Berlin, Germany, April 29th 1945 Story: Despite the defenders heavy fire, assault groups from the first battalions of the 756th and 380th Infantry Regiment of the 150th Division succeeded in crossing the Moltke bridge during the night and established a bridgehead in the building on the corner of Kronprinzen Avenue. Before launching the assault of the Reichstag, a number of strongpoints were to be cleared: Kroll Opera, Alsenstrasse buildings and particularly the Department of Domestic Affairs building, otherwise called Himmler’s House. This last building had been completely fortified and its defenders still had the Moltke Bridge under fire, preventing reinforcements from crossing it. General Peveretkine ordered the seizing of the position. The attack began around 0700 after a 10 minute artillery preparation. The Russian assault groups quickly entered the Department of Domestic Affairs building but the clearing of the building was another matter. Fanatical, the German defenders resisted resolutely, giving ground room by room only after bloody close combats. The battle raged the whole day and only the nighttime arrival of Russian reinforcements could break the German resistance. The building was finally controlled by the Russians on 30 April, around 0430. At the same time, small units from the 525th Regiment pushed up to the Alsenstrasse. The Final Assault could start.
Russian units: Elements of 150th Division and of 10th Motorized Flamethrower Independent Battalion
5 Engineers + 6 Rifles + 1 Company CO + 1Platoon leader 2 Flamethrowers Support of the 79th Corps 4 Rifles + 1 Platoon leader + 2 MG Crew 1 76.2mm Howitzer + 1 SU-152
German units:
Elements of the SS and the Volksturm 3 Veterans + 2 Rifles + 5 Green Infantry 1 Platoon leader + 2 MG Crew Flak 36 1 3.7cm Flak
Scenario rules: Use the tactical rules. The German player sets up first and the Russian player starts first. The battlefield consists of RC (Ruined city), CI (City), BR (Bridge). RC01 RC07 RC12 RC17
Russian Headquarters CI02 RC03 RC04 BR06 RC08 RC09 RC10 CI13 RC14 RC15 CI18 RC19 CI20 German Headquarters
RC05 RC11 RC16 RC21
BR06 (Moltke Bridge), CI13 (The department of Domestic Affairs), CI18 (Kroll Opera), CI20 (Reichtag) 1.
Turns 4 Turns
2.
Supply Both players receive 20 points at start. Moreover, the Russian player receives 3 supply dices each turn. The German player receives 2 dices each turn. Supply points remain hidden during the game.
3.
Special cards
Use the tactical rules (Beachhead to Berlin p77 to p86) for choosing the special cards. Special cards: Each player has a 16 special cards deck (2 identical cards max.) of his own choice. Each player draws 1 free card each turn with the possibility of buying only one other card at the cost of 6 supply points). Each player takes randomly 2 special cards in this deck before the game begins. 4.
Headquarters The German Headquarters is south of the RC17-RC21 zones. The Russian Headquarters is north of the RC01-RC05 zones.
5.
SS units The German Veterans units are SS units. All SS infantry units have +1 Inf, +1 Arm, +1 Def.
6.
Mist Because of the dust raised by the incessant shelling of the area, all combats are simultaneous.
7.
Others No refits are allowed.
Set up: Turn 1: German
The elements of Waffen SS and of Volksturm in CI13, RC14, RC15, CI18, RC19, CI20, RC21. The 3.7cm Flak in CI13. 1 Fortified building in CI13, RC19 and CI20 each.
Russian
The elements of 150th Division and of 10th Motorized Flamethrower Independent Battalion in BR06, RC08, RC09, RC10. The support of the 79th Corps in RC01, CI02, RC03, RC04, RC05 and in the Russian Headquarters.
Victory The German player must control the CI13 zone at the end of the game. Any other result is a Russian victory.
Credits Scenario by Jean-Luc Béchennec adapted for The Last Crusade by Florent Coupeau Originally published in Tactiques.
