Battle around Janow, Lemberg, Galicia 1914 - Mud & Blood

Back in 2015 we started a short WW1 Campaign.

See the earlier battle here.

Events Previously.

Early Austro-Hungarian advances into Russian Poland had been made from Galicia northwards to the city of Lublin. During the advance the Austro-Hungarian First Army met and drove back the Russian Fourth Army around Krasnik on August 23^rd.

The Austrian high command had failed to appreciate that the main Russian offensive was to be made in the direction of Lemberg (Lvov) in eastern Galicia. Here Austro-Hungarian forces had been thinned to meet commitments in Serbia and to support the advance of their forces into southern Poland.

The Russian Fifth Army supported by the Russian Third Army advanced to Lemberg where they encircled and defeated the Austro-Hungarian Third Army. Russian forces began entering the outskirts of Lemberg.

However all was not going Russia’s way as its supply lines had been severely stretched and the advance was called to a halt whilst supplies were brought up to the front.

Whilst awaiting resupply the Austro-Hungarians  launched a counter attack to the south of Lemberg. Elements from the Russian Fifth Army defending on the outskirts of Lemberg were able to halt the advance. The bridges at Lemberg were held and this counter attack repelled.

The Fifth Army dug in defensibly around Lemberg. Ammunition and food had been resupplied and morale was high after the defeat of the Austro-Hungarians only days before.

The Fifth received orders to advance North of Zolkiewskie, a small hamlet on the outskirts of Lemberg, where the 255 Highway runs through.

Elements of the Austro-Hungarian Fourth Army had circled around and were attempting to block all Northern supply lines into the city.

After fierce fighting around the north of Zolkiewskie the Russian Fifth Army again defeated the Austro-Hungarian Fourth Army keeping the 255 Highway open to resupply.

The Russian Orders are as follows.
Fresh orders have arrived instructing you to advance North West through Janow a suberb of Lemberg and into the countryside beyond. Austro-Hungarian forces are massing for another counter strike to retake Lemberg.

You are to advance to this location and reconnoitre the area. The strength of the enemies’ forces must be established and reported back to High Command.

Take the fight to the enemy and secure the area to the North West.

Round One and the enemy cavalry appear at the far end of the road, the Russian artillery is deployed to counter the advance. Shot and Shell sends them heading for cover first blood to the advancing Russian forces.

On the far right the back and forth of the hedge row begins. The Austro-Hungarian blind forces the sailors to unmask. 

Out numbered 2:1 the defenders poor fire into the advancing sailors who charge the hedge line driving the Bosnian's into the woodland with numerous shock.

Whilst beaten backwards they had held the line long enough for additional blinds to come on the table and bolster the right flank.

Switching to the left wing the Russian blinds (OK French stand in's.) were massing behind the hedge row, Bosnian infantry and Machine Guns had seized the low stone wall and further troops were coming on behind them.

Sh*t or bust after a number of turns with both sides probing the line, battle is joined. Gambling on breaking the Austro-Hungarian line in one strike, the Russians threw all of their main force and reinforcements on the right flank rushing forwards towards the stone wall.

Despite a number of Russian companies slowed by killed and shock, others were able to drive the defenders from the wall at the point of the bayonet over running the Machine Gun team and driving the Bosnian infantry backwards with several shock points.

On the far right the German reinforcements who had moved through the woods charged the sailors who were holding the hedge row driving them backwards. The Sailors gave ground but inflicted a number of losses on the fresh German units.

Whilst the Germans had reversed the initial assault by the Russian sailors, the front had crumbled on the left not helped by the appearance of the Russian cavalry, who charged down the retreating Bosnian's and breaking the line.

Game over.

A great days gaming with plenty of twists and turns along the way.

The Too Fat Lardies Mud and Blood rules give a great gaming experience with over 100 figures on each side fought to a conclusion.

Let's hope we can get the next game in a little quicker than 4 years next time......