All,
Drive on Minsk
2 July 1941
1130 Local Time
Following LtCol Schultz's armored assault on the Soviet trenchline yesterday, the Kampfgruppe, and the PanzerKorps writ large, was back on the move. Things were going fine through mid-morning, then suddenly came to a halt. Enemy armor was counterattacking up ahead; an anti-tank screen was established forward and a full regiment of panzers was on the move, circling to hit the flanks, but the Korps' efforts were being hamstrung by a water obstacle. "Klink," the Korps Commander spoke over the wireless, "push left, find me a way over this damned river!" Colonel Klink acknowledged and took a hard look around; traffic was snarled in every direction for as far as the eye could see. There was no way he could push out a force of any considerable size, so he did what had to be done; he called on his Recce Company Commander, Captain Wehner, to free a platoon and push north to find a crossing. He stated he would lead it himself.
Overview, north is up. The Germans will enter at bottom left, Soviets may set up anywhere outside that initial 12" x 12" box at bottom left, setting the Germans up for a bit of an ambush as they're in a hurry to find a crossing, not much time for dismounted reconnaissance. The river at right is not fordable, can only be crossed at the bridge. The locals call the area 'Three Sisters', with Hill 111 at far left, Hill 112 at top center, and Hill 113 at far right. As usual, there's a hardball road running through the area, which is filled with cultivated fields and broken up by a few peasant huts and a few stands of trees.
The opposing forces, with Germans at left and Soviets at right.
The German force consists of:
Battlefield Commander:
Recce Company Commander: Captain Wehner (IAB, TKB (1), WB (2), IC2)
Poland, France, Greece, Barbarossa,
Battlefield Second in Command: None (though one would show up as reinforcements from a lucky Random Event, but don't worry, the Soviets also got a really unlucky -for me- Random Event)
3rd Recce Plt PC: SSgt Pichler (PAB, WB (2), IC2) (Sdkfz 231)
Poland, France, Greece, Barbarossa V1: Sgt Visner (IAB, WB (1), IC2) (Sdkfz 222)
France, Greece, BarbarossaV2: Cpl Hamann (Sdkfz 222)Barbarossa V3: Cpl Lurz (Rifle Squad mounted in Sdkfz 250)Barbarossa V4: Cpl Uwe (Rifle Squad mounted in Sdkfz 250)Barbarossa1st Squad: SSgt Dorn (IAB) (Rifle Squad mounted on Motorcycle)Poland, France, Greece, Barbarossa, 2nd Squad: Cpl Steinmetz (Rifle Squad mounted on Motorcycle)Greece, Barbarossa
Captain Wehner also managed to scare up one Stug to support:
V3: Cpl Holdtstaat
France, Greece, Barbarossa
The following reinforcements would show up:
2nd Grenadiere Company Commander: Captain Tausch (IAB, IC1 and IC2)
Poland, France, Greece, Barbarossa,
2nd Rifle Plt PC: Sergeant 1st Class Behrendt (IAB, TKB (1), IC1 and IC2)Poland, France, Greece, Barbarossa,
2nd Squad: Cpl Rau
France, Greece, Barbarossa
3rd Squad: Cpl Torsten
Barbarossa
So, I cheated a little bit bringing on the Company Commander, and it paid off in a big way, but to be fair, I only brought two rifle squads from 2nd Platoon, rather than the full platoon.
The Soviet defenders are a bit of a rabble, rather than a completely organized defense, as some of the men are stragglers from previously by-passed/overrun units (and they're reinforcements will come on at a random location). In any case, the Soviet force consists of:
-Commander
-Komisar
-four rifle squads
-two anti-tank rifle (ATR) teams
-Maxim machine gun
-82mm mortar
-45mm anti-tank gun (ATG)
Overview, now with troops. Captain Wehner has spotted the intersection ahead and called a quick halt in the village (bottom left) to consult the map and his small unit leaders. The Soviets are dug-in across the board; there's a rifle squad each on Hill 111 (far left) and Hill 112 (top center), an ATR and the mortar team on Hill 113 (far right), but where they're really thick is the bridge. Their CO is in the hut at far right, with the MG team in the field just below him. The ATG is dug-in on the other side of the river, opposite the MG team (bottom center), a dug-in rifle squad immediately ahead of them to provide security. Just above them, snuggled between the road and river, is the Komisar, a rifle squad, and the other ATR team.
