________A ROYAL TIGER**

______Meeting Engagement:*
_______Germany vs. USSR*
__________Tuccum, Latvia
August 17th, 1944, 1500 hours*
___________Turns:12*
*
Scenario Design: Wild Bill Wilder*
_______bwilder@bellsouth.net*
________"Wild Bill's Raiders"*
*
_______Scenario Size: Medium*
__Estimated Playing Time: 1 Hour**
Note: This scenario should be played from the German side only or as a two-player game. The Soviet column is advancing toward Tuccum, unaware of the presence of German forces. They will react quickly, however, so make the most of the element of surprise.**

The player will win as much on points for enemy units destroyed (without losing too many of his own forces) as for objectives obtained. High casualties will cost you the victory.**

______Historical Background**

During the great war between Germany and Russia, many tank commanders on both sides had outstanding performances in action. One of them was of German nobility. Major General Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Fross-Zauche und Comminetz.**

Though his background was startlingly different from Michael Wittmann, they both shared a common trait. They were both bold and courageous men, men of action.**

The "Graf" (Count) gained fame early in the war. His was the first tank to enter the city of Stalingrad with the Sixth Army in the fall of 1942. Badly wounded during the fighting, he was evacuated and thus spared from either being killed or taken prisoner.**

Later he was made commander of the 1st Panzer Division and a short time later, commander of armor for Army Group North. Even with such a high rank, Strachwitz remained a fighter.**

He commanded his own group of Tiger tanks and performed well in many stirring actions. By this time his exploits were legend among the German tankers. He became known as the "Panzer Graf" (The Tank Count).**

In the chaos of August 1944, when it appeared that the Russians might cut off the entire Army Group North, Strachwitz led a force of Tigers into action near Tuccum (Tukums). Their goal was to link up with forces of Army Group Center and seal the gap through which the Soviets intended to penetrate all the way through Poland to the German border.**

A large force of Soviet armor of the 11th Guards Army was preparing their force for the advance when Strachwitz and his small Kampfgruppe hit them.**

In his column was a German naval gunnery officer. Taking advantage of the moment, he called in fire from the ships Lutzow and Prinz Eugen on the Soviets. The large caliber shells created havoc among the enemy.** 

Right on the heels of the barrage Strachwitz committed his force and finished off what remained. Still not content, he took his own Tiger tank and three others forward to Riga. There he ambushed another large column of Soviets and decimated it.**

For these actions and others like it Strachwitz would be one of the few recipients of the Iron Cross with diamonds. His aristocratic upbringing in now way ever diminished the bold warrior spirit within him.**

Sources:**

Stalingrad to Berlin, Ziemke*
Tank Aces, Forty*
The Times Atlas of the Second World War*
When Titans Clashed, Glantz & House*
