Battles in the East #2: Uman Pocket and Guderian’s Final Blitzkrieg, 1941

Battles in the East (BITE) is a series simulating World War II Eastern Front battles. The system rules are an evolution of the SPI classics Panzergruppe Guderian, Army Group South, and Cobra. Unit integrity bonuses include Soviet Corps and vary to show the increasing Soviet cohesion and decreasing German cohesion as the war progresses. HQ units provide higher level combat support and supply advantages to corresponding units in range. BITEs also incorporates standardized scales (unit size, distance, time) for easy comparisons.

While the series rules allow players to play many games with the same core rules, the scenario rules add unique situational elements of each battle. Each volume includes two battles from one year with two copies of the charts and tables as well as scenario rules and set-up cards for easy reference.

Uman Pocket

Uman, 1941: Operation Barbarossa achieved huge successes. Army Group South had cleared Eastern Poland and in fierce engagements destroyed large elements of the armies of the Southwest Front. Budyonny was trying to regroup and make a stand west of the Dnieper River. Although most of their vast mechanized forces had been destroyed, these forces could not be left to attack the flanks of Army Group South. Von Rundstedt ordered Von Kleist to pocket and destroy these forces before they could retreat across the Dniepr. To support 1st Panzer Group, Reichenau’s 6th Army would pin Budyonny’s Southwest and Southern Fronts.

The game runs from 14 July–8 August 1941—ten game turns.

Guderian’s Final Blitzkrieg

Tula, 1941: Operation Typhoon, the German offensive to capture Moscow in late 1941, was in its final throes. To the south of Moscow, Guderian led his 2nd Panzer Group in a blitzkrieg attack to encircle Moscow. This was a race for Guderian between the ever-worsening weather, the exhaustion of his troops and the stiffening Soviet resistance. Key to the success or otherwise was the industrial city of Tula. The plan was simple. His forces would encircle the city from the south, capture it, and then drive north into Moscow and end the war. Zhukov knew Tula must be held. This would buy time for the Soviet reserve armies to arrive and counterattack. The frontline forces would need to hold and fight to the last man.

The game runs from 17th November 1941–7th December 1941—ten game turns.

Game Contents

• One double-sided 22×34 inch game board

• 440 die-cut 5/8-inch counters

• 16-page system rules booklet

• System charts card (2 sets)

• Scenario rules/setup cards (2 sets of 2)

• Scenario display card

• 1 six-sided die

• Storage bags

Battles in the East Series

Players: 2

Playing Time: 2–4 hours

Map Scale: 3–5 miles per hex (5–8 km)

Counter Scale: Regiment–Division

Complexity: Medium

Solitaire: High