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Russia, February 09, 1943, USSR army of 105 units opposed to Axis army of 100 units for a battle of complexity 0.73 at Company(I) level on a 2.5 Km/Hex map for 15 turns of Half Day each. by Peter D'Adamo submited on 03-12-2002 Rugged-Defense Playing Statistics
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"ARRIBA ESPANA!" Krasni Bor Crucible, 1943 Dr. Peter D'Adamo (peter26@home.com) Version 1.0 for TOAW 1,06 ABSTRACT In Franco's euphoria surrounding the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, the Spanish government raised an infantry division of volunteers to assist the international fight against Bolshevism. These were referred to officially as the 250th Division, but known throughout the Wehrmacht as the "Blue Division," after the color of the Falangist shirts the volunteers wore on the train ride to Germany for induction. Unlike other Axis minor troops, the Spaniards were an official Wehrmacht unit, using German ordinance and supplies. Also unlike most other Axis allies, the Blue Division was an elite, well regarded division, certainly up to the standards of any other German division of the time. The "Guiripas" of the 250th, though unruly, regarded Russians as human beings and often formed strong bonds with the peasants -so strong that the Russian population often protected the Spaniards from both the Red Army and partisans. Now, 18 months later, the elite Blue Division finds itself entrenched at Krasni Bor, outside besieged Leningrad. To lift the siege, the Red Army has ordered a massive artillery bombardment and combined-arms assault just at this point. "ARRIBA ESPANA!" covers the Battle of Krasni Bor. It begins with a typical Soviet artillery barrage followed by the "Urrah!" of swarms of Soviet infantrymen. The newly anointed 63d Guards Rifle Division led the attack with support by the 72nd Rifle Division (a former Ukrainian Penal unit) and part of the 43rd Rifle Division. Further support for the attack came from the T-26, T-34, and KV-1 tanks of the 1st Red Banner Tank Brigade. It was a full Soviet combined arms force striking a skilled, dug in enemy. Krasni Bor was a substantial twon of many brick dwellings, built on the alluvial plain of the Izhora River. Strategically, it astride both the Moscow-Leningrad Highway and the October Railroad. Its defences centered on an alaborate series of trenches calle de "El Trnicheron". Where the line broke at an old Russian anti-tank ditch, it was backed up by the formidable redoubt of "El Bastion." The angle formed by the linkage of the Spaniards with 2 SS Police Brigade was called the "Panzer Beak" and was the most insecure part of the line. The scenario highlights the doctrine and capabilities of massed Red Army troops and the skill and elan of the elite Spanish Volunteers. It depicts a typical Eastern Front action - massive preparatory barrages against front-line trenches, waves of stubborn Soviet infantrymen, embattled knots of hedgehogged defenders. UNIT COLORS AXIS Blue Division (250th) Blue on Grey Regular Wehrmacht White on Grey SS Unit (2 SS Police) Grey on Black Luftwaffe Field Corps White on Blue Estonian Security Units Black on Grey SOVIET Guards Units White on Red Regular Rifle Units White on Brown Penal Units Green on Brown 55 Army Tan on Brown Number of turns: 15 Events: None. layable as either opponent, perhaps more challenging as the Axis. |