Minsk Offensive

**Minsk Offensive** is a scenario in *Panzer Corps 2*.

## Briefings

Thank you for coming, Herr General. It is unfortunate that we only seem to meet under the worst of circumstances, but such are the demands of war.

It is highly unusual to rush you here primarily as an observer, but as you are keenly aware, there have been quite a few... shufflings... of many command positions.

The dismissal of our mutual friend Herr Manstein is still quite a fresh wound.

So even though you will not have your own forces at your disposal for the upcoming battle, you will still exercise direct battlefield control.

Now then, with that out of the way, allow me to explain the situation, as best as we can piece together.

Forward elements of Army Group Centre have been under attack since June 22nd, with many 4th Army units now clustering around this position.

The pattern of enemy attacks seems to point towards Minsk as their objective, so High Command has the following directives for you:

**Primary Objective: Recapture all Berezina River Crossings.**

**Primary Objective: Defend Minsk.**

**Primary Objective: Destroy the 5th Guards Tank Army.**

Lead elements of 5th Panzer Division are fighting a rear-guard action against an unknown number units from the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army near Krupki. They're currently trying to get a few 4th Army stragglers across the Berezina.

But once the 4th Army has finished concentrating its strength, High Command wants them immediately to strike back.

The best way to contain the enemy is by forcing them back over the Berezina River, so retaking any and all crossings is your goal.

Should a few small formations of enemy units slip through, High Command demands that Minsk be held. We're hopeful the fight will never reach the city, but if it comes to that, we'll update your orders as the battle progresses.

Be on the watch for enemy Partisan activity, it has proved very disruptive to our communications, and will no doubt harass your efforts in this battle as well.

As reinforcements, we have put the elite 5th Panzer Division at your disposal. They are at full strength and even have several prototype Royal Tigers available to them. It should be more than enough reinforcements to handle whatever the enemy has committed to this battle.

Good luck, Herr General.

### Debriefing

**Historically, German Army Group Centre was caught completely off guard by the sheer weight of the Soviet forces arrayed against them.**

**This was largely accomplished through a mixture of Soviet maskirovka deception and increased Partisan attacks on German communications lines.**

**Now deprived of having an understanding of the true situation, German High Command would make a series of decisions that only amplified the disaster unfolding for German Army Group Centre.**

**Panzer counterattacks ordered against the numerically superior Soviet forces would be devastated by the thousands of Soviet aircraft attached to Operation Bagration.**

**And demands to hold key locations at all costs would only result in the total encirlement of many German formations.**

**In the two short weeks between the start of Operation Bagration and the recapturing of Minsk, Soviet forces inflicted over 100,000 casualties on Germany Army Group Centre. The vast majority of those casualties being German soldiers taken prisoner as encircled units failed to break out and were forced to surrender.**

## Walkthrough

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## Locations

* Berezina River

* Neris River

* Wileika

* Begoml

* Molodetschno

* Borisov

* Berezino

* Minsk

* Krupki

* Berezina River

* Neris River

* Wileika

* Begoml

* Molodetschno

* Borisov

* Berezino

* Minsk

* Krupki

## Messages

* ***HIGH COMMAND COMMUNIQUE:***

5th Panzer Division should be in position and fully prepared to assist 4th Army by now.
Direct the 5th Panzer to begin immediate counterattacks and drive the enemy back over the Berezina.
4th Army will continue to stand their ground, but are permitted to also support counterattacks wherever possible.

-COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY

* ***HIGH COMMAND COMMUNIQUE:***  Minsk is to be designated as a Festung and held at any cost.
Prepare a list of potential Commandants for immediate review. They will be responsible for taking charge of the defense of the city.

-COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY

* ***HIGH COMMAND COMMUNIQUE:***  Directive to hold Minsk at all cost still stands. In light of unexpected enemy presence in the vicinity of Minsk, it is permissible for some heavily damaged units to withdraw.
Assign a strong enough garrison force to Minsk that will be able to continue resisting the enemy, even if encircled.
The defenders must hold long enough for the bulk of 4th Army to regroup and relieve them.

-COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY

* ***HIGH COMMAND COMMUNIQUE:***

5th Panzer Division should be in position and fully prepared to assist 4th Army by now.
Direct the 5th Panzer to begin immediate counterattacks and drive the enemy back over the Berezina.
4th Army will continue to stand their ground, but are permitted to also support counterattacks wherever possible.

-COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY

* ***HIGH COMMAND COMMUNIQUE:***  Minsk is to be designated as a Festung and held at any cost.
Prepare a list of potential Commandants for immediate review. They will be responsible for taking charge of the defense of the city.

-COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY

* ***HIGH COMMAND COMMUNIQUE:***  Directive to hold Minsk at all cost still stands. In light of unexpected enemy presence in the vicinity of Minsk, it is permissible for some heavily damaged units to withdraw.
Assign a strong enough garrison force to Minsk that will be able to continue resisting the enemy, even if encircled.
The defenders must hold long enough for the bulk of 4th Army to regroup and relieve them.

-COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY

## Notes

* Notable allied formations:
	+ 4th Army
	+ 5th Panzer Division
* Notable enemy formations:
	+ 3rd Guards Tank Corps
	+ 5th Guards Tank Army
* Notable allied units:
	+ A Level 4 5th Panzer Division Jagdpanther that has a hero with the Skilled Support and Double Support traits.
	+ A Level 4 5th Panzer Division Tiger I that has 15 Strength points and a hero with the Overwhelming Attack and Envelopment traits.
	+ A Level 4 5th Panzer Division Tiger I that has a hero with the Double Attack and Vigilant traits.
	+ 195th Bf 109K, which is Level 3 and has a hero with the Crippling Blow and Evasive traits.
	+ 196th Fw 190A, which is Level 3 and has a hero with the Avenger and Lightning Attack traits.
* Notable enemy units:
	+ A Level 3 5th Guards Tank Army BM-31 Katyusha that has 15 Strength points and a hero with the Shock Tactics trait.
	+ A Level 3 5th Guards Tank Army Guards unit that has 18 Strength points and a hero with the Flag Killer trait.
	+ A Level 3 5th Guards Tank Army Guards unit that has 18 Strength points and a hero with the Unyielding trait.
	+ A Level 3 5th Guards Tank Army IS-2 that has 12 Strength points and a hero with the No Surrender and Leadership traits.
	+ A Level 3 5th Guards Tank Army KV-85 that has 15 Strength points and a hero with the No Surrender and Through Preparation traits.
	+ A Level 3 5th Guards Tank Army T-34/43 that has 15 Strength points and a hero with the No Surrender and First Strike traits.
	+ 124th T-34-85, which is Level 1 and has a hero with the No Surrender and Vigilant traits.
	+ 126th T-34-85, which is Level 1 and has a hero with the No Surrender and Exterminator traits.
	+ 160th BM-8-24, which is Level 1 and has a hero with the Shock Tactics trait.
	+ 175th Il-2M3, which is Level 1 and has 12 Strength points and a hero with the Prudent trait.