(05-16-2026, 12:12 AM)jonnymacbrown Wrote: [quote pid="459413" dateline="1778611781"]
One must attack, but there are all levels of attacking of course. In both the Campaign Scenario and the Slask scenario that I played I did attack into the Katowice area, but I did not fight hard for any of the objectives I merely engaged the Polish forces to keep them interested while I completed my encirclement (excepting the penetration along the Chorzow-Katowice axis which was necessary to close the circle formed by the Sola and Przemsza Rivers) . Once I had the Polish forces isolated the bunker complexes were much easier to overcome without undo German losses. The Poles in both battles helped me accomplish this by defending that Bunker line strongly.
Ah yes. A demonstration in the centre while the flanks are turned. Hannibal anyone? I respectfully submit that strategy in itself does not guarantee victory here. The Poles have sufficient force to protect the flank for 5 days, hold the VP hexes, and inflict heavy losses. The 23rd and 55th PD are dead meat anyway. They aren't getting back to the Vistula. I submit your Polish counterpart panicked.
Now then my armored host let me ask you this: You are playing German or Pole in the campaign that is in Day 7? What is the status of GO Slask and its component 23rd and 55th PD (infantry)? I take it they retreated rather than hold the bunkers.

[/quote]
I am the German commander of GruppeSud in the CG (it's a 3 player game, 2 Germans, 1 Pole). The 23rd and 55th PD, indeed the entirety of GO Slask and GO Bielsko were immolated in the Katowice pocket we created. The attached image shows the jump map from that game at a point sometime between days 3 and 4 of the battle. You can see the pockets created (and by passed) in the lower left of the map, while the 10th Army Spearheads are half way to Radom.
I can not categorically state that defending this area is a net negative VP wise for the Poles because a) I have only these 2 examples to base it on (too small a data set) and b) I've not yet tried my hand as the Poles (possible biased perception). But I can say with some confidence that the defenses in the area will hurt the Germans only if the German Commander obliges the Poles by attacking directly into them. Given their vastly more mobile formations, I just don't know why the German would do it, unless he is compelled to. My limited experience says there is not much the Poles can do to compel me to do that.