Reichswehr & Freikorps - Decision Games coming from East Prussia. ... German Combat Phase ... On the other hand, losses to Soviet First Cavalry Army are hard

by E.R. Bickford

Production:Lise’ Patterson

© 2011 Decision Games

Bakersfield, CA.

Reichswehr & Freikorps

A1 S&T 273 | AFTER ACTION REPORT | MAR–APR 2012

S&T 273: After Action Report

This alternative history wargame opens with the following premise: the Soviets have won the Russo-Polish War of 1920. That has numerous implications. The primary being that the Soviets then remain determined to carry communist revolution forward into Germany. The Soviet player has two “fronts” (army groupings) begin-ning the game around Warsaw: the West Front and the Southwest Front. They will be used to strike across western Poland and into Germany.

Soviet “National Will” (a measure of overall morale) starts “High” at 20

points on that index. The Germans have 30 victory points (VP) to only four for the Soviets. The Red morale advantage will affect both movement and combat positively for them while it lasts. The German advantage lies the asymmetric turn sequence, which allows him to interrupt Soviet play to insert any German Phase of his choice. I’m not sure how that will be best used. Often in my gaming, only my hindsight is proven 20-20. The scale is 15 miles per hex and one week per turn. The date is 01 September 1920.

Turn One

1-7 September 1920

Soviet Movement PhaseThere is no Red reinforcement this turn; so that step is skipped. Due to their high morale, each Soviet unit has an additional movement point. Southwest Front is selected to move first. Its Twelfth Army advances to Lodz, which is unoccupied. That Soviet army gains control of the city, which changes the VP tally to German 28 and six Soviet.

German Railroad Movement The German player decides to interrupt the Soviet turn, so as to better defend forward in Poland. He implements his Railroad Movement Phase. Railroad movement is only available to the German player, and it has a variable capacity. This time the dice are kind, and the Germans can move up to six units via RR. The German player has set up most of his units at railheads, so as to take full advantage of the potential use of the railroads.

The Reichswehr Munster Divisionmoves by rail from the town of Schlochau to Grudziadz. The Reichswehr Berlin Division is also in Schlochau, and it boards the trains and is railed to the town of Torun, which is along the Vistula River. A Freikorps division also moves from Schlochau to Bydgoszcz. The Reichswehr moves the Munich Division from Landsberg to Poznan. That somewhat solidifies the German position in Poland, and there will be no more free Soviet occupations.



Soviet Movement Phase The Soviet player resumes his Movement Phase with the Southwest Front. The Konarmiya advances across the plain between Lodz and Torun. Fourteenth Army moves to defend the Soviet west flank from any possible attacks coming from East Prussia. They’re unlikely, but one can’t be too cautious in dealing with East Prussia.

West Front is activated for movement. Its Sixteenth Army marches to engage Grudziadz. Soviet Fourth Armyadvances to surround the German positions in Bydgoszcz, and Third Army is poised to attack Torun.

Soviet Combat PhaseThird Army launches an attack against the Germans in Turin. That town is defended by the Reichswehr. In the end the Berlin Division

retreats west. Turin is occupied by the Soviet 56th Rifle Division.

Fourth Army launches an attack against the Freikorps unit in Bydgoszcz; however, that Soviet army has outrun its supply line. As a result the attack stalls. Sixteenth Army is poised to assault the town of Grudziadz. Those Soviet troops are in supply and will face the Reichswehr Munich Divisionin a frontal attack. The German unit is destroyed, and Soviet 27th Rifle advanc-es into the town, taking control of it.

German Movement PhaseThe German commander decides to move two units of the Freikorps to defensive positions east of Konigsberg. The Upper Silesian Rifle Corps is one of them. Then the Guards Cavalry Rifle Division anchors the flank of East Prussia from off the Vistula River. Freikorps Konigsberg moves

to the forest along the East Prussian border. Since Soviet Fourth Armyseems overextended, the German commander decides on a limited counterattack outside of Grudziadz.