This fight is going to be at point-blank range, the terrain and defensive setup practically demands it.
The Germans' initial dispositions. Motorcycles in the lead, armored cars behind them, then the Stug and Company Commander, with the halftracked recon teams on each flank.
The Soviet stronghold at/around the bridge. MG at bottom left, ATG at far left, CO at center bottom, ATR just right of him, mortar team at bottom right, Komisar, ATR, and rifle squad at center top, with rifle squad just across the road (top left).
Soviet rifle squad atop Hill 112, looking south at the bridge (top left) and German-occupied village (top right).
Soviet rifle squad atop Hill 111, looking southeast, with bridge at top left and German-held village at top right.
All Soviet units are hidden, the Germans are just going to have to stumble their way forward, into the awaiting defenders.
SSgt Pichler, the 3rd Recce Platoon Commander, sitting in his Skfz 231 (bottom center left), signals SSgt Dorn, leader of the 1st Motorcycle Squad, to proceed. The Squad guns its motorcycles and they press forward, up to the intersection, oblivious to the Soviets mere meters from them.
Cpl Steinmetz's 2nd Motorcycle Squad gets going...
They make the intersection and turn left, as Cpl Hamann's Sdkfz 222 armored car moves up near the intersection to support them.
And the Germans get a Random Event that brings on some reinforcements! Captain Tausch, the highly decorated commander of 2nd Grenadiere Company comes on with Sergeant 1st Class Behrendt, the highly decorated leader of 2nd Platoon, and two of his rifle squads.
They enter the village and check in with Captain Wehner.
Cpl Hamann's 222 (bottom center) looks on as SSgt Dorn's motorcycles push towards the bridge...
And that is when the Soviets spring their ambush!
SSgt Dorn's squad dismounts their motorcycles and flees into some nearby crops, suppressed!
Another Soviet rifle squad opens fire on them (top left, Soviets at top right, Cpl Steinmetz's motorcycles just visible at top center left).
And SSgt Dorn's squad is knocked out!
Cpl Hamman orders his 222 forward for a better look...
But the Soviet 45mm ATG (bottom left) roars, sending an armor-piercing round their way (top right).
The vehicle is immobilized and the crew bales.
SFC Behrendt gets his rifle platoon moving towards the sound of gunfire (field at right center, from bottom left), with Captain Tausch holding fast right behind them.
SSgt Pichler pushes his Sdkfz 231 heavy armored car nearer the intersection, trying to figure out what the hell just happened, and what's out there.
He tells Hamann's crew (center) to hurry back, then he spots movement across the street! He opens fire with his 20mm auto-cannon.
Suppressing a Commie rifle squad.
The Soviet mortar team goes to work.
Suppressing SFC Behrendt's command team and pinning Captain Tausch's!
The nearby Soviet rifle squad, now alerted to the threat on their flank, wheels left and fires on 2nd Platoon.
Pinning 3rd Squad!
The Red ATR team at the river (bottom right) doesn't have a great view of SSgt Pichler's 231 (top left), but they take a shot anyway, to no effect.
The Komisar moves past the ATR team to rally the rifle squad Pichler suppressed...
And they're good.
Further north, the enemy rifle squad atop Hill 111 fires down on Cpl Steinmetz's 2nd Motorcycle Squad (top right), pinning them down.
SSgt Pichler continues pumping 20mm rounds at the main Soviet defensive position on this side of the river, but doesn't accomplish anything.
