Sazena, 1938: Break the line!*
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Date: October 30, 1938*
Time: 10:00*
Location: Sazena, Bohemia*
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Herr Major, time is short. Our division is attempting a breakthrough of the Prag fortified line, but even though we have succeeded in breaching it close to Welwarn and Schlan, the gaps were quickly closed by vigorous counter-attacks. It seems the Czechoslovakian army is attempting to purchase as much time as possible before withdhrawing from the capital.*
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We want to breach the line as soon as possible, while the weather lasts. Once the winter comes, aerial support would get problematic and the enemy might succeed in forming a stable defense.*
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As you already know, to circumvent strong defenses around Welwarn and along the main road to Prag, the regiment was supposed to attack the village Sasena and achieve a breakthrough in the line.*
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Unfortunately, the plans had to be hastened by a rash action of motorcycle troops and armored recon unit. They tried to get through the village in an attempt to circumvent heavy resistance along the main road and apparently got under heavy fire. Your Colonel decided to hasten the attack to assist them but once the troops were moving, he was killed in an artillery barrage and we lost most of the regimental staff. With a reserve battalion also in disarray, we are afraid it's up to you.*
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Orders:*
1. Establish at least one breach in the fortified line,*
2. If practicable, clear as large portion of the fortified line as possible.*
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Your troops are already in motion. Your battalion has at its disposal all of the regimental guns available and we are attempting to give you as much support as possible. Due to problems with the other battalions, you are also attached two more infantry companies before the chain of command is re-established - stopping the attack now would cause yet more problems. Their orders were to secure firing positions for infantry guns and probe the enemy line, in case of a weakness found to perform a diversionary attack.*
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The enemy is alerted to our advance by the recon unit. Exact force is unknown, but the line is held by at least a battalion's worth of troops, though they are mostly tied to the fortifications. The recon unit reports heavy fire of PAK and machineguns. The enemy is also supported by at least one battery of artillery, probably 10cm howitzers. We do not have any information about possible armored troops.*
You have to expect a large amount of obstacles and mines, the enemy had a month to dig in. We have no accurate maps of the fortified line, but it should be placed along the bed of the valley.*
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Good luck, Major, we're counting on you!*
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Note: The player should play the German side.*
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Special victory conditions:*
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Win:*
- Keep casualty ratio below 2:3,*
- Points 3:1,*
- Achieve two breakthroughs in the fortified line denoted by VPs (through the village and on the lower map edge),*
- Alternatively achieve single breakthrough, but wide enough (destroying 10 bunkers surrounding the breakthrough and holding their position).*
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Draw:*
- Casualty ratio below 1:1,*
- Points below 3:1,*
- Achieve one breakthrough, however narrow.*
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Anything less is a Loss.*
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Historical Note:*
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This is "the battle that never was". Following the Munich treaty, Czechoslovakia decided to submit and to abandon the borderlands to Germany and others. However, had the war started instead, it was expected that the border fortifications in Bohemia will be breached, as the fortified line was relatively weak. This was all part of a plan for gradual retreat of the army to mountains on the borders between the Bohemia and Moravia, though this plan had to be changed after the Anschluss of Austria.*
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To cover the retreat, internal fortified lines were established and planned, which were to act as speed bumps to buy more time. This scenario describes one of the few parts where some bunkers are still standing - namely A-1/24a and A-1/25a special objects in the village itself. If everything was going according to plan, the Wehrmacht would reach this line by the end of October, 1938.*
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