Fortress Ternovaya*
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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: Yesterday morning the outpost at Varvarovka was taken by the Russians. Kampfgruppe Gruener, the regimental sized unit holding the strongpoint at Ternovaya, spent the rest of the 13th fighting desperate delaying actions against the 169th and 175th Rifle Divisions, managing to delay the encirclement of their position until the evening. Frustrated, the Russians advanced their 2 divisions westwards towards Kharkov. Instead they brought up their second-echelon 38th Rifle Division, in order to contain and possibly destroy the strongpoint. You play as Oberstltn. Gruener. You have a depleted regiment of infantry, supported by an artillery battery and a small tank company. The Luftwaffe has dropped ammunition canisters all around the town, which you will have to collect and bring to the units that need them. Heavy bombers have also been launching strikes on reported Russian concentrations.
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The Russians have enveloped your unit and can attack you from any direction. One of your Infanterie-Kompanies and your tanks are placed in reserve and should be moved to threatened sectors. The Russian division appears understrength and has no tank support.
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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: With only 2 regiments at its disposal and no tank support, the 38th Rifle Division's assault failed completely. Lacking the strength to eliminate Kampfgruppe Gruener, they instead chose to contain the strongpoint behind their lines. Little did they know that Kampfgruppe Schmidt-Ott was getting ready to break through to their encircled comrades...