December 1943

Eastern Front

The Ukraine erupts into fire once again as the 1st Ukrainian Front begins its offensive. Massive arty bombardments, together with overwhelming aerial support, the likes of which the Germans have not seen before, purverize the German forward positions. The 1st Guards and 18th Armies attack the XIII Corps before Zhitomir while the 13th and 60th Armies attack the LIX Corps to the north and the 38th, 40th and 27th Armies hit the VII and XXIV Panzer Corps to the south. Under massive pressure the German front collapses, being engulfed in a sea of fire. With resistance broken the 3rd Guards Tank and 1st Tank Armies rush through the advancing infantry of the 18th and 38th Armies to plunge into the German rear. The 3rd Guards Tank pushes toward Zhitomir while the 1st Tank advances in the direction of Vinnitsa. With his front line in tatters, Manstein is forced to rush the XLVIII Panzer Corps into action.