As 2nd Platoon returns fire on the nearby Soviet rifle squad, to no effect.
Captain Wehner moves over to help Captain Tausch's command team rally.
He's good, and rushes into the crop field to rally SFC Behrendt (suppressed behind explosion marker) and 3rd Squad.
The Commie rifle squad atop Hill 112 (bottom right, Hill 111 at top right, main Soviet defensive position on the west side of the river at far left) spots Captain Tausch's movement (top left) and fires...
But Captain Tausch shakes it off and continues working to rally his troops under fire.
The PC and 3rd Squad are both good.
As Sgt Visner pushes his 222 forward, advancing between the crop fields (far right, from bottom left).
The Russkie ATR team on Hill 113 (bottom right) spots Sgt Visner's armored car sneaking through the crop fields (top left) and fires.
The rounds miss their mark and Sgt Visner pumps 20mm rounds into the nearby Soviet rifle squad, trying to soften them up for 2nd Platoon (just off camera to bottom center right).
Pinning them.
SFC Behrendt leads 2nd Squad forward...
Just as the damned Soviet mortar team (bottom right) adjusts fire and starts dropping HE their way again...
And the rounds are right on the money, suppressing SFC Behrendt and 2nd Squad!
3rd Squad jumps to its feet and advances, coming up on SFC Behrendt's right (center bottom, from far left, SFC Behrendt just visible above the trees at center left top).
But riflemen in the Soviet main defensive position (bottom right) spot them (top left) and open fire.
The troops of Cpl Torsten's 3rd Squad (who is seeing his first combat) run between the rain drops and close with the enemy!
Torsten's boys quickly dispatch the Communists.
But then the Soviets get a Random Event, with their own reinforcements!
Or reinforcement, in the form of a monster, a KV-1.
Which promptly enters the table in the northwest, between Hills 111 (bottom center) and 112 (just visible at far right).
Back in the scrum, the Soviet ATR in the main defensive position fires again on Sgt Visner's 222 armored car...
The vehicle is immobilized and the crew bales out, carrying their leader's lifeless body with them...
SSgt Pichler (bottom left) sees Visner's vehicle go up (far right); he lets out a curse and resumes pumping 20mm rounds into the Soviets' main defensive position.
Pinning the enemy rifle squad and ATR team there.
Meanwhile, the Soviet ATG crew, concerned with their proximity to the Fascist vipers now that Cpl Torsten's 3rd Squad just close assaulted the rifle squad pulling security for them into oblivion...
Stows their gun and grabs their rifles and submachine guns in preparation for close combat.
They (bottom right) immediately open fire on Cpl Torsten's 3rd Squad (top left).
Putting them out of the fight!!!
That really sucks...
In the main enemy defensive position, the Komisar works to rally his pinned rifle squad.
Then moves over to rally his pinned ATR team.
Both are good.
Again. This Komisar is very efficient...
Over in the Soviet center, atop Hill 112, the Commie rifle squad there comes on down the mountain, looking to finish off 2nd Motorcycle Squad (just visible behind the tree at top center left).
And we have a Stug sighting! Cpl Holdstaat, still hanging out in the rear with the gear (bottom left, as are the two recce halftracks full of Aufklarer infantry), spots the Reds moving down Hill 112 (top center right) from his open TC hatch on the Stug and orders his gunner to lob some 75mm HE their way.
The rounds land close enough to pin the enemy infantry.
In the center, SSgt Pichler (bottom left) continues pumping 20mm rounds into the main Soviet defensive position (top right).
Suppressing the ATR team there, the Komisar disaprovingly looking on.
The Stug (bottom left) fires on Hill 112 (top right) again.
With no better result. He's got them bracketed now...
With the Russkies on Hill 112 pinned (just off camera to top right), 2nd Motorcycle Squad (bottom right) engages the Russkies on Hill 111 (top left).
The two exchange ineffective fire.
