Tiraspol Campaign

Tiraspol is the seventh campaign in the Army General mode in Steel Division II. It has a level 3 difficulty/complexity.

Briefing
On August 20th, 1944, the Soviets take the Axis troops in Romania completely by surprise with a devastating strategic offensive. In only a matter of hours, the front is broken in multiple places.

Left quiet all summer, the most capable Wehrmacht forces of Army Group South Ukraine have been urgently rushed north to reinforce the crumbling defensive lines in Poland and Belorussia. Therefore, when the Red Army strikes in late August, there are almost no reserves left to prevent a breakthrough.

Despite the desperate resistance of several German and Romanian formations, and a spirited counter-attack by “Greater Romania” armored division, nothing could stop the Soviet juggernaut from rolling into Romania.

Within two days, both flanks of the German 6th Army had collapsed, with Axis units pushed back in disarray. Having been surrounded once again, the second destruction of the 6th Army was swift and complete. August 20th, 1944, became “Black Sunday” as the Third Reich suffered some 250.000 casualties in total on this day.

The successful Soviet offensive also resulted in a quickly sprung coup d'etat by King Michael I, with Romania switching sides, joining the Allies and taking up arms against their former Axis comrades within days. Too late to intervene, Hitler had lost the valuable Ploiesti oil fields, and the critical military support of a large ally.

Intro

 * Soviet
 * 1) The 3rd Ukrainian Front forms the eastern pincer of German 6th Army's planned encirclement.
 * 2) Commander, we have two main objectives: The major transportation hub at Tarutyne, to disrupt the 3rd Romanian Army
 * 3) and Comrat, from where we will link up with the 2nd Ukrainian Front coming from the west.
 * 4) Our primary thrust should come from the 37th Army, whose valuable bridgehead over the Dniestr river serves as the perfect springboard for our offensive.
 * 5) Although substantially weaker, the 46th Army's right wing might be able to support the assault.
 * 6) Furthermore, the Naval Group Bakhtin, a combined 46th Army and Black Sea Fleet force, is ready to storm the Dniestr estuary with an amphibious assault.
 * 7) Waiting in reserve are the 7th Mechanized Corps and the 4th Guards Mechanized Corps, which should exploit any breakthrough. Good luck general!

Victory messages
Although several German and Romanian divisions stubbornly defended their positions against the first assault waves, by the second day of the offensive the Axis front was broken in multiple places.
 * Soviet victory

Several Red Army mechanized and cavalry corps immediately exploited the breakthrough, penetrating deep into the Axis troops' rear. Romania is on the cusp of being liberated!
 * Fascist victory

Historical outcome
Breaking through the Axis front on both flanks of the 6. Armee in under two days, Soviet mobile troops quickly closed the trap behind the doomed German formation. A week later, the Romanian army had disintegrated under the double effect of the Soviet offensive and King Michael's coup in Bucarest, which brought Romania to the Allied side. This left the 6. Armee completely isolated far behind enemy lines, with no chance of escape.

Through combat, mass surrender or defection, the Third Reich lost about 150 000 German troops as well as the whole Romanian army.

Objectives

 * This is a large map and one that's altogether different than the Iasi Campaign. The main objectives - Comrat and Tarutyne - are located to the southwest of the map, with the initial attack force of the USSR poised on the northern edge, with a single bridgehead in the middle and within striking distance of two crossings. The problem therefore lies in fighting through the Romanian-German lines and reaching the target in the allotted time.
 * The defense hinges on the large armored formations, particularly the Panzerjager battalions. Artillery will be able to pacify them with Bombardment, leaving just the weaker infantry battalions to deal with.
 * The eastern landing is a good diversion, especially since it allows for flanking the eastern defenders and pushing them back, perhaps even encircling large enemy formations. The real trouble is that on their own, the marines are too weak to push through and require generous support from the air.

Order of battle

 * See Vistula campaign order of battle and Vistula campaign unit organization