Turning the Flank at Reval: The Battle at the Bluff

Both armies met in force at the Bluff. The Estonians advanced from the south-west while the Freikorps held the Bluff itself. It was going to be a hard battle for the Estonians, rooting out the Freikorps from their holes.

Freikorps movements and positions are in blue in the following photos. Estonians are in red. Click the pictures for larger images.

Both sides were due reinforcements and all arrived except for the Estonian tank.

The Estonians advance towards the Freikorps positions. The Freikorps are all deployed in hidden positions and it is a nerve-wracking time. Suddenly the sound of motors is heard and Freikorps armoured cars emerge from behind the woods.


The Freikorps artillery makes good use of its range. The Estonians begin to take heavy casualties and continue to advance despite this. Freikorps reinforcements arrive, closely followed by an Estonian detachment. Unfortunately the Estonian cavalry is routed immediately, although the armoured car does rout a Landswehr company.


The Estonians decide to retreat following too many casualties.


The Freikorps held the field at the end of the day.

Turning the Flank at Reval: Cry havoc and let slip the hounds of war!

Soldiers!

We have waited, we have fought, we have bled, and we have marched. Now we fight again. We’ll finish off this blasted war once and for all.

Soldiers, clean your rifles, grease your stocks, hold your guns with the other hand! Fix the bayonet, grip the sabre, ready the horses! Grip tighter! Fight harder! Shoot straight! Stand like an iron wall! Now is the judgement of the earth, now! Charge!

General J. Letchkainis, officer commanding.

Turning the Flank at Reval: Forward to Victory!

Now is our time men of the Freikorps. Destiny is in your hands and only you can defeat the enemy. Your strength of arms and will to win is what will see us through this dark day. Each one of you has the power to make this day a complete victory for our glorious people. Many women and children will live better lives as a result of your courage and skill at arms. You are the flag bearers for a new chapter in the history of greater Germany.

Onwards men and victory shall be ours. I stand with you in this battle to the death and a relief column is on its way to smash the villainous Estonians.

General von Nicholson

Turning the Flank at Reval: Turn 5, Part 1

The campaign season is coming to a close. Not long until the long, cold nights draw in and sensible soldiers don their thermal pyjamas before curling up on the bearskin rug in front of a warm fire with a mug of cocoa. But first ...

The Estonians have seized the Strategic Initiative and are going on the offence now to drive the hated Freikorps from the land.

By careful manoeuvring the Freikorps are no longer surrounded. However Force B is out of supply.



Estonian troops are massing all around the Freikorps ready for the assault.

The sounds of mechanics are heard all night long as they work on and successfully fix the Estonian tank.

The day dawns bright and clear and suddenly the Estonians are advancing on The Bluff. It looks like they have decided on a massive assault on what appears to be the weaker Freikorps force. Clearly they intend to sort the Freikorps out once and for all. Game on.

Turning the Flank at Reval: Turn 4

The situation at the start of Turn 4.

The Freikorps are surrounded and out of supply. They may not spend more than 2 resource points this turn.

(Click the pic for a larger image)


With Estonian Forces closing from all sides, things look grim for the Freikorps. General von Nicholson manages to communicate his orders to his troops by carrier pigeon, thus also providing them with a small amount of meat to supplement their rations. The Freikorps immediately set to and part of their force advances from The Bluff to The Woodsman's Shack (Disengage order). What fiendishly cunning Teutonic plan is afoot?

We await the Estonian counter to this move.



Following the Freikorps sending a detachment from The Bluff to The Woodsman's Shack, the Estonians have advanced in strength to Nurgeyev Quarry. They are clearly massing for a major assault on the invaders. How will the Freikorps respond?



And so Turn 4 comes to an end.

Estonian Force F marches slowly northwards, while Force D tries to assault The Woodsman's Shack but breaks down on the way and thus remains where it was. The Estonians will get a chance to fix the tank next turn.