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Lwow
Scenario Author:
RhinoBones
Author's E-mail Address:
RhinoBones@aol.com
Last Scenario Revision Date:
May 17, 1999
VERSION 1.1
Background
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In the years leading up to the 1914 both Austria-Hungary and Russian made preparations for the war they thought inevitable. Each side identified the other as the enemy to defeat first and made plans to conduct military operations in the Galicia area designed to mortally wound. The end effect was the Battle of Lwow, which in retrospect, epitomizes the classic WW I battle in terms of carnaticum, opportunity lost, confusion and failed planning.
The Austria-Hungary army of 39 divisions was concentrated in Western Galicia around the fortress of Przemysl and the city of Lemberg (Lwow). From this jump off point, Austrian Chief of Staff Conrad von Hoetzendorf intended drive North,secure the fortified city of Warsaw and eliminate all Russian forces in the Poland salient. He needed to do this quickly, before the Russians could reinforce their 30 divisions with the additional 22 divisions he estimated the Russians were mobilizing. He also expected the Germans in east Prussia to drive South toward Warsaw and assist in the envelopment. The actual sequence of events, including the tying up of German reinforcements at Tannenberg, did not transpire as he expected.
For their part, the Russian strategists expected the Austria-Hungary army to move Eastward out of Galicia and had therefore placed the bulk of their army in the Western Ukraine. The Russians had foreseen the folly of exposing their troops far forward in Poland and logically thought that the Austrians were of a similar opinion. When Austria-Hungary instead struck to the North, the Russian troops in the Dniester River area found themselves in an excellent position from which to counterattack across the enemy lines of communications.
The battle opened with the Austria-Hungarian drive toward Warsaw making
good headway due to light Russian opposition. But the initial euphoria
was rapidly replaced by more sobering realizations. Commencing with
Russian counter attacks on August 30th by General Alexei Brusilov's 8th
Army, Conrad's right flank along the Dniester River was seriously imperiled
and forced to withdraw Westward toward the safety of the Carpathian Mountains.
The battle dissolved into
opposing forces pin wheeling around Lw—w, each trying to get behind
and envelope the enemy. In the end, Austria-Hungary had 130,000 killed,
wounded and captured (the Russians a bit more) and lost the fortresses
of Przemysl and Czernowitz.
By the end of September the Russians had pushed the Austrians into the
Western half of Galicia and were ready to launch their own drive across
the Carpathians Mountains, into the North Hungarian plains. Attacking
into the mountains would
cost the Russian dearly.
This scenario picks up the action on August 30th with the Austria-Hungary
army headed toward Warsaw and General Brusilov opening the Russian counter
attack
from East of Lwow.
Victory Conditions
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For victory, the Austria-Hungarians must hold all of the objective cities.
Remarcks
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The scenario is designed to be played in the solitaire mode from the Austria-Hungary side. Play from the Russian side is possible but not recommended.
Last Update Changes
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v1.1 05-17-99, Increased scenario length by
two
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