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1 Rattenkrieg: Infantry Aces Stalingrad

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    Rattenkrieg: Infantry Aces

    Stalingrad

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    Introduction:

    The recent release of Casino from Battle Front's Flames of War has got me thinking a lot about my favorite battle in all of

    WW2. STALINGRAD. I love this battle. I have watch Enemy at the Gates a hundred times, I have read Anthony Beavers

    book Stalingrad a hundred times, have printed every wiki article on the battle for light work reading and spent endless

    nights on end staring at the maps in Osprey books while my wife tried to sleep.

    At one point I put on a Stalingad campaign using the Blitzkreig Commander II Rules, which can be found in the AARs

    section of my blog. In fact Stalingrad got my blog started. We fought our way through the city and into the German

    counter offensive until it puttered out as all Campaigns do. I built a ton of terrain for the series of games including a

    grain silo and the G.U.M. Department store from scratch. We had epic house to house and block to block fights using BKC

    II. A new Stalingrad campaign will give me a reason to use the buildings again and replay my WW2 passion:

    STALINGRAD!

    Any way after getting my recent copy of Wargames Illustrated and reading the infantry aces sneak peeks and mini

    campaign sneak peak, I started to get the Stalingrad itch again. I also recently bought a Mosin Nagant which doesn't

    help either. For anyone who reads the FoW forums regularly, or sees any of my WW2 comments on other forums and

    blogs knows I have thought for a long time that Battle Front should have more Midwar briefings, specifically a Stalingrad

    briefing. I even wanted to try a Firestorm Stalingrad campaign once, but the amount of work need to do it was immense,

    plus I heard there are some Spaniards that did it already. Then came the Cassino Briefing. The rules in Cassino allow

    you to fight a quick escalation campaign based on infantry forces. Stalingrad would be perfect for it. I pulled this map

    from the Battlefront website and added what I felt were three historical routs with key areas that the Germans attacked

    during the battle. It also helped that Battlefront already have the objectives labeled.

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    STALINGRAD CAMPAIGN MAP

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    Route One (Red)

    Minina Suburbs -> Rail Station

    No. 1-> Grain Elevator

    The German attack on the city of Stalingrad itself

    began on September 14th, 1942. This attack was a

    two prong attack in which the Germans attempted

    to employ the Blitzkrieg tactics of encircling their

    enemy. One of these attacks was made by the 4th

    Panzer Army through the Minina and Yelshanka

    Suburbs in an attempt to capture Rail Station No. 1

    and the fames Grain Elevator, which would become

    a symbol for the city. The soviet defenders held out

    for days, until being over ran. The Germans were

    surprised to only find 45 Russians with a hand full

    of AT Rifles and Maxims defending the elevator.

    Turn One Minina and Yelshanka Suburbs The Suburbs of Stalingrad where located south of the Tsarist River which separated the northern and south halves of the

    city. The Germans attack on the suburbs began on September 14th 1942. The 4th Panzer Armies assault on the south of

    the city was led by the 24th Panzer, 94th Infantry, 29th Motorized and 14th Panzer Divisions. The 24th and 94th attacked

    through the Minina and the 29th and 14th through the Yelshanka with the goal of reaching the Volga and then turn north

    in an attempt to isolate the 62nd army and cut them off from the 64th. Opposing them was the Soviet 64th army which

    included the 35th Guards Division, 42nd Rifle Divisions and eventually the 92nd Naval Brigade. German victory was swift

    as the raced to the banks of Volga.

    Ideas for playing the Suburbs

    The suburbs should be played on a 3 x 3 board consisting of mostly rubble and destroyed buildings.

    Turn Two Stalingrad Rail Station No. 1 After a swift conquest of the suburbs the Germans turned their attention to the all important Stalingrad Rail station No. 1.

