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Historical Background:
In late July 1941, Army Group Center concluded a successful offensive, encircling a large pocket ("Kessel") of Soviet troops in and around Smolensk. While the pocket was being systematically reduced, the Soviet High Command ordered the release of fresh troops to help relieve pressure on the pocket and reinforce counter-attacks. One of the most successful counter-attacks was when Timoshenko's Western Front was unleashed on the narrow, exposed German salient around Yelnya, beginning a fierce six week battle for the town.
The Germans wanted to hold the salient because it enclosed a bridgehead over the Desna River and included high ground that would be valuable in launching the final drive toward Moscow. Guderian ordered the two mechanized units that had captured Yelnya (10th Panzer Division and SS "Das Reich" Division) to hold the salient until infantry could be brought up to relieve them.
The German reinforcements were delayed because they had to eliminate Soviet units around Smolensk, while the German mobile defenders at Yelnya remained at a disadvantage; their line had been dictated by the limit of the initial offensive advance and was not suited to defense. Fatigued from their earlier offensive drive, denied meaningful air support, and with ammunition and fuel in short supply, the two divisions were repeatedly battered by Soviet assaults. On July 30th alone, thirteen separate Soviet attacks had to be beaten back!
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.
Briefing:
Axis player [Germany]
Take 4 Command cards.
Allied player [Soviet Union]
Take 5 Command cards.
You move first.
Conditions of Victory:
6 Medals.
The town of Yelnya is one Temporary Medal Objective for the Allied player.
Special Rules:
Russian Command rules are in effect (Nations 2 - Red Army).
The train (Troops 5 - Trains) is a Supply Train (Troops 6 - Supply Train) and carries 1 German infantry unit in its locomotive and wagon each.
Place a badge on the German mechanized infantry unit (Troops 2 - Specialized units).
Air rules are optional: If used, give one Air Sortie card to the Allied player and shuffle the other one into the deck, at game start.
Scenario Bibliography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yelnya_Offensive
http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/wray/wray.asp
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JAP/is_2_13/ai_n15623829
http://www.beobachtungsabteilung.derkessel.de/B49.html
Text by: yangtze . Last update: Fri Dec 5 12:17:43 2008
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