Slaughter At Halbe

Some time ago I told you about the Book "Slaughter At Halbe" by Tony LeTissier about the annihilation of the German 9th Army in and near the town of Halbe. Ther will be one or more SP:WaW-scenarios forthcoming about this tragic episode. Although these will be published next year... ;-)

To give you some feeling about what happened in and near that little town near Berlin I'll include a five piece series from Youtube.

NEW ENH Scenario: Depot SAS Storms The Flak

Get it HERE!

My latest one in dedication to the SP:WaW Depot and it's members! Here's the story:

____Depot SAS Storming The Flak**

__French Assault - German Defend*
_________Near Westerbork*
_______Province of Drenthe*
___________Netherlands*
______0700 hrs 7 April 1945*
_____________Turns 20*
_______Scenario Size: Small*
_____________C&C Off**

_____Henk "Dutchiexx" Neumann*
_______Dutchiexx@spwaw.com*
_______MADE FOR ENH SPWAW**

______________Visit:*
__________www.spwaw.com*
_______________and*
____www.spwawfort.blogspot.com**

________SCENARIO NOTES:**

Take the milk factory and both V-Hexes. Be careful, because the Germans are expecting your visit.**

___HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:**

This scenario is loosely based on "Operatie Amherst", by R. Flamand and J.H.Jansen:**

"Most people know that the Netherlands were liberated by the Canadians, Poles, Americans and British in 1944 and 1945. Much less known is the fact that the French took part too in the liberation of the Netherlands. In the spring of 1945 more than 700 French paratroops fought in the Dutch province of Drenthe. These French forces were part of the famous British SAS (Special Air Service).**

They were dropped in the night from 7 - 8 April 1945 and had to prepare the way for the approaching Canadians by capturing bridges, airfields and roads.**


______DESIGNER NOTES**

Choose your side and fight it out with your Depot buddies!*
Have FUN!

Coming Up...

A brand new small, fast-action scenario, right on time for your Christmas Holidays! Check back!

A Merry Christmas to all SP:WaW enthusiasts and their loved ones!

Defiance

In January 2009 the movie Defiance about the partisan uprising by the Bielski brothers in the woods of Bjelorus will come out in the Netherlands.

I haven't yet heard anything about the movie, but am looking forward to this one after seeing the trailer. Seems to me like Daniel Craig is delivering one of his best performances. Here's the trailer:

NEW Scenario: Sneaky SAS In Westerbork

Here you can get my latest scenario. It plays in Holland in 1945 and it goes something like this:

Sneaky SAS At Westerbork**

French Assault - German Defend*

Westerbork, Province of Drenthe, the Netherlands*

1200 hrs 8April 1945*

Turns 20*

Scenario Size: Small*

Best played as French SAS*

C&C Off**

SCENARIO NOTES:**

Put the German General who has his command post in the Cafe Slomp out of action and take defensive positions while anticipating a possible German counterattack.**

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:**

From "Operatie Amherst", by R. Flamand and J.H.Jansen:**

"Most people know that the Netherlands were liberated by the Canadians, Poles, Americans and British in 1944 and 1945. Much less known is the fact that the French took part too in the liberation of the Netherlands. In the spring of 1945 more than 700 French paratroops fought in the Dutch province of Drenthe. These French forces were part of the famous British SAS (Special Air Service).**

They were dropped in the night from 7 - 8 April 1945 and had to prepare the way for the approaching Canadians by capturing bridges, airfields and roads.**

In the Dutch village of Westerbork the German General Boettcher, the head of the German Military Police forces in the Netherlands at the time, had his command post. The French paratroopers had information from the Dutch resistance that Boettcher could be apprehended."**

Have FUN!

Valkyrie Teaser

I'm looking forward to this one!

The Complete WIKING Series

Here you can find the complete Wiking Series, consisting of "Cossack Attack", "Wiking At The Mius", "Wiking At Malgobek" and "Wiking At Maciejow". The series is loosely based on the book "Wiking" by H. Kistemaker. Unfortunately it's only available as a Dutch language edition. Have FUN!

French SAS in Westerbork

Work on the first scen about French SAS troops in the Dutch province of Drenthe is commencing as planned. The way it looks right now, there will be two or three small scenario's with infantry battles. No kitty's to be found this time!

French SAS Troops In Drenthe (NL)

I've been reading the book 'Operatie Amherst' about the actions by French SAS Paratroopers in the Dutch province of Drenthe. 

