0922_01s: Race to the River (Kanev) - PzC 06 Korsun '44

Kanev, September 22nd 1943: After the failed Kursk offensive in July 1943, most of the German Army was in retreat. In the Ukraine, the 8th Panzer Armee was no exception, it was racing to get to the Dnepr ahead of the Russian 3rd Guards Tank Army. Both sides reached the river at about the same time, the 3rd GTA at Zarubentsy, the XXIV Panzer Korps at Kanev. At that time there were few German units on the western bank from Kiev to Cherkassey. The Russians decided to force a bridgehead on the western bank, then move south to cut off the XXIV Pz Korps at the Kanev bridge. It was touch and go for a while, as the Germans scrambled to find units to seal off and destroy the bridgehead. 19th Pz Division's Armored Recce Battalion was dispatched from the Kiev area with orders to hold until the rest of the division could arrive. It was hoped this would be enough to enable the XXIV Pz Korps, on the east bank, to get over the last bridge and push the Russians back into the river. However, the Soviets also had plans for the bridgehead, although unable to ferry many tanks or heavy weapons over, they had numerous small infantry bridgeheads. They also had a daring plan to use an airborne assault to seal the bulge, but unfortunately, the organizational skill to put this assault together was found to be lacking. The assault came in dribs and drabs, the pilots were inexperienced, as indeed, were the paratroops themselves, many were clerical and support staff "rounded up" for a maximum effort. Add to this delays and complete confusion, as they were dropped mostly at night, and there was a recipe for a total disaster. [Size large] Designer Note: This scenario is perhaps best played by two humans, as it presents the AI with a challenging situation to evaluate. However AI Play is possible and will be most challenging for a Human German, but fun for the Human Russian, who should rack up a win easily.