On June 3rd, as part of our effort to fight battles from each year of World War II, we shifted to 1945 and played a scenario based on the Soviet-Polish offensive south of Berlin. German mechanized forces attempt to smash through the Bolshevik lines and relieve Berlin.
Background
The Battle of Bautzen (or Battle of Budziszyn, April 1945) was one of the last battles of the Eastern Front during World War II. It was fought on the extreme southern flank of the Spremberg-Torgau Offensive, seeing days of pitched street fighting between forces of the Polish Second Army and elements of the Soviet 52nd Army and 5th Guards Army on one side and elements of German Army Group Center in the form of the remnants of the 4th Panzer and 17th armies on the other.
The battle took place during Ivan Konev’s 1st Ukrainian Front’s push toward Berlin, which was part of the larger Soviet Berlin Offensive. The battle was fought in the town of Bautzen (Polish: Budziszyn) and the rural areas to the northeast situated primarily along the Bautzen–Niesky line. Major combat began on 21 April 1945 and continued until 26 April although isolated engagements continued to take place until 30 April. The Polish Second Army under Karol Świerczewski suffered heavy losses, but, with the aid of Soviet reinforcements, prevented the German forces from breaking through to their rear.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bautzen_%281945%29
Tactical Situation
The recently raised 2nd Polish Army is with Marshal Konev’s forces swinging to the south of Berlin. Elements of the German 20th Panzer Division are counterattacking the Polish 5th Infantry Division and the 16th Tank Brigade while attempting to recapture the town of Bautzen.
The Terrain consisted of rolling flat terrain with a large wooded hill in the South, several streams meandering across the table, dotted with a number of villages and hamlets. One major road runs North-South and is the major axis for the German attack Victory depends on German units breaking through the Polish lines and relieving trapped units in Bautzen.
Scenario Special Rules
The scenario was fou
ght lengthwise on a 4′ x 12′ table. All Polish Infantry and German units began deployed on the table. The 16th Tankovy was in delayed reserve. The German players received a total of 3,000 points and built their units from the Desperate Measures. The Poles received a total of 2,500 points (840 in reserve) and built their units from the Red Bear Book. Standard terrain rules applied, but hills provided no impediment to movement. The rail road track was raised and was difficult terrain and bullet proof cover.
The Poles consisted of a front line Strelk Company, with battalion HQ support and a second Tankovy with similar support in front of Bautzen. The Tankovy Battalion had a company of four ISU-152 in ambush and Limited Air Support of IL-2s.
The Germans consisted of a large Panzer Company with two Panzergrenadier Platoon, a Luchs Patrol, two 37mm Ostwind, two small Panther platoons, a PZKW IV platoon and a Hetzer Platoon.
Narrative
On turn one, the Germans charged up the road and left flank, engaging any and all Polish stands that could be seen. Being greatly outgunned, the Poles hunkered down and hugged the ground. The Ostwinds brushed off a the first air attacks (they would drive off ten during the game). The Germans continued to close the distance and picked off a few defenders, while the Poles continued to hunker down
Over the next four turns, the Germans charged into the Polish defenses and the village on the road. The resulting combats almost completely destroyed the forward company, but stragglers held on. Help arrived on turn four with the arrival of the two tankovy Companies. During the 
next two turns, Tankovy got the worst of the exchange and fell back. At this time, the Germans realized that the remnants of Strelk Company (which had lost its commanders and could not move) were still scattered along the entire front. By not attacking them, the Polish Infantry would now act as a barrier for future Red Air attacks! (Every stand was with 16 inches of the Germans). Meanwhile, the Ostwinds kept the Red Air at bay, shooting down every plane that dared approach!
On turns seven through twelve, the Germans moved cautiously forward towards the second Strelk and engaged in long range gunner with the Tankovy on the right and the ISU’s on the left that deployed out of ambush. From then on the game turned into a grinding match. The Germans finally hi
t the second line of infantry. The Germans switched the axis of attack to their
right to avoid the ISU-152s and finally wiped out the T34 units to the last tank. With no Soviet tank support, the Germans were starting to chew through the Polish infantry on their right flank. The ISUs and the Streks pioneer support started the shift to the right to bolster the flank.
The 
game played out the full 15 turns, with the Poles holding on by their finger tips. However, German losses were high with two platoons
destroyed and almost all the others at or below 50%.
The “Enjoy the War” rule kept the Germans going in their very fragile state. This game result was counterfactual, but had no impact on the ultimate
outcome of the war. Death to the Fascists!
– Manteuffel