Battlegroup with the Blitzkrieg expansion, focusing on the defensive war in Poland in 1939. I have decided to recreate the first German attempt to capture Warsaw on September 8, 1939, when tanks from the 4th Panzer Division attempted to seize the Polish capital with a frontal assault. This initial attempt was unsuccessful, and Warsaw did not surrender until September 28, 1939. What will the outcome be this time?
UMPIRING: Bartek Żynda
1. Forces.
Heavy Machine Gun2 x Light MortarAT Gun
Heavy Machine GunMedium MortarATG + Medium TruckIG + Medium Truck4 x Medium Truck
2. The Game.
Mike positioned his forces on the outskirts of Warsaw, with infantry in the front and artillery in the rear. When the German vanguard entered the battlefield, they had the opportunity to flank the Polish troops but chose not to take advantage of it. Instead, they pushed forward through a narrow corridor. This decision greatly aided the Polish defenders, who effectively pinned down the Germans with grenade launchers and rifle fire. A 7TP tank also made its presence felt, inflicting significant damage on the German armoured cars. Although the Germans eventually managed to disable this tank, the crew remained inside, continuing to destroy or disable additional German vehicles with their weapons.
The Germans found themselves trapped in the suburbs, but their tanks managed to push into the streets of Warsaw. Despite this, they were effectively pinned down by Polish grenade launcher fire. The Germans called in artillery support, but not before Mike drew an air support token—his second token, in fact. Unfortunately, his initial attempt to request an airstrike was unsuccessful. However, this time was different. A PZL-23 Karaś appeared, equipped with six light bombs, which turned the tide of the battle.
The bombing raid on the German positions in the open field severely damaged their morale, causing it to collapse. Just as in the actual historical battle, the Germans were forced to retreat. Their dream of quickly conquering the Polish capital failed to materialise.
3. Links.
SESWC:
FLICKR:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720331639520/
