____________HILL 621*
___'Squad Leader' Scenario #5*
*
_____Near Minsk, July 1 1944*
*
_____German Mobile Defense*
_______________vs*
_________Russian Advance*
*
Scenario adaptation by Jim 'Figmo' Faletti*
*
In late June, 1944, the Soviets begun what eventually would be known as the 
"Destruction of Army Group Center".  The key to the offensive is the city of Minsk, 
Should it be captured, numerous German units would be hopelessly cut off.  
One of the key routes for the German retreat was via Stolbtsky Highway which ran behind 
a series of low ridges and then crossed the Berezina River south of Minsk.  On July 1st, 
the much overworked and understrength German 170th Infantry Division, in reality a large 
battalion, was overwhelmed be elements of Rotmistroves Fifth Guards Army.  The survivors took 
to their heels and attempted to patch together a defense along the last line of ridges overlooking 
the vital escape route to Minsk.  This scenario portrays a typical struggle along just one of those ridges.  
Russians, in probing for a weakness in the German line, have managed to overrun the German held 
village of Letornovski and are now boiling out towards a key series of ridges that overlook 
the German lines of communication in this sector.  Hurriedly gathered German units converge 
in an attempt to patch up the line and hold Hill 621 which is the key to the German defense in this sector.*
*
Aftermath:  The Germans briefly crystallized and held the Russian onslaught.  Field Marshall Model 
formed a regimental Kampfgruppe from remnants of the 4th, 5th, and 12th Panzer Divisions to 
counterattack the Russian breakthroughs, but there were too many brealthroughs and not enough 
Germans.  Desparately, he sent whatever armor remained to the last ditch fighting along the ridges 
that flanked the Stolbtsky highway.  Gradually one ridge after another was cleared by the Soviets.  
The remaining German mobile forces darted here and there in an attempt to stabilize one and then another 
of the ridges, but their efforts were too little, too late.  By July 2nd, both the ridges and the highway were Russian, 
and on July 3rd, the Soviets entered Minsk, the former headquarters of Army Group Center.*
*
Wild Bill's Raiders*
http://www.thegamers.net*

