Background (simplified) of Molwitz 41 scenario
The scenario is about the initial part of the First Silesian war 1740-1742.
Fred II the new king of Prussia invaded Silesia the wealthest province of the Empire with 2 columns of Ist corps (right and left wing 31 Btns ) and rushed to Breslau whereas a II corps (7 Btns + siege Art) did go for the blocus and siege of Glogau. Their goal is to take all of Silesia until upper Silesia perhaps for automatic victory meaning a better result than history.
A IIIrd Corps came in February with 14 Btns and 5 cavalry Rgts.
After the disastrous Austro-Turkish war, the Austrian army suffered what is called "Dislokation", the dispersion of the Rgts so that there no concentration of troops in a single place.
Noise of war as soon as October made an Austrian reaction and numerous rgts were send to Silesia, Bohemia and Moravia, many of them still marching on Dec 16 1740.
As the Austrian Player you will have the same dilemn than General Brown. You have at first a small concentration of 5 Btns + 1 Dragons rgt, 4 Btns are in Brieg, 2 in Glogau and 2 are in Neisse other Btns are in the march or are located in Troppau, Wien, Presbourg etc..., and it will take time to reach Silesia.
Historically Brown put many Bts in the Fortresses reducing his Corps and did a fighting withdrawal to Moravia, will you do the same ? Will you stripped the Fortress to reinforce your corps but weakening the fortresses ? It will be up to you !!!
And you have no Field artillery at start
Lose a battle and you will have to retreat perhaps with no Garrisons left.
Early in the game after a turn or 2 you will have an important choice : Choosing 2 plans from Different leaders in a multi choices option seen first in RoP and then in Rus. Here you choose between
Neipperg or KhevenhüllerNeipperg like some soviet generals in WWII was put in prison after the loss of Belgrad and left it recently.
His plan was to react as soon as possible and strike at the upstart Prussians who have no experience of war and teach them a lesson
thus you will get an Army HQ as soon as february in Wien and gather/concentrate the Rgts after sending the QG at a concentration point.
Khevenhüller a better General wanted more Btns so that in game terms a QG will be available later in March this choice will cost you more victory points as well as morale.
Historically Neipperg stroke in order to separate the Prussians corps at Molwitz, the Prussians had time to concentrate some troops and were almost beaten, the austrian Cavalry crushed their prussian counterpart, Fred run from the battlefield...and Schwerin and prussian infantry saved the day with a discipline perhaps never seen before on a battlefield.
The infantry marched, stopped, fire all in a rolling thunder which impressed all observators, an austrian Gen. describing moving walls !!
The Austrians retreated to Neisse.
With April-May, huge number of Warasdiner, Hussars would introduce a new type of warfare in Western Europe and Silesia would be the starting point.
Unfortunately for Austria, the French decided for war with the Bavarians against them and were closing on Austria and Neipperg received orders for some negociations, something he was incompetent, he lost Belgrad in 1739...and all Silesia in 1740 believing that Maria Theresa wanted the peace at all cost. When he saw her mobilising the nation and Hungarians and the resolve of a young Queen of 23 years old ready for a war to the death, he understook his terrible mistake.
The game stops here end September on the eve of departure of Austrians troops to confront the franco-bavarians and later Saxons...
Perhaps youwill get an automatic victory before calculation points.
So I had to do one more:
You can already use them.
