German Attack - Soviet Defense*
Halbe, Germany*
1800 hrs April 28, 1945*
Turns 20*
Scenario Size: Small**
Design: Henk "Dutchiexx" Neumann*
Dutchiexx@spwaw.com**
MADE FOR ENHANCED**
SCENARIO NOTES:**
After two unsuccesfull tries, on the night of April 28 the Germans tried another mass breakout from around Halbe. They managed to break through the 50th Guards Rifle Division and created a corridor from Halbe to the west but they paid a very high price. During the 28th and 29th the Soviets reinforced the flanks and attacked from the south poring in Katyusha rockets and shells concentrating on the area around the Halbe.*
By this time the Germans were spread over a wide area. The rearguard was at Storkow and the vanguard had linked up with the 12th Army at Beelitz. There were large groups around Halbe. The Soviet battle plan was to split the caterpillar into segments and then destroy each segment individually. The German battle plan was to continue moving west as fast as possible keeping the corridor open.*
The situation in Halbe was desperate for the Germans, orders were still being issued to recognisable formations, but these were by now all mixed up. There was considerable tension between Waffen-SS and Wehrmacht soldiers with both accusing the other of helping their own comrades while ignoring the plight of the other. In Halbe itself some of the civilians took pity on very young solders "kindersoldaten" and allowed them to change out of their uniforms into civilian clothes.*
In one documented case an SS man appeared at the door of a cellar intending to shoot a Panzerfaust into a cellar with about 40 civilians and young Wehrmacht soldiers in it, only to be shot dead by one of the soldiers.*
During the following days, the fighting became more and more confused. If the Germans came into contact with Soviet forces and overran a Soviet position, the Soviets counter-attacked not only with ground forces but with artillery and aircraft. Losses on both sides were very high. By the time the fighting was over, (around the end of April, begining of May), about 25,000 German soldiers had managed to escape to join up with the 12th Army on the eastern side of Reichstrasse 2 the road running north south through Beelitz.*
Although this was the end of the battle it was not the end of the breakout. The 12th and 9th Armies remnants then fought a fighting retreat westwards towards the Elbe so that they could surrender to the Americans.**
PLAYER NOTES:**
Your mission is to break through the Soviet defense line In Halbe. You have to open a corridor to the west.**
