This microarmor scenario takes place during the Polish counterattacks along the Bzura river during September 1939. The Blitzkreig attacks of the Germans had overrun most of the frontline Polish units, but those further back had withdrawn into pockets. One of those pockets was north of Kutno along the Bzura river, northwest of Warsaw.
As the campaign developed, the Germans began putting pressure on Warsaw. The Polish in the Kutno pocket, under the command of General Kutrzeba, tried to break out to relieve the pressure on their capital. The counterattack was at first successful, but by 13 September the force of numbers overwhelmed the Polish and forced them back into the pocket, most of which finally surrendered on 17 September.
German propaganda made great copy out of stories of cavalry charging German tanks (it never happened) and the superiority of German technology. The Polish were in the middle of a reequipment program, so while they had some poor, outdated equipment, their top-line equipment was quite good, e.g. the 7TPj tank and 47mm AT gun.
This scenario gives the Polish cavalry and armor a chance to show its worth, though they have a heavy challenge due to the terrain and the fact they're attacking. Though the forces and terrain are speculative (i.e. made-up), they're intended to be historically plausible.
In this scenario there are three distinct forces: a Polish combined-arms force, a german infantry (+AT) force, and a German armored force. The latter force is mostly uninvolved until it's clear a major breakout is in progress, at which time they reinforce the infantry.
This rough map shows the terrain. The map is roughly 4km×3km, though you'll have to adjust this for your game. The Bzura river is low and fordable at all points, but is surrounded by a wide marshy area through which infantry and cavalry can move slowly and armor is likely to mire. The western bridge has been destroyed, but the causeway leading up to it can reduce the amount of time units spend wading through the marsh. The central bridge is key: it is the only intact bridge within several kilometers. Both the Polish and Germans want to keep it intact (the Polish for breakouts; the Germans for reducing the pocket). The Polish start in the northwest quadrant of the map and have a few dug-in forces (infantry and/or AT guns) north of the bridge. The German infantry controls the area south of the Bzura and the northeast quadrant. They have infantry and AT guns dug in in the places shown. The German armor is moving west to east on the southern road.
Photos from the scenario
Let the Germans select a couple small areas they want to focus their patrols on during the night. The Polish can begin their attack a little before dawn and make it somewhat across the marshy area. You can adjust the amount they make it across by where the Germans chose to patrol. The key to the scenario is to give the infantry and cavalry a decent chance to knock out the German AT forces, while given the Germans a chance to do heavy casualties and bog down the attack. Then begins a second phase in which the armor fights it out. Some of the Polish armor is superior to its counterparts, but the Germans do have a lot of options.
If you're a hands-on GM, you can try to time the release of forces to maximize the players' fun. It's not as important to achieve balance as to ensure everyone gets their "day in the sun". For instance, German infantry does heavy casualties to incoming Polish, but not enough to stop most of the cavalry, who gets to chase off AT gun crews, but the cavalry is supressed by German armor, which is outdueled by Polish armor. Of course, the players will disrupt your plans, but at least you tried. :-)
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