Additional Special Rules:
Eager officers: Despite political opposition from the Czechoslovak government in exile in London the men of the 1st Independent Brigade were eager to join the fight. Thanks to a personal letter to Stalin they had their wish and saw battle at Kharkov before their second major engagement at Kiev.
The Soviet battalion or company HQ unit always takes the Tenacity Command Card.
Rusyn members: During its growth after Kharkov the 1st Independent Brigade swelled its ranks with Rusyn Ukrainians released from the gulags. Hailing from the Carpathians in an area crossing Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine these men were to fight hard on the road to their homeland with Kiev being a key part of liberation.
Soviet infantry units reduce the number required to pass Follow Me orders by 1.
The Dnepr is breached: Despite some strong defensive positions over the Dnepr in Kiev itself, Soviet forces in both the North and South had managed to create bridgeheads and threaten the envelopment of Army Group South. The river was no longer the full extent of German lines and clinging to it could only offer a temporary defence.
German support units do not benefit from the “Third Reich” rule this game, instead using their base motivation for Last Stand rolls.
Reminiscent of Stalingrad: The fighting in the city proper reminded both sides of the furious clash in Stalingrad a year previous. With the knowledge of that campaign the Germans offered stiff house to house resistance, as their Soviet counterparts had back in 1942.
The German player may use one copy of the ‘Fortify the Building’ command card at no additional points cost (“Place this card next to abuilding that your HQ unit is occupying. For the rest of the game, infantry teams in this building have a 2+ save”).
Aftermath of bombardment: As had become common practice before an assault the Red Army commenced the battle of Kiev with a massive air and artillery bombardment designed to rattle the defenders and destroy their emplacements. It was effective but reduced the city streets to rubble.
All open ground is treated as rubble during this scenario (excludes roads).
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