    The station was also located south of the Tsaritsa River not far from where it joined the Volga. If the Germans captured

    the rail station it would eliminate one of the main supply lines to soviet defenders. The station was defended by the 13th

    Guards Division. The German assault on the station by the 71st Infantry and 295th Infantry last several days and control

    of the stations changed hands more than 19 times. On September 19th the Germans committed a third Division to the

    attack, the 79th Infantry division, and the Soviet defenders collapsed under the pressure of the assault.

    Ideas for playing the Rail Station

    The rail station should be played on a 3x3 board that has several rail lines cutting through burnt-out buildings and

    rubble.

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    Turn Three the Grain Elevator In the south of Stalingrad stood and enormous

    grain silo. After successfully capturing the

    Suburbs the German 94th Infantry, 14th Panzer

    and 24th Panzer Division found these selves

    caught in a bitter struggle for control of the

    elevator with the Russian 35th Guards Division

    and 92nd Naval Battalion. The assault began on

    September 18th and lasted until September 26th.

    The fight was intense and the Germans ended up

    resorting to lighting the grain supply on fire at

    one point, a decision that Paulus surely regret

    when the Germans were trapped and low on

    food months later, but the soviet defenders just

    kept fight. Soviet Antitank rifles where able to

    knock out tanks by hitting their thin top armor.

    Eventually the soviet ran out of ammo and the

    survivor where able to sneak away from the elevator. The Germans were surprised to only find and handful of dead

    Russians and it was reported that less than fifty men defended during the fighting.

    Ideas for playing the Grain Elevator:

    This battle should be played on a 3x4 board and a massive grain elevator should dominate the Soviet deployment zone.

    The area around the elevator should be mostly rubble with buildings around the board edges. Soviets always defend

    when fighting for the grain elevator.

    Elevation: Any soviet antitank rifle team on the top floor of the elevator hits the top armor of any German vehicle it is

    shooting.

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    Route Two (White)

    Mamayev Krugen -> City Center: Pavlov's House ->Red October Factory When the Germans lunched their attack on the city on September 14th, 1942. The 6th Army's LI Corp assaulted the city

    center while the 4th Panzer Army assaulted the southern part of the city. This would result in a bloody struggle for the

    Mamayev Krugen, the City Center and ultimately the Red October Factory.

    Turn One: Mamayev Krugen The Mamayev Krugen was originally a Tartar burial

    mound that dominated area. At the start of the

    battle the Krugen was the site of Chuikov's command

    post. On the first two days of fighting the German

    295th infantry division assaulted the Krugen and the

    Soviets were forced to evacuate the hill. On

    September 18th Chuikov launched a counter assault

    with the 13th Guards and 113th Rifle Division in an

    attempt to re take the Krugen. Soviet troops

    managed to reach the top, but were unable to

    wrestle control of the Krugen from the Germans.

    Eventually the Soviets were forced to relinquish

    control of the hill to the Germans. . On September

    27th Chuikov ordered the 285th Serbian and 95th

    Rifles to retake the Krugen. On September 28th they would retake the Krugen from the Germans, but this victory was

    short lived as the German counter attack forced the Soviets to retreat. This position allowed the Germans a commanding

    view of the city and the Volga

    Ideas for playing the Mamayev Krugen

    Fighting for the Mamayev Krugen should be played on a 3'x3' table with a large hill in the middle and rubble and

    buildings on the Soviet board edge.

    Turn Two: City Center- Pavlov's

    House After the desperate struggle for the Krugen the German

    assaulted into the city center. It was here in the

    apartments of Stalingrad that one of the most heroic

    moments in Soviet history occurred, the Battle for Pavlov's

    House. Pavlov's House was a fortified apartment block

    that was on the banks of the Volga overlooking the main

    city square. In early September Sgt. Yaakov Pavlov found

    himself leading 25 lightly armed soviet soldiers and made

    it his mission to not allow the Germans to take the

    apartment block they occupied. The Soviet defenders

    fortified the apartment with four layers of barbwire and

    mines fields. Pavlov and his men held out against all odds and withstood daily attacks by German infantry and Armor.

