Briefing
Kharkov 43 MANSTEIN STRIKES BACK THIS SCENARIO IS PLAYABLE IN PBEM OR AGAINST THE PO, IF PLAYING AGAINST THE PO THEN PLAYING AGAINST THE SOVIET PO IS RECOMMENDED. 1. 1- Introduction Kharkov 43 is a scenario of the battle that occurred between the Donets and the Dnepr rivers in the winter of 1943. The battle was the high watermark of the second winter?s offensive by the Red Army, it begun at Stalingrad and eventually ended at the Donets and Mius rivers. The wide front covered, reduced resources and strong and numerous mobile formations created a highly fluid battle across the frozen steppes. German reserves were railed from Western Europe, coupled with a sharp blow by the 1st and 4th Panzer Armies, sent the overextended Soviet Armies back to the Donets. 2. 2- The forces in presence and their objectives 2.1. SOVIETS Soviet forces are numerous and powerful, but they are reaching their human and material limits. Supply lines are overextended, many units are already scrapping the bottom of the barrel for reserves, and the winter is starting to punish everyone. The main goal is of course to secure Kharkov. However Kharkov cannot be secured solely, the flanks from which powerful German forces approach must be solid or otherwise Kharkov may end up surrounded. 2.2. AXIS The Axis has a tricky situation in their hands, it will have to resist masses of Soviet troops, it cannot let the Soviets reach a conformable situation before it can punch back, must also keep its forces as intact as possible, and must finally deliver a powerful blow and recover Kharkov if it was unable to hold it. 3. 3- Strategies 3.1. SOVIETS The key for the Soviets is to secure early all the needed objectives while inflicting the most damage they can on the present German units, they it?s time to dig-in and to put up a stubborn defence. It will need a lot of attacking early in the scenario, but the Soviet player must not be fooled he will need to defend, and a lot if he is to win the game. 3.2. AXIS Judgement. This is they key, the Axis player must understand the forces he has at hand, and must understand how to make best use of them. Since Axis forces will be arriving piecemeal there is the temptation to commit them immediately to hold that bit of threatened defence line. That is probably the worst option, starting with the concept of ?defence line? that the Axis player must abandon if he is to win. The secret is to deliver effective and powerful blows that will eventually dry the Soviet Army offensive power , and then start all over again to move the Soviets back. An essential point is to keep a good mobile reserve, and also to try to keep the forces with offensive power and mobility as intact as possible. 4. APENDIXES 4.1. A- Victory Locations 33,21 Kharkov - 20 34,21 Kharkov ? 10 34,20 Kharkov ? 10 32,21 Kharkov ? 10 32,20 Kharkov ? 10 3,27 Poltava ? 10 41,7 Belgorod ? 30 17,34 Krasnograd ? 10 56,30 Kupyansk - 30 4.2. B- Orders of Battle Soviets: Voronezh Front 6,40,69, Army 3 Tank Army 1 Guards Army I,II,IV,V Guards Armored Corps II,III,X,XII,XV,XXV,XVIII Armored Corps Popov Armored Corps VI, XV Guards Corps VI Guards Cavalry Corps 3,20,25,35,38,40,41,44,49,57,58,60,62,172,350 Guards Infantry Division 6,19,24,37,50,52,78,100,104,106,107,111,113,127,148,152,160,161,170,180,1,83,194,195,197,206,219,229,244,253,267,270,303,304,305,309,315,325,340 Infantry Division 1,2,7 Guards Cavalry Division 11,12,30,83 Cavalry Division 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 Partisan Soviet Air Force Axis Don Armee 1,4 Panzer Armee I SS Panzer Korps III,XL,XLVIII,LVI Panzer krops Korps Cramer Lanz Korps SS Panzer Division LSSAH, SS Motorized Division Das Reich, Totenkopf, Wiking GD,3,6,7,11,17 Panzer Division 4 Panzer Division Kampgruppe 15,57,106,167,168,298,320,333 Infantry Division 213, Donets Security Division 7 Luftwaffe Infantry Division Ravenna Infantry Division 23 Hungarian Jaegers Division 1 Werfer Brigade Luftwaffe Joao Lima

Briefing

Kharkov 43

MANSTEIN STRIKES BACK

THIS SCENARIO IS PLAYABLE IN PBEM OR AGAINST THE PO, IF PLAYING
AGAINST THE PO THEN PLAYING AGAINST THE SOVIET PO IS RECOMMENDED.

