Scenario: SaS TrooP non-series or limited series scenarios WW2 Edition

[SaS TrooP]

Allright, here goes the last one that has just made it through the testing :3
I hope you like the originality of those scenarios - I try to cover less known stories of the war. Here we go with what-if scenario... but that indeed was a close call.

Enjoy!

Klodzko Incident*
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Date: September 1945*
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Location: Klodzko, Silesia, modern day Poland*
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Type: Polish delay and counterattack vs. Czechoslovak advance*
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It is little known fact, but Poland and Czechoslovakia were on the verge of war shortly after World War 2 in Europe ended.
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There was great animosity between both nations dating back to interwar period. In 1919, Czechoslovak forces entered Polish controlled Zaolzie area in Upper Silesia (that was to be subjected to democratic plebiscite). The week long Polish-Czechoslovak war ended with Czech victory as Polish forces were occupied with fighting in Ukraine against Red Army in what would soon be known as Polish-Soviet War. Czech victory was a bloody one: Czech troops commited numerous atrocities in Zaolzie. They also evicted Polish majority citizens by force.
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The time of revenge came in 1938. When Germans, French and British discussed the Munich agreement - or first partition of Czechoslovakia - Polish forces entered Zaolzie after 19 years of absence and claimed the territory back. This time the invasion was bloodless. Also, Czech population was allowed to stay. Further reforms were interrupted by the outbreak of the war and subsequent occupation of Poland.
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Later on, in 1945, a new borders were drawn. Soviets, who could say the most of all on the matter, proposed a rather decent sollution. Czechs would receive the Zaolzie back. In exchange, the territory of Klodzko in Lower Silesia will be attached to Poland. It so remains to this day, with Poland having a sort of "breakaway" line in Silesia.
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Yet in 1945 Czechs were not so keen on agreeing on that partition plan. To make matters worse, there was a serious diplomatic incident on the Soviet side, where one of Soviet diplomats responsible for negotiating the precise borderline between the two nations sent diplomatic notes with wrong maps attached. These maps strongly favoured the Czechs and provided nearly entire Klodzko area for the government in Prague.
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The Czechs tooks that mistake rather seriously. They immediately accepted thge faulty note and demanded immediate polish withdrawal from the area. Warsaw, surprise to say at least, of course refused. Both nations quickly increased the military build up in Klodzko and Zaolzie areas. The crisis was promptly diffused by Soviet political intervention (supported by Stalin himself). Maps were fixed. Both sides flexed a bit and stood down under international pressure.
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But lets think of what if scenario. Lets assume Czechs are flexing longer than they should. Soviets demobilize quickly in Europe - their main attention is now shifted towards Manchuria and Korea. There is no one to stop the war now. So what happens?
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In late 1945, Polish military was bigger than Czech one. Yet Poland was damaged in huge extent and Warsaw simply could not afford to keep two full line armies in ready status. Also, it must be mentioned that Polish People's Army was already facing the UPA (Ukraine Rebel Army) on its eastern borders, as well as interior unstability caused by anti-communist partisans, commonly known as Cursed Soldiers.
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Czechoslovakia, on the other hand, was in much better shape. Bombings of the factories took its toll, yes, but in 1945 Czech military industry was much better developed compared to its polish counterpart. Czech army was smaller in size, but it could be reinforced by Czechoslovak forces pouring from France, trained and equipped by the British. These forces, commonly known as PHK, spent most of the war on the western front besieging the port of Dunkirk. After the war, PHK - mainly in form of entire tank brigade equipped with Cromwells - arrived in Czechoslovakia and offered itself for the service of government in Prague. At the same time, Czech industry was working hard, producing ex-German vehicles such as Hetzers and selling them to many customers (eg. Switzerland). Czech airforce received new batches of freshly made Avias S-199 - the copies of Messerschmitt BF-109 pattern aircraft that was also produced in Bohemia.
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In other words: Czechs were damn ready to fight. And that war would be a vicious and bloody one, as both nations had a score to settle that was interrupted by the Reich. In this scenario the war finally breaks out in September, both in Zaolzie and Klodzko.
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Commander. You control - first and foremost - entire 35th Infantry Regiment of Polish People's Army's 7th Infantry Division stationed nearby. You are supported by local People's Police company (Milicja). There are some elements of UB forces stationed, too (UB was Secret State Police, rough equivalent of NKVD). Your force is spread thinly along local villages and Klodzko itself. The city can however afford a defence for a while - this is due to old citadel built by the Austrians in XVIII century and later expanded by the Prussians. Remember however that your force is typical Soviet pattern infantry regiment. Your anti-tank capacity is low and due to sheer terrain of your responsibility cannot be properly concentrated.
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There is a massive build-up of Czechoslovak forces in your area. We confirm the pressence of PHK tank brigade with their Cromwells and motorized infantry. We have also spotted Czech T-34s. It seems 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade of general Svoboda joint forces with their brothers from the west. We expect they will push hard and quick. They will likely attempt to swiftly overrun Klodzko and set up defensive positions so that our counterattack will not be able to dislodge them. Such outcome would be a propaganda disaster as Czechs would quickly call it a win. In that case protracted conflict would not stand - we are already irritating Moscow greatly. Majority of 1st Army is still stuck in Vohlyn area fighting Ukrainian rebels. We rushed what we could to Zaolzie though.
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We have dispatched the rest of 7th Infantry Division in the area, as well as other units of Polish 2nd Army. Entire 1st Tank Corps is also there, but we are canibalising equipment and suffering from shortage of crews. Thus we deployed 4th Armoured Brigade in advance, together with divisional artillery.
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Commander, if the Czechs will move in, give them hell. Do not step back and resist stubbornly. Prevent them from capturing the bridges over Nysa river in Klodzko, as that will be the end of it. They will be most likely quicker than your fellow Polish. But we are coming, have no fear. Use engineers, use formidable 85mm AT guns we attached to your regiment. Sustain a defence until 4th Armoured will arrive. We will then jointly push in counterattack. It will be us-or-them scenario. Should the bridges hold for long enough, we will give them armoured battle they seek so badly. If we annihilate both armoured brigades in one day, Czech cause will be lost and we will emerge victorious from that war.
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Good luck!
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This scenarios should be played from Polish side with Czechoslovakia as AI. Important note: since you might get overrun, it is allowred (and suggested) to use your left-behind units to recapture the lost objectives. It might slow down the Czechoslovak speed of advance. Also note that PHK brigade is organized after British pattern, thus is it noticeably bigger compared to its Soviet-pattern counterpart.
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Design: Marcin "SaS TrooP" Kaluza*
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Sources: Fictional scenario, however it was indeed THAT close back in 1945. Historically though the conflict would most likely occur in June or July (rather than September). Also, both Czech brigades would most likely opperate on different fronts. In this scenario they are closely cooperating for greater effect. It must be though noted that Zaolzie would be a better tank suited battlegrounds rather than hilly Klodzko, itself being river valley and gorge between two main Silesian mountain ranges (thus its strategic importance).