Some of the operations depicted make for some great scenario ideas. Though they might differ from what has really happened, I am going to try and deliver at least one (but there might me more... ;-): the Battle for Westerbork. Check back!

NEW Scenario: Passarge River Tank Clash - 1945

ENHANCED Passarge River Tank Clash

_____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 USSR*
_____________C&C Off**


Design: Henk "Dutchiexx" Neumann*

________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?**

_________PLAYER NOTES:**
Push the enemy from the woods at all costs! For the Rodina!**


___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".**



Have FUN!

NEW Scenario: Wiking At Maciejow - 1944

Get the last part of the Wiking Series RIGHT HERE! The story goes like this:

_______Tank Battle In Maciejow**

___German Defend, Russian Assault*
_________Maciejow, Poland*
_______1000 hrs 7 July 1944*
_____________Turns 15*
_______Scenario Size: Small*
_______Best played as Germany*
_____________C&C Off**

Design: Henk "Dutchiexx" Neumann*
_______Dutchiexx@spwaw.com*
_____MADE FOR ENHANCED SPWAW**

______________Visit:*
__________www.spwaw.com*
_______________and*____
http://www.spwawfort.blospot.com/**

________SCENARIO NOTES:**

In July 1944 the Russian forces had chased the German troops from their Motherland. Heavy fighting took place in Poland.**

___HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:**

from "Wiking", by Henk Kistemaker:**

"Seventh and eight July 1944 were two days I'll never forget.After the Russian artillery fired an eneormous amount of smokegrenades on our positions, the enemy followed up with a very big tank attack. It must have been 400 to 500 tanks. Our positions were concealed, meaning that our tanks were positioned - for the mostpart - behind a hill. To the left of our position was a Finnish officer, Ola Ulli, who belonged to the 7th Kompanie. His tank lay in ambush and fired on the Russian column from that psoition. Then something amazing happened: the Russians kept moving toward the Finn, while we could hit them from the flank."**

_________PLAYER NOTES:**

Defend your VH against the Russian onslaught. Hals und Beinbruch!**

SOURCES:**

"Wiking", Henk Kistemaker**

Assault On East Prussia

Since part of my roots lay in East Prussia - my father was born there - I'm very interested in what happened in that little part of the world at the end of the Second World War. Here's a five piece movie series which was posted on Youtube with interviews and movies.

Assault On East Prussia, part 1, 9:58

Assault On East Prussia, part 2, 10:00

Assault On East Prussia, part 3, 9:49

Assault On East Prussia, part 4, 9:50

Assault On East Prussia, part 5, 9:55

Slaughter At Halbe

Here's the latest addition to my library. A birthday present from my wife and one of the books I've wanted to read for years. The storyline goes like this:

Operation 'Berlin', the Soviet offensive launched on 16 April, 1945, by Marshals Zhukov and Koniev, isolated the German Ninth Army and tens of thousands of refugees in the Spreewald 'pocket', south-east of Berlin. Stalin ordered its encirclement and destruction and his subordinates, eager to win the race to the Reichstag, pushed General Busse's 9th Army into a tiny area east of the village of Halbe. To escape the Spreewald pocket, the remnants of 9th Army had to pass through Halbe, where barricades constructed by both sides formed formidable obstacles and the converging Soviet forces subjected the area to heavy artillery fire. By the time 9th Army eventually escaped the Soviet pincers, it had suffered 40,000 killed and 60,000 taken prisoner. Teenaged refugees recount their experiences alongside Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS veterans attempting to maintain military discipline amid the chaos and carnage of headlong retreat. While army commanders strive to extricate their decimated units, demoralised soldiers change into civilian clothing and take to the woods. Relating the story day by day, Tony Le Tissier shows the impact of total war upon soldier and civilian alike, illuminating the unfolding of great and terrible events with the recollections of participants.

Operation Amherst - 1945

Almost everyone knows that the Netherlands were liberated by Canadians, Poles, Americans and English troops. Less known is the fact that French troops played a role in the Dutch liberation too.
'Operation Amherst' is a richly illustrated book (unfortunately only in Dutch) which describes the battles of more than 700 French troops in the Dutch province of Drenthe in the spring of 1945. These French troops were part of the famous British SAS (special air service).
In the night of 7 April they were dropped behind the German lines in Drenthe and had to prepare bridges, airports, etcetera for the advancing Canadian troops.
The author, who took part in the operation, describes the clashes with the German troops and the role of the local people.

