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"Forward, for Motherland" - This is a very famous
propaganda photograph.
I don't know how long this officer lived after this
picture was taken.
On this page you will find historical backgrounds and descriptions of
the 4 episodes I have in mind so far. Each episode will have its own set
of weapons, as the episodes will take place at different stages of the
war. It does not mean that all the the weapons will have to be created
from scratch for each episode. Some weapon will stay the same for all 4
episodes, and some will be replaced, as it was during the war.
The proposed lists of weapons along with suggestions on how they might
appear in the game will be presented on this page. The weapons technical
and historical information, as well as pictures, will be presented on the
Weapons
page of this site.
Episode 1 - Thirst.
August of 1941.
Historical Background:
This episode is closely based on actual events. By August of 1941 the
city of Odessa, the largest Soviet merchant seaport on the Black Sea (and,
perhaps, the largest merchant port in the entire Soviet Union) was besieged
by German and Romanian troops. The city of Odessa does not have its own
source of fresh water. It takes (now as well as back in 1941) water from
the river of Dniestr, that is close to the city, but does not pass through
it. The water-pumping plant was (and, maybe, still is) located in the small
town of Belyaevka 40 km north of Odessa. By the end of August of 1941 the
Germans overran Belyaevka and shut the water off. So, during hot Odessa
summer the population of Odessa had to rely on water reservoirs and small
underground springs in the city. Obviously, for the huge city with a couple
of hundreds of thousands population (it is roughly 1 200 000 now, size
of San Diego, CA) it was not enough. Reservoirs were empty very soon. So,
a group of 10 marines from the newly formed 1st Marine Regiment was given
a task of going behind the German lines, recapturing the water-pumping
plant in Belyaevka, restarting it and holding it long enough for the reservoirs
in the city to be filled up. These guys succeeded, but I don't remember
whether one of them survived, or they all got killed. In 1959 the Russians
made a movie about this episode of the war called "The Thirst". Hence,
the name of this episode.
Your mission:
The mission should be obvious from the history: you are one of those
10 marines. For you it is personal: you are from Odessa, and your family
is in the city.
Level 1:
Early morning. Capture the water-pumping plant. Make sure there are
no Germans inside. Level ends when you turn the switch on (press the space
bar) to start pumping the water. I am sure, to start the pumps was more
complicated than simply pushing the switch, but for the game it should
be good enough.
Level 2:
Daytime. Germans are trying to recapture the water-pumping plant and
stop the pumps. Take a position at one of the plant building's window and
defend the plant until you get the message on the radio that the reservoirs
in the city are full. You might have to move from one window to the next.
It is similar to the E1L3 (Defend level) in the original WW2GI. After you
get the message, you can withdraw. The level ends when you open the door
to exit the plant (press the space bar).
Level 3:
Dusk. You are the sole survivor of your group. You have to rendezvous
with a Soviet motor torpedo boat on the river Dniestr. The boat will take
you down the river into the Black Sea and back to Odessa. But to get to
your point of rendezvous you have to pass through the town of Belyaevka,
and the Germans are pursuing you. When you reach the point of your rendezvous
ashore, you'll still have to swim to the boat in the middle of the river,
but at this point the boat will pin the Germans down with its two 50 caliber
machine guns. The level ends when you reach the boat and grab the rope
they dropped you (press the space bar).
This concludes Episode 1.
Proposed weapons:
1. Knife.
2. SVT-40
semiautomatic rifle - your default weapon.
3. MP40
german submachine gun - you take it from a German.
4. DP-28
light machine gun - you pick it up from a fallen comrade.
5. PTRD-41
anti-tank rifle - your group brought it on the mission, but you don't
use it until level 2 (if there will be tanks). So, it can just appear at
the beginning of the level 2 by one of the building windows for you to
pick up.
6. F-1 "limonka"
(lemon shaped) fragmentation grenade - you pick up 3 of them at the
beginning of the mission. Then you'll find more of them along the way.
7. Mosin
1891/1930 sniper rifle - you pick it up from a fallen comrade.
8. Nagant
revolver - you pick it up at the beginning of the mission.
9. Molotov
cocktail - your group brought it on the mission, but you don't use
it until level 2 (if there will be tanks). So, it can just appear at the
beginning of the level 2 by one of the building windows for you to pick
up.
Episode 2 - Hell in Stalingrad.
November of 1942.
