Kerch Peninsula

**Kerch Peninsula** is a scenario in *Panzer Corps 2*.

## Briefings

General %playername%, may I introduce you to Generaloberst Erich von Manstein. Chief artitect of the Manstein plan!

*Manstein glances over at Oberst Wagner, one eyebrow raised quizzically.*

What did you say, Oberst? The what plan?

Apologies, Generaloberst. It is a label some of our officers have been using, whenever we recollect over our campaigns in France.

Ah yes, Fall Gleb (Sic). I take it then, that you participated in advance through the Ardennes?

I was but one of many officers who had the priviledge (Sic) of executing your master plan, sir.

Well then, I see my reputation has proceeded me. Good.

Perhaps it will mean you will only need a little bit of convincing to agree to assist my latest plan then, ja?

**Primary Objective: Capture Kerch.**

**Bonus Objective: Annihilate all Three Soviet Armies before Capturing Kerch.**

General %playername%, let me bring you up to speed quickly.

We secured the vast majority of the Crimea last year during Barbarossa, but the major Soviet naval base at Sevastopol has proven to be thus far impregnable.

Between bad weather and Soviet reinforcements that have been shipped on to this peninsula, I have so far been unable to remove this thorn from our side.

With the arrival of your forces, I finally have the reinforcements I have long requested from High Command, and it is time to end this stalemate.

While my forces keep the pressure on Sevastopol, I need you to destroy their last remaining lifeline by seizing Kerch.

I've already rebuffed several Soviet attempts to reach Sevastopol, and it seems our enemy has exhausted their reserves and settled in to defend this line here.

Generaloberst, if I may interrupt. This part of their line seems to have some very swampy terrain, it might not be well suited to our Panzers to operate in.

I was just about to mention that, thank you for confirming my thoughts.

My scouts have reported that the Soviets have undermanned this part of their line, probably for the same reason you have just raised concern with.

To maximize the surprise and effect of your attack, I therefore recommend you do attack through this swamp.

I will arrange for our Romanian allies to harass the Soviet line here with coordinated artillery strikes, as a diversion for your thrust.

*Oberst Wagner nods his head in obvious approval, but remains silent.*

Once you have breached the Soviet lines, you should be in an excellent position to encircle and destroy the vast number of Soviet forces in the region...

And seize Kerch before the Soviets can even think about organizing another naval landing in support of Sevastopol.

To victory, for Germany!

### Debriefing

An excellent performance, Herr General.

With Kerch finally in our hands, I can at last turn my full attention on Sevastopol without fear of being attacked or harrassed from behind.

High Command has already ordered me to release your forces for other operations, and so it shall be done.

But I would like to think the next time I have need for critical reinforcements, it will be you to again answer the call.

Thank you again, Herr General.

**Historically, Generaloberst von Manstein had been fighting Soviet attempts to relieve Sevastopol since December of 1941.**

**Although his 11th Army was constantly outnumbered in every engagement, Manstein held on for five months.**

**When major reinforcements were finally available to grant to Manstein, he used them swiftly and decisively to finish his conquest of the Crimea.**

**By the time the months long struggle over the Kerch Peninsula was finally over, Manstein's forces suffered more than ten thousand casualties. But in exchange, they extracted a bloody toll in the hundreds of thousands from their Soviet adversaries.**

**For securing victory with incredible tenacity in the face of overwhelming odds, and for the following capture of the Sevastopol, Manstein would receive a promotion to Field Marshal in July of 1942.**

## Walkthrough

*This article is a stub. You can help Panzer Corps Wiki by expanding it.*

## Locations

* Sea of Azov

* Black Sea

* Lake Syvash

* Kerch

* Feodosia

* Bagerovo

* Marfovka

* Parpach

* Sem-Kolodezei

* To Sevastopol

* Quarry

* Sea of Azov

* Black Sea

* Lake Syvash

* Kerch

* Feodosia

* Bagerovo

* Marfovka

* Parpach

* Sem-Kolodezei

* To Sevastopol

* Quarry

## Messages

* ***Oberst Wagner:*** Mein General, some of our forces have captured a number of Soviet fighters and tactical bombers on the ground and intact. We've commandeered them all and you can access them as captured equipment.

* ***Oberst Wagner:*** Mein General, we finally cleared out the quarry and surrounding catacombs near Kerch. It seems that far more Soviet troops than we expected were hiding out down there! With the area around Kerch now totally secure, a thorough search around the port has revealed several shipments of Allied Lend-Lease equipment clearly meant for the Soviets to use against us. We've commandeered several types of aircraft and a few heavy tanks, and you can access them as captured equipment.

* Bonus Objective to Annihilate all Three Soviet Armies before Capturing Kerch completed.
Earned Commendation Points: 2.
Total Commendation Points: %d.

* ***Oberst Wagner:*** Mein General, some of our forces have captured a number of Soviet fighters and tactical bombers on the ground and intact. We've commandeered them all and you can access them as captured equipment.

* ***Oberst Wagner:*** Mein General, we finally cleared out the quarry and surrounding catacombs near Kerch. It seems that far more Soviet troops than we expected were hiding out down there! With the area around Kerch now totally secure, a thorough search around the port has revealed several shipments of Allied Lend-Lease equipment clearly meant for the Soviets to use against us. We've commandeered several types of aircraft and a few heavy tanks, and you can access them as captured equipment.

* Bonus Objective to Annihilate all Three Soviet Armies before Capturing Kerch completed.
Earned Commendation Points: 2.
Total Commendation Points: %d.

## Notes

* Destroying the 44th, 47th and 51st Armies will award 2 Commendation Points.
* Capturing the village at (33,14) will grant players 19 Strength points worth of Captured MiG-3 Fighters, 25 Strength points worth of Captured Yakovlev Yak-1 Fighters, and 23 Strength points worth of Captured Sukhoi Su-2 Tactical bombers.
* Capturing the quarry at (39,7) will grant players 31 Strength points worth of Captured Spitfire Mk.II Fighters, 35 Strength points worth of Captured Beaufighter Mk.IF Tactical bombers, 40 Strength points worth of Captured Hurricane Mk.IID Tactical bombers, and 25 Strength points worth of Captured Churchill Mk.II Tanks.
* Notable enemy units:
	+ 11th Naval Inf, which is Level 3 and has 25 Strength points and a hero with the Ferocious Defense trait.
	+ 25th SMG Inf, which is Level 2 and has 42 Strength points and a hero with the Consolidator and No Supply traits.
	+ A 47th Army T-60 that is Level 1 and has a hero with the First Strike trait.
* Notable enemy formations:
	+ 44th Army
	+ 47th Army
	+ 51st Army