Vistula is the fifth campaign in the Army General mode in Steel Division II. It has a level 3 difficulty/complexity.
Once Army Group Center is destroyed, the Red Army enters Poland to establish a bridgehead over the Vistula river, unaware that the Germans are concentrating elements from no fewer than five Panzerdivisions to protect Warsaw...
Briefing
Operation Bagration closes in on its ultimate goal. Having destroyed Army Group Center, the 1st Belorussian Front races ahead to prevent the Germans from reforming a strong defensive line, overconfident in its own abilities. Stalin aims to capture Warsaw and install a pro-Soviet government.
With their sights set on the grand prize, the Polish capital city, as well as a bridgehead the Vistula river, the Soviets fail to notice that they are heading straight into a trap. The Germans, having received reinforcements from five elite Panzerdivisions, are converging on the Red Army vanguard from three directions.
This campaign pits the crack IV. SS-Panzerkorps (Totenkopf & Wiking Panzerdivisions) against the three tank corps-strong Soviet 2nd Guards Tank Army. Various elements from other armored or mechanized divisions will also be available, including 4. Panzerdivision, 19. Panzerdivision, Hermann Göring Panzerdivision, 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, 11th Tank Corps, and more …
Intro
The Soviet 1st Bielorussian Front is closing on Warsaw from two directions. Although 4. SS-Panzerkorps managed to hold a corridor near Siedlce for the troops retreating from the southern roads, Warsaw is virtually undefended. A major gap has opened between the 4. SS-Panzerkorps around Siedlce and the weak 73. Infanterie-Division which is all that prevent the Soviets from entering Warsaw.
- Soviet
Aerial reconaissance has been reporting some possible armored reinforcement unloading around Warsaw. One last, but noteworthy detail: Our advance has reached the limit of our air force support. We won't be able to enjoy much air support!
- Nazi
Powerful reinforcements are on their way. If we can hold the Soviets at bay long enough to mount a counterstrike, they will get the surprise of their life. One last, but noteworthy detail: The Soviet Air Force seems to be at the limit of its range. Like in the old days, we will enjoy the benefit of air superiority!
"The Soviet 1st Bielorussian Front is closing on Warsaw from two directions. "
"Although 4. SS-Panzerkorps managed to hold a corridor near Siedlce for the troops retreating from the southern roads, Warsaw is virtually undefended..."
Soviet side (includes an animated component)
German side (includes an animated component)
Historical outcome
Overextended from Garwolin to Radzymin, the Soviet 2nd Tank Army is crushed between multiple blows from the East, North, and West, each one a battlegroup from 4th, 19th, Hermann Goering, 5. SS Wiking, and 3. SS Totenkopf Panzer divisions. In a week of intense combat, the 3rd Tank Corps is virtually annihilated and the 8th Guards Tank Corps badly mauled.
Pushed away from Warsaw, its main armored force gutted and too far away from its logistical bases, Marshall Rokossowski gave up hope of capturing the Polish capital city and pulled his troops back. In Warsaw, the Home Army was left behind, and will keep fighting for almost two months, vainly calling the Soviets and Western Allies for help.
However, the battle of Radzymin/Praga was to be the swan song of the Wehrmacht: Its last major successful counter-offensive in the East.
Objectives
- The goal of the campaign is obvious: Warsaw, in all its glory. Additional targets include Minsk Mazowiecki, Siedlce, and Radzymin, i.e. the Warsaw-Minsk highway that will become a lifeline for Soviet offensives westwards. The campaign is complex from the get go, as Soviet forces are deployed across a very broad front and nearly entire southern side of the highway is covered by a throng of Soviet units, with a large force poised to strike at the capital. Nazi forces are instead broken up into two, with a large force at Warsaw and to its north, and another spread between Siedlce and the river crossing at Siemiatycze.
- Soviet deployment is vulnerable, as they have little tactical depth and are over extended. Nazi forces can move from defense to attack in the direction of Stoczek Łukowski, driving a wedge between the two prongs of the Soviet assault. Advancing along the rivers (Vistula and east of Siemiatycze) allows for flanking maneuvers, bypassing positions and surrounding them. In fact, it is quite advantageous to pull back and allow the Soviets to penetrate, spreading them even thinner, then encircling them (the famed Model's Sichelschnitt).
- Another problem for the Soviet player is the fact that ze Germans receive free reinforcements, arriving from the north. These are five free Kampfgruppen with significant infantry, armor, and artillery forces that will appear by mid-game, whereas the Soviets have to pay for every reinforcements they purchase.
Events
- Morning July 1 (8): The Warsaw Uprising begins.
- Evening July 1 (9): Hermann Goering Panzerdivision's second major detachment is detraining west of Warsaw. But caught in the insurrection, it has to fight its way through the city and insurgents to reach the main battlefield and engage the Soviets.