    On 25 November 1942 Pavlov's men held out until their where relieved by Soviet reinforcements.

    Ideas for playing the City Center- Pavlov's House

    The suburbs should be played on a 3 x 3 board consisting of mostly rubble and destroyed buildings with a large city

    square located in the middle of the board.

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    Turn Three: Red October Factory The Red October Factory was a large steel factory located along the banks of the Volga. On September 27th, the German

    assault on the city came close to capturing the Red October Factory. The following day the 39th Guards and 193rd Rifle

    Division where deployed in and around the factory. The factory was mostly quiet for the next few weeks as the Germans

    launched assaults on the Tractor and Barrikody Factories to the north. On October 23rd, Paulus attacked the Red October

    Factory with fresh troops from the 79th Infantry Division. The 39th and 79th spent the next five days struggling for

    control of the factory. The 79th managed to capture half of the Factory and came within 350 meters of the Volga, but

    were unable to break the 39th.

    Ideas for playing the Red October Factory

    The Battle for the Red October Factory should be played on a 3'x4' board cover by one to three large factory buildings

    that use the large building rules in the FoW rule book. The rest of the board should be covered in rubble and ruined

    buildings.

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    Route Three (Black)

    Spartanovka/ Rynok -> Tractor Factory-> Barrikody Factory

    After the initial assault into the south and center of the city the Germans regrouped and prepared for a massive assault

    on the north of the city. In October the Germans would assault the massive factory districts of the city in an attempt to

    crush the Soviet defenders once and for all.

    Turn One: Rynok and Spartanovka

    On October 17th, 1942, in the midst of this assault into the

    northern part of the city, the 16th Panzer 60th Motorized Division

    launched an attack on the village of Rynok and the Suburb of

    Spartanovka. This assault battered the beleaguered Russian

    forces in the area and put pressure on the Soviet troops

    defending the Tractor Factory, and Barrikody Factory, which was

    under heavy attack by multiple German Divisions. The capture of

    Rynok and Spartanovka prevent the Soviets from landing

    supplies and reinforcements in the north and allowed the

    Germans to attack the factory district from all directions.

    Ideas for playing Rynok and Spartanovka

    The suburbs should be played on a 3 x 3 board consisting of mostly rubble and destroyed buildings.

    Turn Two: The Tractor Factory

    On October 12, 1942, Chuikov launched a counter attack with the 95th Rifle and 37th Guards Divisions in the northwest

    corner of the Tractor Factory. This assault initially took the Germans by surprise and driving them back 300 yards, but it

    the success of the assault was short lived. Two days later the German launched one of the largest assaults seen on the city

    yet. This assault consisted of five German Divisions and by the end of the day the Germans had drove all the way to the

    Volga splitting the Soviet 62nd army in half. The following day the Germans assaulted the Tractor Factory with the 305th

    Infantry Division. Fighting and an around the Tractor factory would be fierce and the Germans pushed the Soviets back as

    far as 2,000 yards in some areas and Chuikov was forced to relocate his HQ to the Red October Factory further south. By

    October 20th the Germans had secured the Factory.

    Ideas for playing the Tractor Factory

    The Battle for the Red October Factory should be played on a 3'x3' board cover by one to three large factory buildings

    that use the large building rules in the FoW rule book. The rest of the board should be covered in rubble and ruined

    buildings.

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    Turn Three: The Barrikody Factory

    Even before the capture of the Tractor Factory the Germans had began

    assaulting the Barrikody Ordinance Factory. This assault was initially

    repulsed by dug in soviet tanks from the 84th tank brigade, but on

    October 17th, these dug in tanks where overran by the German attackers.

    By October 20th, a desperate struggle for control of the factory began.

