Final Pince - November 15, 1941 - December 05, 1941

Historical Background:
On 15 November 1941, German tank armies began their offensive towards Klin, where no Soviet reserves were available because of Stalin's wish to attempt a counteroffensive at Volokolamsk, which had forced the relocation of all available reserves forces further south. Initial German attacks split the front in two, separating the 16th Army from the 30th. Several days of intense combat followed. As Zhukov recalls in his memoirs, "The enemy, ignoring the casualties, was making frontal assaults, willing to get to Moscow by any means necessary." Despite the Wehrmacht's efforts, the multi-layered defense reduced Soviet casualties as the Soviet 16th Army slowly retreated and constantly harassed the German divisions trying to make their way through the fortifications.
The Third Panzer Army finally captured Klin after heavy fighting on 24 November, and by 25 November Solnechnogorsk as well. Soviet resistance was still strong, and the outcome of the battle was by no means certain. Reportedly, Stalin asked Zhukov whether Moscow could be successfully defended and ordered him to "speak honestly, like a communist." Zhukov replied that it was possible, but that reserves were desperately needed. By 28 November, the German 7th Panzer Division had seized a bridgehead across the Moscow-Volga Canal?the last major obstacle before Moscow?and stood less than 35 km (22 mi) from the Kremlin;but a powerful counterattack by the 1st Shock Army drove them back across the canal. Just northwest of Moscow, the Wehrmacht reached Krasnaya Polyana, little more than 20 km (12 mi) from Moscow; German officers were able to make out some of the major buildings of the Soviet capital through their field glasses. However, both Soviet and German forces were severely depleted, sometimes having only 150?200 riflemen?a company's full strength left in a regiment.

Briefing:
Duitse eenheden 220 punten.

7x Mauser
3x MG 34 Machine Gun Team
1x Wehrmacht Oberleutnant
3x Wehrmacht Veteran Infantrymen
2x sGrW 34 81mm mortar
1x Disciplined Spotter
4x Panzer III Ausf. F
3x Panzer IV Ausf. E
2x Sd Kfz 251
3x Motorized Schutzen

Soviet eenheden 176 punten.

3x Maxim M1910 MG
6x Mosin-Nagant 1891/30
2x Commissar
1x Red Army Forward Observer
2x 82mm PM-37 Mortar
4x PTRD-41 Anti-Tank Rifle
3x Soviet Conscript

Soviet Reinforvements

1x BT-7
1x T-34/76
1x KV-1
1x Siberian Shock Troops

De Duitsers zetten hun eenheden op op de eerste twee hexlijnen. Gemarkeerd met een Duitse infanterie eenheid.
De Soviets zetten hun eenheden op rond en in Moscow en in en rond Klin. Gemarkeerd met Soviet eenheden.

Conditions of Victory:
De Soviets winnen door alle objectives te behouden. Gemarkeerd met Soviet en Duitse medailles.

De Duitsers winnen door alle objecten in te nemen.

Special Rules:
Het spel bestaat uit 12 speel ronden.

Duitsers hebben initiative.

Aan het begin van Beurt 7 krijgen de Soviets hun versterkingen.

Scenario Bibliography:
Dit scenario is gemaakt voor Axis & Allies Miniatures.

Warning:
Please note that this scenario was not approved by Richard Borg or Days of Wonder, so you have to check yourself about playability, potential gaming issues, etc.