Soviet Status Report Turn 1

26 June 1944 Operation Bagration Status Report Comrade Stalin,   The glorious armed forces of the motherland struck great blows against the fascist invaders over the past few days, completing all of our objectives despite furious counter attacks.   We have initiated a two-pronged attack with the overall goal of the capture of Minsk and of course total destruction of the enemy. To the north, we have successfully continued our push by capturing Lepel and pushing their Field Marshal’s headquarters further west, away from the fighting, thereby limiting his ability to control his troops. In the south, we orchestrated a perfect attack against the weakened Rumanian forces, pushing them back out of Karpilovka. The impetuous Rumanian commander was soundly crushed by the might of Russian steel, despite being equipped with the latest German Panzers.   As you have been previously briefed comrade, we have initiated our most cunning Maskirovka yet by allowing the fascists to blunt our attacks in the central region. By drawing their forces around the cities of Bobruisk, Mogilev and Orsha we will be able to encircle and completely destroy them – it will be a glorious victory reminding the fascists of the destruction of their 6th Army outside the walls of Stalingrad!   We managed to withdraw our troops from Berezino, Gorki, Slavgorod, Zhlobin and Berezina in good order, whilst inflicting heavy casualties. This has created a thumb protruding out from their lines where they risk having their lines of supply completely cut off – such is the arrogance of the fascists that they have forgotten the past.   Not all has gone as we planned, Comrade General Knowles has been sent additional support from the Army Group Commissars after his planned retreat was completed a little too quickly for my liking! Our reluctant British allies under General Vodanovich have also performed poorly and I feel that we must keep an eye on their performance in the coming days. Of course they are isolated and dependent on us for supply, so we can probably trust them for now.   Our attacks will continue and I am confident that we will have Bobruisk, Mogilev and Orsha back under Soviet control and our forces knocking on the gates of Minsk within a matter of weeks.

________________________________ General Marshal Townley etc etc etc. STAVKA Representative, Operation Bagration