Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Edelweiss #23

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Himmler's Sword Edelweiss #23
(Defender) Germany	vs	Soviet Union (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Germany		13th SS "Volunteer" Gebirgs Division
Soviet Union		73rd Guards Rifle Division

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	0
Side 2	1

Overall Rating, 1 vote
5 4 3 2 1 1
Scenario Rank: --- of 958

Parent Game	Edelweiss
Historicity	Historical
Date	1945-01-29
Start Time	09:00
Turn Count	40
Visibility	Day
Counters	69
Net Morale	2
Net Initiative	2
Maps	3: 1, 3, 8
Layout Dimensions	84 x 43 cm 33 x 17 in
Play Bounty	161
AAR Bounty	166
Total Plays	1
Total AARs	1
Duplicates	EdIV038, EdlX030

Battle Types
Bridge Control
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Urban Assault

Conditions
Off-board Artillery
Terrain Mods

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Edelweiss	Base Game
Eastern Front	Maps
Road to Berlin	Counters

Introduction
Hapless as the 6th and 7th SS proved in battle, neither counts as the worst German formation of the war. In early 1943 the head of the SS, Heinrich Himmler, hatched a plan to recruit a Croatian mountain division. Volunteers proved hard to come by, and the division was soon enrolling large numbers of Bosnian Moslems, deserters from the Croatian puppet state’s army, ethnic Germans, and the dregs of Balkan prisons. Ordered to the front to stop the Red Army, the smarter members of the division promptly deserted. The remnant was posted in front of the key Danube bridgehead at Apatin in southern Hungary, a spot Hitler himself ordered held as a launching pad for the future grand offensive that would destroy the Soviets.

Introduction

Hapless as the 6th and 7th SS proved in battle, neither counts as the worst German formation of the war. In early 1943 the head of the SS, Heinrich Himmler, hatched a plan to recruit a Croatian mountain division. Volunteers proved hard to come by, and the division was soon enrolling large numbers of Bosnian Moslems, deserters from the Croatian puppet state’s army, ethnic Germans, and the dregs of Balkan prisons. Ordered to the front to stop the Red Army, the smarter members of the division promptly deserted. The remnant was posted in front of the key Danube bridgehead at Apatin in southern Hungary, a spot Hitler himself ordered held as a launching pad for the future grand offensive that would destroy the Soviets.

Conclusion
The “Handschar” (“Sword”) Division crumpled under the first Soviet attack. The Red Army swept over the Danube and continued their advance. Handschar remained in the German order of battle until the end of the war, but never again would be trusted alone with a key position.

Additional Notes
Heroes of the Soviet Union or Red Warriors may be used instead of Road to Berlin for the Soviet units.

Display Relevant AFV Rules

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle
Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0). AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement. AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1). Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2). Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3) Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0). Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3). Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3). AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42). AFV's may Dig In (16.2). Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC) Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle

Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0).
AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement.
AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1).
Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2).
Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3)
Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0).
Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3).
Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3).
AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42).
AFV's may Dig In (16.2).
Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT).
Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC)
Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable

Display Order of Battle

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Motorized

Schutzstaffel
Foot Leader Motorized Towed

Schutzstaffel

Foot

Leader

Motorized

Towed

Soviet Union Order of Battle

Guards
Foot Leader Mechanized

Guards

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Display Errata (3)

3 Errata Items
	All SS 75mm IG guns are direct fire weapons (black), not indirect (white). (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	Kommissars never get morale or combat modifiers. Ignore misprints. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	All Guards T-34/85 tanks should have AT fire values of 7-7. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)

Display AARs (1)

Edelweiss #23

Author	triangular_cube
Method	Solo
Victor	Soviet Union
Play Date	2021-01-25
Language	English
Scenario	Edel023

I usually reserve ratings of "1" for scenarios that are simply mechanically broken. This isnt strictly the case here. Unfortunately the competitive balance on this scenario is so far out of wack that I cant imagine rating it higher than a 1.

The Germans have a weak force of morale 6 dorks that need to hold a bridge against an overwhelming, combined arms, late war, soviet guards force. To win they cant take more than 6 step losses. This is achieved basically within 1 turn of engagement with the enemy. Never in a million years will the Germans win this against an honest opponent.

This whole expansion book is hyperbolic stories of Austrian Supermen and bumbling SS cowards driven by the publisher's family history no doubt. This leads to many unbalanced scenarios, but this is by far the worst.

The expansion has a few interesting things to play around with, but there is nothing to game with this scenario. Since this one had no other logged plays, im guessing everyone reached that conclusion before bothering to table it. I play them all because im insane, so there it is.

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Edel022

Edel024

PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Scenarios > Edel023

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