German Combat PhaseSoviet 15th Cavalry Division is surround-ed near Grudziadz. The German com-mander launches a concentric attack, and the Soviet cavalry is destroyed. That doesn’t go over well with Stalin.

Turn Two

8-14 September 1920

Soviet morale falls to 18 points. The Soviet player places a railhead marker on the newly controlled town of Turin. The combatants can only get one new stretch of railroad operational each week.

S&T 273 | AFTER ACTION REPORT | MAR–APR 2012 A3

Soviet Movement PhaseWest Front moves first. Its Sixteenth Army deploys for an attack against East Prussia. Fourth Army redoubles its effort against the German-held town of Grudziadz. Fifteenth Army advances into the area between Fourth and Sixteenth Armies. Soviet Third Armyalmost completely surrounds the Berlin Division west of Turin. The German player interrupts the Soviet turn to implement his own Movement Phase.

German Movement PhaseThird Cavalry and the Erhardt Naval Brigade advance to the aid of the Berlin Division, which is in trouble near Turin. Then the Soviet Movement Phase resumes.

Soviet Movement PhaseThe Southwest Front marches. Its Twelfth Army moves from Lodz toward the German border. First

Cavalry Army advances around Turin. The German player inter-rupts to take his Combat Phase.

German Combat PhaseThis is aimed at saving the Berlin Division outside Turin. Soviet 5th Rifle Division has cut off the Berlin Division; so the German commander orders a preemptive counterattack. As a result, Soviet 5th Rifle is destroyed. Though it was a close-run thing, the BerlinDivision is out of harm’s way for now. The German commander launches another attack nearby. Freikorps Von Epp joins the Reichswehr’s 1st Cavalry Division in an attack against Soviet 18th Rifle Division. That attack stalls.

Soviet Combat PhaseSouthwest Front goes first. First Cavalry Army attacks a company of German armored cars, and that proto-motor-ized unit is eliminated. None of the other armies of Southwest Front attack.

West Front is activated for combat. Von Epp’s unit is forced to retreat from Bydgoszcz, and Soviet 53rd Riflecaptures that town. Victory points: German 25 and Soviet nine. Soviet morale moves back up to 19 points.

Soviet 12th and 18th Rifle Divisionsattack and to the German 1st Cavalry Division. Soviet Sixteenth Armylaunches an attack into East Prussia. The Guards Cavalry Rifle Division is defending. As a result, that Freikorps cavalry unit is eliminated and the Soviet 27th Rifle Division advances. Freikorps Konigsberg is also elimi-nated in the border fighting.

German Railroad MovementThe German player rolls two rail moves, but his army is in such disarray he can’t effectively employ even that slim capacity effectively. The trains lay motionless.



Turn Three

15-21 September 1920

So far, Lodz, Grudziadz, Bydgoszcz and Torun have fallen to the Red Army. Torun has been established as a railhead for the Soviets. Soviet morale has fallen to 17 points, which is still “high,” so it continues to yield positive effects on both Red Army combat and movement. The Germans still lead in VP; however, with 25 to nine. The Soviet player decides to establish a railhead in the Lodz.

Soviet Movement PhaseSouthwest Front is randomly chosen to move first. The Soviet commander decides to send its Twelfth Army across the border into Germany with the objective of capturing Breslau. Most of Twelfth Army forms a perimeter around the city, but the Bashkir Cavalry swings around to strike from the rear. Since Breslau is a city, there’s no concentric attack bonus. Next, First Cavalry Army moves toward Poznan.

West Front advances. Its Fifteenth Army marches toward Danzig. Third and Fourth Armies have a solid line through the center of Poland. The German player decides to conduct his movement before the Soviet Combat Phase commences.

German Movement PhaseSeveral units are in danger of being cut off in central Poland. The Berlin Division is extricated and redeployed to Poznan, which looks to be under heavy threat. The 2nd Cavalry swings around the flank to the northern side of Bydgoszcz.

Soviet Combat PhaseSouthwest Front is drawn first. The opening attack is against Breslau. It’s a city with excellent defenses. Twelfth Army is prepared to attack but, due to the fog of war, the Soviets didn’t appreciate the strength of the German defense. The attack is at 1:1 after modifiers are applied, and the result is “Attack Stalls.” The German player interrupts again to take his Combat Phase.

