Red Christmas - Moscow Counteroffensive (1st Edition)

Orlovo Ivanovka, Russia, 27 December 1941: Having contained the enemy penetrations in almost all sectors during the fight of the previous day, the XVIII Bersaglieri Battalion and the I Battalion of 318th Infantry Regiment moved into action again. Advancing in two columns, as a pale sun rose in the Russian sky, they resumed the attack on Orlovo Ivanovka. Inside the village, the enemy stood so close that almost immediately a vicious and confused firefight erupted, soon degenerating into hand-to-hand combat.

With close support from the attached Panzer Group, the Axis forces pushed hard, aiming to tie down the die-hard Russian defenders, while developing an outflanking movement with the dual purpose of cutting their retreat and preventing enemy reserves from coming to the rescue. In the clear sky above, the opposing air forces clashed in countless dogfights, though the Regia Aeronautica soon gained local air superiority. Soon, Italian aircraft began close air support missions. The Bersaglieri and the Landsers cleared Novo Orlovka of enemy forces before noon, and then stormed Hill 331.7. Heavy fighting gained the entire hill before dusk. On the CSIR front, the Italians again controlled all lost terrain, with the Axis forces still on the offensive.

Constituted on 10 July 1941, the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia (Corpo di Spedizione Italiano in Russia, or CSIR) arrived in southern Russia during the heady days of the summer of 1941. Initially subordinated to the German 11th Army, on August 14th, 1941 the CSIR was transferred to the control of von Kleist’s Tank Group 1. On 25 October 1941, Tank Group 1 was redesignated as the 1st Panzer Army. During December 1941 the CSIR found itself directly in the path of the fierce enemy Moscow counter-offensive.

Red Christmas - Moscow Counteroffensive December 22-30, 1941 brings the ASLComp enthusiast directly into the path of a combined-arms Red Army assault. Mixed German and Italian forces try and stave off disaster on the Eastern Front in a series of pitched battles depicted in the module’s scenarios.

Historical Battlefield Maps are what CH is all about and RED CHRISTMAS—THE CSIR AND THE MOSCOW COUNTER-OFFENSIVE DECEMBER 22-30, 1941 continues that tradition with two new historical maps depicting the villages of Orlovo Ivanovka and Novo Orlovka, situated directly in the path of Stalin’s Moscow counter-offensive.

This is not a complete game! Ownership of Beyond ValorTM is required to use this product. Ownership of Hollow LegionsTM is NOT required. Variant ‘Berlin Style’ MMC, SMC, SW, and needed Guns are provided for Italian combatants.

Italian Army on the Eastern Front: New counters are provided depicting Eastern Front Italian soldiers. Also included is a set of new counters depicting ALPINI MMC and SMC (above left, Alpini Hero) and accurate uniform drawings. You also receive Italian SW for use in the scenarios enclosed in this module.

Additional Counters: In addition to Italian Eastern Front combatants, you receive new 5/8” counters for AFVs and aircraft, some never provided in the system before like the Soviet I-16 fighter-bomber. All counters use the popular ‘Berlin Style’ variant format.