NEW Scenario: Wiking At Malgobek - 1942

_______Assault On Malgobek**


___German Assault, Russian Defend*
________Malgobek, Russia*
_____0700 hrs 5 octobre, 1942*
_____________Turns 30*
_______Scenario Size: Medium*
_______Best played as Germany*
_____________C&C Off**


Design: Henk "Dutchiexx" Neumann*
_______Dutchiexx@spwaw.com**

_____MADE FOR ENHANCED SPWAW**


________SCENARIO NOTES:**

In Octobre 1942 the German forces reached the Kaukasus. Malgobek, a relatively small town situated in a valley in the Kaukasus mountains, was a keypoint in the oil pipeline running north to south. And therefore a strategically important place for the Germans as well as for the Russians.**

___HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:**

from "Wiking", by Henk Kistemaker:**

"Nothing good was waiting for us. A General addressed us and explained the situation. Somewhere in the vicinity was a town called Malgobek. This is a Chechen name I will never forget. This town was a keypoint in the oil pipeline running north to south. Whoever took this town would possess the pipeline. The General told us that the Wehrmacht had tried to take the village several times. They were not howver able totake it. We, together with a Finnish battalion, had to finnish this job.**

"From our Kompanie of around 200 fighting troops, thirty had died and 130 were wounded. Only forty men were left."**

_________PLAYER NOTES:**

Take Malgobek and all V-Hexes. You have plenty of hardware available. But be careful. This town is as important to the Russians as it is to you!**

SOURCES:**

"Wiking", Henk Kistemaker**

ENH Wiking At Malgobek

NEW Scenario: Wiking At Mius - 1941

_______Massacre At The Mius**
___German Defends Russian Assault*
________near Isjun, Russia*
_____0200 hrs 6 Decembre, 1941*
_____________Turns 30*
_______Scenario Size: Medium*
_______Best played as Germany*
_____________C&C Off**
Design: Henk "Dutchiexx" Neumann*
_______Dutchiexx@spwaw.com**
_____MADE FOR ENHANCED SPWAW**
________SCENARIO NOTES:**
In Decembre of the year 1941 the German armies reached their farthest points of advance during their attack on Russia. They literally stood at the gates of Moscow.**

They were not, however, equipped for the harsh Russian winter. The Russians who were well equipped for winter warfare, seized the opportunity and attacked over the whole front. Shoving the Germans back from Mother Russia bit by bit.**

At the river Mius near the town of Isjun lay elements of the SS-Wiking Division on a strategically important hill.**

___HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:**

from "Wiking", by Henk Kistemaker:**

"These were the hardest days we had experienced yet. Our positions were situated at the front of a hill. We were shot at heavily by Russian artillery, mortars, machineguns and tanks. Our Schuetze 5 had a nervous breakdown, caused by the relentless artillery bombardment. By nightfall he was brought behind the lines. I never saw him again. In the meantime the Russians kept attacking our entrenchments. Every attack could be repelled however. In front of our lines lay lots of dead Russians"**

_________PLAYER NOTES:**

Hold this hill at all costs! Your defenses are bolstered by a firebrigade consisting of a few Panzer IIIs and some StuGs with their accompanying Panzergrenadiers. Use them wisely!**

SOURCES:**
"Wiking", Henk Kistemaker**


Get the scenario here:
http://spwaw.com/phpBB2/download.php?id=19706

Have FUN!

Battle For Budapest - 1944-1945

I bought this one during my last visit in London.

The battle of Budapest (December 1944 to February 1945) was one of the longest and bloodiest city sieges of the Second World War. From the appearance of the first Soviet tanks on the outskirts of the capital to the capture of Buda Castle, 102 days elapsed. In terms of human trauma, it comes second only to Stalingrad, comparisons to which were even being made by soldiers, both German and Soviet, fighting at the time. This definitive history covers their experiences, and those of the 800,000 non-combatants around whom the battle raged. Makes use of a wealth of fresh historical evidence locked until recently in the secret archives of Russia and eastern Germany...the result is excellent scholarship and gripping reading.

Links, Links, Links...

For all your WWII Links and Reviews, visit Max von Mad's WWII Repository! A great source!

ENH Cossack Attack

Have fun with this little fast play scenario! The first in a NEW series based on the book 'Wiking' by H. Kistemaker.