German Combat PhaseThe German commander orchestrates an attack against the Soviet-held town of Bydgoszcz, which is occupied by the 53rd Rifle Division. The result of the counterattack is a bloodbath; so Soviet 53rd is destroyed. There’s not much left of Von Epp’s Division either. The 2nd Cavalry advances into the town.

Soviet Combat PhaseThe Soviet player resumes his Combat Phase with the West Front. Its Fourth Army launches another

round of attacks against Bydgoszcz. The Reichswehr has its 2nd Cavalry Division in place there, but the unit is hit from two sides. Another bloodbath results. The town falls back to Soviet Fourth Army.

Fourth Army continues its attack. The 12th Rifle Division is face to face with the Freikorps in Schlochau. The attack results in the retreat of the Baden Assault Battalion, and Soviet 12th Rifle captures the town.

Fifteenth Army is poised to assault the Freikorps in Danzig. That could be decisive, but the attack stalls: the two forces remain locked in contact.

In East Prussia, the Soviet effort is against Marienburg, which is defended by the Volunteer National Rifle Corps and the Reichswehr Konigsberg Infantry Division. The Freikorps unit is eliminated and the Konigsberg Division retreats. That allows the Soviet 10th Rifle Division to capture Marienburg.

German Railroad MovementThe Munich Division boards trains in Dresden and moves to Frankfurt. The rest of the German rail capacity isn’t used. The turn ends with the VP at: Germany 24, Soviets 10. The Soviet morale remains high at 19 points.

Turn Four

22-20 September 1920

Soviet morale drops to 17 points, which is still high. The Soviet player places a railhead marker in Schlochau, which will provide a vital link in the overall supply line as Soviet forces move on Germany. The Germans have no new areas into which to extend their rail links.

Soviet Reinforcement & MovementThough South Front is available as reinforcement, the Soviet player doesn’t yet want to bring aboard those formations. They have other work to perform in other theaters.

Konarmiya opens the action by sur-rounding Poznan. The Germans have a strong force there, but they will likely be cut off from supply as the cavalry


surrounds the city. The German player could interrupt Soviet movement and go to his Rail Movement Phase, to either add to the defense or to evacuate the force already there. The city is worth two VP, which is actually a four point swing. On the other hand, losses to Soviet First Cavalry Army are hard for that side to tolerate, as they work to directly drop morale. The German player decides to interrupt with his regular Movement Phase, so as to keep the supply path open to Poznan.

German Movement PhaseThe German player also receives some replacements. The armored car com-pany and the Freikorps Guards Rifle Corps are brought back. Those units are used to keep open the supply line to Poznan. Then the Dresden Divisionis moved to cover the flank of the units in Breslau, which also look to be in danger of encirclement by Southwest

Front. The German Rifle Division moves from Landsberg to Glogau. In Poland the Oberland Battalion moves back into Grudziadz, which earlier had been controlled by Soviet forces but was then was then left unoccupied. That drop Red Army morale to 16 points (still high), and changes the VP situation to: German 24, Soviets 10.

Soviet Movement PhaseSouthwest Front resumes its movement. We can see the flexibility offered to the German player by the ability to discern Soviet intentions and then react speedily. Fourteenth Army moves to the Vistula River. First Cavalry Armyhas nearly surrounded Poznan, and Twelfth Army has encircled Breslau.

Next, West Front moves. Both its Third and Fourth Armies are securing central Poland. Danzig is cut off by Fifteenth Army, and Sixteenth Army

is working its way into East Prussia. The Soviet player is committed to a number of divergent offensives. That could prove to be costly.

Soviet Combat PhaseCombat is resolved by front, and Southwest Front is selected randomly to go first. The first attack is against Breslau. There is a German relief force keeping open that city’s line of supply; so the Soviets decide to launch a preliminary attack against that force. Since that is a key attack, the German player elects to expend an ALS (Allied Logistical Support) marker. That doubles the defense value of the Dresden Infantry. The combat result is attack stalls. That leaves open the line of supply to Breslau, it’s also worked to draw off a significant force from Soviet Twelfth Army. That’s enough to call off the attack on the city.



