Victor and Sean from the Studio fight out a clash in the heart of Budapest. Victor commands the Hungarians, while Sean takes control of a Soviet street fighting force.

It is late December and my comrades and I have fought our way into Budapest. I have been placed in charge of a specialist Shturmovye Batalon and tasked with capturing a supply factory to the north.

Reports have indicated that the area is mostly ruins with a few large buildings left standing and the remains of a main road running east-to-west. The rubble could prove troublesome for the handful of tanks and assault guns that have been granted to me, but my men will press on regardless. The more concerning news is that there is a company of Hungarians defending the area. Nearing the road I see that there are three clear approaches to the factory. I tell my second-in-command, Matrosov, to take charge of the Shturmovye group and to take the battalion komissar with him. “Have the men set up in that building,” I hear him bark to the Kapitan, “and the guns need clear lines of fire either way down the road.” These 122mm Assault Howitzers should give the enemy armour something to worry about and if the Hungarians decide to hide in the surrounding buildings then we can bring the whole structure down on their heads. I tell my small company of SU-76s to set up an ambush and watch our retreat. If this attack goes badly we will need a path back to safety. I take the rest of my men and start down the eastern approach with the OT-34’s providing cover for our crossing of the main road. If we can advance down this side road unhindered then we will be within assaulting distance of the factory.

We can hear the Soviets coming, they’re not exactly quiet. I know we’ll be out numbered, but I’ve been defending this city with these men for months; we’re certainly not out gunned. We know these buildings inside-out, so it’s going to be hard for those Soviet scum to surprise us.

It’s obvious they’re after our supply factory, but we can’t let them have it. My men from the StuG platoon had already gone ahead and secured an adjacent building, breaking through walls leaving nothing but rubble behind. Knowing how they fight they’ll be hard to spot, most likely only exposing their barrels when they know they can strike. I quickly gave word to the Toldi platoon to keep watch down the main road that would lead the Sovs to the abandoned panther turret. They’re my eyes for the western flank. Earlier in the day we had set up two anti-aircraft guns in a building to the west. No doubt they know what’s coming, I just hope they can hold on till we can whittle down the Soviet numbers. The pioneers were set to ambush where needed, darting between buildings until they can find a weak spot in the Red tide. “They’re here, sir!” comes over the radio from our 3rd Zrínyi. “5 T-34s I think, and a lot of men!” Nothing unexpected. We’ve dealt with worse before. This is our city, and they can take it over our dead Zrínyis!

Turn 1

“Hold men!” I shouted across the radio. “Make every shot count”

I could hear the distinct sound of the Sturmgeschütz opening fire. Let’s hope giving away their positions was worth it. Speak of the devil, the StuG’s radio in. “122s setting up, sir. One down, one to go”. The T-34s were approaching fast, it was time for action. “Open fire”. The rubble from the previous weeks fighting made our shooting difficult, but the cover was working both ways. Finally one of my crew produced that beautiful noise of Soviet armour being torn apart.

Damn, the Hungarians are closer than I thought and we’ve already lost one of our flame tanks! Down the road I can see bullets shredding the building where my Shturmovye Group is hiding.

I hear over the radio that a pair of enemy guns are firing from inside a building. I yell into the receiver, “Concentrate all guns on the corner building, turn it to rubble!” and a moment later the target building is crumbling down, crushing the fools who hid there. The tanks continue their advance, letting off some shots, which I could swear hit the enemy armour, but I am not sure. I order my men into the rubble that lines the road and we advance alongside the tanks.

Turn 2

The retaliating fire from the T-34s caused one of my crews to abandon their Zrínyi, and suppressing fire from the infantry’s sub-machine guns was covering the line back to their assault gun.

“Second 122’s down, sir. We’ve cleared ourselves an opening to move and block their path of retreat. Orders?” asked the StuG Förhadnagy (Lieutenant). “Press on men, secure their escape route.” I could hear the roar of the Bofors in the distance, surely they are holding their own. “What’s the damage out west, Förhadnagy?” I asked the Toldi commander. “The anti-air crew have got a horde pinned down in a building, they’ll think twice about charging.” They replied. “Help them however you can, we can’t lose that flank!” I said, as I signalled to my driver to creep around the building corner. We’ve got to halt the T-34s before they reach the factory. “I’ve got sight, sir!” yelled my gunner. “Fire!” Our firepower was too much for them to bear, and two more T-34s went up in smoke. With two more still approaching, I’m nervous we can’t get shells in the barrels fast enough. Hold on, those aren’t normal T-34s… “Fall back, men! Don’t let them close!”

My tanks are nearing the enemy, but two more have been rocked by Zrínyi shells sending them careening off the road. The remaining flame-throwers let loose, catching the Hungarians off guard.

I see some of their tank crews abandon their vehicles as another is engulfed completely in glorious fire. As we advance I receive word that the Shturmovye group is still cowering in their building, having lost their howitzers to some StuG fire. I send an order through to the battalion komissar to get them moving at any cost. The men continue their cautious advance, soon we will be able to assault the enemy ourselves and then the factory will belong to the red army.