The Reds on Hill 112 also fire on 2nd MC Squad, to no effect.
On the German right, Captain Tausch moves up under heavy fire to rally SFC Behrendt's command team and last remaining rifle squad.
Sgt Behrendt and his guys are fine (top right), but the rifle squad fails to rally and falls back (bottom left), ending up right next to Captain Wehner's command track.
Captain Wehner whips them back into fighting shape.
Back up front, SFC Behrendt's platoon command element (far left, with Captain Tausch's Company command element right behind them) open fire on the Soviet ATG crew-turned rifle team (far right).
The German fire is ineffective against the dug-in Commise (bottom right), who immediately return fire.
Panicking Behrendt's command team and suppressing Captain Tausch's!
The Komisar rallies the ATR team in the main Soviet defensive position.
But they fail and haul ass behind a nearby cornfield (to right, from bottom left)!
The rifle squad with the Komisar (bottom right) fires on Captain Tausch and SFC Behrendt's guys (far left).
As the ATR team on Hill 113 (bottom right) fires on SSgt Pichler's armored car (top left).
The anti-tank rifle team misses the 231, as the Soviet mortar team (bottom right) fires on the German left (top left).
Captain Wehner looks on as the squad from 2nd Platoon that he just rallied is knocked out by the enemy mortar barrage...
The Soviet mortar team shifts fire...
But don't hit anything, the rounds landing between Captains Wehner and Tausch.
Cpl Holdstaat's Stug (far left) and one of the recce 250s (bottom center, with the other off camera to far left) are still sitting there, awaiting orders, as the armored cars and riflemen of the motorcycle squads and 2nd Platoon are decimated...
Hyped by their recent successes, the Soviet ATG crew-turned rifle team charge out of their emplacement (bottom right) into contact with SFC Behrendt's panicked command team, with Captain Tausch right behind them (far left)!
The Red gunners and panicked German HQ-types go at in close combat, lots of hair pulling, scratching with fingernails, swinging of purses, etc...
The German command team is put out of the fight!
Momentum carries the Reds straight into Captain Tausch and his men.
But this time the clerks, bakers, and candlestick makers are able to stand their ground, knocking out the Soviet unit!
At the Soviet main defensive position, the Komisar falls back to rally the suppressed and fleeing ATR team.
And they're back in the fight.
On the German far left, the KV-1 rolls forward as the Red Army rifle sqaud atop Hill 111 looks on.
The KV-1 spots 2nd MC Squad and cuts loose with its 76mm gun.
Panicking the German motorcycle soldiers.
In the center, SSgt Pichler continues hammering away with this 20mm autocannon, to no effect.
The Soviet Maxim machine gun team, dug-into a cornfield on the other side of the river (bottom right), fires on SSgt Pichler's armored car (top left), just trying to relieve some pressure on their comrades in the main defensive position (center left/top).
And they're successful, suppressing Pichler and his crew!
But Captain Wehner immediately scoots on up there to rally them.
And is successful.
Finally, one of the recce halftracks gets moving! The halftrack carrying 2nd Recce Squad shoots past Captain Tausch and his men (center), all the way up to the river (far right, from bottom left)!
The Red ATR team on Hill 113 (bottom right) spots them (top left) and fires.
The 14.5mm rounds go wide of the mark as the halftrack screeches to a halt and Cpl Uwe's squad dismounts, returning fire on the ATR team (top right).
And suppressing them!
Feeling froggy, the other recce halftrack, carrying 1st Recce Squad under Cpl Lurz, shoots forward, dodging enemy fire and burning vehicles before arriving near the Soviet main defensive position (top right, from bottom left)!
Cpl Lurz's squad dismounts...
And immediately comes under point-blank fire from the Soviet rifle squad still occupying their main defensive position (the Komisar and ATR team are just visible at top right)!
Panicking the recce troops!
