Holding the Chir - The Matrix Games version of East Front II

Italian Sector, Chir River region. 150km WNW of Stalingrad. [Best played as Allies or H2H with FOW.] On the 19th of November, the Soviets began their winter offensive to encircle Stalingrad. In the north powerful armored units of Vatutin's SW Front crushed the Rumanian 3rd Army and proceeded to close the ring on Stalingrad. Vatutin's right flank in this operation spread wide in a Recon in Force manoeuvre driving for the Chir River and crossing points at Hemorvan and Chernyshevskaya. If a bridgehead could be gained on the Chir the consequences for the Germans would be disasterous as further terrain obstacles between there and Rostov would not signifcantly impede the Russians. As the Soviets drew close to the Chir, the only available force to prevent their crossing were battered elements of the Italian 35th Corp. If the Italians could hold at Hemorvan, German reinforcements would soon arrive to bolster their defense.