STORM OF STEEL:

FROM DANZIG TO WARSZAW

Supplement Rules for Combat

during the German invasion of Poland 1939

2nd Edition

CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Special Rules

Skill Levels - Fortifications - Polish Bravery - Dismounting Cavalry - Cavalry Charges - Multiple Turret AFV:s - Support - Force Composition.

3. New Random Events Cards

AFV Capability Table

AT Gun Table

1. INTRODUCTION

From Danzig to Warszaw is designed to supplement the Storm of Steel set, and contain a number of rules and tables that will help any gamers wanting to refight battles between Polish and German Forces during Hitlers Blitzkrieg invasion of Poland in september 1939.

2. SPECIAL RULES

A. Skill Levels. As a rule, Polish armies are Raw, while German armies are Regular.

B. Fortifications. The German Player may not deploy Dragons Teeth or Bunkers. (The situation was much too fluid for them to build these types of very time-consuming fortifications.)

C. Polish Bravery. The polish campaign wasn´t such a push-over as often has been assumed in the west, the polish army fighting bravely in face of overwhelming odds, and often inflicting large casualties on the german Wehrmacht. To simulate this, the polish player rolls for Cpts etc as normal, but his army is demoralized as if it was a veteran army, i.e. it is demoralized when 60% (not 40%) of their original number have been destroyed.

D. Dismounting Cavalry. Quite opposite to what is sometimes said, the polish cavalry of 1939 preferred to fight on foot. To simulate this, polish cavalry units may dismount. To do this, they must remain immobile for one movement phase, at the end of which they are simply replaced with a infantry unit. The procedure is the same, but reverse, if the unit want to mount.

E. Cavalry Charges. The polish cavalry discarded the lance in 1934, but during the campaign of 1939 they performed the occasional charge, an outdated tactic that worked only occasionally, for instance on September 1st near Krojanty when the 18th Lancers dispersed a german infantry batallion. To reflect this, a assault attack by a mounted polish cavalry unit is labelled a charge if 1. the unit attacked is a german foot unit in open terrain, and 2. the attacking unit immediately prior to moving into contact spent at least half it´s movement allowance moving in a straight line over open terrain, only. A unit performing a cavalry charge add 1d4 to their assault attack die roll.

F. Multiple turret AFV:s. Tanks with multiple turrets, like the VAU-33 dw and the 7TP dw, may fire once for each turret. The LOS must be strictly calculated from the front of each turret. When the main gun of such a tank is knocked out, the opposing player chooses which of the turrets that are unable to fire; the remaining turrets may fire as usual.

G. Support. The German Players support deck contains 2 x "One air strike", 4 x "One artillery bombardment" and 4 x "No support this turn". The French Players support deck contains 4 x "One artillery bombardment" and 6 x "No support this turn". The German artillery is classified as Flexible, with a Normal Volume of Fire, Polish artillery is classified as Rigid, with a Low Volume of Fire.

H. Force Composition. At least two thirds of the Polish Players units must be Foot units. The German Player may choose freely.

3. NEW RANDOM EVENTS CARDS

The following Random Events cards are added to the Standard Random Events Deck. Note that the procedure for preparing and using this deck is still the same.

1 x There is no fuel!
The Polish Player roll 1d6 for each of his motor vehicles on the table. The first time a "1" is rolled, that vehicle is immobilised, and the die rolling stops. If no vehicle is at first immobilized, start all over again.

1x These tanks are worn out!
The Polish Player roll 1d6 for each of his AFV on the table. The first time a "1" is rolled, that AFV is immobilised, and the die rolling stops. If testing a TK-3 or TKS, it is immobilized on a roll of 1-2. If no AFV is at first immobilized, start all over again.

1x Look, Refugees!
Suddenly a column of Civilian Refugees appear. But wait: roll 1d6. If 1-2 a low-flying ME109 appears and strafes the defenseless civilians, dispersing them. If 3-6 the refugees clog the road and no Polish unit may use Road bonuses this turn. Instead Roads are for all purposes treated as Open Terrain by them.

1. AFV CAPABILITY TABLE

 Type

Movement
Armour Value
AT Die
Soft Die
Assault Attack Die
Note

FT-17

10cm
2
d4
d6
d4
 

TK-3

20cm
1
-
HMG
d4
 

TKS

15cm
2
-
HMG
d4

TK z 20mm

20cm
1
d4
d4
d4
Rare

VAU - 33 dw

15cm
2
-
2xHMG
d6
2 turrets

VAU - 33 jw

15cm
2
d4
d4/HMG
d4
Single turret

7TP dw

15cm
2
-
2xHMG
d6
Two turrets

7TP jw

15cm
2
d6
d6/HMG
d4
Single turret

wz29

20cm
2
d4
D6/HMG
d6
Rare a/c

wz34

15cm
1
d4
d4
d4
Old a/c

Sdkfz 13

25cm
1
-
HMG
d4
Light Scout Car

SdKfz 222

25cm
2
d4
d6/HMG
d8
Armoured Car

SdKfz 231

25cm
2
d4
d6/HMG
d10
Six wheeler

PzKpfw I

20cm
2
-
HMG
d10
 

PzKpfw II

20cm
3
d4
d6/HMG
d10
 

PzKpfwIII

20cm
3
d6
d6/HMG
d12
37mm gun 

PzKpfwIV

20cm
3
d6
d10
d12
Rather rare 

PzKpfw 35(t)

20cm
3
d6
d6/HMG
d8

PzKpfw 38(t)

25cm
3
d6
d6/HMG
d10
 

Range modifications: If range is short +1 on die roll, if range is long -1.

Note: When two values are given, e.g. d6/HMG, the owning player may use either. It represents the Tank commander choosing between using the Artillery piece or the Machine gun.

2. AT GUN TABLE

Die used Gun type

d4 AT Rifle, Autocannon, 37mm (short)
d6 37mm (long), 40mm AA, 65-75mm Infantry, Mountain or Field Gun
d8 100, 105, 150 or 155mm Howitzer