Even Cpl Holdstaat decides it's time to get in the game, pushing his Stug up into a cornfield adjacent Captain Wehner and SSgt Pichler's vehicles (right center, from bottom left).
I really hate how it looks with troops on top of the cornfields, but having vehicles up there is even worse...
Once there, Holdstaat begins pumping 75mm HE rounds into the main defensive position.
The Soviet rifle squad there is quickly subdued (bottom left, with Cpl Lurz's panicked squad at top left), and the Komisar is suppressed (top right)!
On the German far left, the KV-1 cautiously pushes further up the road.
Where it (bottom left) promptly spots Cpl Holdstaat's Stug (top right) and fires on it!
The 76mm AP round easily penetrates the thin flank armor of the Stug and busts it wide open! The crew bales out, moving past the bodies of SSgt Dorn's 1st Motorcycle Squad. The shock of the explosion and realization there is a monster nearby is enough to suppress Captain Wehner and SSgt Pichler, as well...
The Soviet mortar team goes to work again...
But the rounds fall long, over Cpl Uwe's Recce Squad, their halftrack, and Captain Tausch, who has moved up to join them.
Across the bridge, the Soviet Commander falls back onto Hill 113 to rally the ATR team.
And they're good.
As the Komisar sets about rallying his command team.
But only manages to get 'up' to pinned.
And that's rolling two dice to rally, taking the better result!
On the German left, the enemy rifle squad on top of Hill 111 comes on down (bottom center, from bottom left), closing on 2nd Motorcyle Squad (top right).
Back on the right, Cpl Uwe's squad and its halftrack fire across the river at the Soviet MG team (top right).
Pinning them!
The Soviet beast (bottom left) spots the threat at the bridge (Cpl Uwe's squad/halftrack, top right) and fires on them.
Pinning the German recce troops.
Just as Captain Tausch had move left to help Captain Wehner and SSgt Pichler rally.
They're both good.
Pichler spots the threat from the northwest and swings his heavy armored car around (bottom left, from bottom right, with 2nd MC Squad at top right and Captain Wehner at bottom center) to engage the Commie rifle squad coming down Hill 111 (top center) while doing their best to stay away from the KV-1 (just off camera to top right).
Panicking the Soviet soldiers!
20mm auto-cannon rounds will do that to ya, I hear...
I think I cheated here: it looks like I let Cpl Lurz's halftrack move up to rally his panicked dismounted team, which shouldn't really work as they're the same unit...
Nevertheless, Cpl Lurz's squad is successfully rallied! ;)
And they push deeper into the cornfield, looking to close with the Komisar and his ATR team.
But the recently rallied Soviet ATR team atop Hill 113 (bottom right) spots them and opens fire!
The halftrack is knocked out and Cpl Lurz's squad is suppressed!
Captain Wehner now faces quite the conundrum: the Komisar and his ATR team are at top right, near Cpl Lurz's suppressed recce squad, while the KV-1 (far left) and two Soviet rifle squads (behind trees at top left and panicked at bottom right) are closing in on Cpl Steinmetz's panicked motorcycle troops (center left); he decides to help Steinmetz, pushing his command halftrack to them (from bottom right)...
The German battlefield commander moves up to rally his panicked motorcycle troops.
And they're good to go! Now someone needs to do something about that monster bearing down on them...
But first, Captain Wehner dismounts and leads Steinmetz's squad into melee with the panicked Soviet rifle squad from Hill 111.
And the Soviets are done for.
But the Soviet mortar team atop Hill 113 (bottom right) spots them (top left) and starts dropping rounds...
The 82mm HE rounds land right on target, knocking Cpl Steinmetz's motorcycle squad out, right under Captain Wehner's nose...
The KV-1 fires its machine guns and the squad atop Hill 112 fire on Captain Wehner's command team, but somehow completely miss!!!
Back on the Soviet left, the MG team fires on Cpl Uwe's squad and halftrack.
