COUNTERATTACK ON THE VISTULA

NEAR WOLA CHODKOWSKA, POLAND, AUGUST 6, 1944: As the Soviet 8th Guards Army was expanding its

bridgehead on the Vistula they met with stiff German resistance. Using the Hermann Goering Division, which had just

been brought up from Warsaw as a lead, the Germans mounted a number of counterattacks in an effort to eliminate

the Soviet bridgehead. After six repeated German attacks failed to achieve the needed breakthrough, a seventh

assault was readied, supported by King Tiger tanks.

The German tanks moved right up to the Russian positions and fired at point-blank range. With few heavy anti-tank

weapons available, the riflemen countered with grenade bundles, mines and captured Panzerfausts left behind by

retreating German troops. The Guardsmen found they were no match for the combined arms assault and called for

support which arrived in the form of heavy tanks. By the end of the day the Germans had again been stopped but

with each side suffering heavy losses.

YOUR ORDERS

GERMAN: You lead a Kampfgruppe of the Hermann Goering Division, consisting of a company of Panzergrenadiers

and two King Tiger tanks. Use these armoured monsters to drive the Russians back towards the Vistula, and

eliminate the Soviet bridgehead which is threatening our defensive lines.

SOVIET: The 220th Rifle Regiment, of the 79th Rifle Division, 8th Guards Army has seen a lot of hard fighting since the

start of Operation Bagration. Your numbers are dwindling but your orders are firm. We have managed to achieve a

bridgehead across the Vistula which must be held in preparation for the next offensive towards the fascist homeland.

PREPARING FOR BATTLE

1. Set up the terrain using the map as your guide.

2. Place the two objectives (A & B) as identified on the map. All objectives are at least 12” away from each

table edge.

3. Deploy the Soviet on-table starting forces in their deployment area. The 57mm anti-tank gun may be

deployed as an independent team or attached to one of the Udarny Strelkovy companies.

4. Four Soviet infantry teams may be allocated captured Panzerfausts, and four may be allocated improvised

AT weapons. The Strelkovy teams fire Panzerfausts with a +1 to hit modifier, as they are unfamiliar with the

captured weapons. Assaults with either of these weapons work as normal.

5. The Soviet player begins the game in prepared positions.

6. The Hermann Goering Kampfgruppe advances on to the table from the west edge on the first turn. The

company transport teams may be attached to the company HQ or to any of the PanzerGrenadier platoons.

7. The German player has the first turn.

8. Soviet reserves enter the table from either point C or D.

ENDING THE GAME

The battle ends when:

1. Beginning on Turn Six, the German player holds both objectives at the beginning of their turn.

2. One of the forces fails a Company Motivation Check.

3. Or, the Soviet player begins a turn after Turn Six with no German units contesting either of the objectives.

DECIDING WHO WON

The German player wins if, beginning on Turn Six, they hold both objectives at the beginning of a turn or they force

the Soviets to leave the field of battle.

The Soviet player wins if they hold both objectives after Turn Six, or have forced the German to leave the field of

battle.

SCENARIO MAP

1. The table size is 6 x 4 foot.

2. Hedges are not bocage hedgerows.

3. The gully and river are impassable to vehicles, except at bridges.

SCENARIO FORCES

ELEMENTS OF THE 220TH RIFLE REGIMENT, 79TH DIVISION (FEARLESS TRAINED)

Battalion Command: CinC Rifle team, 2iC Rifle team, Battalion Komissar team

Battalion AT assets: 1 x 57mm ZIS-2 AT gun

SOVIET DEPLOYMENT ZONE

A

B

C

D

N

2 x PTRD ATR teams

1ys Udarny Strelkovy Rota: Command Rifle/MG team

4 x SMG teams

4 x Rifle/MG teams

1 x Maxim HMG team

2ys Udarny Strelkovy Rota: Command Rifle/MG team

4 x SMG teams

5 x Rifle/MG teams

DELAYED RESERVES

Gvardeyskaya Tyazhelyy Tankovy Polk: 3 x IS-2 heavy tanks

ELEMENTS OF THE HERMANN GOERING DIVISION (CONFIDENT VETERAN)

Company Command: CinC SMG team, 2iC SMG team (with Panzerfaust)

Panzershreck team

Company Transport assets: 2 x Sdkfz 251/1

5 x Trucks

1st PanzerGrenadier Zug: Command SMG team (with Panzerfaust)

4 x MG teams

2nd PanzerGrenadier Zug: Command SMG team (with Panzerfaust)

4 x MG teams

3rd PanzerGrenadier Zug: Command SMG team (with Panzerfaust)

4 x MG teams

Schwere Panzer Zug: 2 x King Tiger