Not being a big fan of East Front games I cant comment on any of the titles that cover the later period of the war although Kharkov 43 does seem to be very popular, I have played Sicily quite a bit and I really enjoyed it but some players find the rough terrain of the interior a bit frustrating if you like fast paced games.
Finding opponents is no problem for any title or period.
the best rule of thumb to avoid frustration is....
1) Read and fully understand the rules, hints of how best to use the rules to your advantage are in the rules but they are only hints and there is not a definitive "this is the most effective way to play" guide.
2) Do play the AI with FOW off as it is an excellent way to start to understand how the game mechanics work, the AI is not a good opponent but is an very good learning tool, it will be no fun for a potential opponent if you really have no idea what you are doing.
3) Stick to small scenarios in terms of both amount of units and turns, only move onto larger scenarios when you feel confident that you have a reasonable understanding of the game mechanics.
4) When finding an opponent make it clear that you are newbie and you are looking for a game to help you learn the ropes.
5) Enjoy! Unlike some new players I found the learning curve an enjoyable experience excepting that I would be cannon fodder for the first few games (which I was) but as you learn more you become harder to beat and the enjoyment grows, so an element of patience will be required to achieve a reasonable level of competency.
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Panzer Campaigns - Looking to make first purchase in series!
Panzer Campaigns - Looking to make first purchase in series! 
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