8-11 October (Axis)

Guderian’s Blitzkrieg II AAR (includes Enemy at the Gates and Case Blue)

8^th – 11^th October 1941

Turn 3 (Axis)

Replacement DR = 9 (-1) so FTR, 2 Pax, Eq

Rebuild 2^nd SS Infantry Regt, 1^st SS Div “Totenkopf”;  1/22 PzBn, 9^th Panzer Division; Me 109F

Supply DR = 7 so 13 (+1) SP

Star’aya Russka

German infantry divisions moved to keep up with the retreating Russians, but they were content to follow, not encourage, the retreat.

Nelidovo – Sychevka

The garrison of Zemtsy may have been abandoned by the Red Army, but they showed that they were not going to give in easily.  No less than four separate air mission were flown by the Luftwaffe, each of 2 geschwader, before reconnaissance by the adjacent 110.ID confirmed that the defenders’ resolve had been shaken.  That was the moment for which the waiting SS cavalry had been waiting.  The two regiments poured into the town, cutting down 243^rd Strelkovaya and clearing the town.  Hot on their heels were the rail engineers, bringing European gauge that much further east.

At Nelidovo, the Wehrmacht was not so successful.   With the Luftwaffe concentrating on Zemtsy, 252 Strelkovaya was not subjected to preliminary bombing.  Although the Russians were driven from the town, 900 “Lehr” Brigade was lost in the fighting.  No Soviet casualties were recorded.

Near Sychevka, results were better.  Elements of 14^th Motorised Infantry Division were able to find a way through the woods to assist 1^st Panzer Division, hanging on after the determined counter-attack.  Some Heinkels were shot down by flak but several enemy units were disrupted, including the Guards division.   The Germans ignored that target, however, and concentrated on the mobile units.  31^st Cavalry Division was overwhelmed by 129.ID, and 34^th Motor-cycle Bn was overrun by 1/1 Panzer Bn,1^st PzD.  The immediate threat to 1^st Panzer Division was removed, and 1^st Guards Motorised Division was trapped behind a ring of armour.

To the west, infantry and supply struggled up the track that was subject to interdiction by the VVS.  Progress was slow, though an infantry regiment did take Pussii, abandoned by the Red Army.

Vyazma – Spas Demyansk

While there was some interdiction on the road Sychevka, it was nothing compared to the number of missions flown around Spas Demysansk.  Traffic in the area was reduced to a crawl.  Nevertheless, the troops pushed east, leading to a huge bottleneck west of the town.  Some units reached the southernmost fortifications defending Vyazma, while others raced ahead to the road heading southwest to Bryansk.

The only combat in the area was an attack on the fortified village of Kirov, which led to the destruction of 217^th Strelkovaya.  13^th Motorised Infantry Reg’t, 5^th PzD and 226 Assault Gun Bn, victors of the battle, elected to stay in the area, protecting the road.

The one rifle division left holding the defence line barring the Smolensk-Moscow road was ignored: German infantry divisions simply marching around it on their way east.

Bryansk

North of Bryansk, German infantry filtered through the woods, nearly reaching Dyut-kovo.  “Das Reich”, was on the move again, pushing up the east bank of the Desna River.  43^rd Korps HQ also crossed the river, taking advantage of the forward supply base established by 13^th Korps HQ.

Orel – L’Gov

3^rd Panzer Division hurried north to support the survivors of the Russian attacks neat Orel.  Behind them stretched 30 miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic, all the way to Dimitriev-L’Govsky.  Both 17^th and 18^th PzD were moving east, and 1^st Kavallerie Division brought up the rear.  29^th Motorised stayed in the Seredinava Buda area, moving infantry up to support 191^st Assault Gun Bn.

Poltava

More Heinkels were lost west of Poltava, but the Luftwaffe achieved its purpose.  The northernmost Soviet divisions boxing in the retreating Germans were completely disorganised, and of the three tank concentrations poised to move west, two were crippled.  Leaving 275^th Flak Bn to hold the rear, the trapped infantry, still shaken by the artillery barrages, moved slowly to escape the encircling Russians.  Tempting though a local counter-attack seemed, restraint was shown to ensure no unnecessary casualties were suffered.

