Diedersdorf Pictures

This game was played Sunday 12th October at the Peter's club High Wycombe. Peter and I played the Germans, Ian and Chris the Soviets. It wasn't the 6 player game I had planned as it appears that neither John or Dave could read a map! I supplied most of the kit ably helped by Chris with the Russians (especially the infantry) and Ian who supplied a couple of extras for the Germans

Tigers (all Esci/Italeri) of 502SS Panzer Abt in their start locations outside Marxdorf. The Wirbelwind is an Airfix hull with a Skytrex turret.

Encounter on Reichstrasse 1. PaK-40 of the 76 Panzergrenadiers awaits the first T-34 of the 44th Guards Tank Brigade. The lead T-34 is from Airfix.

Looking down Reichstrasse 1 to the west

Elements of Panzer Aufklärungs Abt Kurmark just to the west of  Neuentemple. Pete pulled them back to Marxdorf at the first available opportunity, not fancying a fight with the T-34's. SdKfz-250's by Esci/Italeri. SdKfz-234/1 hull by Matchbox, turret by Cromwell. AHR truck by Minimi (with the horrible base carved off)

8 Panzer Regiment at Worrin. Matchbox/Revell JgdPz-IV/70, Fujimi PzKfw-IVJ, Airfix 88mm and SHQ Horch and Möbelwagen. The last painted by Ian

The initial Luftwaffe air strike was highly effective. Unfortunately it missed the endless line of T-34's and shot up Kurmark instead. Airfix Fw-190F8

In the foreground the Pz-IV of 8 Panzer Regt confront the SU's of 373rd SU Regiment. In the background 1st Battalion 74th Guard Rife regiment collides with the HQ of Pz Abt Müncheberg. Both encounters were inconclusive but the Germans pulled back. ISU's are a mix of Ostmodels and Italeri.

Müncheberg swings south to cover Reichstrasse 1. When the T-34's of 8 GMC tried to run the gap there was carnage. Matchbox Panthers. The pale Tiger is a Dragon Armour model, the darker is Italeri. SdKfz-7 is Edai with Esci Flak.

Pe-2 attempts an attack on the Panzers but has no more luck than the Luftwaffe. It ends up bombing the bunched up Soviet infantry. Airfix Pe-2 painted by Chris

Müncheberg reinforced by the HQ's Pz-IV

502SS pushed forward from Marxdorf. A pair of Tigers advanced north into the wood. This pair are driving past Hedwingshof to Neuentemple

76th Guards Rifle Regiment marches to the front past the regimental 120mm mortars and the DHQ (which seemed to have acquired an M3 scout car). M3 is Esci the Seep is old (OOP) Gramodels

The 2nd wave of 8 GMC forces it way past the burning wrecks of the first wave. The 2nd wave faired no better than the first

This T-34 is a right mix of bits: S&S Turret, Airfix hull and S&S track units; decorated with a bunch of bits sent to me by George Buzby and David Reasoner - thanks guys (see here). Alby BA-64. The Gaz AAA is Alby too, but the quad Maxim is SHQ

The blind German pilot returns. This time he bombs 8 Pz Regiment. Luckily, for the Germans, doing no damage

Fw-190D9 (Airfix) provides top cover over Müncheberg

It was a day for appalling air to ground ID. This IL-2m (Eduard) bombs the poor infantry of the 76th Guards Rifle Regiment

The Tigers of 502SS halted just inside the woods, fearful of the Soviet submachinegunners and their Molotov's. The halftracks of Kurmark move up to support their advance

Kurmark's convoy from the rear. Closest is a Milicast SdKfz-251/21, then an Esci/Italeri SdKfz-250/1.

Leading Kurmark's advance. Cromwell SdKfz-251/1

74th Guards Rifle Regiment advanced through the woods against the pitifully weak 90 Panzergrenadier Regiment. The 76th pushed across the oven ground to the north and took a fearful pounding by the German mortars and artillery

Fw-190D9 above Worrin on patrol

40th Guards Tank Brigade supported by elements of 19th Light SU Brigade decide to counter attack Müncheberg. Milicast Valentine and Cromwell SU-57, both by Chris

IS-2's (Cromwell) of the 48th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment moving past Deidersdorf. This was the final Soviet reinforcement and by this point in the game the Soviets had already lost half their armour. The Germans had only lost a PzKfw-IV and some armoured cars

Although the counter attack by the 40GTB took some losses it broke the strength of Müncheberg. Luckily the Soviets had little left to exploit their success.

Airacobra (Revell) attempts to strafe the 88mm but is distracted by the fire from the Möbelwagen.

Pe-2 finally finds a target and bombs a Panther, though without effect

502SS supported by Kurmark punches through the defences of 1GTB on Reichstrasse 1. Despite the support of the grenadiers from Kurmark the Soviets managed to kill a Tiger in close assault

The other Tigers of 502SS come to the relief of Müncheberg past the burning remains of many T-34's

We played until turn 8 but it was clear the Soviets had lost the game with the majority of the T-34's flaming wrecks and the SS in firm control of Reichstrasse 1. In the North 20 Panzer Grenadier's position was looking precarious though the Rifle Division had taken very heavy casualties. However with 502SS in Deidersdorf there was nothing to stop the remains of Müncheberg pushing north

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