3-1-8 Rkt Art III 0708
3-1-8 Rkt Art III 0907
2-3-8 Art III 0309
2-3-8 Art III 0509
1-10 mot AT II 0907
1-10 mot AT II 0907
2-10 mot hv AA III 0409
2-10 mot hv AA III 0509
2-6 Eng III 0607
2-6 Eng III 0807
0-1-5 Cons III 0708
0-1-5 Cons III 0807
2-1-10 Ash Gun II 0208
2-1-10 Ash Gun II 0209
2-1-10 Ash Gun II 0409
Truck 1006
Divisions & Cadres Per German OB

No deployment hexes for the airbases or Luftwaffe units were listed.

Celebuski Commentary

Here is my entry for the initial German deployment of non-divisional units in Training Exercise #2, the Battle for Kiev. The deployment relies on the original Axis OB in TEM #32. The objective is to slow (not necessarily stop) the Soviet breakout from the Lyutezh bridgehead, giving the "Fire Brigade" time to oppose the Red spearhead.

I felt that an advance from the southern bridgehead would run into supply problems rather quickly, while supply of a breakout from the Lyutezh bridgehead would be assisted by the road hexes (and their inherent supply line extension) once Kiev falls. I therefore have concentrated most German strength in the northern sector.

Judge's Verdict

Finally, a deployment that prevents overruns against both hexes 0309 and 0907. Is this game really so hard to fathom? In FitEISE what you don't know can definitely hurt you.

This setup is the best of the "crust" defense variety, and it points up the catch-22 the German Army faces: By putting more units in the front line, the German player hopes to reduce the amount of attacks the Soviet player makes or force him to attack at reduced odds. Either way, this should result in fewer German casualties. But at the same time, he is now exposing more units to the Soviet onslaught. And any hex the Soviet player decides to attack is probably going to get nuked, and this will result in increased losses. What is a Nazi to do?

As a German player in 1943, I have been rewarded far more often for pessimism than for optimism. So I offer this advice, gleaned from the school of hard knocks: Don't mass all your forces in the front line.

Aside from this philosophical consideration, there is also the near certitude that this style defense will allow exploiting Soviet units to scurry unhindered into embarrassing hexes in the rear area.

This scheme rates out higher when using the revised victory point awards in TEM #33 than when using the original VP schedule. Still, he who tries to defend everything, defends nothing.

Verdict. 3rd 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