As the Germans east of Poltava pulled back, those approaching from Dnepropetrovsk were advancing.  The Russian line blocking the main road was located in a string of marshes, negating the armour of the Axis forces, so 16^th Panzer sent its lead units around to threaten the lines of communication.

Far to the northeast of Poltava, 9^th Panzer Division captured Sumy, the unfortunate 1042^nd Infantry Reg’t completely outclassed.

Dnepropetrovsk – Zaporezh’e

The buildings of Zaporezh’e protected the garrison from the Luftwaffe, several bombing missions having no effect.  The infantry regiment that had been deployed south on the city outskirts to keep the road south open was destroyed, but no other attacks were made on the city, though 14^th Panzer moved to the southeast, cutting several roads.

Around Dnepropetrovsk, the Axis was content to surround the Russian cavalry and motorised infantry that had made the risky drive to wipe out the Italian HQ.

Melitopol – Crimea

The slow withdrawal continued, as it was apparent that the Russian forces deployed in the area were too strong to counter-attack.   An infantry regiment arrived to assist the battered 22.ID, and a flak unit moved into a blocking position, but otherwise the road between Melitopol was clear.

The only good news was that rail conversion had reached Novaya Khakovka.

Supply:     Axis rec’d           14 SP

                Axis used             13.1 SP

                Soviet used          .2 SP

Dead Units

Axis                                         10(5)4 Motorised Regiment (900 “Lehr”)

Soviet                                     2 x 11(1)1 Infantry Division (217, 243)

                                                6(2)4 Cavalry Division (31)

                                                4(3)6 Motor-cycle Regiment (34)

                                                3(2)2 Infantry Regiment (1042)

Aircraft Losses

Axis                                        Fighters               Nil

                                               Bombers              2 x He111 steps (Flak)

Soviet                                      Nil

8-11 October 1941: Soviet

Guderian’s Blitzkrieg II AAR (includes Enemy at the Gates and Case Blue)

Ground conditions are automatically DRY.  Air conditions DR = 4,5 so NORMAL

Initiative DR:   Axis = 4,4        Soviet 5,6

After a suitable amount of pondering and wishes that this had been anticipated, Comrade Kuritsa decided the opportunity of a double move could not be declined.

 8th to 11th October1941

Turn 3 (Soviet)

Replacement DR = 9 (-1) so Ftr, 4 Pax, Eq

Rebuild 2^nd Separate Cavalry Bn, 3^rd Cavalry (5^th Cavalry Corps), 30^th HQ, I-16 fighters

Supply DR = 8 so 22 SP + 1 SP = 23 SP

Star’aya Russka

Soviet forces avoid battle and slowly march around the blocking German troops.

Nelidovo – Sychevka

The Soviets have decided to abandon any real attempt to hold Zemtsy and Nelidovo.  243 Strelkovaya is to garrison Zemtsy while 252 Strelkovaya holds Nelidovo.  Both are weakened through combat (and starvation) and are purely to slow the German advance, not to halt it.  As at Star’aya Russka, the retreating units decline battle as they move east, looping north as they head to Rzhev.  It seems that 900 “Lehr” Brigade, though a tempting target, would require too large an investment in time and force.

Many attempts to harass German road communications were made, but only one was successful.  German flak guns claimed a few Pe-2 bombers.

The Luftwaffe had more success: in its only foray a He 111 geschwader flew from near Poltava to strike 1^st Guards Motorised Division near Sychevka.  As a result, the planned massive series of attacks on 1^st Panzer Division was reduced to a single assault on the lead units, which saw 1^st Kradschützen Bn destroyed though the panzer grenadier regiment stood its ground.

