Berling's Landing (Dutch Open 2018)

Historical Background:
Mid September the 1st Polish Army joined the fight. These were men from General Zygmunt Berling’s forces, originally from the Polish Army of 1939, who had decided to join the communists rather than continue the fight with British.

The morning of 16-sept-44, the first units of the 1st Polish Army crossed over to Czerniakow Gorny south of Poniatowski Bridge, controlled by the insurgents of LTC “Radoslaw”. On the 19th Berling ordered more troops to cross the Vistula. They crossed under fire but managed to establish a beachhead between the two destroyed bridges.

As more troops crossed the river, they tried to dislodge the Germans who had taken up fortified positions, one of them the Muzeum Narodowe, that was looted by the Gestapo.

The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.
Briefing:
Allied player [Armia Krajowa, First Polish Army]: 5 command cards, you move first.
Axis player [Germany: 5 command cards.
Conditions of Victory:
6 medals

Actions 32: Bridge control rules are in effect for the roadblock, this is a Temporary Objective for the Allied player.

Museum Naradowe is a Temporary Objective for both players.
The German players starts with this medal)
Special Rules:

  • 1st Polish Army (Polish soldier who fought alongside the Russians) are represented by Russians.
  • The Green Battle stars represent sewers: Armia Krajowa infantry may move from sewer to empty sewer as full move and still battle. Units moving onto hex not using the sewer treat the hex as normal . The 1st Polish Army cannot use the sewers.
  • Airpower card for the allied player: 1d per hex (instead of 2d).
  • Actions 16: The Polish players gets two camouflage tokens. Special rule: Before drawing cards Camouflage tokens that are not in use may be placed on AK-units: during setup or after after playing a Recon 1.
  • Armia Krajowa troops are represented by thepolish shield and only three figures, they play like French Resistance (We played them that way also at the Dutch open.)
  • Troops 10 - Sniper: The single man marked with a Russian sniper badge is a polish sniper
  • SWA 6 - Mortar Late War
  • SWA 7 - Machine Gun Late War
  • Terrain 40 - Road Block
  • Vistula River is fordable Terrain 61 - Fordable streams
    Scenario link

Setup Photo:


After a brake for Sword Of Stalingrad and for Rats In A Factory I have returned at the last Dutch Open 2018 scenario. For the first game I took axis side and my opponent took allies. Allies started the advance and eliminated 3 axis units because axis hadn’t cards. But then allies wanted to eliminate the axis’ mortar unit two times and they were destroyed all times. After that allies using the sewers came close to museum but my defence was strong and I quickly eliminated them. After that axis attacked in their left flank and took positions near Vistula River but an allied close assault eliminated one unit and allies won the game at the score of 6-5.
End Photo:

For the second game we changed sides and began the battle. Allies started to clear the axis’ defence and brought the 1st Polish army in the action. Axis tried desperate counterattacks but they were surrounded and eliminated. Allies came close to museum but ran out of cards in center and started to play cards in their left. But axis played cards on that section too and weak 2 allies units down to 1 figure. Then allies reduce one axis unit down to 1 figure. Axis tried to destroy one of the 1 figure units but they couldn’t. Next turn allies tried to destroy the axis’ one figure unit bot the luck wasn’t on their side. Then axis again attacked the two allied units which were down to 1 figure but the result was a tank and a flag at the both rolls. Next turn allies again tried to eliminate axis unit and finally eliminated it. Axis then brought his armor in the center and wanted to attack the allied units in that section but a barrage destroyed it and allies won at the score of 6-2.
End Photo:

Conclusion: A good scenario and I think the best strategy for axis is to bring their armor in the center. Have you got any ideas? Share them.
If you played this scenario please share your experience.