Early WWII - Polish vs. Germans Game 1 part 7

Game turns 4-6

In turns 1 to 3 the game was generally balanced, with little ground lost or gained and casualties stared to mount up. In turn 4-6 though the battle moved away from the static front line as the Germans re-deploy past the main line of battle. The Battle now turned in to two main areas, The hotly contested town and the still held embattled Polish Centre.

Seeing the battle start to turn in the Polish favour the German command began to press on forwards to the Town. The decision to leave behind the slower moving support infantry was not made lightly but Polish forces were massing around the town and surrounded defenders needed support.
Prille in the South abandoned his fruitless assault on the farm and moved directly to the south west side of town, this timely intervention helped Fressner's force that was about to be overwhelmed by cavalry.
Lindermann after his earlier difficulties made a uninterrupted drive for the western side of town. The remaining Panzer company took up good supporting positions, giving fire support to Fressner who was facing the cavalry
Von Bock made his advance to the North west side of town, leaving his infantry behind to cover against the still active Polish force of Rysard. His Panzers made into range of Polish forces attack the town from the east.

Linderman arrives to the West of the town to give effective fire on the Polish cavalry

After being repelled at the Farm, Prille's Panzers dive headlong into the Polish cavalry's flank

Von Bock uses his infantry to keep Ryszard's forces from flanking the Panzers as he pushes on to the town.

The Town
On the East side of town Zubic's mixed armoured and infantry formation finally deployed and wasted no time. With tanks moving to try to hold off Von Bocks Panzers in the Northwest the Polish Infatry threw them selves at the town. Supported by Worjcich's artillery they attacked the town twice. Despite desperate close combat with bayonets and grenades both assaults managed a tenuous foothold in the town suffering heavy losses. The Polish 7tp tanks exchanged fire with the Panzer IIIs and IVs but neither formation could land any telling shots at long range.

Zubic's mixed formation assaults the town.

At long range the 7tp and Panzers could not make accurate or telling hits on each other

Worjcich's 75mm field guns provided much needed artillery support for the assault on the town.

South of the town
Rogalski's cavalry had earlier in the day started well, making good progress in their advance. Taking the towns defenders and their commanders by surprise. With the arrival of Prille and Lindermann's Panzers though the tide started to turn. The cavalry found an ever worsening situation, as fire from their front and western flanks intensified. The Panzers landed telling, accurate and continuous fire. Within half an hour the entire battalion was reduced to only two active platoons of cavalrymen. Rogalski's charge was over and his forces played no more part in the fighting.

Rogalski's force is flanked by Prille's Panzers, casualties soon mount.

Rogalski's charge is finished and is now a romanticised myth of the early days of WWII. When Polish cavalry charged Panzers!

With the Polish cavalry nutrallised, Schorner and Fressner managed to hold the East side of town and the main Polish force was spent. At the farm in the south the once embattled Mateusz's Company could not react fast enough to the Panzers re-deployment round their position and had no further impact on the battle after that.

The Centre
As the battle for the town raged on. In western centre of the line Rendulic's re-enforced Kradshutzen company was still locked in and deadly battle with Radoslaws infantry company. The Polish forces in the woods made life hell on the Germans, every attempt to break away from the contact and get their fuel trucks to the town was met with withering fire. Rendulic's situation was so bad that he was reduces to just one Infantry platoon and one field gun battery from his entire re-enforced company. Polish resistance was furious and unrelenting as Radoslaw reaped a heavy toll on the German Kradschutzen.

Rendulic orders his forces to assault the woods!

Radoslaw's company rout the German attack causing heavy losses.

What the map looked like by the end of the battle.

forces at the end of the battle.

So the Battle for Poludnie Tercza is over. Hard fought with lots of ups and downs. Players familiar with blitzkrieg commander will know all to well the frustration an joy this game brings. This battle report took me 2 days to make and play. As you can imagine writing down a blow blow account took up so much time. The battle and commanders are not historically accurate as such but I think I captured the spirit and theme of the early war. YES I am aware of the lack of German air support but decided against it as I have not got any nice Stuka models yet.
As for the mission, well, the German plan worked and Polish plan did not. In the first three turns it looked like the Poles were set to change history and pull off a spectacular win but the fortunes of war are fickle. Once the Germans put a few good commands together the Polish forces were outmaneuvered then outgunned. The Polish front line held up well and in general made life hard for the German advance.

German Objectives
Hold town: Yes = 5vpts
Re-fuel Recce battalion: No = 0pts
KO Polish Forces: Yes = 14vpts

German Losses:
x8 Rifle Platoons
x2 Machinegun Platoons
x1 Assault Pioneer Platoon
x1 Panzer II Platoon
x1 Panzer III Platoon
x1 Recce Motorcycle Platoon

Polish Objectives:
Re-capture town: No = 0vpts
Stop German advance till turn 5: No = 0vpts
KO German Tanks: Yes = 4vpts

Polish Losses:
x7 Cavalry Platoons
x5 Rifle Platoons
x1 Mortar Platoon
x1 Anti-tank gun Platoon

I did enjoy doing it though an will no doubt do something like it later. I hope you enjoyed it.