[SaS TrooP]

This one is unusually small for me, it is typical battalion sized battle!

Romanian Armoured Division "Romana Mare" action at Scobalteni*
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Date: 20th of August, 1944*
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Location: Scobalteni, just near Podu Iloalei, Iassi region, modern day Moldavia*
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Type: Romanian advance vs. Soviet delay*
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Back in 1944, Nazi Germany and their allies were in general retreat. The most famous Soviet offensive of that year is the one known as Bagration, which completely shattered German central positions and pushed them away from pre-war Soviet territory for good.
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The less known offensive is the one known widely as Second Iassi-Kischinev Offensive, executed in August 1944 by 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts. The offensive had several objectives. It mainly served as southern backbone of Bagration, pinning posible German reinforcements. Secondly, it aimed for possibly reaching Romanian oil fields in Ploesti region, the only decent oil fields Wehrmacht had access to. Finally, it could also knock out Romanians out of the war, and Romanians still provided roughly 400 000 troops for the German cause. It should be mentioned in the background that August was second Soviet attempt on the matter - the first offensive failed miserably in April.
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Meanwhile, Germans were overburdened with attempts on stabilising the central front caught in deadly Bagration Frenzy. The south was stripped of many armoured units with German rebuilt 6th Army holding the area together with Romanian 3rd and 4th Armies commanded respectively by General Petre Dumitrescu and General Ioan Mihail Racovita.
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The exception was however 1st (and only) Romanian Armoured Division, known in Romania as "Romana Mare", and on German planning tables as "Gross-Rumanien". The division was being rebuilt after disasterous losses it suffered in 1941-1942 mostly due to inadequate quality of armoured vehicles - Romanian licence aquired Panzer 38(t)s faced T-34s and KV-1s they could not simply fight against. Now, however, the division was fully German equipped, but low on tanks as for division grade unit. In August 1944, it operated roughly a battalion (~50) sized Panzer IV unit and another circa 30 StuG III assault guns and Romanian TACAMs (T-60s equipped with 75mm guns for tank destroyer role), as well as several dozens of Sd.Kfz. 222 and half-tracks for armoured reconneissance. This had to suffice for threre motorized regiments that only had AT guns. Nevertheless, morale was high and training properly conducted.
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On 20th of August 1944, massive Soviet barrage made an opening statement for Second Iassi-Kischinev Offensive. German and Romanian field artillery positions (well reconnoitered before) were obliterated within one hour. At roughly 6 AM full front assault occured in the first phase of Soviet deep operations doctrinal concept. By 10 AM situation of German and Romanian armies was desperate with several divisions decimated or running in panic. This is when "Romana Mare" was deployed from the reserve. Their objective was to plug the gap in Romanian positions near the town of Podu Iloalei, roughly 20km from Iassi. The division was however split due to huge equipment shortages everywhere. Assault Gun companies were attached to motorized regiments with task of preparing blocking positions against Soviet armour.
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For this reason, proper attack on Scobalteni and Podu Iloalei at around 10 AM was only conducted by the lone divisional tank battalion with the mentioned ~50 Panzer IV tanks and a lone TACAM tank destroyers company, supported with some armoured cars and in later stages by divisional mechanized recon infantry.
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Commander - we know Soviets are already in Scobalteni, and they are in force. But you have tank heavy formation. Punch through the Soviets and stop the gap before it will be used by the enemy to bring reserves in. We do not know exact numbers, but we estimate Soviets to be at regimental strength.
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SPOILERS BELOW - READ ONLY IF YOU WISH TO HAVE FULL HISTORICAL SPECTRUM BEFORE PLAYING THE SCENARIO
