The Middle of Nowhere ETO (id:#61546)

(Dos Equis Scenarios Especial ID: TX-10)   [next]   [previous]

North of Losovaya, Russia 1943-03-06 (5 others)

Overview:

Following the surrender of 6th Army at Stalingrad, the massive Russian armies poised on the Don River struck out across the steppe against the Italian 8th and Hungarian 2nd Armies. The unprepared defenders crumpled under the onslaught of wave after wave of tanks and infantry. The Germans were compelled to evacuate Kharkov. The Russians, flushed with victory from their initial success, drove deep into the German rear, nearing the HQ of Field Marshal Manstein at Zaporozhe. Hitler had initially demanded the recapture of Kharkov but Manstein had patiently explained his strategy to the Führer. Holding firm north of the penetration, Army Group Kempf had been reinforced by the Grossdeutschland Panzergrenadier Division. South of the gap, 4th Panzer Army, consisting of two panzer corps, calmly allowed the Russian masses to stream past and waited for the order to attack. On the 22nd of February, 4th Panzer Army moved out across the bleak, snowy steppe; the trap was sprung.

Defender: Russian (1st Guards Army and Army Group Popov)  

Errata (source)