AAR pour Kharkov 1943

Vous trouverez sur le forum officiel chez Paradox un long rapport de bataille présentant Achtung Panzer Kharkov 1943. L’article se découpe en en huit parties et présente avec beaucoup de précisions ainsi que de nombreuses captures d’écrans plusieurs scénarios jouables dans cette simulation rigoureuse de la bataille de Kharkov. Voyez l’introduction ci-après pour vous faire une idée et rendez-vous sur cette page où vous trouverez les liens vers les différents chapitres de cet intéressant After Action Report.

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The Third Battle of Kharkov was a series of offensive operations on the Eastern Front of World War II, undertaken by the German Army Group South against the Red Army, around the city of Kharkov, between 19 February and 15 March 1943. Known to the Germans as the Donets Campaign, and to the Soviets as the Donbas and Kharkov operations, the German counterstrike led to the destruction of approximately 52 Soviet divisions and the recapture of the cities of Kharkov and Belgorod.

The campaign was designed as a German counterstrike, after months of continuous operations had taken a heavy toll on the Soviets, made by the fresh SS Panzer Corps and two panzer armies. « The Wehrmacht successfully flanked, encircled and defeated the Red Army’s armored spearheads south of Kharkov. This enabled von Manstein to renew his offensive against the city of Kharkov proper, which began on 7 March. Despite orders to encircle Kharkov from the north, the SS Panzer Corps instead decided to directly engage Kharkov on 11 March. This led to four days of house-to-house fighting before Kharkov was finally recaptured [....]. Two days later, the Germans also recaptured Belgorod, creating the salient which in July 1943 would lead to the Battle of Kursk. »

The developers of Achtung Panzer: Kharkov 1943 chose one of the most interesting campaigns of WWII as a background for their strategygame. Altough ‘background’ is probably not the right word in this case. For Achtung Panzer (AP) the developers chose for Total Realism. This game is not for the feebleminded quick-clicking, action-addicted teenager but for the connoisseurs of tactical combat simulations.
Their definition of Total Realism goes a few steps further however; the developpers live in Karkov so they know the area like the inside of their pockets. Countless period military records have been used to recreate the Kharkov area and, as I hope, the city itself as well. Best of all, you will use the original maps to plan your strategy in a turn-based mode after which you fight in 3D and real-time. Or so I gathered from the not very clear presentation of the game.