Historical Background:
By the end of August 1942, Army Group South (B) reached the Volga, north of Stalingrad. In a matter of days, 4th Panzer Army, with the 29th Motorized Division in the lead, headed for the river south of the city, effectively trapping Lieutenant General Chuikov and the men and women of the 62nd Army. Stalin’s order of July 27 - “Not a step back!” - was no longer just an obligation but a necessity, and its slogan “There is no land behind the Volga!” the harsh reality that now faced all of the city’s inhabitants.
Having witnessed firsthand on the Russian steppe the devastating effectiveness of German Blitzkrieg tactics, Chuikov turned the carpet-bombing of the city to his advantage. Anchoring his defense lines in bombed-out buildings that overlooked strategically important streets and squares, he ordered Soviet troops to “hug the enemy”. Always keeping the front lines as close to the Germans as physically possible, often a mere floor or door frame away, he successfully negated much of the Germans’ firepower and combined arms superiority. At such close range, German infantry soon found themselves forced to fight on their own; or risk taking casualties from their own close air and artillery support! Key landmarks, such as the South Railway Station - which changed hands 14 times in 6 hours; and the Grain Elevator - where combat raged for weeks, became part of history. A year later, the city’s defenders were collectively recognized for their courage with the gift of a ceremonial broadsword whose etching reads: “To the steel-hearted citizens of Stalingrad - the gift of King George VI - in token of the homage of the British people.”
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.
Briefing:
Axis Player
[Germany]
Take 10 Command cards.
You move first.
Allied Player
[Soviet Union]
Take 9 Command cards.
Conditions of Victory:
17 Medals.
The Central Station, South Station, Red Square and 2 Railroad bridges on the Allied baseline are Temporary Medal Objectives for the Axis forces.
The 5 hill and 2 forest hexes of Mamayev Kurgan form a Temporary Majority Medal Objective worth 1 Medal for whoever controls it. The Soviet player is in control of it at the start of the battle.
The 8 factory hexes of the Saw Mill, Red October, Red Barricades & Tractor Factories form a Temporary Majority Medal Objective worth 2 Medals for whoever controls the most of them.
Special Rules:
Combat rules are in effect.
Blitz Rules are in effect (Actions 15 - Blitz Rules). In addition, the Allies, like the Axis, roll only 1d per hex when playing an Air Power Command card.
Russian Overlord Command rules are in effect for the Allied player (Nations 2bis Overlord - Red Army).
Place a badge on the 6 German elite Infantry units (Troops 2 - Specialized Units).
The gullies running through both the left and right flanks of the city are Balkas (Terrain 65 - Balkas).
Many of Stalingrad’s named city landmarks had received extensive damage from the Luftwaffe prior to the advance of German ground forces. Play them like the hexes used to represent them however (ie Barracks & Factory hexes play like a Town), rather than as City ruins; in Overlord play, this conforms remarkably well to the difficulties of urban combat both armies experienced.
Many city landmarks are protected by sandbags. Use Hedgehogs as stand-in pieces, if necessary.
Air Rules are not in effect. The Air Sortie cards are set aside and are not used in this mission.
Scenario link
Setup Photo:
My first Overlord scenario was a good experience. We played it two players and I took axis side and my opponent took allies. Axis advanced in the center and left sections and soon cleared all resistance and destroy the soviet armor that lunched a counterattack in allies’ right flank. The battle of the hills was more bloody. Allies threw all their reserves into the battle and temporary stopped the German advance but then axis became more concentrated in their right section. They lunch more attacks there and took South Station. Allies counterattacked the axis’ unit in the South Station but only reduced it down to 1 figure. Axis then destroy the counterattacking soviet infantry and easy won the game at the score of 17-6.
End Photo:
Hills are captured
South Station is captured:
For the second game we changed sides and began the battle. Axis use the strategy fire from distance and caused losses but lost many units (due to allies very lucky dice rolls) and an allied tank unit was counterattacking on allies left flank and The Germans lost 3 units until they eliminated the armor unit. In this time allied reserve units withdrew in factories and took control over them and receieved 2 medals. Axis then began to concentrate on their right flank offensive but they advanced little and suffered enormous losses. Allied sent one of its armor units to recapture the hills and they did that and score one medal. But then axis attacked with infantry and, with very good dice rolls tide the Russians at the score of 15-15. But allies then score two medals and won the game at the score of 17-15.
End Photo:
Hills are still under Allied control:
Conclusion: If you want to play an urban scenario this one isn’t a good choice. I think that the authors were concentrating on the first days of German offensive and the battle rarely is fought in the main town. I will play soon Rats In A Factory and I hope that scenario will have more urban combat.
If you played this scenario please share your experience
.