During the Spring Rasputitsa in early 1943, the Red Army launched a series of counteroffensives against German lines in the southwest. While initially successful, the Germans regrouped and managed to regain the momentum to recapture Kharkov. Take command of both factions in a series of challenges and battles that feature new environmental conditions; thick mud that impacts vehicle movement and exposes new vulnerabilities. AI Battle: General Mud SOUTHWEST OF KHARKOV, UKRAINE, USSR March 7, 1943, The Germans had been driven back to the Dnieper River, and were forced to regroup and reorganize. However, with the Red Army vastly overextended, the Wehrmacht seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack and regain the upper hand. With the return of Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland, push north through Soviet territory towards Kharkov. Challenge: Spring Rasputitsa DONBAS REGION, UKRAINE, USSR February 25, 1943, The spring rasputitsa season has caught the German army off guard. They are poorly equipped to deal with the deep mud and are having trouble mobilizing. Lead an ambush on the German Panzer Division caught up in the mud, and destroy them before the support infantry can free them and they escape. AI Battle: Breaking Lines WEST DONBAS REGION, UKRAINE, USSR February 19, 1943, The Red Army is pushing westwards with Operation Gallop. The German defenders, crippled after their losses at Stalingrad, are retreating to the Dnieper river. On the 19th of February, the Red Army broke through German lines and pushed towards Zaporizhia. With much of the territory under their control, Soviet forces must swiftly search out the remaining pockets of German defenders and destroy them. AI Battle: Retreat to the Donets DONETS RIVER, UKRAINE, USSR March 16, 1943, After Operations Star and Gallop succeeded in pushing the Germans back to the Dnieper River, the Soviets found their advantage quickly collapsing as they again lost the cities of Kharkov and Belgorod. On the back foot, the Red Army retreated to the Donets River. The Soviets must hold the bank of the Donets River against invading German forces on the ground and Luftwaffe attacks from the air. AI Battle: Kharkov Divide NORTH OF KHARKOV, UKRAINE, USSR March, 1943, In their advance towards Kharkov, German forces are ordered towards the north in an attempt to eliminate the remaining pockets of Soviet resistance.The Wehrmacht has deployed their heavy armor to break through the Red Army's defenses in an effort to complete their encirclement. AI Battle: Heavy Rain WEST OF KHARKOV, UKRAINE, USSR March, 1943, After being halted in a bloody battle against the Red Army's defenders, German forces have regrouped and prepare to use the cover of night to break through the enemies defenses and continue their assault into Kharkov. AI Battle: No Retreat, No Surrender SOUTHWEST OF KHARKOV, UKRAINE, USSR March 7, 1943, The Soviets have suddenly found themselves on the defensive, with a reorganized German Army pushing back...