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Looking for Play Testers for "When Push Comes to Shove"
This is a scenario that takes place in July 1945 and pits elements of the Russian Second Shock Army against elements of the UK-led forces (in this case, the Poles) and American armor and infantry. The premise is that neotiations and agreements broke down after Germany's surrender and tensions have been rising between the Soviets and the Western Allies. In this scenario Churchill and Truman ask the Soviets to stay out of the war in the Pacific, fearing they would hold onto any occupied territory permanently, threaten the shaky Chinese government, and demand joint occupation of the home islands. This, coupled with Stalin's continued distrust of the west (and Churchill's plan to bomb the Caucasian oilfields early in the war after the USSR invaded Poland) have convinced him that he must strike now if he plans to grab Europe and prevent another threat from the west re-emerging after the war. He realizes the Soviet Union has lost incredibly in infrastructure and population and fears the position vis-a-vis the West will only get weaker once the fighting is over. While his spies have let him know that the US successfully detonated a nuclear weapon, they also advised that there are only three weapons in existence and the it will be many months before more can be available so this is not a primary concern. The US has the bulk of it's naval forces in the Pacific; even so, the Soviet Union does not have a submarine force that can interdict the Atlantic. The plan then is to take advantage of the US pull out from Thuringia (the part of Germany the US occupied before the end of hostilities that lay in the agreed upon Russian occupation zone), and the associated disrtuption to unit cohesion, to attack along the entiire front. The initial objective is to push to the Rhine and, once there, make a further decision based on the strategic situation. Who knows, perhaps the Allies would concede all of Germany to Russia?
Second Shock Army blasted through northern Germany, skirting the transport infrastructure disaster of the Ruhr, headed for the Rhine crossings at Rees and Emmerich. Although the war in Europe has been over for several months, the bulk of Allied supplies still come through Antwerp. Eisenhower, Bradley, Monty, and Patton all realize the tremendous threat to their armies in central Europe if this supply source is cut off. Rather than solely grinding the Allies down, the Soviets have also elected to try and cut the vine off at the root.
This scenario takes place as the Second Shock Army crosses the Rhine and tries to continue the drive on Antwerp. Monty has directed a mobile striking force to counterattack from the pocket against the north sea into which UK forces are being folded, while the Americans have rushed an airborne division into the area as a stop gap. American armor is quickly approaching the spearhead to support the ariborne and to mount a counterattack. The Soviets must continue their advance to sustain momentum, and the Western Allies must halt this drive to allow Antwerps defenses to be bolstered and prevent a logistical disaster that could unhinge the entire defense of western Europe. There will be at least one other scenario in this series as well.
If you're interested, please let me know.
Larry Reese
If you run, you'll only die tired.
One hand on the wheel, and one in the flame,
One foot on the gas, and one in the grave.
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