End of Turn 8 - Summer 1941
In North Africa, Rommel attacked El Alamein. In conjunction with a seaborne invasion launched by the Italian navy (1 infantry unit landed via landing craft and 2 infantry in reserve from Greece), Rommel attacked with the full force of the Afrika Korps and Axis air force. The attack came within a hairs breadth of succeeding, but in the end, Auchinlek succeeded in defending the British positions and Rommel was forced to retreat back to Mersa Matruh having lost several Italian armored divisions and infantry formations. Slim, who was leading an attack against the Vichy French in Syria (who had joined the Axis along with Iraq with the fall of Athens), had to withdraw to speed reinforcements to Alexandria.
In Norway, the British landed more reinforcements and the Royal Navy managed to cut off Reichenau and the German expeditionary force was out of supply.
In Russia, Guderian turned his Panzergroup South to help Hoeppner encircle a large Soviet army withdrawing from Kiev (I know, kind of historical). The Soviets were not going to let their encircled army at Sumy be annihilated without a fight and even committed two parachute corps to the fight. The Soviet defense was hopeless, however, and they were overwhelmed by the German armored fists.
Bock advanced Army Group Center up to Viazma (albeit without much of the armor which had been diverted South). Von Leeb and Kleist attacked and drove back the Soviets out of Pskov and reached the gates of Leningrad.