The Czerniakow Bridgehead


139 Solec, Warsaw, September 22nd, 1944: Fired by the enthusiasm of their field commanders and stung by
Western criticism, STAVKA approved crossings of the Vistula by troops of the Polish Army into the
devastated city. On the 16th, elements of Berling's command crossed over into Warsaw cauldron and linked
with the embattled Kampinos Group of the Polish Home army. For five days, the shallow bridgehead was
bombarded and sporadically assaulted by Kaminski's White Russians, fighting under the German colors. The
raw Polish levies conscripted into the 1st Polish Army by the Soviets were no match for veterans. 
Evacuation to the east bank of the Vistula was approved just as a strong German probe was launched and
rapidly turned the withdrawal into a rout.

Game Length: 10 turns

For the Germans to win they must reach the Vistula River with at least 5 squads or equivalent.
For the Poles to win they must prevent 5 squads to reach the river.

Germans: Squads, HMG, MMG's, LMG's, AFV
Poles: Squads, LMG's, Mol Proj

Boards: #8, #20, #23

Aftermath: The outer lines, manned by the Soviet led Poles, held to the north and south, but the central
sector crumbled under the onslaught. Panicked Polish troops were driven ahead of the whirlwind assault
toward the river. Only when the routed Poles passed through the lines of the Home Army Patriots along
Solec Street did the pursuit cease, as the stubborn street-wise fighters of Kamposinos ambushed the
advance. The next morning, the Soviet troops withdrew, leaving the Poles to their fate. The Russian
records indicate that over 2,000 "Soviet" heroes from the 1st Polish Army never returned from the 
Czerniakow bridgehead.

Source: ASL Scenario 3, The Czerniakow Bridgehead
 