Custom Scenario Name:                 Lwow 
Scenario Starting Date:               26 August 1914 
Maximum Scenario Duration:            9 Turns (1days/turn)

Scenario Author:                      RhinoBones
Author's E-mail Address:              RhinoBones@aol.com
Last Scenario Revision Date:          January 4, 1999

v1.0  

"PLAY FROM AGHEILA...2 SLOT"

Background:

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 Lww, 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.

Recommendations:

The scenario is designed to be played in the solitaire mode from the Russian side.  Play from the German side is possible but not recommended.  
For PBM games, that the Austria-Hungarians should receive +2 in prestige.


Victory Conditions:

For victory, the Austria-Hungarians must hold all of the objective cities.

Regards, RhinoBones
http://members.aol.com/RhinoBones/Tourney.htm


Scenario Prepared for Tortoise Page
http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/oxford/285/tortoise.html   
