Introduction

June 22, 1941 – West of Bialystok. Elements of the 221st Security Division meet up against elements of the 13th Rifle Division. The Security Division lightly armed (as heavy weapons aren’t required for rounding up unarmed civilians) feel left out of the action on 22 June as German forces along the border begin their Russian Campaign.

Consequently, an overzealous commander orders his forces to attack the Russian Rifle instead of waiting. 10 German infantry platoons, with one HMG platoon, advance against elements of the 13th Russian Rifle Division hiding in the woods…

7:00am-7:45am

The German forces begin their advance on the Russian position. Just before 8:00am the first mortars are fired and Russian Mortar teams are spotted by their smoke trail.

8:00am

The Germans continue their advance under mortar and long range HMG fire.

8:15am

The Germans begin to charge and half a platoon is lost to defensive fire

8:30am

The Germans choose to lay down suppressing fire instead of advancing.

8:45am

The Russian mortar crews are demoralized as Lt Wunderbar enters the woods and engages in assault. The remaining Germans are caught under heavy fire and begin to break.

9:00am

German infantry is cut down trying to reinforce Lt Wunderbar.

9:15am

German Capt Von Trapp dies from wounds received (12 on morale check). German infantry continues push to the woods while Russian infantry reinforce the assault from Lt Wunderbar.

A German Bf110 squadron flies overhead in a futile attack against the Russian mortars.

9:30am

The assault builds up in intensity as 3 platoons on each side are now engaged. The Russian Lt flees.

Another German infantry platoon is reduced from Russian HMG fire (2-0 German losses-Russian losses)

9:45am

German infantry and HMG platoon move into close assault in the woods, but both are demoralized. The Russian counter-attack and the infantry are reduced. (3-0)

10:00am

In the new assault, the German troops are in trouble as the Russian continue their counter-attack. The infantry are eliminated and the HMG is reduced. It flees further into the woods. (5-0)

Another German Infantry platoon is reduced and flees. (6-0) Most of the German force has fled back towards the village where their Major is attempting to rally them.

Meanwhile, Lt Von Zilch takes two platoons along the northern wooded perimeter.

10:15am

Artillery fire eliminates a German half platoon as they eagerly try to regroup. (7-0)

10:30am

The Germans lose their top brass as a Soviet Sniper kills the German Major! The troops suffer from command confusion.

Having now lost their Major and Captain, the German remnants of the 221st Security Division are ‘lost’. Without any command (and both Lieutenants in the woods), they can only linger outside of Russian HMG range awaiting new orders.

This event puts extreme pressure on the German forces already in the woods, facing the whole of the Russian forces severely outnumbered. It things already looked bad, they just turned much badder.

10:45am

Action heats up as Lt Von Zilch assaults the Russian mortar position which is eliminated along with half a Russian infantry platoon while trying to flee (7-2). The Russian HMG counter attacks and the German HMG is cut down (8-2). Taking advantage of their confusion Russian Col. Iganonov counter-assaults demoralizing both German infantry but losing some men in the process (8-3).

The battle has been condensed into two large assaults. With the Russians having the decided advantage of plenty of reinforcements!

11:00am

A second HMG platoon joins Col Iganonov against Lt Von Zilch. 1 German platoon is lost while the other rallies (10-3). The Germans are in serious trouble!

11:15am – 11:45am

Russian disrupted forces make an organized withdrawal as reinforcements enter the assault.

Meanwhile Lt Wunderbar is trying to hold his men together but a huge firefight erupts with both sides losing men (11-4). Both sides are shattered, but the Russians are able to send in reinforcements to relieve their demoralized platoons.

The Germans withstand another counter-attack but, despite Lt Wunderbar’s warnings, one and a half platoons flee out of the woods!

12:00

Col Iganonov and Lt Von Zilch continue to battle it out with both sides taking more losses (12-5). Lt Von Zilch counter-attacks and the Russian infantry routs! (12-6)

12:15am

Lt Von Zilch comes under heavy fire as a Russian HMG joins in the assault. The Germans are demoralized and eliminated while trying to flee. Lt Von Zilch surrenders. (13-6)

Lt Wunderbar is having a real bad day. Stuck in assault, he cannot order the troops that have fled to rally and advance (back into assault) once they recover! Locked in assault, he looks forward ominously at 2 Russian HMG squads advancing toward his position.

Daunted, the last German leader surrenders.

Aftermath

The importance of leaders was significantly evident in this battle. Losing two of their four leaders early, the Germans were faced with the problem that any fleeing platoons would not return (combat move) back towards the Russians!

Consequently, any fled squad was as good as eliminated. This caused the Germans, already taking losses, to become heavily outnumbered.

German forces remaining: 3 half INF platoons 2 full INF platoons Lt Wunderbar & INF platoon in assault

Russians only lost their mortar and 5 half platoons.

I prefer big toys, so I’m not a big fan of this scenario. To ‘spice’ it up both Fog of War and Random Event rules were in play. They hurt the Germans, but when their Major got sniped, I think the battle was already being lost quite effectively.