______________Wiking01*
___________Cossack Attack**

__________Germany Defend*
________________vs*
___________USSR Assault**

________Somewhere in Russia*
__________Septembre 1941*
____________0500 hours**

___________SPWAW 8.403*
_________ENHANCED DV 2008**

________Best played as: GER*
_______Scenario Size: small*
_____________Turns: 12**

____________Version 1*
___________Designed by:*
______Henk Dutchiexx Neumann**

______________Visit*
__________www.spwaw.com*
_______________And*
____www.spwawfort.blogspot.com**

HISTORICAL NOTES*
From Wiking by H. Kistemaker, p. 43-44*
Far away I saw a colosal cloud of dust. Nothing special for Russia under normal circumsances, because most road consist of treaded grass or clay. If it was a clay road, dust would fly up, at least if the clay was dry. I went to my group leader who already was awake and attended him on this faraway cloud of dust.*
In the meantime everybody was wide awake and was looking at the approaching dustcloud. Suddenly a red signal went up in the air, shot by the infantry in front of us. Right after that a green flare went up; the situation was dangerous! Red means 'the enemy attacks' and green means 'need artillery assistance'. Far away we heard a sound as if a herd of elephants was coming right at us. It was Russian Cavalry with between 500 and 600 horses!**

SCENARIO NOTES*
Hold off the Russian attack!**

Have FUN!*

Link to Wake Island Map

Here ya go!

Wake Island

Stopped work on Wake...

Since I couldn't get the scenario to work in the way I wanted.... I gave up and started something else, which you'll see in the next post!

I spent quite a lot of time on the map for Wake Island, so I'll publish it separately! Link will be provided!

Design Break

As you might have noticed, I'm 'working' on two scenario ideas. But, alas, nothing's showing yet. That's right... I'm on a little 'designbreak' right now, due to work partly. But mostly due to the European Soccer Championship! So I hope you'll bear with me and cheer for the Dutch team!

NEW East Front Scenario

While working on the Wake scenario, I'm also working on another little Eastern Front scenario. It will be infantry-cavalry heavy. Working title is the Cossack Attack. I'll keep you posted!

Wake Update 2

Started on the definitive scenariodesign while on a business trip. Still tweaking and changing... and changing again!

By the way: It's based on the book 'Given Up For Dead'. Definitely a must-read if you are interested in this little known piece of WWII history!

Wake Update

Finished the map yesterday evening. Looks quite different than the screens in my earlier post. Now it's down to the battle design. I'll keep you posted!

Wake Island Screenshots

Here are the first few screenshots of the Wake Island map. Mind you, the final version might be different...

Wilkes Island


Peale Island


Peale Island


Wake Island


Channel between Wilkes and Wake Island

Wake Island

Finally the map is looking like the real thing! Still tweaking here and there. That will take a few days, and then... on to designing the Battle For Wake Island.

Am still in doubt if I'll try to make it as historically correct as possible. Could be that I'll make it more or less historical for playabilities sake, due to the ingame limitations...

I'll keep you posted!

Scenariolinks

Just started working on the links to my ENHANCED scenarios. The first few Western Front scenarios are already posted on the right side of this blog. Have FUN!

Setback..

Well, I started work on the Wake Island map yesterday evening. But didn't spent time enough on my homework before I began... So, I ended up with too little room to finish the whole map consisting of the three islands that make up Wake.

So, that means I'll just get up, shake off the dust... and start again. I'll keep you posted!

Next Scenario Stop....

The Alamo In The Pacific! Wake Island!

Ready!!!

Finally.... Here's the Leningrad To Berlin Series for you. Just follow the link and enjoy!

http://www.mediafire.com/?umi1tbsttmt

Taking back Witino
Germany Assault vs USSR Defend
Near Witino, USSR
14 January 1944
0700 hours

SPWAW 8.403
ENHANCED DV 2008

Best played as: GER
Scenario Size: Medium
Turns: 20

HISTORICAL NOTES
The Soviet bombardment starts at 0935 near the Oranienbaumkessel. The guns roar without pause. In less than an hour no less than 104000 grenades were hurled at the front of the III SS Korps. The Soviet attacks are succesfull. It is clear that panic has seized German troops. Wo bleibt unsere Artillerie? Wir brauchen Verstaerkung. Unsere Verlusste sind schrecklig. General Steiner acts. While the Soviet infantry has already reached their third line of defense, he launches a counterattack. The German artillery opens fire on the Soviets just in time for the first German units to start their attack. The Dutch legionnairs do their part in this attack. Their Kampfgruppe attacks the village of Witino and succeeds in recapturing it from the Soviets. One week long the Kampfgruppe is in the midst of the battle along the road from Leningrad to Narva.

