Tales from the Pommritz Cinnamon Dung Brothel

 Now that I have your attention...

The following catologue of woe is based on our annual Christmas game from 2021 (or maybe even earlier), which, due to restrictions on movement, effort and even being bothered, was pushed back until today. (What? You mean it isn't still Christmas?)

 

Frederick's, apprently just weakened, and terribly outnumbered and weak force, surrounded by angry Austrians and a few plucky Irishmen and gypsies ...I mean, game balance...yes game balance...

The game is a more linearly balanced version of the famous Seven Years War battle/debacle at Hochkirch in 1758, using the even more famous Koenig Krieg rules ( with KK3 and a lot of house ruling from Steiner & Steve).

 'Historians generally consider the battle as among Frederick's greatest blunders. Contrary to the advice of his subordinates, he refused to believe that the typically cautious Austrian commander Leopold von Daun would bring his troops into battle. The Austrian force ambushed his army in a pre-dawn attack. Over 30% of Frederick's army was defeated; five generals were killed and he lost his artillery park and a vast quantity of supplies. Although Daun had scored a complete surprise, his attempt to pursue the retreating Prussians was unsuccessful. The escaped force united with another corps in the vicinity, and regained momentum over the winter.'

(hmmm we had somewhat different outcomes)

I was inevitably a little late to the game, which appeared to have started with a focus on the town of Pommritz (if I were French, I would swear I could smell the 'f' in chips or something - see what I did there?).

We played the 3rd edition of this very old set of rules (not this cover, but I am into old stuff). It's really ahead of its time, with a lovely initiative system. A few 'issue' areas tidied up by the period experts. A lot depends on initiative, and it can be very deadly/bloody.

Surrounded by 80,000 angry Austrians, Prussians would be woken from their tents to find themselves under attack on all sides, with only a puny force of 30,000ish wily, fast, excellent shots (bitter? me?) ... to make good a counterattack or escape.  Would they force a draw, or even a victory on the table today (amendements for balance made by the ref, notwithstanding).

 Being late, I missed the opening shots, and the discussion of the 'Pink Palace' at Pommritz, which from thence was known as the 'Pommritz Brothel'. I shall explain the inevitable answer to your questions related to Cinnamon Dung, latterly...

Apparently, not a brothel? I know, right? (the name of the village has been changed to Pommitz here, obviously to protect the innocent)

Prussian defences at Hochkirch - note the topmost Grenadier stand...which would hang about all day, and apparently should win some sort of prize for bravery or something

Noble and brilliantly led Austrians, advancing toward certain vistory ...huzzah!!! (I'm not biased, am I?)

Nahhh mate, definitely a house of ill repute...

'ere...that bloody hoorhaus is nicking all my customers...'

'Sie kommen meinen Herren, Sie kommen sehr schnell!'

Austrian attack in the centre - would be beaten back all day long, though did eventually wear down the defenders

You can see Austrian flanking moves on their left, and the Austrian attack in the centre. The left would see fighting all day as Prussian cavalry flung themselves against Austrian bayonets, and Prussian infantry valiantly survived most of the day, despite enfilading fire.

Yep...those guys

The 'Hand of God' available to move decorative terrain pieces at a mere whim.

First Prussian cavalry attacks on Austrian left

A larger cavalry action on the Austrian right, as reinforcements start to arrive

Close in action all day long at Hochkirch.

Austrian left: Prussian cavalry gets bloodied in repeated assaults. Hochkirch at centre top.

charge...

A bloodied Austrian line facing tough Prussian defence. Cavalry actions on the flanks, and a costly push in the centre.

Austrians close on Hochkirch by turns 10-11.

Last men standing...

Prussian reinforcements head for the brothel.

Near game end, and despite Austrian triumphs in various areas, they were not taking Hochkirch. Despite a Prussian Army morale check (passed), it was looking like a draw.

View on Austrian centre and right. Massive cavalry action on the right, centre in doubt with Hochkirch not taken, and left secure, though vulnerable to Prussian reinforcements.

Last man standing - these grenadiers valiantly hung on all day at Hochkirke

By game end, we were looking at a draw. Prussians had passed an army morale check, Austrians were bloodied in the centre, and reinforcements were set to enter for both sides. We went for dinner at this stage. A great game as usual at John's.

And so to the Cinnamon Dung ...This was John's (General Daun) Gin & Tonic, imbibed at stressful times throughout the battle. Apparently the cinnamon sticks are flavoursome, though it was remarked, on more than one occasion, that he might have 'sh*t in his glass' ...no really, the story is that simple. I leave it to you, oh loyal viewer.

