At 1000 on July 7, 1943, elements of the German 292nd Infantry Division moved forward to secure a small hamlet called 1st of May State Farm. Soviet forces from the 307th Rifle Division were based in and around the hamlet, with infantry, an HMG and an anti-tank rifle in the hamlet itself. Infantry were situated on the road east of the farm, while an SMG platoon was on the road directly west of town to provide flank coverage. In the woods SE of town, a 76.2 mm artillery piece and an 82 mm mortar provided coverage of the open steppe on the German left flank, an excellent killing field with open line of sight. As the Germans progressed, they were subjected to pesky bombardment fire from the artillery and mortar, but remained out of range of the other Soviet weaponry, which occasionally slowed their progress and disrupted an orderly advance. Once they were close enough to the hamlet to draw fire from the Soviet HMG, they called in artillery, and were able to spot the flanking units around the farm area. Those on the east road were within range of two German 81 mm mortars situated on a hilltop northeast of the hamlet; this fire ultimately demoralized the group which had to leave the flank open and withdrew south to the shelter of the woods. By 1145, the Germans, along with a StuG IIIG, were approaching the hamlet in force, and at 1215 an assault team consisting of Lt. Kraumholtz, two infantry platoons (one of whom took a step loss due to first fire by the Soviet resistance) and an engineer platoon moved in to secure the farm. However, the Soviets held them off despite having a demoralized Captain, two infantry platoons (both with a one-step loss) and a disrupted HMG platoon. The bedraggled Soviets managed to secure a victory based on the need for the Germans to control the hex by 1230.

This scenario seems to be a tough one for the Germans to succeed unless optional smoke is played, as this would help the Germans to advance over the open ground without the delays caused by having to recover disrupted troops. Since this scenario is currently being distributed by APL as a “free playset” without any optional rules, I played it that way; however, the Kursk: Burning Tigers boxed game does allow for smoke to be used, and that gives the Germans a much better chance of achieving the historical outcome described in the K:BT scenario book, i.e.” Slowly the Germans pried the determined Soviets from the farm buildings and houses of the collective farm.