World at War No. 22 – East Front Battles, Vol. 2: Minsk ’44
IntroductionOn 22 June 1944 the Soviet Army penetrated a thinly held German front. Third Byelorussian Front is pushing for a crossing of the Berezina River. That’s a major obstacle in undermining the larger German evacuation effort, as the railroad crosses at Borisov leading directly to Minsk. Fifth Panzer Divisionis tasked with conducting a delaying action to allow for that evacuation. The evacuating units aren’t included in the game, but are abstracted by VP awards resulting from the delaying action.
There are six game turns from 27 June through 2 July, during which
the Soviets will be entering the map and attacking German forces. The map scale is about two miles per hex. Victory points are awarded for destroyed enemy units and for control of geographic objectives.
Turn One, 27 June 1944
Soviet Player TurnThe weather starts out clear, and there’s no random event on turn one. Play begins with Soviet units entering from the north. The Soviet commander brings in that first group, in and they head for the town of Krupki. The Forward Detachment’sheadquarters is first to arrive, along with III Guards Tank Corps HQ. Defending the northern side of the town are the A/2/31 and the 505 Panzer Battalions. They’re formidable units.
Since 5th Panzer doesn’t have any artillery in range, there’s no final protective fire. Also, none of the Luftwaffe’s planes are readied for support. The Soviet Air Force is called on to barrage. Four ground attack air strikes are launched against 5th
Panzer headquarters near Krupki. That headquarters is suppressed.
The Soviet commander decides to use 3rd Heavy Mortar Brigade to provide close support, along with two medium bomber strikes, against 505 Panzer. The 2nd Motorized and 18th Tank Brigadesattack the 505 with close support. The result is an attacker exchange. The 2nd Motorized Brigade is destroyed while the 505 is forced to retreat. That allows 18th Tank to advance.
Next, 3rd and 19th Tank Brigades attack the German A/2/31 Panzer Battalion. That results in a defender retreat, and the tanks advance. The village of Krupki is surrounded. Then 3rd
and 19th Tank join in a second wave assault. They can do that because they’re still in command-control. Again the Mobile Attack CRT is employed, and the panzers flee to the rear. The Soviet tanks advance, but remain in command range.
German Player TurnThere are no German reinforcements during the first turn. There’s no air
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support available either. One of the first things to consider at is the fact the Soviets will gain many VP if they can occupy the railroad during turns one or two. Because of the successful air strike against 5th Panzer’s HQ, several of the units in contact with the Soviet tanks are out of command.
The Soviet commander may have underestimated the strength of 5th Panzer Division. We will see soon enough. The 505 Panzerleads an attack against 19th Tank Brigade, which is eliminated. In a second attack, two more Soviet tank brigades are destroyed. Fifth Panzer headquarters automatically recovers from suppression.
Victory PointsThe Germans collect nine VP for the occupation of geographic objectives. Another seven VP are added for Soviet
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losses, for a total of 16 VP. There are as yet no Soviet victory points.
Turn Two, 28 June 1944
Soviet Player TurnThere is no random event this time. The Soviet commander learns he has available one ground attack and one medium bomber mission. Reinforcements stream in from the north, including the remainder of Fifth Guards Army and II Guards Tank Corps. Those units move into contact with the enemy. The weather remains clear.
The Soviet commander orders 1st
Guards MC Regiment and 140th Heavy Tank Regiment to attack B/2/31 Panzer Battalion. The German player fires final protective fire and manages to suppress the Soviet motorcycles. The Soviet player chooses the Assault CRT, and adds Fifth Guards Army’s
artillery assets to provide close support for the attack. The suppressed unit causes a negative shift on the CRT, but that’s countered by the Soviet heavy armor bonus. The combat result is an exchange. The Soviet MC unit is destroyed, and the German panzer battalion is also eliminated.
Another attack is launched against the German position on the road between Krupki and Bopr. That area is defended by the 2/14 Motorized Battalion. The defenders have no FPF available. The Soviet commander sends elements of XXIX Tank Corpsto assault the German infantry. Close support is provided by the 108th Assault Gun Regiment. The German 2/14infantry is pushed back in retreat.
A final attack is launched against the German position in the town of Bopr. The 288th Flak Battalion is
holding that position. The XXIX Tank Corps attacks using the Assault CRT. Artillery is used to provide close support. The German flak unit is overwhelmed and destroyed. Soviet forces advance into the town.
During second wave combat, the XXIX Tank Corps attacks the German 2/14, which is defending the railroad. An air unit is used for close support. Both sides retreat. That leaves the key portion of the railroad in Axis hands.
Axis PlayerThe Luftwaffe remains unavailable; however, 170th Division arrives from the west map edge and KG von Gottberg enters along the north edge. Finally, two units from the 39th enter from the east. Part of the 170th uses rail movement to get to the eastern side of the Berezina River. The rest lines up at the railroad to await the
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next train. The German commander decides to pull the plug on the position at Bopr. That leaves 39th Infantry to fend for itself. Fifth Panzer moves into position to defend Krupki.
