[Updated 18 July 2023]
Theater of War Mission Pack: The Southern Fronts
Mission: No Retreat No Surrender
In “No Retreat No Surrender” the Germans are given huge amounts of free armor, including Panthers, Tigers, and an Elefant. However, most of the armor comes after 11 minutes or so, by which time the Germans—who are weak early-game—are nearly down to zero points. Usually it’s an easy win even on General (Hard) level.
Left or middle base
Almost any strategy will work, but in general, you’ll want to cap the points from your base to your VP, then move forward—with a strong cluster of units, e.g., penals or conscripts with some AT capability—to start capping points on the way to the German base. After a while, tech up and get a couple of T-34s. You can defend the area around your VP, or even start hammering at the German base (which ultimately will be suicidal for you, though it will guarantee victory for your side by distracting the Germans). After 11 minutes, the Germans will get several Panthers plus an Elefant and a Tiger Ace, but mostly they will hit the right VP first, and by the time they arrive in strength at the middle VP they will be almost out of points. For left/middle base play, penals or conscripts with PTRSs, with a modest amount of tank support, plus some mortar or other indirect fire capability, are all you need to handle the German armor and infantry.
Right base
Because the German armor attacks will concentrate on you first, you should build up a strong AT capability at the right VP and radio point, and not venture much beyond there. Two Zis guns and four penals/conscripts with PTRSs are about all you need for AT (you’ll usually face four or five Panthers, an Elefant, and a Tiger Ace), but you’ll also want some HMGs to suppress German infantry, and an Su-76 or mortar team for indirect fire (to kill German mortars and HMGs).
Minor notes:
- You cannot retreat your units in this battle. (Units pinned by MG fire may not survive.)
- Your infantry reinforcements arrive almost instantly when ordered.
- A bug usually causes a large cube with coders’ troubleshooting messages to appear at the middle VP, six to ten minutes into the game.
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