Introduction

Sept 1, 1939. Germany invades Poland. German force begin to sweep into Poland, driving the defenders before them and capturing their factories. In one such advance, at the town of Slask, the German advance force was sent in to destroy the factories! Don’t bother waiting a week when our main divisions can capture the factories, let’s just blow them up now! Consequently, the rabble of crooks and criminals that made up Battalion Ebbinghaus entered Slask and blew up the buildings that they could have simply captured.

Defending the Polish town are elements of the 55th Reserve Division of the Polish National Guard (Obrona Narodowa) and the Slask Police.

The main objectives: 1. Blow up/Save the Factories (3 or 2 VPs per town hex) 2. Eliminate the enemy (1 VP per step)

Note: Score will be denoted by (x-y), where x=number of German steps lost, y=number of Polish steps lost.

0530 (visibility=normal, 12 hexes)

Early morning arrives and Battalion Ebbinghaus begins their advance on Slask from both the north and south. They have no idea where the Polish defenders are (hidden set-up for all Polish units)

0545

North of Slask, German Infantry is ambushed by some Polish on bicycles. (half platoon lost) As the Germans race by, eluding the small village, some National Guard picnicking in the woods take the opportunity for some target practice. (1-0)

0600

In the north, the German infantry continues to skirt the village of Polish cyclists.

In the south the Germans are ambushed by some infantry in the woods. (half platoon lost). A Polish HMG opens fire. (2-0)

0615

North: German infantry discovers more ON in the woods while skirting the village. 0630

North: German HMG moves into the village and the Polish Cyclists flee south down the road toward Slask.

0645 - 0700

The Germans continue towards Slask as the Polish pull back their forces.

0715

German forces, led by their engineers (which is a polite term for arsonists), assault the town. The first Polish casualties are inflicted. (2-1)

The German HMG approaching from the west gets unlucky and loses a squad (3-1)

0730

German “engineers” blow up a factory in the south. (Factory) #1. And the destruction of Slask has begun.

0745

The Polish cycling team is reduced in close assault and are eliminated trying to flee. (3-3)

0800

Two more factories are destroyed, despite ON resistance. Some of the Obrona Narodowa is eliminated while trying to flee. #2 and #3 ; (3-4)

0815

Not wanting the arsonists to have all the fun, the other crooks (infantry) blow up a factory too! #4

0830

The Polish Porucznik loses a half platoon in close assault and is eliminated with the remainder of his men trying to flee. (3-6)

The German criminals are showing no mercy.

0845

The last hidden units are found in the town as Battalion Ebbinghaus floods Slask. Another factory is blown up. #5

0900

Engineers and Infantry explode buildings #6 and #7 as the whole west side of Slask is smoking ruins.

An abandoned German half infantry platoon is eliminated by the Polish Kapitan leading 2 platoons of Obrona Narodowa. (4-6)

0915

Another INF scores a factory #8.

Porucznik and his demoralized platoon flee the Germans and are cut down. The officer is killed. (4-8)

Polish HMG reduces the German HMG south of town (4-9)

The Germans virtually have the north side of Slask captured, and can go about destroying factories unimpeded.

0930

8 demolition charges are laid. 2 infantry succeed. #9 and #10

Polish Kapitan tries to stop the Germans to no avail.

0945

German Captain counter-attacks the Polish Kapitan. A half platoon of ON are eliminated. Two more half platoons desert. Three more half platoons try to flee and are cut down. (4 - 15) But the Polish Kapitan survives and escapes.

1000

The eleventh factory is blown by engineers in the north (#11) as the German Major relentlessly pursues the Kapitan. Outnumbered almost 3-1 in the assault, the Polish forces hold their ground.

1015

Some infantry rampage another factory #12.

The Major eliminates the Kapitan’s ON troops as the Kapitan flees (4- 17) The battle is over.

Aftermath

Final Score:

Germans: 17 steps, 12 factories (3VP each) = 53 VPs Polish: 4 steps, 10 factories saved (2 VP each) = 24 VPs

An overwhelming victory for Battalion Ebbinghaus! Boo!

Notes

1. This mission appears very difficult for the Polish. Although if fate treats them nicely, their factories may withstand the demolition rolls. Forces away from Slask served as a mere annoyance, as the Polish lack sufficient firepower to take the “offensive”. Once revealed, the one advantage the Polish has is quickly over.

2. Most of my Panzer Grenadier games are played solo. With the hidden set-up in this mission, I taught my daughter, Wren, how to manoeuvre the German forces. Once she arrived at the town, or when my forces were know, I aided her in the “attack”.

Overall, this scenario was a delight to play and I’m really liking what I see in the White Eagles expansion.