    Here the German 94th. 100th Jaeger and 389th Divisions chewed up the

    Russian 193rd and 308th. The assaults where so intense and devastating

    that Chuikov was forced to withdrawal the two Divisions before they were

    completely obliterated. By October 27th, the Germans managed to secure the ruined factory.

    Ideas for playing the Barrikody Factory

    The Battle for the Red October Factory should be played on a 3'x4' board cover by one to three large factory buildings

    that use the large building rules in the FoW rule book. The rest of the board should be covered in rubble and ruined

    buildings.

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    Restricted German Equipment

    When playing an Infantry Aces Stalingrad game players should use the infantry briefings found in Easter Front. In order

    to have a more historical feel I have compiled a list of equipment that players should be restricted from using when

    creating their force. Please note that this list is not comprehensive and as I find additional information on equipment the

    list will be updated. I am also primarily using the Struggle for Stalingrad Firestorm rules put out by Desperta ferro!

    Wargaming Guides series, no. 2 and input from the Flames of War Forum for making my determination for restricted

    equipment.

    Tanks

    PzKpfw III (models J, L & M) are still the backbone of German armor. The model N, armed with a short barreled 75mm gun, is not in service at Stalingrad at this time.

    PzKpfw IV G and H have not been created yet and are not available. The F2 and F1 are available.

    PzKpfw V Panther are still prototypes' at this point and do not see combat until 1943 at

    Kursk.

    PzKpfw VI Tiger I have entered production by this point, but the first units were sent to

    Leningrad and are not available for Stalingrad.

    Self-propelled guns StuG III G with schurtzen is not available, but F version units may be fielded

    armed with long barreled 75mm gun. StuG IV is not available; this model will not enter production until the end of 1943.

    Ferdinand/Elefant, and Brummbrs will not see their action until next year

    at Kursk.

    Marder III M is not available at this time. Panzer II L Grille H, Hummel, Flammpanzer III, Radio Control Tank Platoons, Nashorn, armored AA

    halftracksand Wespe are also not available.

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    Other Equipment

    SdKfz 233 entered production in July 1942, but no units have been sent to the front yet.

    Panzerfaust have not entered production. 8.8cm PaK43/41 is not available. PaK 40 were given production priority on November 1941, but they are still very

    scarce. It is recommended that players only be allowed

    to take one or two at the most.

    STG 44 assault rifles will not be in service until October 1943.

    Schurzen was not in use at Stalingrad Captured Russian tanks do not have cupolas at this time

    The Stuka G, Panzerwerfers, Puppchens, Sd Kfz 250/9s, and Bunkerflak are also not available

    Infantry Units German players cannot take a Fallschirmjager Company when playing IA Stalingrad because the FJ did not fight in the

    Battle.

    SS units are also not available to players playing Germans in IA Stalingrad.

    When building lists for IA Stalingrad players should use these guidelines.

    If you have any information or evidence that any of the above pieces of equipment where used during the Battle for

    Stalingrad please feel free to leave a comment. Additionally if you have information or evidence that other pieces of

    equipment did not partake in the Battle let me know so they can be included on the list.

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    Restricted Russian Equipment

    When playing an Infantry Aces Stalingrad game players should use the infantry briefings found in Easter Front. In order

    to have a more historical feel I have compiled a list of equipment that players should be restricted from using when

    creating their force. Please note that this list is not comprehensive and as I find additional information on equipment the

    list will be updated. I am also primarily using the Struggle For Stalingrad Firestorm rules put out by Desperta ferro!

    Wargaming Guides series, no. 2 and input from the Flames of War Forum for making my determination for restricted

    equipment.

    Tanks

    T-34/76 obr. 1943 or T-34/85 have not been put into production or distributed to units and are not available.

    KV-1s went into full production on August 20th 1942 and players are discouraged from using large numbers of them.

    KV-2 heavy tanks are out of production since last October and very few remain in service. Players should attempt to limit the

    number of KV-2s that they field.

    Self-propelled guns

    In September 1942 the Soviet Union had no self-propelled guns

    available for Stalingrad.

