Re: Indianola, IA Eastern Front Event: Super!!!

[Konstantin]

Comrades,

I would like to take this time to thank each and everyone that attended the Feb 23rd event at Indianola. It is because of you that our 2nd annual winter battle was a smashing success.

We had 28 Russian/Partisan reenactors register and 27 German. Add to this the 7 (2 Russian and 5 German) that came in late and that gives us 62. I am sure there were probably more folks that came in late I missed, but our calculations of 2/3’s of pre-registered individuals was spot on. We had 93 pre-registered.

I was glad to see the parity in numbers, and thank you to all whose primary impression was German, but decided to wear Russian/partisan for the event. Of course to the 12th SS spy that was in the 143rd Soviet Engineers, the NKVD has been tipped off to your counter revolutionary activities. The commander of the 2nd SS told me about you relaying him information in regards to center sector. The 143rd is now under political suspicion, with arrests and deportations to follow.

Also a pleasant surprise was the firepower the Russian forces are starting to field. These semi-auto PPSh-41’s are helping close a long time gap that has existed in the hobby.

I only got up to the “front” to observe a couple times, but what I saw looked great. Especially when I watched the young partisan attempt to slip through the German lines. He was promptly stopped and searched. This revealed he had a satchel charge hidden under his coat that he was going to use to neutralize the lower machine gun bunker. He was promptly led off and I can only assume executed.

Also another thing that made the day for me was watching the 2nd SS run down the hill from their starting position as soon as I fired the start flare. They got to the bridge before the engineers got there and gave them fits as they tried to complete the bridge building scenario.

Everyone that attended has my special thanks, but now I would like to recognize some individuals who went the extra mile to help make this event one of the best Eastern Front events around.

Rob “Dima” Leinweber who wrote the scenarios, made all the signs, created the props. Then once the event arrived prepped the site and did the sector assignments. He had done so much for this event that without him it would have been just another run around the woods shooting event. I am sure I am forgetting to mention other things he had done for the event. He just does so much.

Dave Ruffcorn who handled the German end of things. Also event prep. From what I understand the minefield casualty was something to behold. Pity I didn’t get a chance to get up there and see it.

Todd Machin who brought down the field kitchen and turned a bunch of groceries into a very good meal. I don’t think anyone went away hungry, I was pushing them to go back for 3rd’s and 4th’s. LOL

Nate and Joey who were our chauffeurs. They saved a lot of folks by ferrying us up and down the hills. They made it possible to bring the hot food down to the reenactors instead of having the reenactors come to the hot food. Trust me folks, a hot lunch at these winter tacticals is just so nice.

God who provided the picture perfect weather. Sunny and 32. I sat resting that afternoon at the warming station and it was so nice to be warm and in the sun. The weather had looked dicey at first, but in the end it turned out awesome.

I am sure I am forgetting others. But to the unit commanders and their soldiers and even to the horses, I say once again. THANK YOU!

This one will be hard to top, but plans are under way for the 3rd Annual event in Feb 2009. Any suggestions or ideas please let me know.

Our current improvement goals are to build a footbridge over the creek to replace the washed out one. To streamline registration so we can process folks much faster. It’s difficult to sign forms when you hands are numb from the cold. LOL And finally to tighten authenticity a bit. I saw some stuff that shouldn’t have gone out to the field. And yes that was a post war M69/70 tunic with Motorized Rifles insignia on it. I have a bunch in my collection. The lad wearing it did not know what it was as it was just handed to him to wear. I didn’t see it until lunch. It got onto the field under a greatcoat or camo and folks saw it when it that was taken off as it got warmer.

There is always room for event improvement.

Anyone that can forward me pictures would be appreciated. I would like to use them for the website to continue to promote the event.

As always I can be reached at [e-mail]

See you all at the next event.

-dave

Dave Pasbrig
Event Coordinator

Oh and as far as the event… Like the 3rd Battle of Kharkov, the Germans Won. Unofficial results on the scenarios. Dima will have the official results later.

Lost Tanker – Russian Victory as the document case was found by a Russian unit and turned in.
Village of Valky – German Victory as the Village was destroyed and the citizens eliminated.
Village of Mereoa – German Victory as the Village was destroyed and the citizens eliminated.
Bridge Building – Russian Victory as the bridge was built.
Minefield – German Victory as the minefield was never cleared.
Parachute Supply drop – This I have not heard the result on.

All the units worked well. The Germans showed everyone what aggressive action on the field can accomplish.

Good job all!

[crazydima]

Tovarischi,

Wow! What a day for an Eastern Front event.

I want to thank all of the re-enactors who took the time, energy, effort and money to attend this event. You are what made the event such a great time. Your participation and enthusiasm made all of our work worthwhile.

Sasha and Konstantin have covered most of the other bases so I will not try to repeat what they have already stated. Suffice to say that there are many wonderful memories from this event.

So what I will do is cover what took place regarding the scenarios and objectives used for this event.



SCENARIO RESULTS:
North Sector:
Village of Valky :
Axis Goal – Capture and control village for 15 minutes, then remove the village residents (balloons) back to the main bunker complex and destroy the mock ups of the village huts.
Soviet Goal – Capture and control village for 15 minutes then remove village residents balloons) back across creek and then defend the village against destruction by Axis Forces.
Outcome – Axis Victory – Axis forces captured village, destroyed village, and removed residents (sadly they were executed)

Lost tanker :
Axis Goal – Capture lost RKKA tank crewman and his map case full of critical intelligence information.
Soviet Goal – Rescue lost RKKA tank crewman and secure map case full of critical intelligence information.
Outcome – Partial Soviet victory – Soviet forces did recover the tanker's map case which he had hidden prior being discovered by Axis forces. However, the Axis forces did kill the tanker after he had killed three German soldiers.


Center Sector:
Bridge building :
Axis Goal – Prevent Soviet forces from simulating the building of a bridge across creek to allow T-34s to cross.
Soviet Goal – Simulate building a bridge across the creek large enough to allow T-34s to cross.
Outcome – Partial Soviet victory – Soviet forces did simulate building a bridge and held it until the end of the scenario. However, it was not large enough to handle a t-34 tank.

Mine field :
Axis Goal – Place full size mock ups of anti-tank land mines and protect mine field from Soviet forces.
Soviet Goal – Find and remove mine field.
Outcome – Axis Victory - Soviet Forces did not find nor defuse the mine field.



South Sector:
Village of Mereoa :
Axis Goal – Capture and control village for 15 minutes, then remove the village residents (balloons) back to the main bunker complex and destroy the mock ups of the village huts.
Soviet Goal – Capture and control village for 15 minutes then remove village residents balloons) back across creek and then defend the village against destruction by Axis Forces.
Outcome – Axis Victory – Axis forces captured village, destroyed village, and removed residents.

Air drop :
Axis Goal – Search for and find crate with parachute containing supplies for Partisans.
Soviet Goal – Recover parachute and crate filled with mock ups of satchel charges, dynamite, grenades and official orders from Stavka.
Outcome – Soviet Victory - Soviet Forces recovered the parachute and crate and employed the supplies against the Axis forces.




Again thanks to all who made it such a great event!!!

See you next year!

Sincerely,

Dima
(One who hates bug hunts)

[rats]

Sounds like an excellent event!

Any pics??

[Konstantin]

I put the call out for photos and did not receive any. However Ivan Ivanovich posted some at their group site. That site is: groups.yahoo.com/group/ivanscutthroats/?yguid=165852915

I am not sure if you need to be a member or not to look under the photos link.

It was perfect winter weather for the event. A good time was had by all.

-dave