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As the order itself to attack on Scobalteni was correct, Axis command failed to determine the proper direction of Soviet thrusts on the first day of the offensive. Romanians were told they would engage blocking positions and anti-tank guns, this was proved to be true. But Romanian tanks descended from the city of Roman which was the Soviet objective for the first or second day of the offensive. Thus Romanians not only met blocking positions - they met untouched armoured brigade regrouping before striking on the deep rear of German lines.
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Attacking Romanian tankists first encountered AT guns fire. But soon massive amount of T-34s emerged and quickly forced the attackers to grasp on rather defensive posture. Romanian attack soon turned into desperate delaying action against stronger armoured enemy and battle of Scobalteni later emerged as the greatest tank battle of entire offensive and the greatest tank battle in Romanian military history.
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Fighting lasted for the whole day. Romanians claimed to have destroyed roughly 60 armoured vehicles of various types, which means they most likely destroyed the Soviet brigade and prevented it from reaching the rear. They however suffered heavy losses in the process with about 30 tanks disabled or destroyed. Finally, the battle ended with the nightfall. Battered Romanians divided into several small columns and attempted to retreat towards Roman, in which they succeeded, but with the loss of all company commanders and battalion commander.
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3 days later, on 23rd of August, Romania declared a ceasefire with the Soviets. Menawhile in Bucarest, Romanian dictator Ion Antonescu was deposed by the King. One day later Romania switched sides and joined the Allies. At one point, nearly half million soldiers made Romania 4th member of the Allies with armies size compared. Soon the "Romana Mare" was fighting again - this time, however, against their recent allies.
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After the war, communist coup deposed the king and People's Republic of Romania was declared. In early communist era, many commanders were persecuted for their previous fight with the Germans. it is somewhat ironic given the fact Romania joined the Axis because Soviet Union annected Moldova.
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Design: Marcin "SaS TrooP" Kaluza*
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Sources: Various, but the most brilliant ones are:
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Cornel Scafes, Horia Serbanescu, Ioan Scafes, Cornel Andonie, Ioan Danila, Romeo Avram: Armata Romana 1941-1945, RAI, 1996
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Ion S. Dumitru: Tancuri in flacari, Nemira, 1999
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Vasile Ienceanu: Pedepsiti sa invinga, Fundatia General Stefan Gusa, 1998
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(all translated in parts and available at Axis History Forum)

[DRG]

Everyone, please be advised that 818 is already taken for the next patch and this and most other scenarios posted this year will where I can fit them and rarely the slot they are offered in.

Also be advised that they entire naming/numbering system for scenarios in both games is completely different this year and I will be explaining all of that in the next week or so.

As it sits right now and that could easily change, the number of scenarios in WW2 as of this next ( last ) patch will be 860+ but there will be 2999 total slots once the game goes out so lots of room for everyone building scenarios

[SaS TrooP]

Sure, I just assigning slots as I have them free, it is seriously not a problem for me to have it chyanged in the final game

[DRG]

Just letting you and anyone who may DL it know.....and that the entire number system is being changed and every scenario in both games is being re-issued with the new numbering

[SaS TrooP]

But it is not as beautiful as I wished it to be and there are no filters, eg. by nations involved or date?

[zovs66]

Originally Posted by SaS TrooP

But it is not as beautiful as I wished it to be and there are no filters, eg. by nations involved or date?

You can do that with ScenHack, there are a bunch of queries I wrote and were shipped last year. I also have some more queries. ScenHack is the best thing for scenario designers along with the Extended Map Editor.