Urban Guerillas

Vienna, Austria, April 9, 1945: With the Allied armies closing on the crumbling Reich, most Germans, 
especially those in the Waffen SS , were occupied with one goal: escape from the Russians and surrender 
to the Western Allies. This included Sepp Dietrich's 6th Panzer Army which intended to hold the way open 
to the very last minute, regardless of the threat to encirclement. In Vienna, with its many canals 
parallel to the Danube River, this was especially problematic. The 2nd SS Panzer Division, "Das Reich," 
would form the rear guard as Tolbukhin's 4th Ukranian Army closed in on the beautiful city.

Game Length: 8.5 turns

For the Germans to win they must hold the main buildings protecting the bridge over the canal
For the Russians to win they must take the Germans escape route across the canal

Germans: Squads, MMG, LMG's, PSK's, AA Gun, AFV's
Russians: Squads, HMG, LMG's, FT, DC's, AFV's

Boards: #22, #23

Aftermath: Although Das Reich had no desire to sacrifice himself for the rest of the German 6th Army, 
it was not about to surrender to the Russians either. One area of bitter fighting was around the 
picturesque Prater Park with St. Steven's Cathedral overlooked by the Florindorf Bridge. The people of 
Vienna did not want their beautiful city to suffer the same fate as Warsaw and Budapest. So the local 
leaders made a deal with the Russians. Help would be available if the artillery bombardment was called 
off. As the Red Army upheld its end of the bargain, partisan activity would remain a constant thorn in 
Deitrich's side during the last weeks of the war. Nevertheless, many SS troopers were able to break out 
to the west and surrender to the Americans. In a ironic twist of fate, they would ultimately be turned 
over to the Russians anyway, most to disappear forever.

Source: ASL Scenario J1, Urban Guerillas, by Pete Shelling
