Tragedy at Fastov - The Matrix Games version of East Front II

Fastov, 70km SW of Kiev: [Best played by any method] Fastov was the communications center southwest of Kiev through which ran all the supply lines of the northern wing of German General Manstein's Army Group. When its small garrison was overrun by a Tank Brigade of the Soviet Third Guards Tank Army on November 7th, Manstein asked Hitler to release three panzer divisions to counterattack and retake the vital center. Hitler said no! The only choice to Manstein left was to use the Inexperienced 25th Panzer Division. It was to be employed straight from the trains that had brought it from France. The division had only been raised that summer and had never yet seen action as a division and lacked experience of the Eastern Front. Even worse the Tiger Battalion and the major part of the Panzer Regiment had been sent on to the divisions original destination. The panzer grenadiers, gunners and engineers would have to tackle the Russian tanks of the 55th Guards Tank Brigade alone!