You know, luck played a HUGE role in the German victory here- the Soviets tried to do everything correctly, and it just didn't work for them. I had a series of fire attacks against the Soviets where it seemed they were bound to pass the MC's but my opponent rolled something like four 11s in a row. Had that been his AT fire rolls, we'd have a different victor...

I did my usual task force type grouping for this scenario - heavier tanks on the left flank with infantry and SPWs, infantry and the Tiger right up the middle with two other tanks, and the lighter tanks on the right flank with infantry and SPWs. The mortars and AA gun ducked immediately into the field near the board edge.

The Soviets usually do best by playing the cat and mouse game- just when the Germans get into range, they retreat and the Germans have to reorganize to advance on the new positions. This only happened a few times during this game. The Soviets stood and fought (and died). By Turn 8 or so, they had lost 40+ steps to my 12 or so. At this point the Soviet commander conceded- I think a bit prematurely. It was still possible to inflict a great deal of losses on the Germans, but it seems his morale just wouldn't recover from the beating the cardboard soldiers were taking.

This was YET ANOTHER scenario where Soviet play has to be 5 times as inspired as German. Even an inept German commander, considering the forces available, could have defeated a Good Soviet player.