Despite Novara Cavalry Regiment's successful delaying action against the Soviet Guards two days earlier, Generale Giovanni Messe ordered them to withdraw from the sector on August 27. This virtually sprang the door open for the Soviets and effectively exposed the flank of German 79th Infantry Division. A strong reaction from the Germans (which included the temporary firing of Messe) resulted in Novara being sent back to its former position. Inexplicably, the Soviets had not occupied the village of Boloshoy while Novara was gone, so the Italians dug in in front of the town and waited for events to unfold. The Russian attack started at 5 a.m. of the 27th.

The Soviet advance immediately met difficulties due to heavy machine gun and artillery fire. But the situation on the Italian left started worsening, and at this point Colonnello Pagliano, the Novara commander, asked for reinforcements. At approximately 0900 hours a company of motorcyclists and the sixth company of Novara regiment (on foot due to lack of horses) arrived. They counterattacked the exposed Soviet right flank and repelled them. No more attempts were made by the Soviets in this sector. Italians would take the initiative on September 1.

This is a bonus scenario, available for download from Avalanche Press at:

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