05 December 2010

SOE7 - The last Stand

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 _______The Last Stand**
____Defence of Koenigsberg**


________German Defend
_____________vs.*
________Russian Attack**

_________Koenigsberg*
_________Ostpreussen*
_________6 April 1945*
__________0500 Hours*
___________20 Turns*
______SPWAW Version: 8.403*
________ENHANCED NL**

______Map and Scenario by*
_________Henk Neumann*


____HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:**
After a weeks long siege, on 6 April 1945 the Russians were determined to take the East Prussian capital Koenigsberg.**

The German defenders under command of General Lasch were not allowed to surrender. They had to hold the Festung Koenigsberg to the last man.**

When the whole city lay in ruins and thousands of refugees had to be taken care of, General Lasch did the right thing: he surrendered to the Russians.**

____Scenario Notes:**
General, hold the Russian hordes! Do not give up. The Oberkommando is sure that your forces will hold the Festung Koenigsberg!**


____Source:**
So Fiel Koenigsberg*
General Otto Lasch*
Motor Buch Verlag*
ISBN 3-613-02207-9**

SOE6 The Long Treck

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 _____STORM OVER EASTPRUSSIA 06*
__________The Long Treck**


__________Germany Defend*
________________vs*
___________USSR Assault**

__________Frische Nehrung,*
____________Ostpreussen*
__________10 January 1945*
____________0700 hours**

___________SPWAW 8.403*
___________ENHANCED NL**

________Best played as: GER*
_______Scenario Size: Medium*
_____________Turns: 35**

____________Version 2*


HISTORICAL NOTES*
For more than two million Eastprussians, the Frische Nehrung, a small piece of land between Koenigsberg and Gotenhafen, was the only way out of the most eastern parts of Germany before the onslaught of the Red Army. It led tens of thousands of refugees to death. Either by the freezing weather or by the relentless attacks by Soviet artillery, airplanes and tanks.*
For months the Nazi Gauleiter Koch and his followers had pushed the inhabitants to stay in their homes. They even forbade them to flee to safer places for fear of crushing morale. Only when the first shots of the Soviet artillery could already be heard, the panic hit and the Eastprussian exodus to the west began. Mostly women, children and old people tried to flee to safety with only their clothes and the few things they could carry - on foot or on horse carriages. Temperatures sank to minus 20 degrees Celtigrade. And there always was the fear that the frontline would catch up with them.**

SCENARIO NOTES*
You have to try your utmost to get the refugees across the Frische Nehrung to Danzig. The Soviets will try to hit the refugees with all they have. Buy them time - at all costs.**

While playing this scenario, you have two tasks. First and foremost, lead the treck with refugees and wounded from the left of the map via the small strip of land to the topside of the map. If you notice any soldiers in the treck of refugees, order them out and put them at your work in your frontline.*
The Frische Nehrung is surrounded by the frozen waters of the Frische Haff and the Ostsee. The ice is supposed to be almost one meter thick. In places, however, the layer is very, very thin. So be careful if you take your refugees off that tiny strip of land. Your second task is to defend the refugees with the available forces at the entrance to the Frische Nehrung. Use the first few turns to deploy them in such a way that they will provide the best cover for the streams of refugees from Ost Preussen.**

DESIGNER NOTES*
The story of the Eastprussian refugees has always intrigued me. Why, you might ask. Well it is very personal. But I will tell the story anyway. In January 1945 my grandmother, together with her three children, fled the little village of Nickelsdorf, situated slightly to the northeast of Koenigsberg. She fled all the way to Poland, where she was able to catch a boat to Bremen. The freezing cold on the long treck west was excruciating. Grandma, my father and my aunt reached Bremen in relatively good health. Her youngest son however died somewhere between Nickelsdorf and Bremen.**

This scenario is no fun in terms of normal playability. However, it gives you the opportunity to get an impression of the fear and the stone cold panic these refugees - and wartime refugees all over our world - have lived through on their long treck to relative safety. You will probably not be able to win this one. I hope, however, that you will appreciate the feelings I wanted to convey with this scenario.**

Sources:*
Die grosse Flucht, Guido Knopp*
So Fiel Koenigsberg, General Lasch*
Gustloff, ZDF Fernsehen*

SOE5 - Passarge River Tank Clash Reversed

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 _____Passarge River Tank Clash**