Tankdrama before Leningrad

Tankdrama before Leningrad
Germany Defend vs USSR Assault
Near Leningrad, USSR
30 January 1943, 1100 hours

SPWAW 8.403
ENHANCED DV 2008

Best played as: GER
Scenario Size: Medium
Turns: 20

HISTORICAL NOTES
At daybreak the Dutch legionnairs notice a buildup of Soviet troops. About ten tanks with accompanying infantry leaves the woods opposite the Dutch positions and strats to advance. The 14th Kompanie rings the alarm. The AT-gun commanded by Mooymans hits the first tank. The second tank turns away directly, but the Dutch AT-gun turns around and shoots grenade after grenade. Again they hit a Soviet tank... Only when four Soviet tanks are burning the Soviets turn around and hide. Sooner or later the Soviet tanks have to to leave their positions again. The Dutchmen have to wait for just half an hour...

Favorite books and movies

If you click on one of the pictures of the books or movies on the right side of this blog you could be surprised, because you will be 'beamed' via a pop-up to the site of Bol.Com for more details about the item. If you like the book or movie, you can order it right away. Bol.Com is an internet store with very reasonable prices... and can be trusted to deliver within the period they describe on their site.

Scenario Update...

I'm still working on the last scenario of the LTB series. I'm seriously thinking about adding some more, based on the Wiking-Book by mr. Kistemaker. I'll keep you posted!

I'll post the story lines and screenshots of the scens that are ready in a short while. So bear with me for a little while longer while I'm completing the series. As soon as it's ready I'll post the downloadlinks for the whole series as well as for 'loose' scenarios.

Pocket At Lake Fuhowga

Pocket At Lake Fuhowga

Germany Assault vs USSR Defend
Near lake Fuhowga, USSR
25 May 1942

1100 hours

SPWAW 8.403
ENHANCED DV 2008

Best played as: GER

Scenario Size: Medium
Turns: 20

HISTORICAL NOTES
At the end of May 1942 the Legion was able to take its share in the victory at the Wolchow River. A Russian Unit was surrounded near Lak Fuhowga. Third Kompanie is sent out to deliver their blow in the annihilation of this Russian unit. In the woods to the northwest of the lake the first skirmish takes place. The Legionaires hesitate, but their commanding officer stands fast. The Legionaires gather their courage and rush into the battle. Their CO is hit by two bullets, one of which is lodges in his ribs. Notwithstanding his wounds he stays at his position for two more hours leading his troops before he is finally transported to a field hospital. The III/Nederland comes to the rescue and together with parts of the 285th Sicherungsdivision, the Wanke Regiment and the Panzer Eingreif Batallion 203 the Russians are pushed back at the logroad Gluchaja-Nowaja-Kerestj.

Defense At Pjatilipy

Defense At Pjatilipy
Germany Defend vs USSR Assault
Near Pjatilipy, USSR
4 April 1942
0600 hours

SPWAW 8.403
ENHANCED DV 2008

Best played as: GER
Scenario Size: Medium
Turns: 20

HISTORICAL NOTES

A real crisis befell the Dutch Legion when on 4 April 1942 at 0600 hours the Russians strted a major attack. In a short time some 1000 grenades of different calibres rained down on the Dutch SS-Legionairres. This artillery barrage ws followed by an infantry-attack by about 300 Russian soldiers. The attack was brought to a standstill by concentrated fire from the Dutch bunkers.
Right after the last Russian attack, the Dutch legion answers with a small Stosstrupp attack commanded by Tillmann.

Ambush At Gusi

Ambush At Gusi
Germany Defend vs USSR Assault
Road to Pjatilipy, USSR
2 February 1942

1100 hours

SPWAW 8.403
ENHANCED DV 2008

Best played as: GER

Scenario Size: Small
Turns: 12

HISTORICAL NOTES
The Dutch soldiers are tired from the long voyage east and all the new impressions during the trip. They do not have the faintest idea about the situation at the front. Even the German leadership sees that another marchwould be too much for the fresh troops. But the Dutch volunteers are needed right at that moment, because of the Soviet attack in the direction of Jeglino. On 2 February the leadership organises a few motorcycles and some trucks. The journey through the snowfilled country is very slow and tedious. The distance between the vehicles becomes ever larger. The young and inexperienced soldiers do not care. It seems that the cold is their only enemy. Until they they are near Gusi. All at once gun and mortarfire is heard.

