Although the Germans have great advantages in this scenario. But they made a critical error. They did not defend both of the 40m hills; capture of the hills is one of two possible objectives for the Allies to win. The other objective is to capture the Turkish Fort. The Fort is nothing more than a village whIch lies between the lines of the two combatants. The Fort lies in a valley at 0 elevation,

The Greeks set up their force completely inside the large town east of the N-S road running through the middle of the unnamed town. The Australians set up off the hill, south of the Greeks. It should be noted that this is a one board scenario at 12 turns long and 39 counters. I always use the ILS, and the Germans had a good draw, with an 11-1-1 lieutenant coming up. The Greeks drew a more average mix, with a couple of 9-0-1 and 9-1-0 Lieutenants. The Australians drew well; a 10-1-1 captain and a 8-1-1 lieutenant.

The Germans put a single paratrooper in the Fort. This single unit set up was mandated in the scenario set up. It didn’t last long. The first turn initiative was won by the Germans, who moved units from behind the Fort into the Fort. This move put three units in the Fort, along with the 11-1-1 lieutenant. Although stacking three units is risky, the Fort never fell. It was attacked every turn from the second turn on. The die rolls fell flat for the attackers, But the Germans, with 18 attack factors in the Fort kept Greeks disrupted in one three unit stack, while the other stacks, also comprised of three units, were disrupted by mortar fire, the 20mm cannon and two paratrooper units that moved next to the Fort.

However, the Germans left the northern 40m hill undefended; a serious mistake. A group of three Greek infantry units reached the hill before the could react. If the Germans would have defended the hilll, this disaster would not have happened. All the Germans had to do was to put one dug-in unit on the hill. The Germans tried to shift two paratroopers away from defending the Fort, but their attempt to dislodge the Greeks was met with stiff resistance. For eight turns the. Germans were thwarted in their attempt to gain the height.

Interestingly, the game was the most bloodless I have ever played. The final tally was a 1-1 step loss tie, and both losses didn’t occur until the eleventh turn! This was a game of maneuver, thrust and parry. It was not without many demobilizations and disruptions. Both sides didn’t leave these “wounded” units in the rear. No opportunity for morale recovery was left unanswered.

It’s my opinion that the Germans should have easily won if they would have put a unit on northern heights. Minor victory for the Allies.