BRIDGE TO NOWHERE*
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DATE: 12 August 1941*
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BATTLE TYPE: Italy advance vs. Soviet Union delay*
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Two-Player PBEM Game*
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YASNAYA POLYANA, THE UKRAINE:  In July 1941 Mussolini sent the 62,000-strong CSIR (Corpo Spedizione Italiano in Russia-Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia) to the Eastern Front. Its three divisions and attached troops linked up with the Wehrmacht in Romania, where the corps vehicular transport was pooled in order to completely motorized the 9th "Pasubio" Autotrasportabile ("truck-able") division. This unit, reinforced with corps artillery and motorcycle troops, was ordered to advance quickly to the Bug River, then turn south to cut off Red Army crossing points. In one typical small-unit action during this period, elements of the division's advance guard had to force a crossing of a small river in order to continue their advance.*
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AFTERMATH: After a thorough night reconnaissance and a surprisingly stealthy approach, the Italians launched a surprise attack on the unsuspecting Russians. Their initial success was thwarted by the unexpected appearance of a Soviet light tank which stalled the advance long enough to allow reinforcements from a nearby village to bolster the defense on the eastern side of the bridge. Only after a bitter struggle throughout the morning were the men of the "Roma" Regiment able to consolidate the area and press on with their advance.*
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NOTES: This scenario is based off of Avalon Hill's Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) scenario 54 with some minor modifications.*
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Sources:  ASL Scenario 54*
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Design by:  Don Lazov*