#0226_01s_Stemming the Flow - Vatutin's Desperation - PzC 19 Kharkov 43

Stemming the Flow - Feb 26th to Mar 4th, 1943. South Western Front's commanding General, Vatutin finally understood the folly he had placed his troops in with his exhortations to reach the Dnepr. Even while Manstein's Panzers were decimating Popov's Mobile Group at Krasnoarmeyskoye he was pushing 25th Tank Corp ever further west. Vatutin's revelation was jarring with both 6th Army and now 1st Guards Army formations scattered across a wide swath of snow covered steppe. As the Soviet forces were recalled, their orders were too late to prevent them being overrun by the marauding German columns. It was not till the morning of the 26th that the Soviets were able to fashion a line anchored on both Barvenkovo and Lozovaya which had been fortified. There were little reserves to back it up. Even now Stavka viewed this as only a temporary setback and had 3rd Tank Army continuing its push towards Krasnograd. Only 5 days later would 3rd Tank Army be sent to try and rescue its comrades as they were steadily overwhelmed. (Size, Campaign Game) It is recommended that this campaign be played HTH due to its unique setup. The German has to contend with scattered Soviet forces in his rear area while trying to push to the northwest towards Kharkov. To protect the German flank it was intended to slowly advance to the Severnyy Donets and use the river in defence. The Germans should be able to punch through the thin Soviet line were desired, but it is a long way to the main objectives northwest towards Kharkov as well as the Severnyy Donets. For the Soviet player, this is desperation along the whole front. The defensive line that has been cobbled together does not have the necessary reserves to back it up. Ideally a slow fall back towards the river line is best, but that probably means abandoning the comrades retreating back from the Dnepr. In the meantime the weakened 3rd Tank Army forces will arrive with the intention of slowing the SS advance. Be aware that if explicit supply is not used in the scenario some forces such as 25th Tank Corp may be supplied more quickly than they were historically.