Waiting for the Sonnenblum - The Matrix Games version of East Front II

[Teamgame : 3 vs. 3] : Location : West of Küstrin, Germany. The end for the third Reich is near! The final assault on Berlin is about to begin. On the eastern side of the river, some two million Soviet troops are awaiting the order to collect the last prize : Berlin! During the previous weeks, the 1st Bielo-Russian Front has gained a small bridgehead on the western bank of the Oder river. This bridgehead is an obvious jump-off point for the oncoming assault. But it serves two purposes! The second being part of the encircling of Küstrin. Inside this 'fortress' some 30.000 German troops are trapped and are slowly being pushed back into a shrinking perimiter. Inside the pocket the situation is rapidly becoming desperate as food, water and ammunition is falling short. Untill now, the encircled troops had been forbidden to break-out as the Soviets had to take the city before they could launch their final assault. German high command however that the purpose was served (some 8 rifle divisions had been engaged on the outer perimter) and the remaining troops would serve as a welcome addition to the defenders of Berlin. Plans were made and troops were moved in position to relieve the fortress and free the encircled troops. The XII SS Armee Korps (responsible for this sector) was allotted two powerfull battlegroups of the 25th Panzergrenadier division and the 11th SS Panzergrenadier division 'Nordland'. Together with the remaining troops of 9th Fallschirmjäger division (the rest was either engaged in Küstrin or Breslau) they would attack in the night of 26/27 March and first mop up the bridgehead, then drive on to free the defenders of Küstrin. To minimize losses to the preciosu armour a night attack had been opted. Things were however becoming urgent! Not only because the Fortress Küstrin was in trouble, but also because the Soviets had finished building three pontoon bridges over the Oder two days ago. There was a big possibility that heavier equipment was being shipped over the river to strengthen the bridgehead. The Soviet defenders belonged to the 88th Guards Rifle division (28th Guards Rifle Corps). The Guards infantrymen had been ordered to dig in and repulse any attempt to elimiante the bridgehead. To this end, an entire artillery division was placed under it's command and numerous heavy anti-tank guns had been attributed. The germans on the other side of the river knew of the relief atempt and anxiously awaited the codeword 'Sonnenblum', this would mean that the relief force had reached the river and they had that the break-out would begin.