This was an enjoyable Skype game with Tony Langston over the course of two sessions. Tony took the Soviets and I had the Germans. In the initial look at the scenario, believed it would be a challenge for the Germans and a good one for Tony to master his PG defense. I was a bit worried going into it that it would be a too easy Soviet win, but with a bit of review of the SSR's and the VC's, I figured I might have found some cracks in the defensive solid defense that I expected. The match itself will not be good for players with the same experience level as the Soviets have a very good advantage of being able to setup in a very good defensive position.

As for the position, the Soviets were setup if a strong hedgehog defense around the crossroads on board 9. Dugin, with HMG's to the front and several INF's along the flanks, this was going to be a hard scenario to charge up the flanks. The only lone exception was a OBA spotting LT and INF on board 6, but they soon joined the defense once the Germans made there advance. The Soviets just need to hold the roads and keep enough troops in alive and in good order on the roads to maintain there control.

From the Germans perspective, they will need to push the Germans off the roads as well as kill at least ten steps. This is a tall order for the German force of cavalry and infantry as they are evenly match with there numbers. For support weapons there is just two 81mm mortars and 36 factor of OBA. These are decent enough, but for a full assault on dugin positions it may be too little. Mobility will be the key for the Germans. They will need to get around the Soviets and, hopefully, dislodge them from their dugin positions. But the Germans will want to limit there casualties, else give the game to the Soviets.

For the advance the German infantry moves quickly down the road, with the HMG's loaded on wagons. This stacks them up a bit that the Soviets take advantage of with some targeted OBA that double demoralizes a wagon with an HMG. (In my hast to get them moving, I failed in one of the basics.) Vengeance is to the Germans as the German OBA hits the spotted mortar hex and demoralize the 45mm AT gun followed by a Komassair failed recovery attempt. West of the road the SS Cavalry move onto the board and race into the frozen swamps, which cover most of the two boards. The swamps are unique to provide a column shift as well as cover for units that don't fire but are fully spotted if they fire. The Germans use this to their advantage to close on the Soviets without taking fire.

But as the Cavalry closes they realize that a charge is impossible on the frozen swamps and begin to maneuver back on to board 6 as the Soviets hunker-down around the crossroads. The Cavalry is able to make it behind the Soviets, but in a brief exposed moment the Soviet OBA strikes again. A REIT is reduced and one demoralized.

By this point the German infantry is positioned to the south east of the crossroads ready to attack the Soviet left flank. Shifting of units has weakened it slightly and a good dose of OBA with a followup assault could break their line. But the Soviets hit first and step loss a German INF followed by German hit on the dugin Soviet INF. The Germans regroups and second German OBA strike leaves another reduced INF as well as killing a Soviet LT.

At this point the SS Major brings his cavalry forward to strike the north-west side of the Soviet defenses, but Soviet artillery beats them to the punch, killing the Major as well as step of REIT. This end the threat from the north-east as SS LT takes over rally the demoralized cavalrymen.

Posturing continues as two groups of INF/HMG take up positions to turn the Soviet left after the loss of the infantry steps from before. Direct firing into the positions gets some disruptions and demoralization that the Soviets are able to shake off before the Germans can take advantage. Soviet artillery scores another hit on the exposed German mortars killing one step.

The Germans catch a break as another group Soviet INF/HMG demoralize and retreat. A SS LT advances his HMG and INF to assault but is hit by OP fire the kills an HMG step. More shuffling for the advancing Germans with a fresh HMG replacing the reduced and INF's try to get into position to assault. But again, Soviet OBA hit and reduce and INF.

The Soviets try to get units back in line, but the Kommisairs help again fails with another step loss. But the Soviets pull units from the west side that is free of German pressure and continue to hold the line. The Germans then get a chance with a disrupted INF and leader they assault, but Soviet first fire demoralized the HMG and the INF can only generate a morale check that the Soviets pass. The Soviets quickly reinforce the assault and the Germans are now out numbered and begin to pull back from the assault. Soviet OBA is punishing again as a morale check forces a double demoralization on the retreating HMG. The SS LT tries to pull back his INF and is hit by fleeing fire and yet another loss for the Germans.

As the casualties grow the Germans now move to a defensive position, preserving there units to keep the casualty count below 12 steps. Units disappear into the frozen swamps but German OBA scores another lose before they disappear. The Soviets slow to see the pull back remain in their foxholes until it is to late to get the elusive twelfth step. A late push by the Soviets does not get a demoralized HMG killed and the game ends in a draw.