1. Army Group Antonescu. A long standing plan, never approved by Hitler, would have placed the Rumanian Dictator Marshal Antonescu in charge of an Army Group comprised of the 3rd Rum XXXX, 8th It XXXX, and 2nd Hun XXXX, in order to bolster the confidence and aggressiveness of the Axis allies. In line with this rationalized scheme, players may effect the following provisions:

Italian, Rumanian and Hungarian units produce special replacements at a ratio of 1/4 of total eliminated strength. Replaced units are not placed in the national reserves but received as RR reinforcements.

Italy, Hungary, and Rumania receive replacements per the Axis Replacement Schedule in the standard rules.

2. The Steppe Fox. On the eve of EI Alamein, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel had been invalided to Germany and promised the command of an Army Group in the Ukraine when he recovered. Had he not been considered indispensable in the face of Montgomery's offensive, it is very probable that he, and not von Manstein, would have conducted the campaign simulated in this scenario. There was little to choose between the two men as generals, except in one respect. Hitler placed his commanders in one of two categories: snobbish bureaucrats (for example: Brauchitsch and Halder) of the kind who had betrayed the Army in the first War, and vigorous active men (for example, Reichenau and Sepp Dietrich) who reminded him of the assault leaders who had favorably impressed him during his own combat service. Because of von Manstein's record in France, Hitler was at first disposed to place him in the latter category, but throughout this campaign, as von Manstein insisted upon the aristocratic privilege of the Prussian officer corps and the superiority of his own military intellect (which was completely beyond Hitler's understanding), the Fuehrer more and more shifted him into the former and began to countermand his general's plans and orders merely for the sake of opposition. But Rommel was such an heroic exemplar to him, Hitler might well have given his favorite general a freer hand to conduct operations.

If players wish to explore this possibility they should ignore the restrictions imposed by the Special Rules on the Sixth Army and the construction of rear area fortifications. For play balance, add one to the Soviet VP total. 

More Lost Victories: Stalingrad Counteroffensive

Introduction and Background
Scenario Rules
Special Rules
Optional Rules
Variants
Player's Aid Card
Field Marshal Manstein
Field Marshal Zhukov
Axis Order of Battle
Soviet Order of Battle
Design Notes