First Cavalry Army is poised to attack Poznan. Again, though, a German relief force is keeping open the city’s supply line. As long as that’s the case, the Germans will have access to ALS. Budyenny has heard about Breslau; so he decides to attack the city directly, without regard to the relief force. The German player throws down another ALS marker. That’s his last marker for the turn. The attack is repulsed. The Kotoski Cavalry is eliminated.

Though things have not gone well for Southwest Front, the Germans have used all their ALS; so nothing is available for the following attacks by West Front. Third and Fourth Armies have surrounded German forces near Bydgoszcz. The Erhardt Naval Brigade is destroyed.

Sixteenth Army has surrounded Danzig. Due to the port there, those German units remain in supply. The attack bogs down, however, with an attack stalls result. The Oberland Corps is wrecked by a Soviet attack into Grudziadz. That swings the VP back to: Germans 23, Soviets 11.

In a final effort, Soviet Sixteenth Army attacks the Konigsberg Divisionin East Prussia. That German unit is eliminated and Sixteenth Armyadvances toward Konigsberg. Overall, the Soviet attacks didn’t go as hoped, though the Germans have used up their stockpile of ALS markers.

German Railroad MovementThe German player receives three rail-road points, but only moves one forma-tion. The Baden Army entrains and is moved to Berlin, though there doesn’t seem to be much of a threat there at

this time. The rest of the German forces remain in their current positions.

Turn Five

1-7 October 1920

The Soviets lose two morale points, which drops their tally to 15. They therefore no longer have high morale, and that movement and combat bonus is lost. The German player collects one ALS marker. The VP stand at: Germans 23, Soviets 11. The Soviet player adds a railhead at Grudziadz. Both sides movement points are reduced due to worsening autumn weather.

Soviet Movement PhaseWest Front has the first movement. Sixteenth Army splits: part of it advances on Konigsberg, and part joins Fifteenth Army besieging Danzig. Then Southwest Front


marches. Its Fourteenth Army moves toward Poznan. First Cavalry Armyalso maneuvers in that vicinity.

Soviet Combat PhaseWest Front opens the combat. On the plain Bydgoszcz the Soviets have surrounded the Reichswehr 2nd Cavalry Division. That unit is out of supply and functioning at half capacity. The Soviet player has overwhelming odds, but decides to lower them to 2:1 to reduce the risks. Unfortunately a bloodbath still results. The 2nd

Cavalry is eliminated and the Soviet 54th Rifle Division is also wrecked.

Outside Konigsberg the Freikorps has two units screening the city. The Upper Silesian Volunteer Rifle Corps and Freikorps Hesse-Thuringia-Waldekischen face Soviet Sixteenth Army. Again the Soviet commander is conservative

and reduces the attack odds. Both combats result in attack stalls.

Soviet Fifteenth and Sixteenth Armiesjoin in another attack against Danzig. The German player uses his ALS marker to double the strength of his defense. That results in a repulse and Soviet 11th Rifle is destroyed.

Next, Southwest Front launches its attacks. Outside Poznan the Germans have a force to keep open the railroad. The Guards Cavalry Rifle and an armored car unit defend. They’re facing the entire Konarmiya, and are consequently eliminated. That allows Southwest Front to cut the supply line to Poznan. Fourteenth Army follows up with an all-out attack on Poznan. The Germans in the city manage to fend off the attack, even though they’ve been left without of supply.

At Breslau, Twelfth Army attempts to surround the city by engaging the Dresden Division. This unit is forced to retreat. The Soviet turn is uneventful.

German Movement & Combat PhasesAssault Battalion Baden moves back to Kolberg. Thus far it’s been sufficient to hold back the Soviet infantry in Schlochau.

The German player decides to risk an attack against the Soviet force near Breslau. That effort is partially effective, as the Dresden Division pushes back the Soviets and reopens the supply line to Breslau.