- Evening August 2 (11): Failed attempt by the Polish People's Army (LWP) to cross the Vistula by force near Deblin, south of Warsaw.
- This event spawns four companies of the Red Pole 1. Pułk Piechoty (First Infantry Regiments) units near the Soviet airfield.
- Morning August 5 (16): The Germans are brutally crushing the Uprising, blasting Warsaw house by house.
The Karl Gerat bombards Warsaw; illustrates the beginning of the Warsaw Uprising
The uprising and its suppression continues
The second major detachment of the HG Panzerdivision fighting through the uprising
Soviet
- Evening July 30 (4): 76th Guards Rifle Division reinforcements have arrived.
- Morning August 3 (12): The Polish People's Army (LWP)'s 1st Tank Brigade reinforcements have arrived.
- Spawns the brigade near the Soviet airfield.
- Soviet victory: Having broken the back of the last major German armored counteroffensive, the 1st Belarussian Front with the Polish People's Army as its spearhead, liberates Warsaw...
Polish and Soviet commanders confer after the failed Vistula crossing
Nazi
- Morning July 29 (2): Hermann Goering Panzerdivision's first major detachment is detraining at Warsaw. KG Kallner reinforcements have arrived.
- Morning July 31 (6): KG Westland reinforcements have arrived.
- Evening July 31 (7): KG Christern reinforcements have arrived.
- Evening August 1 (9): KG von Necker reinforcements have arrived.
- Morning August 2 (10): Kampfgruppe Christern, 4. Panzerdivision's lead element, is arriving from the North.
- Morning August 3 (12): Kampfgruppe von Gaudecker reinforcements arrived.
- German victory: The swift concentration of armored battlegroups around Radzymin has forced the Soviets to retreat away from Warsaw and its uprising.
Arrival of the Hermann Goering Panzerdivision first major detachment
Arrival of KG Christern
Order of battle
Reinforcements
Soviet
- Morning July 28
- 24-y Bomb. Avia. Polk (VVS, 20)
- Morning July 29
- 125-ya Strelk. Div. (47th Army, 20)
- 50-ya Gv. Strelk. Div. (28th Army, 25)
- Evening July 29
- 175-ya Strelk. Div. (47th Army, 20)
- 3-y Gv. Strelk. Korpus (28th Army, 25)
- 160-ya Strelk. Div. (28th Army, 25)
- 68-y Gv. Istr. Avia. Polk (VVS, 15)
- Morning July 30
- 76-ya Strelk. Div. (47th Army, 20)
- 54-ya Gv. Strelk. Div. (28th Army, 25)
- Evening July 30
- 1987-y Zen. Art. Polk (47th Army, 10)
- 28-ya Armiya (28th Army, 30)
- Morning July 31
- 125-y Strelk. Korpus (47th Army, 15)
- 70-y Gv. Shturm. Avia. Polk (VVS, 20)
- Evening July 31
- 324-ya Strelk. Div. (47th Army, 20)
- 96-ya Gv. Strelk. Div. (28th Army, 25)
- Morning August 1
- 60-ya Strelk. Div. (47th Army, 20)
- Mieszany Pułk Loniczy (VVS, 20)
- Evening August 1
- 1991-y Zen. Art. Polk (47th Army, 10)
- Morning August 2
- 143-ya Strelk. Div. (47th Army, 20)
- Evening August 2
- 77-y Strelk. Korpus (47th Army, 15)
- Morning August 3
- 185-ya Strelk. Div. (47th Army, 20)
- Evening August 3
- 328-ya Strelk. Div. (47th Army, 20)
- Morning August 4
- 47-ya Armiya (47th Army, 20)
- Evening August 4
- Morning August 5
- 2. Pułk Piechoty (LWP, 15)
- 3. Pułk Piechoty (LWP, 15)
- Evening August 5
- 1 Dyw. Piechoty (LWP, 15)
Nazi
- Morning July 28
- Fs-Pz.Aufk.-Abt. HG (FS-Panzer H. Goering, 5)
- Morning July 28
- FS-Pz.Grenadier-Rgt. "HG" 1. (FS-Panzer H. Goering, 5)
- Morning July 29
- I./Kampfgeschwader 51 (Luftwaffe, 20)
- Evening July 29
- I./Flak-Rgt. HG (FS-Panzer H. Goering, 15)
- Morning July 30
- FS-Panzer-Rgt. "HG" (FS-Panzer H. Goering, 15)
- Evening July 30
- II./4. Kampfgeschwader (Luftwaffe, 30)
- Evening July 31
- II./Fs-Artillerie-Rgt. "HG" (FS-Panzer H. Goering, 10)
- Morning August 4
- I./Grenadier Rgt. 1145 (FS-Panzer H. Goering, 10)