Bloody Dawn*
*
Series: 2nd Battle of Kharkov
*
_Soviet Union*
_____vs.*
__Germany*

*
Date: 13th of May, 1942*
0730 Hours*
Location: North-East of Kharkov*
*
Designed By: Ts4EVER*
*
Background 2nd Battle of Kharkov: Following the successful winter offensives in 1941, Stalin was keen to keep the pressure on the enemy, hoping to preempt another assault on Moscow with his own offensive. He was especially in favor of going on the offensive in the Kharkov sector, the city having fallen to the enemy in the summer of 1941. The attack was to be undertaken by the South-West-Front in a pincer movement, from the Barvenkovo salient and the Stariy Saltov bridgehead. Once massed artillery had broken through the German line, mobile group would be fed into the breaches to encircle AOK6 and reconquer Kharkov. However, due to supply issues, especially with artillery ammunition, as well as the undetected presence of German mobile reserves, the plan soon proved ill-advised...
*
*
Briefing: The second day of the Soviet offensive has just dawned. You are in command of a rifle battalion of the 175th. Rifle Division. Yesterday evening your forces managed to encircle the German Stuetzpunkt at Varvarovka, which is held by a small force of about 200 Germans from the 79. Infanterie-Division. A strong German counterattack prevented further progress, but today your units are ready for the final assault on Varvarovka.*
Clear the strongpoint of German troops by launching a concentric attack against the dug-in German. You have additional machine-guns, artillery and air support available. Tanks from the 84th tank brigade are in the process of moving westwards and some might support your attack later. After taking Varvarovka, our forces will envelop the village of Ternovaya to the east, which is believed to be held by Germans in regimental strength.
*
*
The force holding the village consists of about 200 Germans. They might have some mortars and guns in support. If we push them hard, they could very well attempt to break out of our encirclement by attacking towards the west.
*
*
Historical Scenario, designed to be played as the Russians.
*
*
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
*
*
Historical outcome: The village of Varvarovka was overrun by Soviet forces early on the 13th of March. The Russians advanced west next, in an effort to also encircle the more substantial strongpoint at Ternovaya, which was held by Kampfgruppe Grüner. A skillful delaying action kept the Russians from enveloping the village and the Soviets decided to bypass it instead, leaving it as a thorn in their rear in the days to come.