Jaws of Victory, The - Battle of the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket, January/February 1944

The Jaws of Victory is a historical simulation of the Soviet’s winter offensive in the Ukraine in the early months of 1944 that trapped the better part of two German corps – and the German Army’s desperate response to relieve their beleaguered comrades in the pocket. Seven separate scenarios covering the period from January 26 to February 18, including a 25-turn campaign game, allow both sides plenty of opportunities for offensive and defensive action.

As the Soviet player, you begin with two-pronged offensive, striking hard at the base of the German salient in an attempt to trap as many Germans as possible. If you succeed, you must then turn your attention southward to build the “outer ring” in preparation for the German counter-offensive, while systematically chewing away at the supply-starved defenders in the pocket.

As the German player, you must slow the Soviet drives from both east and west by fighting a two-front defense, and if possible bring them to a halt. Once the pocket forms, you must skillfully hang on and preserve as many of the trapped units as possible, and wait for your Panzer Divisions from the south to carve open an escape route.

And both sides will have to contend with overstretched supply lines, bad weather, and tank-stopping mud.