Bitter Glory at Tannenberg - The Matrix Games version of East Front II

The Tannenberg Positions, 15km SW of Narva, Estonia. Best against Human opponent(s). 26-31 July 1944. Since January of 1944, Armeeabteilung Narwa had been holding the Soviet push at the "Panther Line" with hard earned success. However as Operation Bagration opened in the South, the Divisions of the Army Detachment were piece mealed away from their parent formation to help stem the Russian offensive against Armeegruppe Mitte. All that remained by 20 July was Felix Steiner's IIISS Panzerkorps and a solitary, yet experiened Heer formation, the East Prussian 11.Infanteriedivision. On 24 July 1944, the Front at Narva exploded it's entire length. However, given the considerably weakened state of the Defenses at said city, the order to withdraw to the Tannenberg Line was given a day earlier. Seeing an oppurtunity, the Soviet 2nd Shock Army unleashed their attack in the Northern Sector simutaneously with the German withdraw. What had started as an orderly retreat turned into a frenzied scramble full of near disasters. However, all of the units of the IIISS PzK would reach their lines by 2400 July 25, give one. 48SS PzGr Rgt "General Seyffardt" would be cut off and annihilated earlier in the day. The morning of 26 July brought the shells of the Red Army and a following onslaught that would last almost a week, and cost both sides considerable losses. The 3 Hills dominating the area ran from East to West and became bitterly contested as a result, constantly changing hands. The next 72 hours would decide the fate of the Baltic states as Felix Steiner Korps guarded it's back door. The Soviet's, knowing this, would throw massive Armored and Infantry forces at the outnumbered and out gunned Freiwilligen Korps. The IIISS Panzerkorps knowing the same, could not withdraw. This was to be the European volunteers "Battle of Destiny"........and when the smoke cleared on 31 July, IIISS PzK had given only 2.8 km to the enemy, yet at a cost of over 50% of it's troops. The IIISS PzK would win it's bitter glory here at the Tannenberg Line, but it's victory was one many of it's panzergrenadiers would not live to see, and none the rest would never forget.This scenario represents the battle from 2200 26 July, until it's gridlock at 2000 29 July 1944. See read me file for more detailed information.