Return to Nepokrytaya*
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Series: 2nd Battle of Kharkov
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_Soviet Union*
_____vs.*
__Germany*

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Date: 14th of May, 1942*
1430 Hours*
Location: North-East of Kharkov*
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Designed By: Ts4EVER*
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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...
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Briefing: The 14th of May was a warm and sunny day. You are once again in command of Kampfgruppe Schmidt-Ott of the 3. Panzer-Division. After yesterday's counter attack, your unit is closing in on Nepokrytaya. This town had fallen to the enemy on the 12th and destroyed howitzers and English tanks in the streets tell stories about the desperate fighting that raged here. You are to seize the town from the Russians and drive them back across the Balka river. You have air support available and more tanks and motorized infantry from Kampfgruppe Schmidt-Ott will reinforce your spearhead later.
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The 226th Rifle Division has pulled back from Kharkov and has set up defences in Nepokrytaya. They might use their field artillery in an antitank role and are supported by 22nd Tank Corps.
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Historical Scenario, designed to be played as the Germans.
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POSSIBLE SPOILERS
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Historical outcome: The fighting for Nepokrytaya proved bloody and protracted. It took 3. Panzer-Division until 1730 to secure the town and beat the Russians back across the Balka river. It then reorganized for the next day, when it was supposed to prepare for an attack in support of the besieged defenders in Ternovaya.