Smolensk – Spas Demysansk

The orderly withdrawal towards Vyazma continued, as the Russians pulled out of Safonovo and Pussii.  Leaving a strong force to hold a river line 40 miles east of Vysazma, the bulk started to form a barrier 10 miles in front of the city.  To the south, defensive works have been constructed along the railway to Spas Demyansk.   The VVS played its part in giving the defenders time to prepare, flying many missions to harass German troop movements in that area.

Bryansk-Orel

As expected, the units blocking the road south from Orel to Bryansk came under heavy attack.  The presence of the tank battalions of 3^rd PzD saw the Russians commit a large force, hoping to cripple the panzer division by stripping it of its armoured spearhead.  The usual heavy artillery barrage caused confusion among the defenders, but the first attack, to the south, was a failure.  Although 543^rd Panzerjäger Bn was eliminated, the Soviets lost 9^th Tank Brigade.  The attack to the north was more successful, as 1/6 Panzer Bn was destroyed, but the StuGs stood firm, forcing the Russians to retreat.  The supply route south remained closed.

Poltava

For the Axis, things were bad east of Poltava, but they could have been even worse.  Luckily the Luftwaffe had held back a few aircraft and was able to hit a 10 mile stretch of the Russian front, throwing two tank brigades into turmoil.  A massive artillery barrage wiped out 525^th Panzerjäger Bn and severely damaged 76 and 297.ID.  Tanks then rolled over 4^th Korps HQ, left defenceless with the loss of the anti-tank unit.  76.ID was also destroyed in an attack but the Soviets lost 34^th Motorised Infantry Brigade.

Denpropetrovsk – Zaporezh’e

The Soviets again used raids over long distances to hit the Axis as they move east.  This time it was the Italians who suffered, as two divisions of the Donbas Cavalry Corps switched from blocking 16^th PzD to sweeping across the plains to overrun the headquarters of XXXV Corps.  General Messe was lucky to escape, and can thank the bravery of the gunners of the Voloire Artillery Regt of the D’Aosta Division who fell allowing the administration troops to retreat.  The makeshift infantry fought so well that half the attackers were killed and, although the battlefield was taken by the cavalry, the depleted force was unable to proceed with its plan to cut the supply road east.

Slightly to the west, 132^nd Motorised Infantry Brigade was repulsed by a security unit: 682^nd Police Brigade.  By good fortune, the Russian plan to cut off all the Axis troops east of the Dnepr was foiled.

Kherson railway – Melitopol – Arabatskaya Isthmus

The Russians finally unleashed the armour that had been accumulated north of Melitopol.  The Luftwaffe, depleted by all the calls on its aircraft, could only conduct one mission, but that group of Heinkels not only knocked out the best infantry unit in the area (38^th Strelkovaya) but also destroyed a number of I-16 fighters that intercepted them. 

This brave effort, however, could not stem the wave of Russians who first broke the thin divisional line set up by the German forces at the front.  The Soviets then massacred a Rumanian mountain brigade and swept the Rumanian Mountain Korps into oblivion.  There was nothing that could be done to stop their advance, but, perhaps fearing a counter-attack, the Russians did not expand their breakthrough.

To the south, the long awaited attack on 22.ID took place, and the elite unit performed as well as expected.  7^th Marine Brigade was destroyed in the attack, and 256^th Strelkovaya was badly damaged.  Still, the Germans were forced back, and the Russians in the Crimean peninsula have a chance to link up with those around Melitopol.

Supply      Soviet rec’d : 23 SP

                  Soviet used: 34.1 SP

                  German used: 6  SP

Dead Units

German:                  2 x 2(4)8 Panzerjäger Bn (525, 543)

                                6(5)8 1/6 Panzer Bn (3^rd PzD)

                                4(5)8 1 Kradschützen Bn (1^st PzD)

                                20(4)3 Infantry Division (76)

                                8-0 Korps HQ (40)

                                6-0 Rumanian HQ (Mountain)

                                6(3)3 Rumanian Mountain Brigade (1)

                                8(3)2 Voloire Artillery Regiment (D’Aosta Mot. Div)

