Smolensk '43

It is the summer of 1943, and the German assault at Kursk has failed. For the Soviets, a successful defense was just the first act in a multi-part operation. With the German forces blunted, Operation Kutuzov and its sister, Operation Rumyantsev, were to be the riposte with fresh forces to return the initiative to the Soviet Union. Concurrently, the Soviet Smolensk Offensive, known as Operation Suvorov, took place from August 7 to October 2, 1943.

Despite an impressive German defense, the Red Army managed to stage several breakthroughs that resulted in the liberation of several major cities, including Smolensk and Roslavl. As a result of this operation, the Red Army was able to start planning for the liberation of Belarus. However, the overall advance was quite modest and slow in the face of heavy German resistance, and the operation was therefore accomplished in three phases: 7 – 20 August, 21 August – 6 September, and 7 September – 2 October.

In Smolensk '43, as the commander of two Soviet Fronts - Kalinin & Western, you have multiple armies at your disposal to defeat the vaunted but battered German Wehrmacht. As the German commander you will have to manage without the powerful panzer forces that had previously been dispatched to Kursk. Though elements of Panzerarmee 2 & 3 are available, these are predominantly infantry forces defending 'festungs' (fortress towns). Included are scenarios that let you recreate all the major phases of the campaign from the initial Soviet assault on the festungs of Dukhovschchina, Yartsevo, Dorogobuzh and Yelnya, to the culmination of Operation Suvorov, approaching and capturing the city of Smolensk.

The stage is set! All that is lacking is for you to kick off one of the key campaigns of Summer 1943 on the Eastern Front!