___Russian Assault - German Defend*
_________Near Passarge River*
_____________East Prussia*
_______0900 hrs 9 February 1945*
_____________Turns 40*
_______Scenario Size: Medium*
______Best played as Germany*
_____________C&C Off**

_______Design: Henk Neumann*
_______MADE FOR ENHANCED NL**


________SCENARIO NOTES:**
In February 1945 the Red Army had entered the eastern parts of the German Reich. Near the Passarge River in East Prusiia they encountered heavy resistance. The defenders occupied a heavily wooded area near the Passarge River. The Russians attacked time and again. Until at last they found the solution to this tactical problem. Can you find it too?**

___HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:**

WARNING: SPOILER!*

From "Krasnaja Svesda", USSR, 27 December 1946:**

"A good example of offensive operations of tanks in wooded terrain is the battle described below. The Germans, surrounded to the west of Koenigsberg, offered strong resistance. Their defensive position consisted of several lines of deep trenches  dug in the forest. This forest was defended by two infantry divisions, supportedby artillery, atnks and assault guns. All roads and lanes in the forest were under fire. The forest was full of men armed with Panzerfaueste. All intersections and main roads were mined. Tanks and self-propelled guns were emplaced at intersections and could, therefore, fire in several directions.**

The mission of our tanks and infantry was to clear the forest of the enemy, advancing in a northerly direction, parallel to the Passarge River. With the assistance of artillery, the enemy was pushed off the main line of resistance, and the tanks, advancing through the forest with the infantry, took possession of the road intersection northeast of the swamp.**

The scouts found that the enemy was defending all roads with the main body of his troops. The commander then moved his tanks along narrow lanes  and over the swamp. By doing so, the tanks, self-propelled guns and artillery of the enemy were bypassed and left on the road in the rear of the attacker. Fearing encirclement, the Germans withdrew their tanks, leaving on the road only machine guns and men armed with sub-machineguns. Against them we used a part of our tanks and self-propelled guns as well as 82-mm mortars".**

_________PLAYER NOTES:**
Hold the Russian onslaught at all costs! Take note that they could try to surround your forces in a pincer movement! Act accordingly!**

SOE4 - Storm Warning

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 ____________STORM OVER*
__________EASTPRUSSIA_04*
__________STORM WARNING**


_________German vs. USSR*
________Meeting Engagement*
___________Schlossberg*
______0800, 15 January, 1945*
_____________Turns: 25**
_______Best played as Germany**

_______Scenario size: Medium**
________SPWAW-version: 8.403**
__________ENHANCED FR-NL**


Historical Background:*
On the morning of 13 January 1945 the Third White Russian Front started its offensive against Eastprussia with a two hour long artillery bombardment from more than 350 batteries north of the road from Ebenrode to Gumbinnen. Around the town of Schlossberg lots of defensive battles raged. On 15 January strong Russian forces broke through south of Schlossberg. The city was lost.**

SCENARIONOTES:*
Hold the line south of Schlossberg at all costs! The Oberkommando counts on you to hold back Iwan!.**

DESIGNER NOTES*
As the German Kommandant, you have to defend your defensive line as long as possible. Though the Oberkommando counts on you to hold the line, I count on your good common sense to decide if the situation asks for the ultimate gift to your Fatherland or not. For that reason, around the end of the scenario an exit hex will appear.**

SOURCES:*
Tiger - Die Geschichte einer legendaeren Waffe 1942-1945;E. Kleine/V. Kuehn; pp 259-277*
Panzer Grenadier Division Grossdeutschland - A Pictorial History with Text & Maps - Specials series; Horst Scheibert; Squadron/Signal Publications (1993*
SS-Wiking: The History of the Fifth SS Division 1941-45; Rupert Butler; Spellmount Publishers Ltd*
Panzer Aces: German Tank Commanders in World War II; Stackpole Military History Series;Franz Kurowski*
Ostpreussen im Fegefeuer oder, Die letzten Tage am Frischen Haff;Emmerich Vondran*
In langer Reihe über das Haff;Patricia Clough*
So fiel Koenigsberg; Otto Lasch*

SOE3 Silberstreifen

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STORM OVER EASTPRUSSIA_03*
SILBERSTREIFEN**


German vs. USSR*
Meeting Engagement*
Krottingen, near Memel*
1245, 10 January, 1945*
Turns: 15**
Best played as Germany**