Finally Ready... Almost

All 'Leningrad To Berlin' scens - except one - are ready! In the next posts I'll give you a taste of what you can expect. You can even look forward to some screens!

Dutch Volunteers On The Eastern Front - Part 3

Well, I've finished the first six scenarios of the series today! Naturally I didn't do them all on one day; it took a few days to finish them. To give you a hint at what you can expect:

• Infantry against infantry action
• A heavy defensive AT action
• Capturing and defending a Russian village; Tiger action
• Defending from an assault from sea

If this isn't enough yet.... there's more to follow!

Dutch Volunteers On The Eastern Front - Part 2

Well, today I finally brought myself to write down all 'scenarioworthy' passages from the books 'Van Leningrad Tot Berlijn ' and 'Wiking'. They sum up to a grand total of 12 possible scenarios. Most probably they will be put into a series, because some will be infantry-only or tank-only scenarios which play in a variety of places from the Leningrad region to a city in Chechnya... Makes it kinda hard to work it all out in one storyline, which I would need for a campaign.

Scenario- and Campaign Download Locations

If the scenario's, campaigns and maps that go with the free version of SP:WaW (... and there are loads of them!) are not enough for you, don't be down! There are a few great sites where the best designers available present their scenarios, campaigns and maps to the public.

You can find lots of scenarios, campaigns and maps at the SP:WaW Depot's Forum , at the Steel Panthers Enhanced Forum and at the Games Depot at Wargamer.Com .

Though you'll find my scenarios at these sites, you'll find them first in this blog. So check regularly!

NEW Books

I've bought two new works during my last business trip. Thought I'd share my thoughts on them.

Warsaw 1944 - The Rising by Norman Davies
This is the definitive account on one of the most dramatic episodes in twentieth-century history. Mr. Davies spotlights sixty-three days in 1944 when the Wehrmacht crushed the Polish Resistance in Warsaw, slaughtered thousands and destroyed the city.

Absolute War by Chris Bellamy
There have been many individual accounts of particular moments in the vicious war between Germany and the Soviet Union, but none which sets out to tell the full and dreadful story of that absolute war: absolute because both sides aimed to 'exterminate the opponent, to destroy his political existence' and total because it was fought by all elements of society, not simply the armed forces, but civilians - men, women, children - too. This book benefits from mr. Bellamy's remarkable insight into strategic issues as well as exhaustive research in hitherto unopened Russian archives. It is the definitive study of what the Soviets called - and what their fifteen successor states still call - the Great Patriotic War.

Dutch Volunteers in SS-Divisions

After reading the books Van Leningrad Tot Berlijn by Perry Pierik and Wiking - Een Nederlandse SS-er Aan Het Oostfront by Henk Kistemaker I've decided to start working on a new series which will depict scenes from both books. The scenarios will be mixed infantry and armoured ones. I'll keep you posted on the progress.


Both authors write about the very controversial theme of Dutch collaboration with the Germans during the Second World War. Pierik gives a thorough study of the backgrounds of the Dutch volunteer forces under German command whereas Kistemaker writes about his own live as a volunteer in the SS Division Viking. For history buffs both works are commendable. It's a pity though that both books are only available in Dutch.

WELCOME!

WELCOME to Dutchiexx's SP:WaW Fort!

Steel Panthers: World at War or SP:WaW is a tactical wargame about the Second World War. The game is based on a hex-based, top-down view, "I go, you go" or IGOUGO gamedesign. It also has a ´timed play´ feature.

Tanks, artillery and other vehicles are shown as individual units. Infantryplatoons kan hold up to 25 men. Even the smallest details are realistically depicted. The maps look very realistic and the designers have done their utmost to make them historically correct. Besides all this, the gamers have a scenario editor, a map editor and many other utilities at their disposal.

You will find links to my latest scenario's, maps and scenariolists for Steel Panthers: World at War in this blog. I will also keep you up to date about my latest plans for scenario's and maps. Please post your reactions and suggestions, I'm looking forward to them!