Turn 3

My eyes were burning as I watched one of my crews go up in flames. Only one other Zrínyi crew had managed to escape the flames with me. If only I could have noticed that the T-34s we destroyed earlier were burning especially strong.

“We’ve unleased hell on the horde, sir. They’re advancing from the building, but the last Bofor’s fire is keeping them back. I can see the StuG’s advancing to out flank the tide.” “Excellent news, men.” I reply. “Hold on till the end!” Our defence on this flank was not looking as secure. With our two functioning Zrinyis we were giving the enemy tanks all we had but our message just wasn’t getting through.

They’re dangerously close now but surely they must’ve expended all their fuel for the flame-throwers with that last inferno. “Look, sir! That building wall!” yelled my driver. Dust and debris shrouded what could only be the assault pioneers. They swamped the two remaining tanks in a matter of seconds, making quick work of them and jumping off as they exploded, all while under SMG fire. Our men were out numbered, but I’ve witnessed them fight many times, this is their specialty. As they ran ahead into the dust I can only hope there are no more Soviets when it settles.

I see the remaining OT-34s destroyed by enemy infantry as we lay down some defensive fire and make our counterattack.

I should have known this route would be a trap, but it seemed the most direct path to our objectives. The smoke and debris from the burning tanks makes the fight hard, but I have many men willing to die for the motherland. The deadly fire from the Hungarians can only stall us so long and after a short but bloody push we have wiped them out. We fall back into the ruins to regroup, the battle has taken a greater toll than I had originally thought. “Only two guns remain,” I assure them, “We advance from here and take them. We do not fall back!” I get on the radio to find out what the Shturmovye group are doing. They have made it across the main road, losing just a few men on the way. They have also managed to destroy the last Bofors gun and take positions in the building. The Komissar tells me that the men are wavering and that he has had to make examples of those who tried to flee. I tell him that no cost is too high to reach our goal. I turn back to the men. “The Shturmovye Gruppa have taken the building to the west. They shall flank the enemy creating the anvil. We shall be the hammer.”

Turn 4

“The Bofors are gone! Soviets have taken their building.” The Toldi commander reported.

“Pursue them, we need control of the buildings, drive them out!” I ordered. Unfortunately I can now see the result of the assault. All my men have fallen to become a carpet of bodies. I can see the remnants of the Soviets in a nearby building. “We need to get fire on that building! Break out the machine guns!” I yell as I throw the hatch above me open, grabbing our AA MG. I spot a big opening in the building and let them have it. If I can keep constant fire on them, surely they won’t dare coming out to play. I hear an incoming report from the StuGs come from inside the hull of my assault gun.

“We’ve secured their escape route, sir. No one’s getting thr…“

Fire from the SU-76’s booms down the roads, someone has been trying to cut us off. I hope that their ambush has been effective as they are not built for a prolonged firefight. A moment later my faith is rewarded as a plume of black smoke rises in the distance.

Matrosov’s voice comes in on the radio, “A Toldi platoon has entered the building. One is already stuck halfway through the outer wall. We shall make them regret attacking us.”

MG fire from the remaining Zrínyis keeps my company pinned in the ruins. I’m sure that one of the gunners must be their Commander. Between volleys I can hear him shouting orders and when we attempt to move from our positions his fire is accurate and deadly.  “Two Toldis down,” Matrosov’s voice sounds weak over the radio, “but we have lost many men beneath their accursed tracks. We mu…” Over the radio I hear the sound of gunfire and men screaming in pain.

Turn 5

I jump back in the Hull of my Zrínyi, I need to get in contact with the StuGs, heavy gun fire is sounding in their location. “Förhadnagy, report!”

“We’ve been ambushed, sir! SU’s! They’ve hit us hard, lost one gun.” “Don’t fall back, hold that route! And don’t let them flank you again.” I can see to my right a lone Toldi tank roll towards us and fire on the same infested building I’ve had my gun on. “We cleared the building, Százados.” the Toldi commander yells as he catches his breath. “But we’re all that’s left.” “You’ve fought hard, Förhadnagy. But it’s not over yet. Here they come!”

The Shturmovye group is gone and the fact that I can still hear fire coming from the direction of the SU-76s means that they are probably fighting a losing battle.

There is nothing left to do but charge and hope we can withstand the machine-gun fire long enough to close with the assault-guns. If we can take their commander down surely the rest will retreat. I order my remaining men to charge. Some of them have given up already, I can see it in their eyes, but they still obey. We rush out from the ruins and dash across the street towards the enemy. Truly it is all-or-nothing now.

Turn 6

We open up with the machine guns of our three tanks on the approaching Soviet band. They were battered from the fighting, and they dropped like flies. I emptied my mag, each bullet for a fallen comrade. No Soviet was spared.

“The Soviet assault guns retreated, but we finished them off, sir.” Reported the StuG in heavy tone. “Regroup men, you’ve done your city proud.” We’ve halted the Soviets, for now. They will keep coming, and the toll is high today. Hopefully we can get reinforced and resupplied in time for the next wave. We’ve lost many in this city, but this city is still Hungary’s!