#0303_01_Destruction of 3rd Tank Army - An army sacrificed - PzC 19 Kharkov 43

The Destruction of 3rd Tank Army - Mar 3rd to Mar 4th, 1943. Stavka in desperation ordered Voronezh Front to hand 3rd Tank Army to South Western Front in an attempt to halt the German's northward push and rescue the scattered survivors of 6th Army. It took a full 3 days to disengage 3rd Tank Army and regroup its forces around Kegichevka. 12th & 15th Tank Corp's weakened forces were stopped dead by Totenkopf and Das Reich and gained no ground at all. The German forces resumed their offensive to the Donets and overwhelmed the stalled Soviet forces and quickly pocketed swathes of 3rd Tank Army. In tandem 6th Panzer Division brushed 6th Guards Cavalry Corp aside and cut 3rd Tank Corps communications at Velikaya Bereka. (Size, Medium) This scenario can be played from any position against the AI or HTH. The Soviet player is really up against it here. It is a huge balancing act to slow the SS down with weakened forces. Making the German player fight for every objective is the key to costing him just one more turn. For the German player it is important to break the Soviet line as quickly as possible and destroy a hunk of units as this will quickly weaken the defence and accelerate the rot. The Soviets are very light in armour and this is your major advantage.