    Other

    The 57mm ZIS-2 was originally built in 1941 but production stopped in December and it restarted in June 1943. Players

    are discouraged from using large numbers of these weapons.

    A Soviet player cannot field Cossacks.

    When building lists for IA Stalingrad players should use these guidelines.

    If you have any information or evidence that any of the above pieces of equipment where used during the Battle for Stalingrad please feel free to leave a comment. Additionally if you have information or evidence that other pieces of equipment did not partake in the Battle let me know so they can be included on the list.

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    German Units

    94th Infantry Division

    Commander Generalleutnant Georg Pfeiffer

    The 94th Infantry Division was formed in September 1939 in the German 5th wave of

    mobilization and consisted of the following regiments;

    267th Infantry Regiment

    274th Infantry Regiment

    276th Infantry Regiment

    194th Artillery Regiment

    The division did not take part in the conquest of Eastern Europe or the invasion of

    France. In March 1940 it was finally sent to France to take part in the occupation

    until it was sent East to take part in Operation Barbarossa and participated in the

    occupation of the Ukraine that winter.

    When the German attack on Stalingrad began on September 14th, 1942, the 94th advanced through the Minina Suburbs

    with support from the 24th Panzer Division. By September 18th the 94th had reached the Grain Elevator where they met

    stiff opposition from elements of the Russian 92nd Naval Brigade and 95th Guards Rifle Division. By September 25th the

    94th had helped the German forces in the south of the city smash Chuikovs left flank and reached the banks of the Volga. The 94th would spend the rest of September securing the south part of the city.

    On October 3rd, the 94th was redeployed in the north to support the mounting pressure the 6th army was putting on the

    Russian units in the area. On October 14th the 94th participated in one of the largest assaults that took place in the city.

    They where tasked with helping assault the Tractor Factory. This assault was successful and effectively split Chuikovs

    forces in two, forcing him to abandon the Tractor Factory. The 94th then attacked the Barrikody Factory which was

    defended 193rd Rifle and 13th guards division. Intense fighting ensued which resulted in the 94th inflicting heavy

    casualties on the Russian 193rd Infantry Division.

    After the German offensive ground to a halt the 94th

    found itself trapped in the city when the Russians

    launched Operation Uranus on November 17, 1942. The

    surviving soldiers of the 94th eventually found themselves

    PoW of soviet forces when Paulus surrendered in late

    January 1943. After the fall of Stalingrad the Germans

    Army reorganized the 94th in March 1943. The division

    served in Italy until it surrendered to the allies in April,

    1945.

    Ideas for playing the 94th Infantry Division in FoW

    The 94th Infantry Division are hardened veterans that participated in nonstop combat throughout the German assault on

    Stalingrad. These Veterans can be called on to take or hold even the smallest sliver of ground.

    If you choose to field the 94th when playing Rattenkrieg: Infantry Aces Stalingrad use the Confident Veteran infantry

    company from the Eastern Front Briefing.

    Hard as Nails: Combat platoons from the 94th may re-roll their first failed moral tests.

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    305th Infantry Division

    The Bodensee Division

    Commander: Gen. Lt. Steeinmetz

    The 305th was formed during the Wehrmachts 13th wave of mobilization in

    November 1940 and its original roll was that of a Garrison Division. Is consisted of

    the following regiments;

    576th Infantry Regiment

    577th Infantry Regiment

    578th Infantry Regiment

    305th Artillery Regiment

    It wasn't until February 1942 that the 305th was converted to a field division and in March it was finally equipped as an

    infantry division. When the 305th was sent to southern Russian and the plan was for it to serve as a garrison Stalingrad

    after the fall of the city.

    On October 15th, the 305th had seen little action in the city and was given the task of providing support for the assault of

    the Tractor Factory. After heavy fighting the Tractor factory was taken and the following day the 305th took part in the

    German assault on the area in and around the Barrikody and Red October Factories. This assault resulted in the German

    forces smashing several Russian divisions and the capture

    of both the Tractor and Barrikody Factory.

