57th Panzer Korps: The Attempt to Relieve Stalingrad

December 1942. The German 6th Army was surrounded at Stalingrad. The troops were rapidly losing their combat effectiveness. 96 km to the southwest, the 6th and 23rd Panzer Divisions launched a relief offensive, which became the last hope for the besieged army. This was von Manstein’s “Wintergewitter,” or “Winter Storm” operation. Positioned to the south of the encirclement was the Soviet 51st Army, which had been weakened by its battles against the 4th Panzer Army. The 57th Panzer Corps crossed two rivers in 12 days, despite facing fierce resistance. However, due to the deteriorating strategic situation, the 6th Panzer Division was forced to redeploy and had no choice but to abandon the attempt to rescue the 6th Army.

This is a battalion/regiment-level simulation game depicting the battles that took place between December 12 and 23, 1942, between the Aksai and Mishkova Rivers. Players command either the German 57th Panzer Corps or the Soviet 51st Army and 2nd Guards Army. This game employs the “48th Panzer Corps System,” which emphasizes the distinctive characteristics of each branch of service, including tanks, infantry, and artillery. The German player must use their powerful forces to clear a path to the 6th Army and enable their allies, who are surrounded at Stalingrad, to escape.

—description from the publisher (translated)