Escape from Stalingrad Scenario

[demyansk]

I got destroyed on this scenario and the Soviets pushed me all the way back to the start. How do you win this one? I don't have time to watch a 1.5 hr youtube video so I am clueless on how to win this one. Any text aar's?

thanks

the only other thing i could do would be to start scenario and then surrender so I don't lost all my experienced units

[brettz123]

You need to post your CORE to get some good feedback. Do you have troubles with getting DVs on all your scenarios?

[Kamerer]

IIRC:

1) There is an objective hex a little in front of the deployment area. Build a defensive line of armor backed with artillery from the hills to NE of this town, to the town, and then extend it S/SSE a little. The brunt of enemy weight will fall here and you can eliminate them by staying in a static defense. You also need to pull in all the possible aux units into this line as rapidly and carefully as you can to provide the evac forces.

2) You will note after a few turns they are not coming from the far south. You can collect all the aux units, add some artillery and an armor unit or two to them, and push west along the southern map border. You can make a crossing of the river and into the evac zone for the aux units. Adding a pioniere unit is helpful but not mandatory.

The big "trick" here is you have to abandon all the tactics you've been using offensively up to this point and recognize that while this is a break-out scenario, you have to use strong, static defensive tactics for the first 2/3rds of the game to grind them up without taking horrible damage. These are going to be the defensive tactics you use on a broad front in many scenarios from '43 until the end.

[demyansk]

Thanks for the info and next time I will list my core

[brettz123]

Thanks for the info and next time I will list my core

It helps to see the CORE to give specific suggestions. Good luck.

[wargovichr]

A challenging scenario.
This is a very mobile battle. Bring your PZIVGs and PzIIILs and any other armor you've got. Mobile artillery is needed. You would benefit greatly from ground recon (two), firstly to spot approaching attacks (especially from unexpected sectors, such as the NE corner) and to check out what is across the Don River because that is where you need to go to get your seven Hungarian units to sector C hexes**.
Set up your best panzers and recon as far forward as possible. Deploy 6+ Fw-190s or best Me-109Gs, two Stuka D, one strat bomber, two 88AA. Mobile infantry and artillery.
The first tactic will be to withdraw** as many Hungarian units as possible eastward towards your advancing attack and safety. You have a few Hungarian infantry and cavalry closer east that are easy to save. The cavalry units will be useful as recon, but of course all these units will need some protecting. Reinforce/entrench Hungarian infantry at Zapadnovka, Novoalekseevka, and Samoflovka. There will be some weaker Hungarians, such as those on the other side of the Don and maybe an anti-tank unit or two that should stand and fight to tie up Russian attackers. Save those Hungarian T-34s, KV-1s, and artillery!
Deploy forward strong fighters and at least one or two tac bombers as you will want to recon spot and attack infiltrating Russians that may be a nasty surprise to your rapidly withdrawing Hungarians.
Rush forward with a two pronged attack** -- one northward, the other westward. You will need to be aggressive with your panzers and mobile artillery to shield the withdrawing Hungarians—you may need to extend the westward thrust beyond Zapadnovka area temporarily to rescue withdrawing Hungarians..
One prong is to blunt the Russian attack and counterattack in the Samoflovka city area.
The other is the Novoalekseevka and Zapadnovka city areas. Take advantage of any nearby rough or forested rough hexes** good for infantry entrenchment/defense. Blunt and destroy these first two waves, let the pesky Russian infantry advance eastward** away from the rough/forested area near the southern and middle Don so your mobile forces can dispatch them in more open ground.
The northward prong now moves on to Kotluban to set up another defensive area, blunt another heavy Russian attack and stage your own counterattack .
After these battles move and capture the Pan'shino “corner” and airfield and move together** with your entire force to the Don River from Pan'shino to Pekovatka. The airfield at 18, 14 is critical** for resupply, etc.
Hopefully by now your fighters along with one or two AA units have cleared the skies.
You should move to clear out all Russian units east of the Don. That done, you can now safely recon** with your ground recon, the other side of the Don. There are likely nasty strong Russian tank units there waiting to pounce. A strat bomber to suppress AA/Russian armor and or a Stuka or two will aid river crossing, but CROSSING IN COORDINATED FORCE** is a good idea. That means crossing in force at TWO** Don River crossings that can support each other and spread the defense. I would suggest crossing at Maloglubinsky and Vertyachly. Place all other troops next to a river hex the turn before so that they can all simultaneously cross the river next turn overwhelming defenses. This coordinated simultaneous crossing** is the most important maneuver in this battle. Once again capture of airfield 18, 14** critical for this phase -- have your air units ready** to support the crossings. I have found that buying a bridge engineer is helpful only at the farthest southern Don and takes quite a bit of pre-positioning.
Another important tip is to aggressively mobilize your slower** Hungarian troops so that they are right on the heels** of the German vanguard crossing the Don as you will need to get them to zone C before time runs out.
Be prepared for Russian counterattacks by armor after crossing the Don.**
There are two major objectives, Lozhki and Osinovky on the west side of the Don. I would take them but I don't think they are mentioned in the battle victory criteria and their capture may not be necessary for DV.

[Kamerer]

A challenging scenario.
This is a very mobile battle.

I entirely agree it is a very challenging scenario. But it is actually best fought as a very static battle when fought efficiently. The only truly decisive mobile element should be a small force advanced virtually unopposed on the southern flank. That is really not the definition of a mobile battle. If you have a ton of prestige to throw away, you can approach it in a mobile fashion. But I would argue that will serve you poorly going forward as a tactical lesson.

There was a guy who knew something about fighting a Panzer Corps - Herman Hoth - he said during 1943 of the eastern front, "this is neither the month of June, nor France." The time for mobile battles without thought is past at this point. Hoth, who immediately grasped the new nature of eastern battle at this point, was promptly fired by the high command. In '45, they realized he might have been right and called him back. I suggest you be a Hoth, not a Jodl.

[demyansk]

nice quote from Hoth, Kammerer

I ended up going to the dlc 1943 and using the preset core and playing at a lower level.