Historical Background:
This episode is made up, but based, as the title suggests, on one of
the greatest battles of World War 2 - The Battle of Stalingrad. After several
months of street fighting, on November 19, 1942, the Soviet forces counterattacked
outside Stalingrad. As a result, the 6th German Army of General Paulus
along with a bunch of other Axis forces was surrounded in Stalingrad. Hitler
forbade Paulus to attempt a break-through. Instead, Goring assured Hitler
that Luftwaffe would supply the 6th Army by air, while General-Fieldmarshal
von Manstein was ordered to relieve the 6th Army with his forces. At the
end of November, 1942, this was attempted, but failed.
Your mission:
It is the end of November, 1942. The 6th German Army is trapped in
Stalingrad. The Germans are attempting to supply their troops by air, while
relief efforts by General-Fieldmarshal von Manstein's forces are under
way. The intelligence reports that there is an improvised airstrip in Stalingrad.
Some supplies are delivered there. But, more importantly, a liaison officer
from Paulus' staff is going to board one of the transport planes on its
return trip in order to coordinate the relief efforts on the outside with
the actions of 6th Army. You have to prevent this officer from leaving
Stalingrad and destroy the airstrip.
Level 1:
Afternoon. Move through the ruins of the city and reach the battalion
headquarters closest to the reported location of the airstrip to receive
your briefing. The level ends when you open the door (press the space bar)
into the apartment, where the headquarters are set up.
Level 2:
Evening. Go behind the German lines and reach the airstrip. Kill (or
capture?) the liaison officer. Destroy any planes you see on the strip
(1 or 2?). Destroy the airstrip by blowing up the 2 buildings (what's left
of them) next to the strip. The rubble will render the airstrip unusable.
The level ends when you blow the 2nd building up.
Level 3:
Night. After successful mission withdraw to your lines. The Germans
are pursuing you. You reach the same battalion, from which you started
your mission. The Germans, continuing their pursuit, attempt to attack
the battalion headquarters. Help your comrades to beat off the attack.
After successfully defending the headquarters, go inside to report. The
level ends when you open the door (press the space bar) into the apartment,
where the headquarters are set up.
This concludes Episode 2.
Proposed weapons:
1. Knife.
2. PPSh-41
submachine gun - your default weapon.
3. MP40
german submachine gun - you take it from a German at the end of level
2, as you run out of ammo for your PPSh.
4. DP-28
light machine gun - you pick it up from a fallen Russian soldier in
the middle of level 1.
5. PTRD-41
anti-tank rifle - it is available in the Russian trenches, but you
don't use it until the 2nd half of level 3 (if there will be tanks). So,
it can just be there when you reach the Russian lines for you to pick up.
6. F-1 "limonka"
(lemon shaped) fragmentation grenade - you pick up 3 of them at the
beginning of the mission. Then you'll find more of them along the way.
7. Mosin
1891/1930 sniper rifle - you pick it up at the beginning of level 2.
8. TT-33
automatic pistol - you pick it up at the beginning of the mission.
9. TNT - same as in the original WW2GI. You pick it up at the beginning
of level 2. Use it to destroy the airstrip.
Episode 3 - Save Cracow.
January of 1945.
Historical Background:
By the end of 1944 the Eastern Front moved outside the Soviet Union
and into Eastern Europe. The Russian troops were approaching the city of
Cracow (Krakow in Polish). This beautiful city was the ancient capital
of Poland until 1795. It escaped destruction in 1939 Polish Campaign. Now
faced with defeat, Hitler gave orders to destroy Cracow. Upon learning
about it, the Soviet High Command sent their intelligence agents, who,
with cooperation of Polish Resistance, were given a mission to prevent
the Germans from executing Hitler's orders. Their mission was successful,
and now we can still enjoy cultural treasures of Cracow. In 1967 the Russians
made a movie about this mission, called "Mayor 'Vikhr'" (Major 'Wind').
In the movie the Russian Intelligence major, known only by his pseudonym
"Wind", and his comrades in arms succeed in cutting the cable that was
supposed to send the detonation signal. They then had to defend the cut
from the SS troops sent to repair it. They managed to hold their ground
until the Russian tanks showed up. In the movie they all got killed. I
don't know if they were really all killed, but it is likely.
Your mission:
You are a Russian agent (major 'Wind', if you will). Obviously, your
mission is to prevent the Germans from blowing up the city of Cracow until
the Soviet Army liberates it.
Level 1:
Afternoon. To accomplish your mission you need help of Polish Underground.
You were given the address of a person to contact in order to get in touch
with the Resistance. But the family of your Polish liaison told you that
he had been arrested and is held in the cellar of the Gestapo building.
You now have to get him out of the Gestapo in order to establish contact
with Polish Resistance. Disguised as a German officer, enter the Gestapo
building, get to the cellar and liberate your liaison. But at the beginning
your cover has been blown, and now you have to fight your way through the
building and get out with your Polish comrade. The level ends when you
both run out the door and jump into the car (press the space bar) that
was waiting for you outside.
