The task for the Germans on Turn 1 is to start clearing the western side of the Dnepr of defenders, setting up for the real attacks that will follow. General Keating will be seeking wherever possible to minimise casualties, and will not be happy with attacks like the following, where Russian stragglers in bad terrain are exacting a heavy price for their elimination, as shown below:
Keating believes that his southern flank is vulnerable to counter-attack, and so the Luftwaffe is called up to slow Russian reactions in that area.
Comrade General Trout, on the other hand, is delighted by results such as this. His job is to sort the wheat from the chaff. Some units will best serve the cause by stying behind, in good defensive terrain, to slow the German advance. Others get to live a few days longer at least, as they retreat for the Dnepr or other defensive terrain.
Some luck, lucky units get to try their hand at instant promotion to Guards status, by counter-attacking.
The above image shows just how difficult life can be for the Germans. A full
strength Infantry Regiment, in Woods terrain, can still suffer attrition if
the Russians are willing to mass their men. Note also that the Russians are
not retreating around Vitebsk, even though most of the city has already fallen.