Mirek Space

Last time I was asked if I can organize game related to Warsaw Uprising 1944 – something historical and victorious – I was interested in history of uprising in the past, so I started searching what part of this can be used for scenario. In my mind were different battles beetwen Home Army (Armia Krajowa) and German forces occupying Warsaw. I had at start five possible city battles:

1. Liberation of Gęsiówka concentration camp, where Home Army of batallion „Zośka” liberated 348 European Jews – Panther tank captured by insurgents were used in this action. Most of the then free Jews joined Home Army.

2. Battle for Warsaw University, where soldiers of Polish army attemt to capture building of univeristy with use of self made armoured car „Kubuś” and captured German APC called „Jaś/Szary Wilk”.

3. Battle of landings at Czerniaków – river landing of Polish People Army (Ludowe Wojsko Polskie) of general Berling – to support Home Army in they battle for Polish capital. Many soldiers of LWP were from Kresy Wschodnie of 2nd Republic of Poland.

4. Battle for Pasta – after I realized that we don’t have building representing Pasta itself, I started searching and realized that I can develop scenario related to ambush on Marszałkowska street on forces going to support garrison of Pasta.

5. Defence of Michl palace – valiant defence done by batallion: „Parasol” (Umbrella). Soldiers managed to hold on against five enemy attacks supported by tanks and elite SS soldiers.

In case of Warsaw Uprising its heroic as well tragic part of Poland and Poles history – we shouldn’t forget about it. Up to 200,000 of Poles were killed or murdered – not to forget about massacres of Ochota and Wola. After uprising which started on 1st of August and lasted 2nd of October 1944′ Hitler orders were clear – to destroy Warsaw completly and build new city in her place. Fortunately city was rebuild and it’s still capital of Poland.

Let’s return to scenario, I realized what terrains are in Bolter and started drawing map of Marszałkowska and surrounding streets. Of course I miscalculated with terrains – but I realized it when we started building table composed of three table 48″ on 72″. Whole scenario will be published when I correct it.

Main targets were for:
– Home Army to not allow Germans to leave field going north to Marszałkowska and Sienna.
– German column had to leave with as many units as they could via Marszałkowska and Sienna.

Summary:
– I overcharged with tables and buildings – we should use two tables 48″ on 72″.
– game was good and I was moderator and scenario was also of my own – jet before publishing it I have to correct it and maybe retest with someone even with other kind of WW II participants.
– all ruins on the left should be buildings as Marszałkowska wasn’t destroyed in days I wanted to do ambush on German column going to PAST’a building.
– I have to rewrite rule for hidding set up and finding such units, at least we checked it.
– I added rule for throwing Mołotow coctail with range of 6″ and +2 penetration, always hitting from the top, it will be rewritten with other things before I add this scenario probably in both languages PL/EN.
– main plan focused on three waves, but we soon realized that we have much more German miniatures – Home Army soldiers unit’s which were lost respawned again in some points – that must be corrected too.
– thank you Bolter stuff and Rafał for moderation, to Home Army players Łukasz and Michał and for German players Karaś and Sławek.
– special thanks to dr Piotr Galik who told us some stories I know and some I never get in – as I well remember that on Polish side were ppl of other European and non European nations, I well remember Gęsiówka – but never investigated that fate of freed prisoners is uknown – I hope that some of them survived Uprising. I never knew that Polish and other pilots from Allied side fled to Warsaw as addition to they normal flights. It was great to hear something new!