    After the German force in Stalingrad had been trapped the

    305th hunkered down in the Northern Sector of the city

    and fought their until it was destroyed in January 1943. A

    hand full of men from the 305th managed to escape

    certain death and managed to keep fighting until early

    February when they surrendered.

    After the Battle of Stalingrad the 305th was reorganized

    and equipped. The 305th served in Italy and fought at

    Casino against the Allies. The 305th would continue to

    fight in Italy until April 1945 when it surrendered to the

    American's 88th Infantry Division in Northern Italy.

    Ideas for playing the 305th Infantry Division in FoW

    The 305th was a late comer to the action on the Eastern Front and was originally intended to serve as the Garrison for the

    city once it fell. These fresh troops are relatively in experienced compared to their battle hardened brethren who have

    bled for every inch of the city. Despite this they are still eager to prove themselves and will fight tooth and nail for

    whatever objective you ask them to take.

    If you choose to field the 305th when playing Rattenkrieg: Infantry Aces Stalingrad use the Confident Veteran Infantry

    Company from the Eastern Front Briefing.

    One more Push: The 305th can re-roll failed motivation tests to counter assault.

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    79th Infantry Division

    Commander: Von Shwerin

    The 79th was organized in March 1939 as a part of the German 2nd wave of mobilization and

    consisted of the following regiments;

    208th Infantry Regiment

    212th Infantry Regiment

    226th Infantry Regiment

    179th Artillery Regiment

    In August of that year was sent to the French border. When the war broke out with France the 79th took part in the

    German assault on the Maginot Line. After German beat France the 79th took part in the German training and

    preparation for Operation Sea Lion which never materialized. Eventually the 79th was sent East and saw action in

    southern Russian during operation Barbarossa.

    On October 23rd, 1942 the 79th saw its first action in Stalingrad as it was tasked with assaulting the Red October Steel

    Factory. While most other German units had already taken part in the assault on the city the 79th was fresh. The 79th

    managed to break through the Russian defenders and enter the northwest part of the factory. There they fought bitterly

    with the 39th Guards Rifle division and came within 365 meters of the Volga, before that German assault ground to a halt

    on October 24th. By this point the Germans controlled roughly 90 percent of the city as winter began to set in.

    After the Germans where surrounded and trapped in Stalingrad the 79th divisional staff where flown out of the city. Like

    many other German division destroyed at Stalingrad the 79th was re-raised in March 1943 and spent the next year slowly

    retreating back to Romania. When Romania surrendered to the Soviets in 1944 the 79th was again surrounded and

    wiped out by the Soviets. In October 1944 the 79th was raised from the ashes once again as a Volksgrenadier Division.

    The last of the 79th surrendered to American troops in April 1945. By wars end nineteen members of the 79th had won the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

    Idea's for fielding the 79th Infantry Division in FoW The 79th did a lot of hard fighting in and around the factories of Stalingrad

    and is both battle hardened and tough.

    If you choose to field the 79th when playing Rattenkrieg: Infantry Aces

    Stalingrad use the Confident Veteran Infantry company from the Eastern

    Front Briefing.

    Factory Busters: If pinned when assaulting the 79th may make a motivation test to unpin and re launch the assault against trooper in bulletproof cover.

