I initially set up thinking that I had to defend the bridge to the north. I cannot stress how important it is to read the scenario specific directions! That having been said, I think the best thing I did during the entire game was taking the big town on the northwest board during the first turn of the game. This kept the Russians out and effectively blinded them as to the disposition of a good number of my troops. Secondly, knowing that the Germans cannot hold the entire front, it was necessary to set up several decent size battle groups. One was (stupidly) intended to die defending the non-existent bridge to the northeast; a second took the big town to the northwest, a third held the little town; and a fourth was kept far back on the southern road as a reaction group to blunt any Russian penetrations- but these guys never even made it into action. The majority of the Russian infantry came for the lightly defended field on the northwest board- but their tanks were distracted by the Germans near the missing bridge. When the Germans from the two towns converged on the two flanks of the Russian thrust into the field, they inflicted massive casualties through assault combat on the Russians.

The greatest weapon in the German arsenal is NOT the Sturmgeschutz III, nor is it the AT guns. It's the Russian's uncertainty about where exactly the AT guns are. Is it on that hill? In the woods? If the Russian had scouted a bit more before committing to an attack on any specific sector, I am sure things would have gone differently.

The basic rules for the soviets are attack in mass, stay together, lead with the infantry followed by the tanks smgs and hmgs right behind. Stayaway from assualts until everyone has arrived. Wait, Wait, and Wait for the moment to come. otherwise use your spades to dig your own graves.