Not One Step Back! Red Army holds back German War Machine in Stalingrad 1942

Elements of 62nd Guards Army hold key stronghold along banks of Volga until reinforcements can begin to take back the city

Background

In summer of 1941, Adolf Hitler, abandoning any plans to invade Great Britian turned his eyes towards Russia. The German army quickly advanced and much like in France a year before, looked almost invincible. That all came to a halt during the Battle of Moscow. The battle itself lasted from fall of 1941 until January of 1942. Both sides fought desperately. Germany pushed hard, believing that taking Moscow might force the Soviet Union out of the war. The Soviets, of course, fought to ensure this didn’t happen and eventually pushed German forces back and caused them to regroup in early 1942 and change tactics.

By summer of 1942 Germany began its new offensive. This time the goal was to take key oilfields in the Caucasus of Russia. In this task, one key city was Stalingrad. It was an industrial center of the region and was strategically located along the Volga River. By late summer Germany began the assault of the city, again the Red Army put up fierce resistance. Partially due to the strategic significance of the city, but more so the political significance. If Germany could take the city that bared the name of the Soviet leader, perhaps it would break the spirit of the Soviet Union. It is no surprise that shortly after the battle started that Joseph Stalin gave the instruction to his troops: “Not One Step Back.”

The fighting in Stalingrad would be some of the war’s most brutal, leaving the city in ruins and causing estimated 2 million casualties in the war. Initially Germany used its air superiority to bomb the city relentlessly while their forces pushed the Soviets back to very small pockets long the bank of the Volga. If the Red Army failed to hold these last positions, then the fate of Stalingrad would be doomed.

Pavlov’s House

It is here, in late September 1942, that the first game in the valiant defense series takes place. At the center of the battle was a structure that would be come to known as Pavlov’s House. The building, an apartment building overlooking 9 January Square was an apartment building held by German forces until a small contingent of the 42nd Guards Rifle Regiment was able to storm and retake the building. The forces led by Sergeant Yakov Pavlov, used this building as a key strongpoint in the last line defense.

Given how the fate of the city was in the balance, the building quickly became called “Pavlov’s House” and was a symbol of defiance and valor for the Red Army. It was from here that the fight for both the morale of the country and the actual fight were anchored.

The Fight Begins

Defenders take positions

Within the first few turns; Pavlov and his men are deployed around all three approaches to cover all angles. Luckily the Wehrmacht held on their approach in the beginning to give the Luftwaffe the first attacks against the defenders. Stuka dive bombers were able to immediately focus attention on both artillery batteries and anti-aircraft guns. The Red Army used this time to direct the 139th Signal Battalion to focus efforts on improving frontline lines of communication to better direct future actions.

This time gave the Pavlov and his initial storm team to ready suppressive fire and to call for reinforcements to their position as they dug in and readied for a long fight. By the time the first resupply of Pavlov’s House, additional forces including two officers, Ivan Naumov and Ivan Afanasyev, had arrived. These officers would prove very valuable in leading and commanding the defenders inside the house as fighting would intensify.

Eventually even the suppressing fire would not be enough to hold back German forces as the initial first wave of attackers tried a frontal assault of the building.

Attackers become emboldened

After some early successes by the defenders the attackers change their strategy. Stuka attacks begin to taper off, but not before doing damage to the supply flotilla and disrupting the lines of communication.

The Germans start to press the attack on the house by bringing in armored units to bear down on the front approach of the building. Simultaneously, more infantry units attack the left flank of the building hoping to make a quick push inside.

The last tactic used by enemy forces are direct artillery strikes on Pavlov’s House hoping to break down the defenses and push the defenders out of their concealment. This was largely successful as all sides of the building take hits and start to lose their defensive values.

All of these combined tactics start to strain the defenders. As the enemy armor enters the fight, the brave defenders call for the best anti-tank crew and weaponry in order to try and keep their enemy at bay. Luckily, the additional command presence that was added to the house allows the team to maximize its movement and attack abilities. This proves valuable as the enemy tank is destroyed before it can advance.

These attacks prove to be taxing to the defenders to they make sure to call for additional supplies which the 62nd command post

The Fighting Intensifies

First casualties for defenders

Not to be so easily defeated, the Wehrmacht forces are able to identify the key leadership in the structure and send out snipers to eliminate the officers and non-comms. Unfortunately for our defenders, the sniper scores a hit and eliminates Lieutenant Naumov.

If that wasn’t a blow to the defenders enough, coordinated attacks by enemy mortar teams are able to disrupt other defenders throughout the house. In order to prevent reinforcement, additional Stuka attacks score hits to the supply flotilla. This hit limits abilities for Pavlov’s House to be re-supplied and worries those remaining defenders.

These combined efforts allow advancement of infantry and additional armor to make its way towards the defenders’ position as the German forces start to believe the Soviet lines are nearing collapse and press the advantage.

