The 30th Blackshirt Legion attended a private Eastern Front event held at Fort Mifflin, near Philadelphia. This event was held as a fundraiser to support the site, whose origins date back to the Revolutionary War, and had suffered a fire in one of the officer buildings. Most of the essential repair work is done but the site, like all historic sites, needs funding to continue their improvements. Therefore, we were very glad to support the event which coincided perfectly with the impression which we portray.
The unit was part of a separate section, comprising our Italians but also Romanian and Don Cossack reenactors. Our force was used in a variety of capacities as the scenarios progressed, employed both for offensive and defensive operations. The section was light, comprised entirely of riflemen, while the German forces had some automatic weaponry. The Soviet enemy had the advantage of both numbers and firepower, boasting both a fixed heavy machine gun as well as submachine guns and rapid-fire weaponry. The regular forces were also augmented by a significant number of partisans.
However, the Italian legionary is undaunted. "One Italian soldier is worth a battalion of Russian tanks!" our fearless commander reminded the men, and drawing upon that zeal and devotion to La Patria, met the enemy.
The initial offensive to capture Fort Mifflianov was slow but steady. In the muddy scrubland outside the fortress perimeters, Italian and other forces made contact with the enemy and steady pushed them back towards their fixed defenses. After crossing the moat, an attempt was made to infiltrate the fort itself, but this was not successful and the army regrouped back beyond the moat. By this time, the Bolshevik horde had established an impassable defensive position by mounting their heavy machine gun and a platoon of riflemen directly adjacent the only approach to the fort--an exposed path--on the southern side. It was decided at this point to consider the next steps.
The following scenario placed the Soviets and their partisan allies in the wilderness, while Italian and Germanic elements manned the fortress defenses. The significant frontage combined with the shortage of manpower became evidently problematic. A small German force left the fortress to engage the enemy in the woods, leaving a reserve, which included the Italians, behind. While this was happening, the enemy, with his superior numbers, entered the southern gate.
A heroic defense was mounted by the combined force within, but retreat was cut off. "Vince o Morire," as it was understood. Tales of abuses of prisoners taken by the Bolsheviks inspired our men to defy the inevitable and chamber their Carcanos to the last.
Once the smoke had cleared and the scenarios were ended, the participants were welcomed to a soldiers' dinner, which was provided by the Russian forces. Augmented, in part, with Italian provisions, a satisfactory day was had by all.
The unit was part of a separate section, comprising our Italians but also Romanian and Don Cossack reenactors. Our force was used in a variety of capacities as the scenarios progressed, employed both for offensive and defensive operations. The section was light, comprised entirely of riflemen, while the German forces had some automatic weaponry. The Soviet enemy had the advantage of both numbers and firepower, boasting both a fixed heavy machine gun as well as submachine guns and rapid-fire weaponry. The regular forces were also augmented by a significant number of partisans.
However, the Italian legionary is undaunted. "One Italian soldier is worth a battalion of Russian tanks!" our fearless commander reminded the men, and drawing upon that zeal and devotion to La Patria, met the enemy.
The initial offensive to capture Fort Mifflianov was slow but steady. In the muddy scrubland outside the fortress perimeters, Italian and other forces made contact with the enemy and steady pushed them back towards their fixed defenses. After crossing the moat, an attempt was made to infiltrate the fort itself, but this was not successful and the army regrouped back beyond the moat. By this time, the Bolshevik horde had established an impassable defensive position by mounting their heavy machine gun and a platoon of riflemen directly adjacent the only approach to the fort--an exposed path--on the southern side. It was decided at this point to consider the next steps.
The following scenario placed the Soviets and their partisan allies in the wilderness, while Italian and Germanic elements manned the fortress defenses. The significant frontage combined with the shortage of manpower became evidently problematic. A small German force left the fortress to engage the enemy in the woods, leaving a reserve, which included the Italians, behind. While this was happening, the enemy, with his superior numbers, entered the southern gate.
A heroic defense was mounted by the combined force within, but retreat was cut off. "Vince o Morire," as it was understood. Tales of abuses of prisoners taken by the Bolsheviks inspired our men to defy the inevitable and chamber their Carcanos to the last.
Once the smoke had cleared and the scenarios were ended, the participants were welcomed to a soldiers' dinner, which was provided by the Russian forces. Augmented, in part, with Italian provisions, a satisfactory day was had by all.