Played solo in two long sessions.

The Germans have three objectives: (1) inflict more step losses than they suffer, (2) take full control of a town, and (3) take control of all 60-meter hill hexes. The Germans earn a minor victory if they accomplish two objectives.

Not being one who aims for a minor victory right off the bat, I split the German into two forces, with the larger force aiming for the town and the smaller one for the hills.

The eastern group first encountered resistance in the light woods south of town and the Soviets fought brilliantly, calling in pinpoint artillery and assaulting everything in sight. Although loses were about equal on that side, the German troops suffered from a lot of disruption and demoralization.

Unlike in scenario when the Germans never in control, the western force was able to make steady progress and inflict more casualties than they suffered.

After three hours, it was clear the Germans would take the hills but not the town if the troop allocations remain the same. The Soviet ordered four town defenders to reinforce the hills.

It made for a very interesting end game. The Germans almost took the town (1 or 2 more turns would have certainly done it) and made it even closer on the hills. It all came down to the last turn. One hill hex was under assault and defended by a sole disrupted, reduced Soviet unit. One hill hex was empty. The situation was not that dire for the Soviets because if they could reinforce the assault with one good order unit and take the vacant hill hex with another good order unit. All was needed was for one unit to survive, non-demoralized.

It was not to be. The Germans won the initiative by two and were above and were able to move a large (mostly disrupted) group into the vacant hex and eliminate the disrupted unit. The Soviets counterattacked both hexes but unfortunately did not fare well.

German minor victory.

I rate this scenario a "4" if playing solo. I am not sure it is as much enjoyable ftf as the Germans could aim for a minor victory from the onset if they wanted to play it safe.