The Last Retreat - The Matrix Games version of East Front II

Losevo, 3km SE of Kharkov: [Best played against Human opponent] As the long days of August passed, the advance by the Soviets 5th Guards Tank Army had been defeated and Kharkov was still in German hands. But Field-Marshal von Manstein realized that his divisions had paid a terrible price and that sooner or later the city would be encircled. Bending over the situation map in his headquarters he could see that soon half a dozen divisions would be trapped by the Russians. Remembering Stalingrad he said, "I'd rather lose a city than an army!" On August 22nd he ordered the city, which had changed hands four times in twenty-two months, evacuated for the last time. As soon as the German withdrawal became obvious the Russians thrust forward with the 27th Guards Tank Brigade from the east. Given the task of covering the withdrawal was a rearguard formed around the depleted 4th Panzergrenadier Regiment/6th Panzer Division and the remaining Tiger tanks of the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion, who took up positions near Losevo southeast of Kharkov!