  • 16

    Russian Units

    39th Guards Rifle Division

    Commander: Guriev

    On September 29, 1942, the 39th Guards Rifle Division

    was deployed west of the Red October Steel Factory and

    tasked with defending the Volga Corridor, a key supply

    line for the city. At Stalingrad the 39th consisted of the

    following regiments;

    112th Guard Infantry Regiment

    117th Guard Infantry Regiment

    120th Guard Infantry Regiment

    87th Guard Artillery Regiment

    They where there when the Germans October 14th offensive began and put up a staunch defense of the factory. On October 23rd, the Germans had still not taken the factory despite multiple attempts. The Germans had all but capture the

    Tractor Factory and the Barrikody Factory by this point and where making their one last assault on the Red October

    Factory. They brought up the 79th Infantry Division which was fresh and tasked them with assaulting the 39th. The 79th

    experienced initial success and fought their way into the factory, but the 39 th managed to prevented the Germans from

    overrunning the factory and reaching the Russian landing zone on the Volga less than 400 meters away. On October 24th

    the German offensive began to lose steam and the 39th found themselves still controlling half of the Red October Factory.

    From the end of the German offensive to February 2, 1942 the 39th was in constant contact with the opposing German

    forces. The 39th survived attacked from three Infantry Division two Panzer Divisions, constant artillery and an estimated

    3,000 Luftwaffe sorties in their defense of an area approximately 1000 yards deep and 3000 yards wide.

    After the battle for Stalingrad that 39th was placed in reserve and then formed the core of the newly created 8th Guards

    Army. During 1943 the 39th fought across its ways across Russian and the Ukraine to the banks of the Dnepr. In 1944 the

    39th continues west and helped in the liberation of Poland. When Russian forces invade Germany the 39th crushed the

    Grossduetschland Division and the 11th SS Volunteer Division and 17th Danzer Division. When the war end the 39th found

    itself less than 250 yards from the Reichstag. The 39th was one of the most decorated Soviet Divisions of the entire war.

    Ideas for playing the 39th Guards in FoW The 39th Guards Rifle Division was one of the best units fielded by the Russians during the siege of Stalingrad. The troops

    know how to dig in and hold and objective. They are considered Fearless Trained and use the Russian Guards Stelkovy

    Battalion List found in Eastern Front.

    Hold the Line: The 39th spent most of the battle holding onto a small slice of land and preventing the Germans from capturing vital Soviet Supply Lines. The 39th passes Company moral tests on a 2+. The 39th always defends when playing a defensive battle and cannot take a Straff Company.

    Fresh out of the Factory: To represent the legend that Soviet tanks rolled out of the factories and straight into combat the 193rd may field a single T-34 obr 1941 for 75pts instead of fielding Medium Tank Company. If you take this T-34 it is considered an ally and is rated as Fearless Conscript.

  • 17

    The 193rd

    Rifle Division Commander: Col. Smekhotvorov

    The 193rd was originally formed in May 1941 and was composed of three infantry regiments and two artillery regiments.

    When the Germans launched Operation Barbarossa the 193rd was involved in heavy fighting around Kiev where it was

    destroyed by the Germans in September 1941. The following May the Division was reformed and found itself apart of the

    62nd Armys defense of Stalingrad.

    At Stalingrad the Division consisted of the following

    regiments;

    685th Infantry Regiment

    883rd Infantry Regiment

    895th Infantry Regiment

    384th Artillery Regiment

    On September 27th Chuikov moved the 193rd across

    the Volga and deployed it to the Red October

    Factory. Two days later the 193rd repulsed the 24th

    Panzer Division's attack on the Barrikody Factory

    which came within a mile of the Volga. For the

    next several days the 193rd was engaged in heavy fight as the 6th Army attempted to crush the Soviet units defending the

    factories. By October 4th the Germans had forced the Soviet lines back, but despite heavy fighting and loses the Germans

    were unable to break the 193rd.

    When the Germans launched their final assault on October 12th the 193rd found itself in the thick of the fighting that took

    place between the Barrikody and Red October Factory. For several days the 193rd fought tooth and nail against elements

    of the German 94th Infantry Division and 24th Panzer Division. The 193rd held out until October 18th, when they finally

    collapsed under the pressure of constant German attack. Chuikov was force to withdraw the 193rd before they were

    completely destroyed. On 26th of October elements of the 45th Division reinforced the 193rd who where themselves

    supporting the 39th Guards Division's defense of the Red October Factory. By the end of the assault the 193rd had taken

    such heavy losses that Chuikov later reported that only 250 men survived.

