1945 somewhere in Germany at spring time and Saxony

Our tale starts like this: Right at the end of the war, Beginning 1945, somewhere in Saxony, in the valley of the clueless, there was a bridge  – intact! The Germans (played by new/old Mike) had to cross the only bridge held by some Polish allies (played by Alisdair) while waiting for the Russian Army (played by me, I felt a bit stalinist that day) to come to rescue – all had the same brief: keep that bridge intact! Umpiring, scenario, rules (Rapid Fire) and marvelous troops and miniature by Bart himself!

Well,I must say, I have not much of a clue about WW2 fighting strategies, thats, why I felt up for the task. I soon found out my T34 were cheap and cheerful and would be hit before the Cats of the 3rd Reich would even get something of a scratch. Add to that, that Mike just plainly rolled like the devils Admiral (sorry, Panzer General), my supply of green steel was fast dwindling. He even shot my long distance artillery flat out!

Alisdair just kept defending the town with teeth and nails (bravo, comrade, you did all the hard work for us, as a reward, we will incorporate you in our red empire!) ... as Mike decided to go for a daring run through the river (we were warned that 90% of the museums pieces were found in rivers ...) .. and lost promptly most of his infantry drowning in the river or being shot dead coming out of it.

 .. I decided to change tactics and close up the road out of the village. Mike then pushed forward with all his tanks and nearly was 12" away from the salvational edge of the game board, but also 3" away from my last 5 tanks ... boom! With his infantry flowing towards Hamburg and his tanks burned out somewhere in Saxony, Mike did the only reasonable he capitulated unconditional.

I think we all had a marvelous, enjoyable time!

My contingent .. could have been a bit more tanks but who is complaining ... prost comrade!

The little jewel bang in the middle full of Polish combatants and their drunk Russian officers.

The German army that had to retreat through that said bridge

the quiet morning hours of hangovers before the real pain will set in 

Eeerrm, how we are going to defend the bridge?

... hmm ... a MG nest will do just fine...

my first few Ts are ariving

a tank battle enfolds, don't hit the bridge!

Tons of green steel swarm out

and the odd hit won‘t stop us just to laugh a little bit more 

the Germans were faster, must be the landscape

Some early moning warm ups with a little help of Gen. Molotov 

Houses defended just by one single Polish red armist 

While the tank battle of the swamp enfolds

Lets just block the out coming street!

Like pidgeons on a bright and clear day ... target practice for the Germans

Keep away from that river its too deep!

the street is blocked all right, but ...

first Russian artillery deploy in the woods 

Vabanque style, German Infantry and tanks are trying to break out

After loosing 9 of my myoptic tank commanders, I finally hit some German heavy metal

but there is more ... how can there be more?

the tigers and panthers are on the stroll to the bridge ... the MG ... hmm 

the umpire then told me that the blasted tanks are no obstacle at all ... shit!

all the other big cats are honing in

bang one last hit and then I called the tactical retreat ...

just to close quarter block the village – street fighter, yeah!

Battle at the pint-trees

Back with a bang! After some traumatic-extended but successful relocation efforts, then some well earned holidays and then some additional catched up cold-flue  ... I'm finally back with some Greco-Roman-Latin-Celtic-Spartan bash with "To the Strongest" in 28mm, featuring Bart with some Latin-early Romans, the old/new Michael with Classical Greeks, Peter with some early Imperial Romans lend from Angus with a whiff of smoke (the minis were rescued from a fire), Campbell with some Romans (and elephants) me with some (un-)Spartan Greeks and finally Alisdair with a dash of Gallo-celtic barbarians - what a Mötley crew, haha!

Well, I was fighting alongside with Campbell‘s Romano-elephants and Alisdair‘s Speed-Celts against the might of the Roman Republic (Sedated Posh Qualude Renegades, in this case) and some Greek traitor allies. We didn‘t had a plan as each player had 100pt on a 8x4 table that just meant - forward!

I had a hard time this time, my Spartans were good shots but lousy fighters (I know) ... so I had to do the unthinkable and terminate my Lacedaemonian membership with immediate effect and, yes, tactically retreat. Actually twice, just to hold the line - and yes, it did hurt the Romans, BUT Alisdair already had stormed forward attacked Bart and continued to do so until he was wiped from the board.

So that's when our right flank collapsed, no disintegrated, now it was just a matter of time and after two turns, my Greek deep phalanges were collapsing under front AND flanking attacks. I can now officially blame the fanatical, unwashed and tattooed Celts and hide my Spartan shame in overtly accusative rants! (If I think about it, I even was able to gave the Romans (Peter) a hard time breaking me, while I was drawing shit cards ... ha!) ... but yes in the end a collapsing flank is the end in "To the Strongest". You can prolong and delay the inevitable but you cannot evade it. Still it was a fantastic game, I‘m warming up to them ... ;)

Some uncommented impressions of the antique slaughter for your personal entertainment (you won‘t get that in a circus!)