Turn Six

8-14 October 1920

Red Army morale drops to 13 points. The German player receives an ALS



marker. The Soviet player places a railhead marker in Bydgoszcz. The VP situation remains unchanged.

Soviet Movement PhaseSouthwest Front moves first this time. Its Twelfth Army positions itself to make another attempt to cut off Breslau. Meanwhile, First Cavalry Army joins with Fourteenth Army in an effort to drive the Germans from Poznan.

Then West Front moves. Most of its forces are already engaged in efforts toward Konigsberg and Danzig, but its Third and Fourth Armies move toward Germany. Both of those armies have been depleted in earlier fighting.

Soviet Combat PhaseWest Front attacks first. Soviet 2nd Rifle Division attacks the Upper Silesian Volunteer Rifle Corps. This German unit

retreats to Konigsberg, and the Soviets advance. Next, 17th Rifle Divisionattacks the Freikorps Hesse-Thuringia-Waldekischen, but the attack stalls.

Next, Southwest Front launches its attacks. First Cavalry and Fourteenth Armies attack the Germans in Poznan. There are two units there, the Berlinand Munich Divisions. They’re cut off and out of supply; so they operate at limited strength. As a result, both units are eliminated. The Soviets capture Poznan and the VP are adjusted. The Germans have 21 to the Soviet total of 13. Red Army morale climbs back to 15 points; however, it’s still not high.

Just outside Breslau, Soviet Twelfth Army launches attacks against the Dresden Division, which is keeping open the supply line to the forces in

the city. The German player uses his ALS marker, and the attack stalls.

German Movement PhaseThe 2nd Cavalry Division receives replacements and is reactivated near Berlin. The Konigsberg Division also receives replacements in that port city. The German player decides to forgo further movement.

German Combat PhaseThe German force in Breslau launches a counterattack against the Soviet forces surrounding that city. As a result, Soviet 25th Rifle Division is eliminated and Rifle Regiment Lettow Vorbeckis also destroyed. In Konigsberg the local German commander attempts a counterattack, but it stalls.


German Railroad MovementThe Germans forgo rail move-ment, as they’re satisfied with their current deployment.

Turn Seven

15-21 October 1920

Red Army morale drops to 13 points. The Germans obtain another ALS marker.

Soviet Movement PhaseSouthwest Front moves first. Its Fourteenth Army advances toward the German-held town of Glogau. Twelfth Army focuses on Breslau, but it has become weakened through failed attacks. First Cavalry Armydivides, so as to be able to support the actions at Glogau and Breslau.

West Front also maneuvers. Its Thirdand Fourth Armies continue to press toward Germany. The towns of Kolberg and Landsberg appear threatened. The German player declines to interrupt at this time.

Soviet Combat PhaseSouthwest Front has the first round of combat. Its Fourteenth Army has nearly surrounded the Germans in Glogau. Some of First Cavalry Army assists in cutting the German supply line. The German Rifle Division defends, but it’s out of supply. As a result, that Freikorps unit is eliminated and Fourteenth Armycaptures the town. Soviet forces have reached the Oder River. That shifts the VP tally to: Germans 20, Soviets 14. Red Army morale goes to 14.

Outside Breslau, Twelfth Army attacks the Dresden Division, which is vital in

keeping open the supply line to that city. The German player makes the fateful decision to expend the ALS, dou-bling the defender. That’s not enough, however, and the Dresden Division is forced to retreat. That allows the Soviet army to close down the railroad to Breslau. With Breslau out of supply, the rest of Twelfth Army attacks it. The Stettin and Stuttgart Divisions dig in and manage an attack stalls result. That keeps the beleaguered city under German control, at least temporarily.

West Front also attacks. German 2nd Cavalry Division is forced to give up ground and retreat toward Germany. The Freikorps in Landsberg also retreats. That allows Soviet 21st Rifle Division to capture Landsberg. Red Army morale climbs to 15 points. The VP tally changes to: Germans 19, Soviets 15.



