A New Form of Defence - The Matrix Games version of East Front II

Gorki, 45km SW of Smolensk: [Best Played vs Human Opponent]: After a successful crossing of the Dnepr, the 10. Panzer Division steamrolled to Gorki, finally seizing it during the night of the 14th of July. The lead elements of the division moved on, while other elements of the division where to follow. General Schaal, commander of the 10. Panzer Division in the early stages of the battle of Smolensk had this to say about the action this scenario depicts " ... the divisions vanguard had driven through a patch of thick forest. The bulk of the division had got passed the same spot during the night. But the artillery group which followed was suddenly smothered with mortar-fire from both sides and attacked by infantry at close quarters. Fortunately a motor-cycle battalion of the SS Das Reich was bivouacking nearby. The came to the assistance of the gunners and hacked them free." The Russians started to adopt new tactics during their retreat from the Dnepr River defences. Those same tactics would be used later on in the war by large partisan formations such as Force Belov. Incidents such as the one portrayed here became commonplace during the advance deeper into Russia. [2.04 UPDATE]