A slightly beat up Soviet regiment takes on a much more beat up German force of 1/2 their size holding a town. The Germans have had a chance to entrench around the town. The Soviets are charged with the responsibility of getting into the town and taking a majority of the control. To add to the fun, there is heavy snow on the ground, hampering movement significantly.

The Germans set up with a strong cordon of troops in outlying entrenchments with supporting units in the edges of the town on the east and a light cordon of troops extending 2/3 of the way through the town towards the west. The westernmost edges of the town are unoccupied. The Germans are willing to give the Soviets entry into the far western hexes since it will take so long to get there it is likely that they will not arrive in time to drive to the east and capture enough of the town to matter.

The Soviets decide to send their main effort to the north of the town with a diversionary attack on the eastern edge to pin the Germans in place. This works reasonably well but the poor morale of the Soviets and the lack of any reasonable number of leaders with morale support dooms the main effort to be frittered away as they come around the northern suburbs of the town (no, I am not going to try to spell Khristishche more than once...). By the time they actually reach the western edge of the town they are only able to bring two infantry units into the area and these are assaulted and ejected by German troops coming up from the south.

Total losses in the play were 22 Soviet steps lost to 1 German step lost. Despite several assaults that seemed promising they could never get the rolls to damage the Germans significantly. Meanwhile the German reserves were well in hand and able to dish out crushing counterattacks against the disrupted and demoralized attackers.

It was an easy victory for the Germans but it FELT right. The Soviets did not have the doctrine nor the weaponry to attack in this fashion with any real hope of success. I give this one a "4" for the evocative nature of the play. It is not competitive, even with more "fair" die rolls. The Soviets just will not be able to break into the town with any significant force and survive the ensuing counterattacks.