#0306_02_The SS Recapture Kharkov - Act II : Conquest - PzC 19 Kharkov 43

The SS Recapture Kharkov - Mar 6th to Mar 13th, 1943. Liebstandarte, Das Reich and 6th Panzer Division launched the major push to recapture Kharkov on the morning of March 6th. Totenkopf fresh from mopping up the Kegichevka pocket joined the drive north the following day in tandem with 11th Panzer. Progress though quick for the SS was very difficult for XLVIII Panzer Korp which took much longer to break through the Mzha River line at Zmiyev. Ultimately this saved the Soviets from being completely enveloped in Kharkov as the roads to the southeast remained open. (Size, Large) This scenario is ideally played as HTH but can be played against the AI on either side. The German player has to push hard to cross the natural barriers south of Kharkov. Destroying as many Soviet forces south of the Mzha River will ultimately weaken that defensive line. The SS should be trying to position themselves west of Kharkov so they have no river barriers to cross. For the Soviet player this is maybe not as bad as it initially looks. You have good artillery and good terrain. What is missing is a sizable mechanised force to provide a fire brigade and challenge the Germans. Fight a rear guard action while not losing the rear guards! Note : Totenkopf is only represented by the forces that were actually tasked with capturing Kharkov. The rest of the Division moved north of Kharkov and provided a screen to allow Das Reich & Liebstandarte to directly assault Kharkov. As there is no Soviet threat from the northern map edge, Totenkopf will never be required to perform the role it did historically. To prevent the Division being used a historically the bulk of it is not included in this scenario.