Scenario size: Small**
SPWAW-version: 8.403**
ENHANCED FR-NL**


Historical Background:*
The year 1944 and the defenders last respite came to an end. At the start of 1945 rumors started in the the bridgehead Memel that the defenders would be making a last push to Kurland and from there on to make a lasting connection again with Eastprussia. An action called Silberstreifen.**

SCENARIONOTES:*
On the morning of 10 January 1945 the Tiger tanks of the sPZAbt 502 rolled to their advanced positions right behind the primary front line of the 95th Infantry Division, General Gollnick rolled right up to the primary front line to lead the attack personally. During a short but intensive artillery and rocket bombardment around 1245 PM the pioneers began to destroy the first paths through the minefields.A short time later the main attack began. The orders for both platoons of the sPZAbt 502 were: Attack the town of Krottingen. Destroy the enemy presence in the town consisting of strong artillery and tank forces.**

DESIGNER NOTES*
As the German Kommandant, you have to break through the Russian lines and retake Krottingen. Mae good use of your available troops**

SOURCES:*
Tiger - Die Geschichte einer legendaeren Waffe 1942-1945;E. Kleine/V. Kuehn; pp 259-277*
Panzer Grenadier Division Grossdeutschland - A Pictorial History with Text & Maps - Specials series; Horst Scheibert; Squadron/Signal Publications (1993*
SS-Wiking: The History of the Fifth SS Division 1941-45; Rupert Butler; Spellmount Publishers Ltd*
Panzer Aces: German Tank Commanders in World War II; Stackpole Military History Series;Franz Kurowski*
Ostpreussen im Fegefeuer oder, Die letzten Tage am Frischen Haff;Emmerich Vondran*
In langer Reihe über das Haff;Patricia Clough*
So fiel Koenigsberg; Otto Lasch*

SOE2 - Tigers To The Rescue

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STORM OVER EASTPRUSSIA_02*
TIGERS TO THE RESCUE**


German Def vs. USSR Att*
Memel*
0700, 10 October, 1944*
Turns: 25**
Best played as Germany**

Scenario size: Medium**
SPWAW-version: 8.403**
ENHANCED FR**

______Historical Background:*
The last units of Heeresgruppe Nord were still pulling back as the Red Army attacked the 3rd Panzerarmee with three armies in  the morning of 5 October 1944 west of Schaulen.*
Strong tankunits and 29 infantrydivisions broke through the German front and created a gap of over 90 kilometres. On 10 October the Red Army reached the Baltic Sea at Polangen and at Proekuls, effectively surrounding the city of Memel and Armygroup North.**

SCENARIONOTES:*
On the morning of 10 October the most heavy Russian attack on Memel started. Artillery of all calibers all but quelched the frontlines and the outskirts of the city.*
Here the Memel Volkssturm, together with the 58th Infantry Division, the 7th Panzerdivision and the PzGD Grossdeutschland defended the city and fought back various vicious enemy attacks although they were themselves already very weakened by the relentless Soviet attacks.*
11 And 12 October saw new and even heavier attacks. Lots of bombs and grenades hit the city and the harbour again. All at once however the city gained assistance from the seaside. The LUETZOW an the PRINZ EUGEN assisted the hardpressed infantry and tank troops with their high caliber guns and gained them some breathing room.*
The defenders of Memel experienced the last German Stuka attacks. Major Rudel hit the Russian tanks hard with his fearless men. The sPzAbt 502 was put into action at several important points on the bridgehead.**

SPOILER:*
Their 13 Tigertanks destroyed 32 enemy tanks and lots of AT-guns.**
Bericht publiceren


SOURCES:*
Tiger - Die Geschichte einer legendaeren Waffe 1942-1945;*
E. Kleine/V. Kuehn; pp 259-277

SOE01 - Fateful Junction

STORM OVER EASTPRUSSIA_01*
FATEFUL JUNCTION**

German vs. USSR*
Meeting Engagement*
Korallischken, near Memel*
1200, 10 October, 1944*
Turns: 10**
Best played as Germany**

Scenario size: Small**
SPWAW-version: 8.403**
ENHANCED FR**

Historical Background:*
The last units of Heeresgruppe Nord were still pulling back as the Red Army attacked the 3rd Panzerarmee with three armies in  the morning of 5 October 1944 west of Schaulen.*
Strong tankunits and 29 infantrydivisions broke through the German front and created a gap of over 90 kilometres. On 10 October the Red Army reached the Baltic Sea at Polangen and at Proekuls, effectively surrounding the city of Memel and Armygroup North.**

