Popov's Doom - The Matrix Games version of East Front II

Stepanovka, 150km SSE of Kharkov: [Best played as Axis] Believing that the renewed operations of the German panzer divisions south of Kharkov were merely a further indication that the enemy was withdrawing towards the Dnieper and that his plan for annihilating the German southern wing was succeeding, Stalin continued to push the Soviet armies westward. However, on the battlefield Armored Group Popov, with its overextended supply lines paralyzed, was facing disaster! On 23 February armored formations from the 40th Panzer Corps struck the scattered units of Popov's superbly equipped mobile group northeast of Pavlograd. With the specter of doom looming for the Soviet offensive the 25th Tank Corps, led by the 162nd Tank Brigade, turned north to escape. Moving to intercept the retreating Russians near Stepanovka was a blocking force from the 7th Panzer and 5th SS Panzergrenadier Divisions intent on destroying the 162nd Tank Brigade and sealing the doom of Popov's powerful armored group.