Soviet Fourth Army attacks Kolberg. That town is defended by the Baden Assault Corps. That Freikorps unit is wrecked. and the Soviets capture Kolberg. The VP adjust to: Germans 18, Soviets 16. Red Army morale climbs to 16 points, which is again high. That will increase the Red Army’s overall combat effectiveness.

That development comes just in time for the Soviet attack on Danzig. The German forces there remain in supply only because of the port facilities. The fighting is intense, and the result is a bloodbath. Both sides suffer heavy casualties. The Freikorps put up an outstanding defense, but was simply outgunned in the end. The Saxon Border Rifle Brigade is wiped out along with the Von Lowenfeld Naval Brigadeand 1st Naval Brigade. The Soviets also

lose two rifle divisions in the battle, but Danzig falls to them. Red Army morale rises to 18 points, in the high range. The VP also shift to: Soviets 18, Germans 16.

Outside Konigsberg another German Freikorps unit is screening the Soviet advance. The Reds attack, and the small unit is overrun and destroyed, opening the way to Konigsberg. The city seems to be heavily defended though.

German Railroad & Regular Movement PhasesThe Konigsberg Division and the Volunteer National Rifle Corps receive replacements in Konigsberg. That will make the defense there all the stronger. The Germans have only one rail capacity point to use. Meanwhile their remaining forces move back along the

line of communications toward Berlin. The Germans forgo offensive combat.

Turn Eight

22-31 October 1920

Red Army morale drops to 16 (still high), and the Germans obtain an ALS marker. Landsberg gets a Soviet railhead marker.

As a result of the random draw, Southwest Front moves first. Its Fourteenth Army advances toward Frankfurt. Twelfth Army remains poised to capture Breslau, which is now out of supply. Then West Front springs into action. Its Third and Fourth Armies advance toward Stettin and manage to get to the river. It doesn’t look like the Soviets are going to be able to capture Konigsberg.


Fall of Breslau

After heavy fighting, and many casualties on both sides, Breslau falls to the Soviets. The Reichswehr is falling apart. Both its Stettin and Stuttgart Divisions are destroyed, though both 12th Army and the Konarmiya have also had to absorb heavy losses. The capture of Breslau raises Red Army morale to 18 points (high). The VP tally changes to: Soviets 20, Germans 14.

Twelfth Army fails to gain any ground in its attack against 2nd Cavalry Division outside Frankfurt. The combat odds are reduced to 2:1 to limit casualties, but it ends up with the result of attack stalls. North of Frankfurt the Freikorps Landsberg Division is subjected to a concentric attack. That combat is again reduced



to 2:1 to limit Soviet losses. In the end the Freikorps unit is eliminated.

In Konigsberg the Freikorps anticipates a Soviet attack, but that doesn’t happen. The Soviet commander decides to simply keep the German forces there pinned down.

German Player TurnThe German player takes his phases. The Reichswehr 1st Cavalry and the Freikorps Von Epp regroup in Berlin with replacements. The Dresden Division, which escaped destruction in the fighting around Breslau, continues to fall back toward Dresden.

The German player decides to launch an attack against the Soviet forces outside Konigsberg. The Soviet player has sent the lion’s share of his total force toward Germany. With the aid of

an ALS marker, the German attack is formidable. The Soviets end up sacrific-ing their 143rd Brigade of Mozyr Group.

Turn Nine

1-7 November 1920

Red Army morale falls back to 16 points (still high). The German player gains another ALS marker. A Soviet railhead is placed in Poznan. West Front begins its movement, and it focuses on Frankfurt and Stettin. The Germans interrupt to take replacements in Berlin and Frankfurt. The Soviet player still hasn’t brought on units from South Front, but his on-board offensive firepower is dwindling.

During Soviet combat, West Frontdoesn’t launch any attacks, though it’s units are deployed outside of

both Frankfurt and Stettin. Sixteenth Army also refrains from attacking Konigsberg. Southwest Front does attack; however, and it manages to eliminate the Reichswehr 2nd Cavalry Division near Frankfurt.

German forces in Konigsberg again try a counterattack against Sixteenth Army. Using the available ALS, it attacks at double strength, and the result is a bloodbath. Soviet 17th Rifle Divisionis eliminated, and the Freikorps in Konigsberg loses the Volunteer National Rifle and the Konigsberg Division. That ends the turn.

