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 We're down to the last chance to salvage a respectable end for the Third Reich.  The final battle lines are being drawn now. We cannot lose any more ground now. There is one bright spot -- we have a chance to seriously disrupt the rear lines of the Western Allies thanks to a forgotten tank unit. Axis Turn 10 : April 28, 1945 Overcast (Muddy)  Dresden is still being hit from both sides, but we do manage to knock back the weaker units on the south. Our forces south of Berlin ought to be able to guard the capital, but we need to hold our ground here and even push back if we are able.  Somehow, in their rush forward, the Allies forgot that somebody needed to deal with our King Tigers. As a result, we've managed to smuggle supplies and crewmen to put the unit in fighting condition. This is greatly disrupting the flow of men and materiel to the front. Allied Turn 10 : April 28, 1945  The Soviet push from the south seems to be bogged in the mud. A few probes come into Dresden, but nothing that can seriously hurt us.  Clearing weather allows the Allies to resume raids, which leads to the loss of several more units on the rapidly-crumbling front line. Axis Turn 11 : May 1, 1945 Overcast (Dry) The weather finally clears, but it is probably too late for the Allied advance.  In a final showdown on the north end of the eastern front, the Panthers defeat the IS-2's.  Our Panthers near Hamburg may not have to deal with anything as deadly as an IS-2, but they are looking awfully isolated and alone out there.  The bulk of the enemy tank force in the west is around Hannover, and our tanks that they forgot about seize control of the road all the way back to Essen. Allied Turn 11 : May 1, 1945  The Hamburger Panthers hold off all comers.  Unfortunately they are too far from the city itself to defend it, and the infantry there are forced back over the Elbe.  Panzer IV's don't fare as well once the Americans respond to our attempt to cut their lines.  While we've stabilized the lines near Dresden, the Russian forces are building up, and they can start to wear us down. Axis Turn 12 : May 4, 1945 Clear (Dry)  We attempt a counterattack into Hamburg, but the enemy has set up their defenses suprisingly quickly.  Somehow the units at Dresden are keeping the Soviets at bay.  Forcing the Americans to respond to our liberation of Essen gives us a chance to place a few units in their way in the middle. This setback for the enemy may have saved the country. Allied Turn 12 : May 4, 1945  The Soviets are finally gaining the upper hand against our armor on the Dresden line, but no one is willing to dare assault the city itself.  Most of the Stugs at Hannover are lost due to simply being outnumbered, but there is one unit that puts up a heroic defense.  The battle at Hamburg is turning into a mess, but the Panther is still standing strong. Axis Turn 13 : May 7, 1945 Clear (Dry) There are rumors afoot that the Allies are willing to negotiate peace terms.  Essen will hold out thanks to a contingent of militia troops holding the city.  Berlin is clearly secure as we have nearly cleared all units from the Oder. Dresden, too, will hold.  And even Hamburg is retaken as the Panthers finally make their way back to our lines, such as they are. Allied Turn 13 : May 7, 1945  Bombers arrive at Kiel, but it's not going to have an effect on the war's outcome.  A combined Allied tank force finally clears out the armor in the center. With peace looming, it's too late for them to take any more territory.  Untrained forces at Essen nearly surrender the city, but they manage to hold despite heavy losses.  The Hamburger Panthers are isolated again. However, they are sitting securely in the city this time.  A surprise last-ditch assault comes to Leipzig, but it fails. Our soldiers there are well dug-in. Dresden remains strong; it looks like the Soviets just didn't have enough artillery.  Berlin stood secure the whole time. As it happened, we didn't really need to hold Hamburg thanks to the rear grab of Essen, but I felt better knowing that it was possible to take it back. In truth, this was something of a lucky run, between the rain/mud and the fact that there were such big gaps in the Allied advance. If we'd won a campaign this way, the resulting final text is this: quote:Your magnificent defense of Germany has saved us from destruction. The Soviets, Americans and British have granted us an armistice similar to the unpopular one signed in 1918. Which doesn't sound all that great, but compare it to the minor victory outcome. If we had only held Berlin: quote:Although you were unable to throw out the invaders, your defense of Germany was sufficient to obtain an armistice. Unfortunately, the terms of the armistice are even harsher than those of the unpopular one signed in 1918. And if Berlin should fall: quote:Your inability to defend Germany has led to our total destruction. Although you fought well in many battles, we have, in the end, lost everything. The bit about fighting well in previous battles must be true, as you can't get to this endpoint in the campaign without winning several times. In fact, there's a path that leads to this outcome in which you never lose a single battle until the end. But enough about defeat. Next time, we take on 
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