After the collapse of the their positions in the middle of the board, the Germans have pulled back to the fortified government building at the west edge of the board. A fresh platoon of Fallshirmjagers has arrived to attempt to reverse the German fortunes in this sector.

As we are still learning and experimenting with the excellent Chain of Command rules, we have decided this FJ platoon is elite and will have 6 command dice. It will be interesting to see how this impacts the game.

 

 

 

The Gods watch and wait

 

 

FJ squad hunkers down behind sandbags waiting for the Bolsheviks to show themselves

 

Russians creep into one of the apartment buildings on the south edge of the board that the Germans have just withdrawn from. Watch out for booby traps Ivan

 

2nd squad climbs over the rubble pile to seize the large hotel building. The Russkies check in, but will they check out?

 

Russians cautiously peering past the rubble on the north edge of the board.

 

The JS-2 lurches up behind the disabled SU-152 to line up a shot on the Panther down the road.

 

Kryuk, fire on the Fascist Beast!!! Yes, commander!

 

The massive 122mm shell rocks the the Nazi tank!

 

The Panther is burning. Serious setback for the Germans, and this phase of the game has only begun.

 

The surviving crew members bail from the burning Mk. V

 

The Germans only have one tank left in this sector, a Tiger. Paging Michael Wittmann! Oh, er, never mind.

 

The Russian infantry begin to rain down fire at the Germans from the third floor of the Hotel

 

With the Panther destroyed the Russian armor can now advance up the street towards the German positions.

 

The JS-2 hugs the wall near one of the apartment buildings to get a clear shot into the Government building. Senior German commanders Gunnar and Steve brace themselves for the incoming 122mm shell

 

Good position to hit the Germans, but threat of schreck or faust attack is very real.

 

Commander Steve needs to contemplate his next move.

 

The JS-2 fires again. Three Fallshirmjaeger dead, three points of shock.

 

The Germans move from their forward positions to escape the devastating 122mm shells.

 

Troops on the upper tier scramble for advantageous firing positions

 

That battleaxe may come in handy for hand to hand combat in the very near future

 

Meanwhile in the apartment building on the south side of the board the Russian troops concentrate for an assault into the park next to the German stronghold.

 

The halftrack sitting in the park covering their only avenue of attack presents a problem however.

 

 

The German tank crew weighs their options after the loss of the Panther. Fall back to the rear to find another tank, or stay with the infantry and fight?

 

Tune in for next week’s game, should be fateful!