Turn 10

8-14 November 1920

Red Army morale is at 14 points. The Germans receive more ALS. The Soviet


player gets the railroad operational at Glogau. Southwest Front moves first. First Cavalry and Twelfth Armiesadvance toward Dresden, but they move forward slowly. Then Fourteenth Army cuts off Frankfurt. The German player doesn’t intervene. Then West Front maneuvers. Sixteenth Army’sunits outside Konigsberg fall back. They’re not strong enough to attack the city and, at the same time, they don’t want to have to suffer repeated German counterattacks from inside it (especially since ALS is available). This way the Germans will have to leave the safety of the city to counterattack. We’ll see what they do.

Soviet Fourteenth Army attacks Frankfurt, which is now surrounded and cut off from supply. The German forces suffer some losses, and Freikorps

Oberland is eliminated, but the city remains in German hands.

Soviet Fourth and Sixteenth Armiesare poised outside Stettin. There’s a Freikorps unit defending it. The Soviet player no longer has a morale bonus, and the Germans have an ALS marker. The Soviet commander decides to hold back.

German Player TurnThe German takes his three phases together. The Germans receive replace-ments for several units, which again become operational. A company of armored cars is again available, along with the Munich Division,within the Reichswehr. Rifle Regiment Lettow Vorbeck and the Saxon Border Brigade also receive replacements.

The Munich Division leads a counterat-tack against the forces surrounding the Frankfurt. ALS isn’t used, but is instead conserved for later actions. The effort is still successful, managing to eliminate Soviet 8th Cavalry Division. That reopens supply to Frankfurt.

Turn 11

15-21 November 1920

Red Army Morale is at 12 points. The Soviets place a railhead in Kolberg, and the Germans obtain another ALS delivery. Soviet armies continue to push toward Dresden and to further isolate Frankfurt. West Front moves to reinforce the assault on Stettin. The Soviets have three potential attacks lined up while the Germans have two ALS markers.



Twelfth Army and the Konarmiya attack the Germans in Dresden. The German player employs ALS and doubles the defense. The Soviets get a lucky die roll and the attack stalls: it could’ve turned out much worse for them. Fourteenth Army then attacks Frankfurt. This time the supply line is open and the German units there use another ALS marker. The Soviet attack is turned back, and their 3rd Rifle Division is destroyed.

West Front engages in combat. The Germans are out of ALS. Fourth and Sixteenth Armies join to attack Stettin. The city is defended by the Volunteer National Light Infantry of the Freikorps, a fairly strong unit. The attack stalls.

The German player again takes his turn without having interrupted the Soviet player’s actions. In Konigsberg, the Freikorps Konigsberg Battalion receives enough replacements to become active again. There is suf-ficient strength in Konigsberg, and it’s become unlikely it will succumb to the Reds. The Freikorps also gives replacements to 1st Marine Brigade, Assault Battalion Baden and the Guards Cavalry Rifle Division. Those units will protect Berlin.

The German player sees an opportu-nity to exploit the Soviet weakness near Konigsberg. The Konigsberg Division and a Freikorps unit make a move against Sixteenth Army on the out-skirts. The German maneuver sets up a concentric attack, but the thing turns bloody and the Konigsberg Division is

destroyed along with the Soviet rifle division. That leaves Konigsberg weak-er, but it still has a decent garrison.

Turn 12

22-30 November 1920

Red Army morale is now 10, which is still strong enough so as not to hamper operations, though it’s also no longer anywhere near being high. The Soviets make the railhead at Breslau operational, and the Germans get their last ALS marker.

It is clear the German player can do nothing to gain more VP; so the Soviet player is refraining from being aggres-sive. The game ends with the Soviets at 18 VP and the Germans with 16. That’s a narrow victory for the Soviets.

Documents

Reichswehr & Freikorps - Decision Games coming from East Prussia. ... German Combat Phase ... On the other hand, losses to Soviet First Cavalry Army are hard