#01 A Bulge is Born_Alt - PzC 03 Kharkov '42

**WINTER(3x Night turns)** - Barvenkovo, 125km SE of Kharkov, January 22nd, 1942: Initially, the Russian winter offensive of 1941-42 was the one that stopped the German offensive on Moscow. This success led the Soviets to consider other options in regards to recovering the ground lost in the previous summer. One such operation took place here, near Kharkov, where the Germans were weak and lulled into thinking the Russians had spent all their forces in the winter offensive (Operation Typhoon) around Moscow. On January 1st, the Russian attack began in this quiet sector, and luckily for the German 17th Army, the offensive was conducted in a piecemeal fashion. The Russian 57th Army made steady progress, but the Germans managed to form a new defense line from laager/strongpoints by fortifying towns. On Jan 22nd, Marshal S. K. Timoshenko, the Russian Commander, sent in the cavalry to break the line. Three corps strong they attacked, with the goal to penetrate the German lines and drive deep into the rear. It was this operation which was destined to be the "Birth of the Bulge" that later would become the focal point for the disastrous summer offensive at Kharkov. To this end, the 5th Cavalry Corps was ordered to take Barvenkovo and continue driving south. *Designers Note: In Winter, map may be more clear using "View | Map Contours" ON & "Settings | Hex Outlines" OFF. Also, a special thanks to Mike Avanzini for his research assistance with this scenario. [1800 sq Km - 26 Turns]