As the Soviet Commander (center) leaves the ATR position (bottom right), on his way to the MG position (top left).
The Hill 113 ATR team (bottom right) also fires on Cpl Uwe's halftrack (top left).
And the Soviet mortar team also targets them...
Mortars, machine guns, anti-tank rifles, NOTHING! Cpl Uwe and his halftrack are indestructible! ;)
Cpl Uwe, his men, and his halftrack resume firing on the Soviet machine gun position (top right).
Suppressing it and forcing it to fall back!!!
Cheated a little there; rolled multiple 6s on the Shock Dice with only one target unit, should simply result in a suppression, but since they were already pinned and it 's kind of like two separate units firing (the halftrack and the dismounts), I counted it as two suppressions, the second result forcing the unit to fall back.
Cpl Uwe's squad and halftrack (bottom left) now turn their fire on the ATR team atop Hill 113 (top right).
Suppressing them!
On the left, SSgt Pichler's 231 armored car fires on the Reds coming down Hill 112 (top right).
Suppressing them as well!
Things are looking up. Then there is a lull in the action as both sides reload, reorganize, rally, and begin maneuvering for advantage.
And then SSgt Pichler deftly maneuvers his armored car up onto Hill 111, into a defilade position (far left), out of sight of the beast.
As Captain Tausch sprints left (the KV-1 is off camera to top left), into contact with Cpl Lurz's suppressed rifle squad (right center).
They are rallied, and Captain Tausch sends them over to Hill 112 to take out the suppressed Soviet rifle squad there and, hopefully, get in behind the beast.
Captain Wehner and his dismounted command team are off camera to far left; the German recce squad and two command teams are attempting to create a noose and draw it around the KV-1's neck, as close assaulting the Soviet tank is their only hope of stopping it.
On the far right, Cpl Uwe's squad rallies.
And then his troops follow their halftrack up and across the bridge!
The Soviet Commander re-occupies the hut (center bottom) in preparation for some close combat, as his ATR team (top right) self rallies.
But they only get up to pinned.
On the far Soviet left, the Maxim MG team rallies...
And grabs their rifles and submachine guns in preparation for close combat.
Just north of the main defensive position, the Komisar self rallies.
Then moves up to the edge of the cornfield (bottom right), sending his ATR team circling round to the left (far left), looking to trap Captain Tausch's command team (center top).
On Hill 112, the suppressed enemy rifle squad there self rallies.
But again only gets up to pinned!
The KV-1 creeps forward (Captain Wehner's command team at far left, Captain Tausch's at far right, Cpl Lurz's squad at right center, the pinned Soviet rifle quad is behind the trees at center top).
The Soviet mortar team figures the KV-1 and supporting rifle squad can handle themselves against a German squad and two Command teams, so it opens fire on Cpl Uwe and his halftrack crossing the bridge.
But the rounds are short and Cpl Uwe's men and vehicle are unaffected!
And from his new perch on Hill 111, SSgt Pichler's armored car (bottom left) finally gets a fix on that damned Soviet mortar team (top right0 and brings them under fire.
Suppressing them!
The KV-1 moves up and fires on SSgt Pichler's armored car.
The Skfz 231 is knocked out and the crew bales.
A pretty expensive decoy, I suppose...
But it worked! With the KV-1's crew focused on locating and destroying SSgt Pichler's vehicle, Captain Tausch is able to lead his command team through the cornfield and onto the massive steel beast!!!
Pistol, submachine guns, hand grenades, and then a bundle of explosives are finally able to do the job!
While back on the right, Cpl Uwe's halftrack lights up the Soviet Commander with its MG-34, suppressing him...
As Cpl Uwe leads the dismounts into close combat!
Where the Soviet command team is knocked out!
While on the left, Cpl Lurz and his recce squad charge the pinned Soviet rifle squad there.
And knock them out!