Russian:                   7(3)4 49^th Cavalry Division (Donbas Cavalry Corps)

                                5(3)3 Motorised Infantry Brigade (34)

                                7(3)6 Tank Brigade (9)

                                4(3)3 Naval Brigade (7)

Aircraft Losses

Axis                         Nil

Soviet                      Fighter    I-16

                                Bomber  Pe-2 (Flak)

               

5th - 7th October 1941: Soviet

Guderian’s Blitzkrieg II AAR (includes Enemy at the Gates and Case Blue)

 5^th to 7^th October 1941

Turn 2 (Soviet)

Replacement DR = 4 (-1) so Nil (+1 Pax)

Supply DR = 6 so 22 SP + 1 SP = 23 SP

East of Star’aya Russka

Although temped to retaliate for the German attack, the Russians decided to continue their withdrawal.  The pullback from Klemtsy also continued.

Nelidovo

(You may notice the interdiction markers have changed again: we thought a Red Hammer and Sickle more appropriate than the Rising Sun, and it stands out just as well)

The failure of the attack led by 100^th “Lehr” Brigade allowed the bulk of the Soviet forces east of Nelidovo to evade the German s east of the town.  To assist the withdrawal, a large number of sorties were flown by the VVS to hinder Axis movement, but only two areas were affected.  German scouts reported that the tank unit in Pussi has been replaced by an infantry division.

West of Sychevka a presumed Soviet counter-attack was called off after a Luftwaffe strike severely rattled units to the north of 1^st PzD.

Smolensk

The 15 mile long of defence installations blocking the Smolensk-Moscow highway at Yaretsovo remained manned, but on both sides of the rail-road corridor Soviet forces moved east, some at speed.  A defence line was formed at Safanovo, but the main concentration is in the Vyazma area.

Once again, air interdiction was heavy.  Messerschmitts based at Spas Demyansk destroyed a group of Il-2 bombers and some of their escorting Yak-1 fighters, but could not prevent several roads being affected.

Bryansk

Near Bryansk, 299^th Strelkovaya, cut off from its headquarters, vanished into the swamps.  Sources indicate that it will reappear in about three weeks.

Orel-L’Gov-Belopol’ye

As expected, the small group of Germans sitting astride the Orel-Bryansk road and rail link was hit by a counter-attack.  Luckily Generalleutnant Breith, commander of 3^rd PzD, had held his panzers in reserve near Kromy, and was able to rush them into action.  As a result, the Soviet assault on the panzerjäger battalion was repulsed, with 3^rd Kaveleriy Division, 5^th Cavalry Corps, destroyed in the fighting.

The determined 191^st Assault Gun Bn was also saved: German bombers were able to strike a marshalling area near the vital bridge guarded by the StuGs and a planned attack was abandoned.

The Soviets were buoyed by the news that 20^th Motorcycle Regiment, trapped in the German rear after its raid on 10^th Motorised Division, had escaped.  How it managed to get fuel for its vehicles is unknown, but word is it should be available for deployment by the end of the month.

Reconnaissance revealed a Soviet build-up in the Kursk area, but it is not known if this is defensive or whether a counter-offensive is being readied.

Some minor harassment of vehicles by Soviet aircraft was reported, but after several TB-3 long range bombers were shot down by flak the other bombers had little success.

Poltava

1^st Panzer Group suffered another setback when an artillery barrage destroyed 279^th Anti-aircraft Battalion.  What was worse was that this left 44^th Corps HQ with no support and it was crushed without much trouble by a large combined arms force (2 infantry divisions with support from 2 tank brigades).  100 tonnes of supply was captured and an equivalent amount was blown up.  132^nd Tank Brigade surged forward to destroy a nearby artillery group, but pulled back to safety after the battle.

A strong group moved south to stand in the way of 16^th PzD, with cavalry of the Donbas Group moved from Pavlograd to occupy the swamps north of the road to Dnepropetrovsk.