Daun's last words while drinking his gin'n'sh*t   ...'we wuz robbed!'

Le Duc on the Road XXI - Lauenforde & Beverungen

Now that business trips appear to be back on, and the world is considerably weirder than it used to be, Le Duc, has officially returned to 'the road'.

Lauenforde and Beverungen are villages joined by a bridge over the River Weser and 'roughly' in the north German plain (Westphalia) and east of the old BAOR hunting grounds at Paderborn & Bielefeld etc.

The Dining Room guard...

I didn't find much on Wikipedia in relation to the towns (although there were links to the Flossenburg concentration camp), and didn't get a lot of time to walk round ...but here are some pics, highlights, rumours and considerations...

One interesting find was the cemetery (I'm sorry to say...) which had some war graves, and certainly brings home the horrors of it all - most of those buried were 21 or under, and some were buried in plots with multiple names. The dates were mostly April 1945 - near war end, so I'm guessing that the regiment(s) associated with the area were on the ever tightening Eastern Front. The youngest man died a few months after turning 18, near the end of the war. I'd suggest these guys weren't necessarily given the option of 'volunteering' by this stage.

A pub - yep, a pub

I believe this building (now a restaurant), is/was called 'the Burg'. It was  also a meeting placefor the SA in the 1930s, and Himmler is later associated with the building. Apparently, some interesting graffiti still adorns the walls of the basement.

Bridge over the Weser

The oak surrounded by war dead. As stated, most were 21 or less.

Horst had turned 18 - and died in April 1945, just before the end.

One of the large mass style plots.

A fascinating trip, a  lovely town; and looks like I'll be returning to once more engage the local populace with my notoriously bad German.

FoB ACW meets noob.

 It's my birthday this weekend. I'm old enough to know better, wise enough to give advice (and have it shunned whilst walking away with a knowing smile), yet humble enough to have my army destroyed in Field of Battle, by a complete newbie...and still congratulate my cackling opponent.

ACW action with FoB ...follows after the b.s. interlude

What's this? Well, my daughter said to me: 'it's your birthday. How about a game of Battlelore (TM). We haven't played it in years?'

Yes - this one. First ed; the original and the best (2006) ...and yes it had lots of Scottish dwarves.

Truth be told, we last played Battlelore (TM) when she was 11, and she had started at age 7. The same young lady is now 24; and no, I don't know where that time went either!!!

'AHA!' I said. 'Well, you should try 'Field of Battle' instead,' I barked. She picked 'American Civil War' purely at random.

Of course, she could not react with the standard 'wait...isn't that something to do with Piquet, which means I will automatically shun it ?' No (though that would have scared the hell out of me if she had). So, she agreed!

Yay!

...and not 'Battlelore' - the Finnish metal band, with far too many members, inspired by Tolkien's fiction, though they will of course get a suitably weird track at the end now just to tie up the loose plot ends...

I had set up the game, and briefly went through the 'opposed rolling' concepts of the game. Though of course, inevitably, there would be some cries of 'you never told me that bit' later.

It would be a Confederate assault on Union positions, with a view to taking the crossroads. Sides were roughly equivalent in size, though the Rebs had significantly better Commanders and a better deck. Let's see how much difference that would make.

She made good use of the fence line, and movement cards, forming a decent defensive position, which the Confederate tide would get smashed upon.

Rebs did lack decent guns, and had some horrible rolls when they could get a shot in.

Early on, my opponent decided that her D10s were simply not good enough, and thus accessed dice from the 'horde bag' at random for the rest of the game. I suspect some D10s are for the chop later.

The Rebs charged on their right, using artillery to shoot into the position - but the ensuing melees did not go their way.

Reb centre and left, showing fierce fighting on the flank, with movement toward the objective in centre.

...quickly getting to grips with the vagaries of the movement cards, she reinforced the centre

Jonny & Billy meet in the centre. Fighting here was viscious

...with Rebs being pushed back from sustained Union fire, and losing badly in the melees

Rebs go in again

...but they have taken a lot of hits against their army morale

'One more time boys! One more time!'

The Union line is an incredibly tough nut to crack, and eventually, the Rebs survive one army morale card, but sustaining the attack simply falls apart, as their morale runs out.

The Union never really needed their flank cavalry unit...but worth a pic

Despite my opponent's insistence that this was a game of 'luck not skill', and my protestations that she had used good manoeuvre and defensive principles to gain the upper hand and win, and therefore the point was moot :) ...it was a great birthday bash.

As errr promised ;)

...and not today Charlie, not today mate...