Elements of 39th Division launch a coun-terattack against the Soviets in Bopr. Soviet FPF is ineffective. The German commander pushes the attack and, as a result, the Soviets abandon the town.
A second limited counterattack is launched by 5th Panzer north of the railroad between Krupki and the river. That Soviet position is defended by 105th Heavy Tank. The FPF is ineffective, and the tanks absorb the blow. The combat result is DE, and the Soviet tanks are eliminated.
The Axis player gains 10 VP for occupy-ing objectives and another three for enemy losses. The Soviets collect six VP for Axis losses. Axis: 29 VP, Soviets six.
Turn Three, 29 June 1944
Soviet Player TurnThe weather remains clear, and there’s no random event. The Soviet player receives only one ground attack mission this turn. The III Guards Mechanized Corps uses road movement to enter the map, and it follows KG von Gottberg, which seems to be heading toward Minsk.
The rest of the Soviet forces attempt to engage the Germans deployed to the east. The 31st has a couple units in Bopr. They will be flushed out. As a result of that combat, the railroad is secured between Bopr and Krupki.
The A/FHH is defending Bopr and is shot up by Soviet tanks. Then Bopr is captured by XXIX Tank Corps. Just south of the town is 110th Infantry. It’s part of the 39th and is out of
command. The Soviet command also attacks that unit with XXIX Tank Corps, which is supported by artillery. The 110th is eliminated.
To the west of Krupki, German units still hold the railroad. The Soviet commander uses his artillery to bombard that position. As a result the 2/13 Infantry retreats south, and the 89th Engineer is suppressed. The German 1/14 Mechanized Infantryalso becomes suppressed after absorbing an artillery barrage.
Axis Player TurnThe Axis player again receives no support from the Luftwaffe. KG Florkeenters from the north as reinforce-ment. Those units are following on the heels of Soviet III Guards Mechanized Corps. The Germans also receive replacements, which brings back the B/2/31 Panzer Battalion.
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That unit is moved to the railroad between Krupki and Borisov.
With III Guards heading to the rear, the German player attempts to salvage what he can of the situation. KG von Gottberg sets up a screen to block III Guards Mechanized Corpson its sweep toward Minsk and the rail line. KG Florke enters from the rear to tie down the Soviet force from the north. The 23rd Flak covers KG Gottberg on the right from the track near the town of Zhodino.
Fifth Panzer orders artillery fire against one of the Soviet flak units, which becomes suppressed. The Axis player adds nine VP for objec-tives, and the Soviets add four VP for losses: Axis 38 VP, Soviets 10.
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Turn Four, 30 June 1944
Soviet Player TurnThe weather turns hazy. That will last only for one turn. Hazy conditions will reduce air strikes by 50 percent and limit visibility to six hexes. The Soviet Air Force provides only one ground attack mission as a result. The remain-der of Eleventh Army arrives (or at least the part of it that can get on the map within stacking limitations). A wave of Soviet units advances toward the main railroad between Krupki and Borisov. The III Guards Mechanized Corps also begins operations against the weak screening force north of Minsk.
Soviet XXIX Tank Corps attacks 5th
Panzer from the east, along the main railroad from Bopr to Krupki supported by artillery. There’s no FPF available.
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The 2/14 Infantry Battalion is forced to retreat. (The Soviet player is mostly using the Assault CRT, because EX results yield more VP to him.)
The III Guards Tank Corps follows up with an attack against 5th Panzer in Krupki. Since those German units are surrounded, the Soviets use the Mobile CRT to force a retreat through ZOC. Things don’t bode well for 5th Panzer in Krupki. Both the 55th Recon and 53rd AT Battalions are eliminated and Krupki is captured.
Soviet 83rd Guards attacks 89th Engineer Battalion (suppressed) west of Krupki. That unit is also forced to retreat. Fifth Guards Tank Army launches an assault against 1/14 Mechanized Battalion (5th PZ). That unit is also suppressed; so it’s vulnerable. Fifth
Guards also has artillery support. As a result, 1/14 is eliminated.
Another assault is launched against 1/31 Panzer Battalion. The attacking Soviet force has a heavy tank unit, which gains modifiers against armor. The 1/31 is destroyed. Near the river, XXXI Guards Corps attacks 82nd Infantry Regiment. This unit is surrounded, but the Soviet com-mander must use the Assault CRT as his force is entirely made up of leg units. Nonetheless, the German unit is forced to retreat through ZOC, and is therefore eliminated.
On the western side of the Berezina, III Guards Mechanized Corps attacks KG von Gottberg. One of the security formations is destroyed and the other retreats. Both Soviet brigades advance.
During the second wave the Soviet player looks for units in command control to make additional attacks. The first such attack is against 5th
Panzer along the railroad tracks between Krupki and Borisov. Things turn against the German commander: he loses a headquarters and two infantry battalions. The Soviets capture another section of railroad.
On the western side of the river, III Mechanized Corps resumes its attacks on KG von Gottberg. There’s not much left of that German force. Another security formation is eliminated, and a second runs toward the rear.
