German Initial Deployment

3-1-8 Rkt Art III 0709
3-1-8 Rkt Art III 0609
2-3-8 Art III 0409
2-3-8 Art III 1006
1-10 mot AT II 0807
1-10 mot AT II 1006
2- 10 mot hv AA III 0409
2-10 mot hv AA III 0509
2-6 Eng III 0710
2-6 Eng III 1007
0-1-5 Cons III 0310
0-1-5 Cons III 0511
2-1-10 Aslt Gun II 0609
2-1-10 Aslt Gun II 0209
2-1-10 Aslt Gun II 1006
Truck 0710
Airfields 0311,0710,1009
Me109G 0311
2x Me 109G 0710
Me109G 1009
Fw190A 0607
Ju87D 0311
Ju87D 0710
2x Ju88A 0513
3x Ju88A Off-Map
3x He111H Off-Map
All Other Units Per German OB

Pukalo Commentary

Realizing that the Dnepr River line cannot hold, I have concentrated my strongest ancillary units in the north, in the hope of saving Korosten and Zhitomir. These cities can be used as a staging area for a flank attack on any drive toward Vinnitsa.

Non-divisional units are either concentrated at "strong points" (i.e., 1006, 0409), or put behind the line, in hopes they will survive the Soviet initial turn. Since they do not have cadres, any casualty result destroys these units, many of which are much more effective in the attack. The engineers provide the foundation for a second defense line.

The Luftwaffe is concentrated in the center and the north to support the Lyutezh Bridgehead.

Judge's Verdict

The task before this court is to determine the best German setup for "The Battle for Kiev, 1943." This scenario was first presented in TEM #32 and later modified in TEM #33. All these hardy souls who have braved the slings and arrows of public scrutiny and submitted entries are to be congratulated.

This training exercise proved more difficult to judge than "Leningrad: 1941." I have only played "Kiev" three or four times, and I suspect that many more playings are needed to explore all the possible strategies. Also, since most of the units that can be freely deployed are "ants," a judge can quickly get bogged down deciding whether it is preferable to put an extra point in hex "A" instead of hex "B." Hopefully, I avoided this trap and focused on the critical aspects of play.

So, what is important for the German player? Two obvious goals are minimizing German casualties and restricting the extent of any Soviet breakthroughs. Preventing an overrun by the Soviet player in the Nov 143 turn serves to facilitate both goals, and is a prerequisite of a sound German defensive alignment.

In order to avoid an overrun, one must know the potential strength of the most powerful Soviet stack. Since the Soviets have complete freedom of deployment, this stack can be readily determined by viewing the initial order of battle: 68 strength points. Therefore, a German stack must be at least 7 points strong to avoid an overrun. Deployments failing to take this basic dynamic into account are extremely suspect and likely flawed-as hard-pressed as he is, the German player simply cannot afford to yield up any freebies.

This setup fails to reinforce hex 0309 or 0907, allowing both to be overrun. Holy debacle, Batman! To make matters worse, many unsupported units are precariously positioned just behind the front line; most will be gobbled up by the ravenous Red Army as it surges to the west.

The "strong point" concept didn't work in 1944 for AG Center during "Operation Bagration," and it probably won't work here either. The onslaught is too potent and the German "fire brigade" too small. The likely result is that these "strong points" will be turned into isolated pockets, to be mopped up later at the Soviet player's leisure.

Verdict: 8th Place

Training Exercise #2: The Battle for Kiev, 1943

Pukalo Deployment
Yanaway Deployment
Watson Deployment
Dahman Deployment
Jennings Deployment
Celebuski Deployment
Dickenson Deployment
Carrenne Deployment