ASL Scenario "Götterdämmerung" at Westwall 2001

[Klaus Fischer]

During Westwall 2001 Jo Bader, Christoph Ludwig, Frank Meier and Klaus Fischer played a Monster Scenario loosely based upon the historical battle of Central Hungary in April 1945 called "Götterdämmerung".
The main issue of this game was to have maximum Fog of War and maximum fun. The four players did not participate in the tourney as playing the game (in contrast to winning the game) was in the foreground. "Götterdämmerung" featured the OBs of the Russian and German sides (each OB and VC unknown to the other side) on the Lg map of KGP.

Despite a fun game we agreed to look up every rule in question and to make sure each move is played in compliance with the ASLRB. Since the Scenario featured FBs, FT, DC and other neat toys there was plenty of opportunity to look rules up. In addition the "fun" nature of the sceanrio freed the players to try some new/neat/sleazy tricks.
I have never, ever seen a sceanrio with so many Overruns and Vehicle Bypass Freezes. So, you may call this a training tool also.
We played for two and a half days and ended the scenario at turn 10. At the end more than 24 burning tanks were littering the battlefield.
Immediately upon finishing Götterdämmerung we decided to try another "fun-monster" at Grenadier 2001. All kinds of ideas like:
-Aachen on the RB map
-some river crossing action
-Airborne assault across the Rhine
and so forth came into mind. Since I designed Götterdämmerung we agreed that I would create another one - this time US vs Germans.
Three Castle Bridge was born! http://www.fischers-design.de/asl/3cb.htm

But read Frank Meiers AAR on "Götterdämmerung" first:

Thursday, 19-04-2001
I arrived with Florian Mentl at the tourney site, the youth hostel "Europa" in Saarbrücken at about 13:30.
After greeting the other players who already arrived, I informed Peter Ladwein - one of the tournament organizers - that I didn't want to participate in the tourney, but rather play a friendly game with some other guys.
Meanwhile, Florian started his first Amphibious Assault scenario "Bloody Red Beach" with Philip Briaux from France.
I waited for the arrival of the other players and finally teamed up with Christoph Ludwig, Jo Bader and Klaus Fischer. We all decided not to participate in the tournament and instead decided to play a monster scenario, designed by Klaus Fischer, solely for this event (see "Götterdämmerung" in the ASL-Vault).
Klaus and Jo took the Germans, while Christoph and I took the Russians. We made our setup and started playing in the early evening.

My first Russian turn was ruled by boxcars. One of my FBs was recalled in its turn of arrival and my tanks shot 3 duds at the Germans panzers. The Red Army's advance came to an abrupt halt. My IS-2m's on the right were outflanked by German armor by the end of turn 1. Christoph's left was steadily advancing toward the Germans.
At the end of the day the Russians held several buildings and we had a good starting point for our offensive on Friday morning...


Friday, 20-04-2001
On this day, the dice-god shifted his toward the Russians. Now the Germans started to malfunction their weapons, while I landed an improbably hit, which turned out as a critical hit against one of the JagdPanthers, turning it into a burning wreck.
During the day Christoph's left flank got into serious trouble. Most of his infantry forces were broken or killed by the German defenders. A German AT Gun took out 3 of our light Tanks (T-70) on this flank.
On my right flank, the Germans reoccupied a group of isolated buildings, which I would not be able to conquer for the whole game...
The center was held by several concealed Russian squads in stone buildings. The Germans tried to get this building with heavy fire from a Whirlwind, which I couldn't reach with my tanks as all avenues of approach were covered by German tanks.
So the right and center of the Russian forces switched to a sit and duck defense.

Saturday, 21-04-2001
Finally the last reinforcements arrived for both sides. Most of the russian infantry reinforcement were shifted to Christophs left flank to assist his assault on the village.
This day also saw a lot of overruns with partly spectaular results. We used the whole weekend to try seldom used rules, like Overruns.
One T-70 in particular conducted 3 Overruns and neutralized 2 8-3-8s with Flamethrowers...

Sunday, 22-04-2001
After a healthy breakfast, we gathered at the playing room and waited for the last players to finish their games. I used the time to play a small scenario against Klaus Fischer which I lost. I don't know which scenario we played. A small force of Americans with a hero and 2 BAZ had to defend all buildings on a half-board. A German force with 2 Pz IV had to clear these buildings within 6 turns I believe. You have to read the victory conditions carefully ! I held the last building with a hero and no way that the Germans could reach him in time; but a hero is no MMC...

http://www.advanced-sl.de/img/ww01.jpg Thursday(?) Evening: Relaxing after a tiring battle with a lot of beer...
http://www.advanced-sl.de/img/ww02.jpg From left to right: Frank Meier (that's me), Christoph Ludwig, Klaus Fischer
http://www.advanced-sl.de/img/ww03.jpg Closeup View of the battlefield on Saturday afternoon. About 30 wrecks - most are burning - litter the small hungarian village.
http://www.advanced-sl.de/img/ww04.jpg Both sides concentrate on the enemy's moves...

All the Götterdämmerung stuff can be found at:
http://www.fischers-design.de/asl/goetter.htm
Ciao

Klaus