Kowel Counterattack*
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April 4, 1944, the Ostfront.*
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You are the commanding officer of a Kampfgruppe from the 4th Panzer Division. Today your part in the relief effort of the trapped German troops in Kowel begins. Time is short, our comrades in Kowel are not going to be able to hold out much longer on their own. We are their only hope.*
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Much will be demanded of you and your men. You'll have to push on no matter what, fighting during the perhaps worst season in Russia, in an area that normally is little more than a large swamp.*
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131st Infanterie Division has attacked east, striking directly for Kowel but is now bogged down. Our division will strike north instead, swing east and push deep into the Soviet lines and turn south along the Brest Litowsk-Kowel highway.
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Your initial task will be to advance through the swampland north of Nowo Kossary and open a route to the ridgeline to the north, where the surface is harder.*
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I recommend a mixed Kampfgruppe. When choosing your core force bear in mind that there will be few replacements or little time for refitting, once the offensive gets underway.
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This campaign is based on actions fought by Panzergrenadier Regiment 12 during the relief attack of Kowel, April 4-6, 1944. Source: Sauckmann, D., 4th Panzer Division, Teil II 1943-1945.