Soviets refuse to give up

As cracks in the defense start to show, the Red Army makes a call to some of its best snipers. One of these snipers is the famous Anatoly Chekhov, one of the best in the entire Red Army. Along with fellow sniper, Garya Hoholov, both are deadly shots and rarely miss their targets. They are instrumental in picking off incoming infantry units and making the German army pause in their assault.

They were joined in the structure by forward observer, Nikolai Sarkisan, who was dispatched to coordinate artillery fire towards the attackers. Luckily even between Stuka raids, they were able to repair at least one battery. The regiment ready for fire support from the opposite side of the Volga.

Immediately, the Soviets press the Germans with coordinated sniper attacks to the front and left flanks. Artillery fire at advancing column of tanks, and anti-tank fire to unit supporting the flank assault both successfully hitting their targets. The attacks go off flawlessly! Even the Russian defenders are surprised at how quickly the tide turns back in their favor! Their spirits lifted, if only momentarily, allow them to re-group and ready for new attack waves.

The Last Stand

Desperate final push by Wehrmacht

As the fight continues both sides trade blows. Just as the Soviets feel they can relax another wave of assault troops and armor will advance. The combined snipers, anti-tank team, and coordinated artillery strikes however prove to be very effective in stopping each wave of attack in its tracks.

German command, however, received intelligence of the buildup of reinforcements around the city. They fear that a counter-attack might be imminent if they don’t take the city quickly. The attacks become even more fierce as they make one last push to take the city.

During the final attack blows are traded: snipers claim another defender, Soviet artillery hits again, more armor make a drive towards Pavlov’s house, anti-tank teams fire driving them back, Stukas take out supply flotilla, and on and on it goes.

What the Germans don’t realize is the Red Army also realizes that they are positioning to launch a counter-offensive. This knowledge allows the defenders to gamble on a short and final defense. They send as many soldiers as they can muster to the house. The defenders prepare for a final storm group to try and re-take the square.

However, before such a bold move can be executed, the north side of Pavlov’s House must be cleared. If the storm group stands any chance in successfully executing its raid, these defenders must be cleared.

Final Storm Raid

Just as the Soviet counterattack is ready to launch the remaining defenders are able to clear a path to the Milk House across the square. The Red Army takes this opportunity to send the newly reinforced soldiers on a raid to take this key structure back to lead the way for future offensive push.

The cost was very high as most that left on the raid did not return, however ultimately the raid was successful. That raid combined with the fact that almost all attackers were cleared from the square gave the Soviets a key foothold to take the fight to the German Army. As the offensive started, they were able to quickly gain ground and surround the Germany Army.

Cut off from resupply and with little hope of a breakout the Wehrmacht army is forced to surrender, and remaining reinforcements are forced to pull off and abandon the push for the oilfields to the southeast.

For their efforts, the valiant defenders of Pavlov’s House are awarded the Order of Suvorov and Red Army command sends word of a major victory along the banks of the Volga. Without the performance of these defenders, the city would not only have been lost, but all hope for a counterattack would have been lost.

Final Thoughts

As I close the playthrough several thoughts cross my mind. First off Pavlov’s House is the one that started it all. Not only the Valiant Defense series, but my love of wargames. I only recently started in the hobby gaming space, but this game called to me. Perhaps it was my interest in history, or the fact that my son was interested in the history and looked forward to playing this with me. Maybe it was the ability for this game to serve as a tense and enjoyable solo game, or one easy to play co-op also called to me.

Honestly it is all of those things. Everything from the details of the pictures on the counters, the mechanics that line up with the history, and the wonderful companion book, this game calls out to those interested in a bit of World War II history. As strictly a game, the gameplay is fantastic. Every roll of the dice, every flip of the card I caught myself holding my breath. I have found that dice rolls and chance can be critical in solitaire games as they force you to change tactics and strategies to unplanned circumstances. Nothing mirrors that concept quite like warfare which is one reason I think that solo wargames are so popular.

I love this game and I suspect I always will. The three aspects of the battle, managing resources along with the tactical decisions of defense and cursing Stukas are something that just never gets old for me. That said, after coming from the latest in the series Soldiers in Postmen’s Uniforms, this game almost felt too easy. I will say I did benefit from tremendously lucky die rolls for most of the game and ended with one of the best scores I’ve ever had as well (20 points and a major victory).

All that said, the ability to resupply your team and utilize features such as artillery with minimal limits make this game play much differently. One trait I love about this series, however, is that designer David Thompson includes in the box variants to increase difficulty with tactic cards. These cards introduce additional bonuses to the attackers and make the job of defense that much tougher. I think I’m ready for future playthroughs to include these cards for Pavlov’s House as I’ve finally unlocked some of its secrets.

Again, if you are on the fence with the series and can only pick one game, this would be the one I’d pick. It feels to have the most items going on and is a good balance of strategic and tactical play. Then again you really can’t go wrong with any of these games.

With that we are on to the final game in the series and flash forward to the closing days of the war in May of 1945 for what would be dubbed “The Strangest Battle of World War II.”