    After Stalingrad the 193rd was reinforced and re-equipped and went on to take part in the Soviet offensive in Belorussia

    and Poland.

    Ideas for playing the 193th Rifle Division in FoW The 193rd Rifle Division held out against all odds and was all, but destroyed by the Germans by the end of October 1942.

    The men of 193rd will follow orders no matter what and you can count on them to stop the Germans from reaching the

    Volga.

    If you choose to field the 193rd when playing Rattenkrieg: Infantry Aces Stalingrad use the Confident Conscripts Militia

    Battalion from the Eastern Front Briefing.

    Fresh out of the Factory: To represent the legend that Soviet tanks rolled out of the factories and straight into combat the

    193rd may field a single T-34 obr 1941 for 75pts instead of fielding Medium Tank Company.

    For Comrade Stalin: if the 193rd fails a motivation test and use a commissar to re-roll they will pass that re-roll on a 2+

    instead of 3+.

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    92nd Naval Brigade

    Commander: Samodai

    At the start of the War the Soviet Navy had on Naval

    Infantry Brigade; by the end for the War they fielded 40.

    Most of these brigades helped in the defense of key

    cities throughout the Soviet Union and they conducted

    more than 114 landings. Five of these brigade where

    given the honorable title as Guards units and 112 Naval

    Infantrymen where awarded the title Hero of the Soviet

    Union.

    On September 17th

    , Chuikov transferred the 92nd

    Naval

    Brigade, known as the Sea Devils by the Germans, across

    the Volga and tasked them with defending the Grain

    Elevator. When the 92nd arrived in southern Stalingrad

    many of the regular infantry joked and made fun of them. The men of the 92nd would soon have a chance to prove

    themselves as brave soldiers when the Germans began assaulting the city. 30 men from the 92nd

    Naval Brigade led by Lt.

    Andrey Khozyanov and 20 men from 13th

    Guard Rifle division kept the Germans from taking the grain elevator with

    nothing more than two anti tank rifles and two Maxim Machineguns and fought off ten assaults on September 18th alone.

    Conditions inside the elevator where horrendous. The sailors breathed in dust and smoke from fires set by the Germans.

    When they ran out of water the men used their own urine to cool their Maxim Machineguns. The fighting continued until

    September 20th, when they ran out of ammo and grenades. That night those who were able broke out and back to

    Russian lines leaving the dead and wounded behind. Even though the 92nd

    fought courageously, the soviet positions in

    the south of the city was eventually overwhelmed by superior German firepower. By September 25th

    , the Germans had

    smashed through the Russian defenders in the south of the city and on September 26th

    , the 92nd

    was withdrawn to the

    opposite banks of the Volga.

    Ideas for Playing the 92nd Naval Infantry Brigade in FoW

    The men of the 92nd held on until the last bullet was fired and grenade was thrown. The ferocious stubbornness when

    defending made them one of the hardest units to break during the whole battle. While they may not be regular infantry

    these Sea Devils will earn their name whenever they take the field.

    If you choose to field the 92nd when playing Rattenkrieg: Infantry Aces Stalingrad use the Fearless Conscripts Infantry

    Company from the Eastern Front Briefing.

    If you choose to field the 92nd Infantry Brigade cannot use a Straf Company.

    Tenacious Urban Defenders: Infantry and machine-gun companies belonging to the 92nd who are in a building or rubble

    may re-roll all missed to hit rolls in defensive fire.

    Guards Allies: The 92nd fought closing in support of Soviet Guards units in the south of the city. The 92nd can take a

    Fearless Trained Guards Stelkovoy Company instead of fielding a third company of a Fearless conscripts. If you do so the

    guards unit is considered an ally. Tenacious Defender does not apply to the Guard Company.