Axis Player TurnThe German player has one medium bomber mission available this turn. Neither 7th Panzer Division nor the 231st
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Security Division arrive as reinforce-ment. One unit from 39th Division does arrive from the east. It’s not much help.
The German player realizes he may have held on too long on the eastern side of the Berezina. It’s certainly time now to get out. As much as possible of 5th Panzer is brought across the river. Some units are entangled with Soviet forces and must disengage, which
costs a lot of movement points. The 31st
Division moves across the river north of Borisov. Part of the 267th Division is covering the flank near Studenka.
The German player gains 10 VP this time, mostly for controlled locations. The Soviets collect 33 VP. Many of 5th
Panzer’s units have been destroyed. Totals: Germans 48 VP, Soviets 43.
Turn Five, 1 July 1944
Soviet Player TurnThe weather is hazy again. The Soviet player receives only one air mission this turn, a ground support mission. A replacement is expended to bring back one unit’s combat effectiveness. Several units have been permanently eliminated.
Eleventh Army continues to smash into 5th Panzer on the eastern side of the Berezina. A few units are out of command, but that will soon be rectified. The III Mechanized Corpsalso presses toward Minsk and the railroad between it and Borisov.
The Soviets strike the 267th near Studenka. The assault uses combined arms and artillery for close support. The German AT counters that somewhat, but the Germans are forced to retreat.
In the forests nearby, the German 497th Infantry Regiment is attacked by a combined arms force. The Assault CRT is employed, and the result is an exchange. The Soviets sacrifice an engineer unit, and the 497th is also destroyed. Then the 1/13 Infantry faces an attack on the main road between Borisov and Krupki. The Soviets have artillery firing close support and a combined arms advantage. That results in the infantry retreating. The Soviet advance surrounds the 267 Infantry and 505 Heavy Panzer Battalions. The Soviets don’t have any mech in the attack, and so must use the Assault CRT. The result is an exchange. That saves 505 Panzer Battalion.
In the western sector, III Guards Mechanized Corps attacks 23rd Flak, which is attempting to defend Minsk. Two of the flak battalions are destroyed, but the Soviets also take losses.
The Soviet commander sends in his second wave attacks. First he checks to see which units are still in command. The 505 is still sur-rounded by the Soviets. The XXIX Tank Corps attempts to finish it off. The unit has a strong anti-tank ele-ment, but it’s not enough to prevent
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its destruction. Another attack is launched against the 1/13 and 5th
Panzer headquarters, but it’s repulsed. The Soviets retreat with losses. Last, XXXI Guards attacks 267th
Infantry. It’s deployed with an AT unit. The Soviets have some artillery for close support. The result is an exchange, and both sides incur losses.
Axis Player TurnThe Luftwaffe isn’t providing any support this turn. Not much in the way of reinforcements arrives either. An ad hoc cavalry unit from the 39th
enters from the east. The German commander continues to retreat. First the 267th Division gives up Studenka. Most of 5th Panzer crosses the river at Borisov. Both bridges are defended by strong units. The 170th is used to block III Mechanized, which is close to a breakthrough. Artillery
bombardment suppresses 35th Tank Brigade. There’s no further combat.
Both players collect more VP. The German adds 12, for a total of 60, and the Soviets gain 14, also for a total of 60.
Turn Six, 2 July 1944
Soviet Player TurnThe weather is hazy again, which limits visibility and air support for both sides. The Soviet player receives one ground and one medium bomber mission. The XXIX Tank Corps assaults the Germans on the east side of the Berezina. There is close support from artillery. The German 339th Infantry Regiment and 1/13 Infantry Battalion are eliminated. Another attack is launched against eastern Borisov. The result is an exchange. The Germans had some AT there, which weakened the attack. Another attack along the river yields
an exchange. The 31st Division is nearly wiped out on the north bridge; however, the bridge was then blown by the German player. The III Mechanized Corps is starting to run out of steam. It won’t get much farther until the rest of the Eleventh Army crosses the Berezina.
The Soviet commander decides to initiate second wave combat. That will likely add a few more VP to his total. The German 410th Infantry Regiment is destroyed in the eastern part of Borisov. The Germans blow the bridge, but the Soviets capture that key location.
Axis Player TurnThe Luftwaffe again fails to show up, and there are no reinforcements. There are no attacks that look favor-able. Losses hurt the Germans more than they do the Soviets, and that’s reflected in the VP awards. So the Germans continue to fall back.
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ConclusionThat’s the end of the game, so we need to ask how well 5th Panzer’s delaying action has gone. Remember, its pur-pose was to allow time for other troops to escape via the railroad. On the last turn the German player collected 10 VP, for a game total of 70. The Soviets received 27 VP that turn. That resulted in a Soviet advantage of 87 VP to the German 70. The differential is 17 VP in favor of the Soviets, which is enough for that side to claim a tactical victory. The Soviet player could’ve done better. For example, his forces didn’t bother with the VP locale of Berezina to the south, despite the fact it was defended only by the weak KG Anhalt. It looks like 5th Panzer stayed one turn too long on the eastern side of the river.
