On June 24th, as part of our effort to fight battles from each year of World War II, we played a scenario based on the last German offensive of the war to relieve the siege of Budapest. The last of the veteran German panzerwaffe attempt to smash through the Bolshevik lines and relieve Budapest.
“The Siege of Budapest or the Battle of Budapest was the 50-day-long encirclement of the Hungarian capital of Budapest by Soviet forces near the end of World War II. Part of the broader Budapest Offensive, the siege began when Budapest, defended by Hungarian and German troops, was first encircled on 26 December 1944 by the Red Army and the Romanian Army. During the siege, about 38,000 civilians died from starvation and military action. The city unconditionally surrendered on 13 February 1945. It was a strategic victory for the Soviets in their push towards Berlin.
In January 1945, the Germans launched a three part counter-offensive code named Operation Konrad. Operation Konrad was a joint German-Hungarian effort to relieve the encircled garrison of Budapest.
Operation Konrad I was launched on 1 January. The German IV SS Panzer Corps attacked from Tata through hilly terrain north-west of Budapest in an effort to break the siege. On 3 January, the Soviet command sent four more divisions to meet the threat. This Soviet action stopped the offensive near Bicske, less than 20 kilometers west of Budapest. The Germans were forced to withdraw on 12 January.
They then launched Operation Konrad II on 7 January. The IV SS Panzer Corps attacked from Esztergom toward Budapest Airport in an attempt to capture it and improve ability to supply the city by air. This offensive was halted near the airport.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Budapest
The Game
Tactical Situation: The besieging Soviet forces, part of Rodion Malinovsky’s 2nd Ukrainian Front, are attacked by heavy mobile elements of the IV SS Panzer Corps.
The Terrain consisted of rolling flat terrain with numerous wooded hills dotting the landscape. One major road (the current M1) runs Northwest-Southeast and is the major axis for the German attack. Victory depends on German units breaking through the Soviet lines and capturing a village near the Airport.
Scenario Special Rules:
- The scenario was fought lengthwise on the 4′ x 12′ table.
- Half of the Soviet units are deployed on the table, with two in ambush.
- The remaining Soviet units were delayed reserves and roll to see which road they would enter (1-2 on the road in the Soviet left rear; 3-4 on the road about half way on the right flank and 5-6 on the road almost half way on the left flank).
- All of the German units are deployed on the table, 24” from the edge.
- The German players organize two 2,000 point companies from the Grey Wolf Book.
- The Soviets build one 3,000 point battalion from the Red Bear Book.
- The game would start in fog (using standard night rules, but no auto spotting and with marching allowed), which would roll off on a successful 5 or 6 on a D6 (rolled every player turn).
Set-up:
The Soviets defended the front line with two Red Army Strelk Companies, supported by 37mm AAA; with 57mm Zis-2 (in ambush) and 100mm BS-3 (in ambush) batteries. One each T-34/85, SU-85, SU-100, IS-2 Companies and a 76mm Zis-3 battery held as Delayed Reserves. The Soviets also had dedicated Sturmovik Air Support.
The Germans consisted of a Panzerspah Company (Luchs, with a Tiger I, Stug III, sdkfz 7/2 and Panzer Pioneer platoon) on the German left flank. On the right flank the Germans had a Panzer Company (JgPzIV(v) supported by one Tiger II (which was forgotten about and not brought on until turn 8), a 105mm Wespe battery, a Panzergrenadier platoon, a sdkfz 290/9 recon section and a recovery Famo.
Narrative:
On turn one, the Germans began their attack with their recon up front. After “recon moves”, the Germans took their first turn removing “gone to ground” on the two forward Soviet infantry companies. German Luchs then assaulted on the left flank with nominal effect. The Soviets hunkered down.
On turn two, the Germans shelled and assault the forward Soviet infantry with their Luchs and Tigers, killing several stands and pushing the Strelk back. The Soviets dug in their exposed infantry and hunkered down again.
On turn three, The German left fired and assaulted the entire Strelk Company, which then folded and broke after a series of assaults. German losses were numerous bogged down tanks, but they were able to extract themselves later. The other Strelk Company fared better and managed to save most of the hits while cowering in their foxholes. The fog then cleared allowing the Sturmoviks to start their attacks (which managed to come in almost every turn during the game. The German AA was reasonably effective in protecting the attacking forces through most of the game, but did did take a toll on the German forces all day.
By turn four, the Soviet right flank was totally exposed. However, the Soviets sprung their Zis-2 ambush in the woods in front of German breakthrough. This unit killed several Luchs and vehicles and Panzergrenadiers (forcing the halftracks to the rear). The Soviets lanched a counterattack on one of the JgPz IV platoons and promptly killed two vehicles and then falling back into the safety of the woods.
Over the next several turns, The German left flank units moved up covering the woods and taking the high ground in front of the first Soviet entry road, while shooting up the offending Zis2 battery. The T-34/85 reserve company entered in on turn seven right in front of the right flank German JgPz IVs, who (with help from the Tiger Is) were able to dispatch the Soviets in two turns. The SU85s entered in the same position on the following turn and begun their chase after the forward most Luchs Recce platoon. The Soviet SU100s arrived in the rear on turn seven.
On turn eight, the Germans continued to consolidate their advance awaiting the last Soviet reserves and ambush, before making the final push. The Soviet IS-IIs arrived in front of the German left and engaged the StuG III and Panzer Pioneers holding the high ground. The 100mm BS-3 battery ambush was also placed (general vicinity as the vanquished Zis-2 battery) and managed to kill two Tiger Is.
With all forward units in play and German units in position, the German advance was resumed. By turn 10, the German forces, though blooded, had cleared the left flank and broke the Soviet Battalion
The game ended in a counterfactual German Victory with the Germans able to lift the siege of Buda.
– Manteuffel