Russia fights back Winter 1942, And so does the Allies

In January of 1942 in the aftermath of the Battle of Moscow the Red Army begins a massive counter attack against Army Group Centre which is threatening Moscow. The Red Army forces are 700,000 troops with 400 tanks. They launch an offensive against 900,000 German Troops with only 200 tanks. Even with the advantage in manpower the Germans are slowly pushed back even further. Red Army formations make good progress in their timetable until two days after the start of the offensive the sky's over the battlefield clear to a degree and the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force launch's a 1000 bomber attack over the Russian offensive. In that one day the German Air Force single handed wins the battle. They destroy over 350 Russian Tanks and kill over 200,000 men. But even with the losses, Joseph Stalin orders his Red Army Commanders to continue the advance. What the Soviets did not know was over the halt in the offensive the front line units of Army Group Centre were sent reserve divisions and several fresh panzer divisions. That reserve force is able to halt the Russian advance,cut it off and wipe it out. Over 500,000 Red Army troops are killed or captured by units of Army Group Centre. 

January 27th,1942

Third Reich, Germany

During the month of January Allied bombing increases very rapidly over the sky's of Germany. Roosevelt and Churchill still try and place pressure on German industry in spite of massive losses in aircraft and men. In this month the Allies lose over 800 bombers and 3,400 pilots and airmen

March 11th,1942

Wolf's Lair, Adolf Hitlers Head Quarters

The Fuhrer orders his military commanders to built up a German Home Army in an event of a home crisis. Leader of the SS Heinrich Himmler is given the task of leading the Home Army. IN two weeks of this meeting the Home Army raises 60 Divisions totaling 1.2 million men. Also the Hitler Youth now reaches a massive number of 17 million members. Nearly 300,000 of them will reach the military age and be drafted into the Wehrmacht by the month of May.

March 17th,1942

Western Europe, Allied Bombing

After losses in aircraft and manpower reach a height that can not be allowed, Roosevelt and Churchill decide against the wishes of their Soviet partner Joseph Stalin to suspend the Allied bombing of German Cities. German City Air Defenses had destroyed over 1,570 Allied Aircraft and killed over 6,000 Allied Airmen.

April 3rd,1942

Berlin,Germany

German Leader Adolf Hitler gives to a roaring crowd of 30,000 germans a deadly ultimatum towards the Soviet Union stating that Germany wants the total surrender of the russian state known as the Soviet Union or face total destruction in the next two years. Joseph Stalin leader of the Soviet Union gives a defiant reply stating "Soviet Russia will never surrender while a victory is within reach". Hitler orders plans for an operation to totally defeat the Soviet Union in 1942 and 1943.

April 16th,1942

Wolfs Lair, Adolf Hitlers Head Quarters

German plans for a blitzkrieg offensive against the Red in April 1942 are complete. Code named Operation Deutschland is ordered to take place on the morning of April 20th,1942. A birthday present to the German dictator from his country on his 53rd birthday.