As Captain Wehner and his command team break cover (center left, with Cpl Lurz's squad at top left and Captain Tausch's command teat at bottom right). "My Goodness, Tausch, great work knocking out that monster, I feared it would kill us all!"
"Yeah, me too," replied Captain Tausch before popping down on his behind in the middle of the street, exhausted...
But he had to hop right back up when the Soviet ATR team from the main defensive position crept to the edge of the cornfield and opened fire on them!
Back on the German right, the ATR team on Hill 113 fires on Cpl Uwe's halftrack.
Suppressing the halftrack (bottom left) and pinning the dismounts (right)!
Which is the perfect opportunity for the Soviet MG team-cum rifle team to pop out of the cornfield and charge Cpl Uwe's halftrack!
Knocking it out!!!
The Commies then set their sights on Cpl Uwe's troops in the hut and charge them, too!
But Cpl Uwe's recce team is able to fight them off, holding the hut!
In the center, the Komisar and his ATR team surrender to Cpl Lurz's recce squad and the two German command teams.
And the ATR team atop Hill 113 surrenders to Cpl Uwe's squad.
The Soviet mortar team quietly slips away.
Casualties for the opposing forces, Germans on left, Soviets on right.
The German losses were as follows:
-2nd Rifle Plt PC, 2nd Gren Company: Sergeant 1st Class Behrendt was lightly wounded and will return 1 Aug 1941. He is replaced by SSgt Kandler, whoc is coming over from 1st Platoon, 2nd Grenadiere Company.
-2nd Squad, 2nd Plt, 2nd Co: Cpl Rau was lightly wounded and will return 1 Aug 1941. He is replaced by Cpl Gotze.
-3rd Squad, 2nd Plt, 2nd Co: Cpl Torsten was not injured.
-1st Motorcycle Squad, 3rd Recce Plt: SSgt Dorn (IAB) was not injured.
-2nd Motorcycle Squad, 3rd Recce Plt: Cpl Steinmetz was not injured.
-3rd Recce Plt PC (Sdkfz 231): SSgt Pichler, twice previously wounded, holder of the Iron Cross 2nd Class, and veteran of Poland, France, and Greece, lost his left arm and both legs when his armored car was demolished by the KV-1. He is replaced by SSgt Dorn.
-V1, 3rd Recce Plt (Sdkfz 222): Sgt Visner, holder of the Iron Cross 2nd Class, veteran of France and Greece, was killed in action. He is not replaced as his vehicle (Sdkfz 222) was completely wrecked.
V2, 3rd Recce Plt (Sdkfz 222): Cpl Hamann was not injured.
V3, Assault Gun Platoon (Stug III): Cpl Holdtstaat was wounded and will return on 1 November 1941. He is not replaced as his vehicle was completely wrecked by the KV-1.
The Soviets lost:
-Commander
-4 rifle squads
-machine gun team
-anti-tank gun
And the Komisar and two anti-tank rifle teams surrendered.
And some decorations were handed out as well!
-Captain Tausch, commander of the 2nd Grenadiere Company, holder of the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, was awarded the Knights' Cross to the Iron Cross for repeatedly rallying friendly units under heavy enemy fire, for defeating an enemy unit in close combat, and then for close assaulting a Soviet heavy tank and knocking it out with point-blank small arms fire, hand grenades, and improvised explosives.
-Cpl Uwe, 2nd Recce Squad, seeing his first combat action, was promoted to Sergeant and awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class for his daring dash to the bridge when all other friendly units were preoccupied with the Soviet heavy tank. Cpl Uwe and his men then engaged a Soviet machine gun and drove them off, charged across the bridge under mortar fire, defeated the Soviet commander in close combat, defeated a Soviet counterattack in close combat, and captured an enemy anti-tank rifle team.
Wow, what a fight! I think the first few fights I worried too much about 'force morale,' but now we're seeing the more characteristic 'fights to the death' on the Eastern Front which, for me at least, really ratchets up the tension!
More to come!
V/R,
Jack
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