians an offensive capability of sorts. By itself, this mass of Russian units should not have proven nearly fatal to the Germans. But the Germans had shot their bolt making one last grab for Moscow. Their failure to take Moscow (which was, if nothing else, a key rail center) left them in an exposed position. Up the creek without a paddle.
The Russians had thrown up some fortified lines. These helped slow down the Germans. Destroyed Russian units were in the habit of turning into partisan groups. This not only slowed down the Germans, it proved very inconvenient to have Russians behind them when the Russians in front of them got out of hand.
Not only did the Russians get out of hand, they came very close to destroying the German armies before Moscow. The Russians, gathering before Moscow everything they could lay their hands on, had done their best. And it was enough. The Germans hadn't, and it wasn't. The scenarios in the game show what additional efforts the Germans were capable of. These consisted, for the most part, of putting more strength in front of Moscow where it was needed most.
The Moscow Campaign is a continuation of the World War II Division-level game series begun with The Battle of France: 1940 (S& T 27 and later an Avalon Hill game) and Kursk (which was published first although designed after France: 1940). This series also includes The Battle of Stalingrad, Breakout & Pursuit and The Destruction of Army Group Center, etc. The same basic "system" is used in all of these games. The uniqueness of each situation is reflected in whatever changes have to be made. These are often considerable from game to game. Different Combat Results Tables are used in some of the games, as well as different supply and movement rules. Each of the games also employs the use of scenarios to depict the various situations within each game. In The Moscow Campaign this consisted, basically, of the two German drives on Moscow in September and November as well as the Russian offensive in December.
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