1. 1- Introduction

Kharkov 43 is a scenario of the battle that occurred between the Donets and the Dnepr rivers in the winter of 1943. The battle was the high watermark of the second winter?s offensive by the Red Army, it begun at Stalingrad and eventually ended at the Donets and Mius rivers. The wide front covered, reduced resources and strong and numerous mobile formations created a highly fluid battle across the frozen steppes. German reserves were railed from Western Europe, coupled with a sharp blow by the 1st and 4th Panzer Armies, sent the overextended Soviet Armies back to the Donets.

2. 2- The forces in presence and their objectives

2.1. SOVIETS

Soviet forces are numerous and powerful, but they are reaching their human and material limits. Supply lines are overextended, many units are already scrapping the bottom of the barrel for reserves, and the winter is starting to punish everyone. The main goal is of course to secure Kharkov. However Kharkov cannot be secured solely, the flanks from which powerful German forces approach must be solid or otherwise Kharkov may end up surrounded.

2.2. AXIS

The Axis has a tricky situation in their hands, it will have to resist masses of Soviet troops, it cannot let the Soviets reach a conformable situation before it can punch back, must also keep its forces as intact as possible, and must finally deliver a powerful blow and recover Kharkov if it was unable to hold it.

3. 3- Strategies

3.1. SOVIETS

The key for the Soviets is to secure early all the needed objectives while inflicting the most damage they can on the present German units, they it?s time to dig-in and to put up a stubborn defence. It will need a lot of attacking early in the scenario, but the Soviet player must not be fooled he will need to defend, and a lot if he is to win the game.

3.2. AXIS

Judgement. This is they key, the Axis player must understand the forces he has at hand, and must understand how to make best use of them. Since Axis forces will be arriving piecemeal there is the temptation to commit them immediately to hold that bit of threatened defence line. That is probably the worst option, starting with the concept of ?defence line? that the Axis player must abandon if he is to win. The secret is to deliver effective and powerful blows that will eventually dry the Soviet Army offensive power , and then start all over again to move the Soviets back. An essential point is to keep a good mobile reserve, and also to try to keep the forces with offensive power and mobility as intact as possible.

4. APENDIXES

4.1. A- Victory Locations

33,21 Kharkov - 20
34,21 Kharkov ? 10
34,20 Kharkov ? 10
32,21 Kharkov ? 10
32,20 Kharkov ? 10
3,27 Poltava ? 10
41,7 Belgorod ? 30
17,34 Krasnograd ? 10
56,30 Kupyansk - 30

4.2. B- Orders of Battle

Soviets:

Voronezh Front
6,40,69, Army
3 Tank Army
1 Guards Army
I,II,IV,V Guards Armored Corps
II,III,X,XII,XV,XXV,XVIII Armored Corps
Popov Armored Corps
VI, XV Guards Corps
VI Guards Cavalry Corps
3,20,25,35,38,40,41,44,49,57,58,60,62,172,350 Guards Infantry Division
6,19,24,37,50,52,78,100,104,106,107,111,113,127,148,152,160,161,170,180,1,83,194,195,197,206,219,229,244,253,267,270,303,304,305,309,315,325,340 Infantry Division
1,2,7 Guards Cavalry Division
11,12,30,83 Cavalry Division
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 Partisan
Soviet Air Force

Axis

Don Armee
1,4 Panzer Armee
I SS Panzer Korps
III,XL,XLVIII,LVI Panzer krops
Korps Cramer
Lanz Korps
SS Panzer Division LSSAH,
SS Motorized Division Das Reich, Totenkopf, Wiking
GD,3,6,7,11,17 Panzer Division
4 Panzer Division Kampgruppe
15,57,106,167,168,298,320,333 Infantry Division
213, Donets Security Division
7 Luftwaffe Infantry Division
Ravenna Infantry Division
23 Hungarian Jaegers Division
1 Werfer Brigade
Luftwaffe

Joao Lima