SCENARIONOTES:*
After the Russians surrounded the city of Memel, Hitler declared the city a fortress city. In these circumstances the first Tiger tanks of the first company sPzAbt 502 arrived in the city.*
The company commander, Lt Bernd Nienstedt directly went to the commandpost to receive his orders. He was greeted by General Gollnick. His orders were to drive east of the city to hold off the Russian tank attack.*
Nienstedt drove his Tigers 1 km  southeast of Korallischken over the junction and started shooting on the Russian tanks, assisted by a 88Flak.**

DESIGNER NOTES*
As the German Kommandant, you have to hold the line at Korallischken. There are four Tiger Tanks on the road coming from Memel on the left side of the map. Make sure they reach the front-line asap to stem the Russian onslaught!**

SPOILER:*
In reality, between the Tiger company and the Flak about 10 Russian tanks were shot to pieces.**

SOURCES:*
Tiger - Die Geschichte einer legendaeren Waffe 1942-1945;E. Kleine/V. Kuehn; pp 259-277*
Panzer Grenadier Division Grossdeutschland - A Pictorial History with Text & Maps - Specials series; Horst Scheibert; Squadron/Signal Publications (1993*
SS-Wiking: The History of the Fifth SS Division 1941-45; Rupert Butler; Spellmount Publishers Ltd*
Panzer Aces: German Tank Commanders in World War II; Stackpole Military History Series;Franz Kurowski*
Ostpreussen im Fegefeuer oder, Die letzten Tage am Frischen Haff;Emmerich Vondran*
In langer Reihe über das Haff;Patricia Clough*
So fiel Koenigsberg; Otto Lasch*


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The Enhanced Forum
The Games Depot

Release of Storm Over Eastprussia NOW!!!

Well... The seven piece series depicting the battles in and around Eastprussia near the end of World war 2 is ready! There are four brandnew scenarios and three updated and revised scenarios. I'll publish all single scenarios and the complete series the SPWAW Depot, the Enhanced Forums and on the Games Depot. In my blogposts I'll link to all three places! Have FUN!

01 December 2010

SP:Civil War Mod Now Available!

The SP:Civil War Design Team
Kevin "FlashfyreSP" McFerren - Lead Design and Editor
Matt8683 - Graphics and Sound Engineer
NotAToy - Conceptual Design and Playtesting
JEBDavis - Conceptual Design and Playtesting


At the Steel Panthers Enhanced Forum has delivered a great new mod for Steel Panthers:World at War
the SP:Civil War Mod




This mod recreates the American Civil War period! Go and get it!

01 November 2010

UPDATE: Storm Over East Prussia

After a delay due to the refurbishing of my new house, the first two scenarios in this series are more or less ready! Good to be designing again! I hope to finish this series before the end of the year. It will cover battles from Lituania (Memel) to the fall of Königsberg in 1945. Most scenarios will be "Tiger-heavy"; so check back regularly for the last updates!

20 October 2010

Military Diorama's

If you like military (WW2) diorama's, check this site out! This guy has made some awesome WW2 diorama's. To rouse your appetite, here are some pics!





13 October 2010

Kerr Eby's Sketches of "Marines in Action"

Kerr Eby was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1889, the son of Methodist missionaries. The family returned to their native Canada in 1893, where he lived until his high school graduation. He then moved to New York City to study art. In World War I he served as a sergeant with the 40th engineers in France, and his sketches of scenes at Belleau Wood, Chateau- Thierry, Saint-Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne later formed the basis for his famous book War, published by Yale University Press in 1936.

In World War II he was accredited as a war artist- correspondent for Abbott Laboratories in 1943 and accompanied the Marines when they landed at Tarawa. During the next four months he became a familiar figure wherever the fighting was hardest in the South Pacific. While there, he contracted a tropical disease which weakened his health. He returned to the United States unable to resume his very active career. He died in 1946.

The following sketches are from the Naval History And Heritage Command website. Please visit them for more great works of artists from WW2 and many other times and areas of conflict.











American Paintings and Sketches

After the Russian and German WWII paintings and sketches, it is time to show some American ones. I'll start off with some from the European Theatre of war. In the next post I'll post some Pacific ones by the late Kerr Eby.