Level 2:
Night. You and your Polish friends have to get into the compound just
outside of Cracow. There is a switchboard that controls all the explosives
around the city. You need to clear this compound off Germans and destroy
the switchboard. The level ends when you blow up the switchboard.
Level 3:
Daytime. The SS are attempting to retake the compound in order to repair
their switchboard and destroy the city of Cracow. Hold on until the Russian
tanks show up. When they do, run toward them. The level ends when you jump
on a Russian tank behind the turret and knock on the turret (press the
space bar).
This concludes Episode 3.
Proposed weapons:
1. Knife.
2. Walther
P.38 - your default weapon. Remember, you are disguised as German officer.
Luger also could be used for this episode, but Walther was much more standard
by 1945.
3. MP40
german submachine gun - you take it from a German at the beginning
of level 1, as you start killing the SS soldiers.
4. MG42
german universal machine gun - you take it from a German at the end
of level 2.
5. Panzerfaust
- you find 3 of them in the compound at the end of level 2. Use them in
level 3 (if there will be tanks). But it is a one shot weapon, so you can
carry only one at a time.
6. F-1 "limonka"
(lemon shaped) fragmentation grenade - you pick up 3 of them at the
beginning of the mission. Then you'll find more of them along the way.
7. SVT-40
semiautomatic sniper rifle - you pick it up at the beginning of level
2.
8. PPSh-41
submachine gun - you pick it up at the beginning of level 2.
9. TNT - same as in the original WW2GI. You pick it up at the beginning
of level 2. Use it to destroy the switchboard.
Episode 4 - Capture Bormann.
Beginning of May of 1945.
Historical Background:
When the war in Europe ended in May of 1945, all the major Nazi leaders
were accounted for, except for one: Martin Bormann. He was the General
Secretary of the Nazi party. There were numerous speculations about his
whereabouts, rumors that he escaped with Nazi gold and documents and had
a mission to resurrect the Nazi empire. Those rumors and speculations became
the basis for a bunch of interesting thrillers (Jack Higgins is one of
the authors that used this plot line). It is established now that he indeed
attempted to escape from Berlin and was shot and killed by the Russian
soldiers, who did not even know who they killed. He was buried in East
Berlin and relatively recently his remains were positively identified with
the help of DNA testing. But now for the great game of WW2GI we can use
this plot line too.
Your mission:
It is May 1, 1945. The war is nearing the end. Hitler is dead and the
Red Banner is on top of the Reichstag building. But the SS resistance is
still strong in the center of Berlin. You need to figure out why and bring
to justice Reichleiter Martin Bormann.
Level 1:
Morning of May 1, 1945. Move through the center of Berlin to the Reichschancelary.
The level ends when you open the door (press the space bar) into the Reichschancelary
building.
Level 2:
Noon of May 1, 1945. Go through the underground corridors of the Reichschancelary
and gather the documents and clues explaining to you what the Nazis are
up to. Of course, the SS is going to resist you. This level is similar
to E2L4 of the original WW2GI. At the end you'll find a briefcase with
documents. The level ends when you open the briefcase (press the space
bar).
Level 3:
There is a gap of a couple of days between the levels. It is now daytime
of May 4, 1945. The war is almost over. This level takes you to the city
of Lubek on the Baltic Sea. Move through port of Lubek, eliminate any opposition
and find a U-boat that is being prepared for escape. Go on board, fight
your way through the sections of the U-boat and capture Martin Bormann.
When you see a man in plain clothes, come up to him and tell him "Hende
Hoh" ("Hands Up") by pressing the space bar. This will end the level.
Alternatively, this level can take place in the Alpine redoubt, that
the Nazis were rumored to be preparing in the Alps.
This concludes Episode 4.
Proposed weapons:
1. Knife.
2. PPSh-41
submachine gun - your default weapon.
3. MP40
german submachine gun - you take it from a German at the end of level
2, as you run out of ammo for your PPSh.
4. DP-28
light machine gun - you pick it up from a fallen Russian soldier in
the middle of level 1.
5. Panzerfaust
- you find 1 of them in the compound at the end of level 2. Use them in
level 3 against bunkers.
6. F-1 "limonka"
(lemon shaped) fragmentation grenade - you pick up 3 of them at the
beginning of the mission. Then you'll find more of them along the way.
7. SVT-40
semiautomatic sniper rifle - you pick it up at the beginning of level
3.
8. TT-33
automatic pistol - you pick it up at the beginning of the mission.
9. TNT - same as in the original WW2GI. You pick it up at the beginning
of level 2. Use it to destroy the walls that are in your way.