Fighting Formations
Title
Fighting Formations
Description
Fighting Formations is intended to be an ongoing series of wargames covering WWII tactical combined-arms combat at the platoon and squad levels. Each game in the series will feature a distinct combat unit, highlighting battles in which that unit participated as well as its particular order of battle and fighting characteristics.
Collection Tree
Collection Items
Duel
General Koniev's 2nd Ukrainian Front launched a major offen sive in December of 1943. with the aim to break through the German lines in the Kirovograd area. Multiple attacks were launched and Soviet troops were pouring through. The Panzergrenadier…
1944-01-08
A Change Of Orders
The Soviets 2nd Ukrainian Front launched a major offensive in late December of 1943 in southern Russia. The attacks began in earnest on 5 January 1944 with the goal of breaking through the German lines in the Kirovograd area. These …
1944-01-07
Who's Who?
In late 1943 the Grossdeutschland Division was heavily engaged in multiple defensive battles east of Krivoi-Rog. It was here the division earned the nickname "The Fire Brigade." One such encounter occurred when the German 9th Panzer Division was…
1943-11-04
Can We Hold?
Manstein's counterattack had gone well, with the Germans pushing north and attacking on a wide front. They had retaken the city of Kharkov with Grossdeutschland Division to the northwest intercepting retreating Soviet units. GD had pushed the Soviet…
1943-03-17
Tigers
In early March the momentum in the area around the city of Kharkov was turning towards the Germans. Manstein's counterattack was pushing the Soviets back and gaining ground on all sides. Gaps were developing between the Soviet 40th and 69th …
1943-03-09
Charge
As part of the Third Battle of Kharkov the Grossdeutschland Panzergrenadier Division drove north from southwest of Kharkov. Manstein’s attack had taken the Soviets by surprise as they neared the limits of their army's strength by early March. During…
1943-03-09
Overrun
Kharkov had just fallen to rhe Soviets and a realignment of the German defensive line was formed to its south. The Grossdeutschland Division's Fusilier Regiment was given the assignment of defending a section of road leading to the west out …
1943-02-18
Cut Off
Operation "Star” was underway for the Soviet armies. The 40th Army was to advance to secure Belgorod and then envelope Kharkov from the northwest and west in an effort to try to link up with the 3rd Tank Army. Its …
1943-02-11
Just In Time
The Soviet Voronezh Front had three armies poised to attack towards Kharkov in early February as part of Operation Star. Their forces had taken the city of Belgorod as this progressed and they were continuing to push southward to achieve …
1943-02-10
Welcome To Kharkov
Reports from the Soviet Voronezh Front were that they had broken through the Hungarian army's positions and were advancing into the Novy Oskol area northwest of Kharkov. The Oskol river was being breached and preparations were in progress for further…
1943-01-21
The Expected Counterattack
Following the taking of the so-called ‘cemetery hill,’ III Battalion/I.R. GD 1 was called forward to relieve the two Pionier companies which had carried out the assault. By 1900 hours III Bn began consolidating their new positions in anticipation of…
1942-09-22
Back To Russia
During early March, 1943, Army Group Kempf had the mission to advance in the general direction of Belgorod as part of the new offensive to retake Kharkov. The Grossdeutschland Infantry Division formed the left wing of the Army Group with …
1943-03-12
“Tanks Are Coming Now....”
As the vast size and scope of the Russian attack through the Luchessa Valley became apparent, it was realized that the battered GD Infantry Division lay at the focal point of the offensive. The Grenadier Regiment GD (less II Battalion) …
1942-12-01
Operation Herbstwind: Gostischka Lowlands
Follows the action on the left flank of the larger Operation Herbstwind: Kampfgruppe Grosser scenario—that is, the battle to consolidate new defensive positions in the lowlands between the town of …
1942-09-30
Operation Herbstwind: Garski’s Demise
As always, Oberst Garski led from the front. In order to ensure secure radio communication, he commandeered a Panzer II tank that was fitted with a dummy cannon. When the attack began, Garski accompanied 13th Company/I.R. 2 which was being …
1942-09-30
Operation Herbstwind: Kampfgruppe Grosser
The main objective of Operation Herbstwind (“Autumn Wind”) was simple: achieve a better defensive line while stripping the enemy’s current defensive line of its strategic strongpoints. In some cases the attacking units only had to cover 400-600…
1942-09-30
Operation Max Und Moritz
Following painstaking preparations and supported by the infantry and artillery, Sturmpionier Battalion GD was to launch a daring operation against the enemy bunkers of the so-called “cemetery hill” due east of the town of Tschermassowo. This…
1942-09-22
Just Past Don
In the race to capture Voronezh in early July, elements of 7th Company/Infantry Regiment GD 1 captured a road bridge over the Don River nearly intact—just a 15 meter gap at the east bank had been burned out during the …
1942-07-06
Kampfgruppe Garski
During operations in the Olym River area on 29-30 June, the 24th Panzer Division – occupying Grossdeutschland’s right flank – came under stiff resistance at the town of Gorschetschnoje. 24th Panzer bypassed the village and resumed its advance to the…
1942-07-02
A Surprise At Sunrise
On the 30th of June, 1942, Grossdeutschland Infantry Division informed XXXXVIII Panzer Corps that it had established a bridgehead across the Olym river. The forward forces included elements of I (Grenadier) Infantry Reg’t, the Reconnaissance Bn and…
1942-07-01