Zaporezh’e and Melitopol

In a daring display of speed, a motorised infantry regiment raced from east of Poltava across more than 50 miles of unoccupied plains to the main Poltava-Dnepropetrovsk highway.  There it overran 52^nd Corps HQ that was in transit.  The Germans had believed that no troops capable of such a long range mission were in the area.  The lesson was painful, and not assuaged by the news that 1^st Motorised Regiment had perished from lack of food and fuel.  Apart from that one sign of aggression, the Soviets were content to carry on the build up of troops in the Melitopol area, though a cavalry division did move north to re-open the road to Zaporezh’e.

On the Axis side, however, 14^th PzD fuelled up and moved east of Dnepropetrovsk, preparig for action.

Supply:           Soviet rec’d 23 SP

                        Soviet used 25 SP

                        Axis used: 2 SP

Dead Units

Axis:     2 x 8-0 Corps HQ (44, 52)

             26(2)2 Artillery Group

             7(4)3 Anti-air craft battalion (279)

Soviet:  3(2)3 Motorised Infantry Regiment (1)

             7(3)4 Cavalry Division (3/5^th Cavalry Corps)

Air losses

Axis:     Nil

Soviet: Fighters           Yak-1

            Bombers          Il-2

                                    TB-3 (Flak)

5-7 October 1941: Axis

Guderian’s Blitzkrieg II AAR (includes Enemy at the Gates and Case Blue)

 5th to 7th October1941

Ground conditions are automatically Dry.  Air DR = 5,4 so air conditions are normal

The Axis player elects to go first.

Turn 2 (Axis)

Replacement DR = 3(-1) so lose 1 Truck  (taken from Kherson/Crimea area.

Supply DR = 7 so 13 SP + 1 SP = 14 SP.

Fresh troops arriving from Germany for Unternehmen Taifun were spread over the whole front.  296.ID was sent to Velikiye Luki, 95.ID  to Smolensk and 45.ID to Konotop.

Two more infantry divisions and 58^th Korps HQ arrived from the west for 1^st Panzer Army, as well as another security division from Hungary.  All headed for Dnepropetrovsk.

In the far south, 170.ID marched east.  It had a long way to go, with rail conversion still more than 100 miles from the front.  

Stara’ya Russka

(Apologies yet again: Russian move already completed)

Taking advantage of the Soviet withdrawal, “Totenkopf” pushed up the connecting track to the Valda highway.  After the Luftwaffe terrorised 202^nd Strelkovaya, an SS Kradschutzen Bn overran the Russians, destroying the rifle division but forced to pull back itself.  The follow-up saw the crack 26^th Strelkovaya severely damaged and driven back by a 253.ID assisted by an Aufklärungs battalion from “Totenkopf” and 600^th Assault Gun Bn.

To the south, rail conversion moved east reaching Zapadnaya Dvina, recently abandoned by the Russians.  256.ID was not content to see the Ivans retreat and tried to encourage them further but was fought to a standstill by 174 Strelkovaya, both sides taking casualties.

Nelidovo/Sychevka

An attempt to drive the trapped Russians away from their own lines was unsuccessful, though no losses were sustained.   100^th “Lehr” Brigade with 11^th (14^th Mtr Div) and 4^th (6^th PzD) Motorised Infantry Regiments retreated after a very poor performance against 50^th Cavalry Div, Dovator Group and an unknown support unit (believed to be a HQ).  100^th Lehr remained in position on the track to Sychevka.

South of Sychevka, 113^th Panzer Grenadier Regt (1^st PzD) overran a divisional line, but was not able to occupy the area as supply could not be provided so far east: Russian air interdiction was affecting narrow paths through the forest that were the only route east.  An attack by tanks of 1/1 Bn, 1^st PzD, broke another divisional line to the west, but it could not take advantage of this as it had to return for repairs.  Nevertheless, the losses did weaken the Russian infantry divisions.

East of Smolensk

The north and east of Smolensk, German forces pulled back, unwilling to suffer further artillery bombardment.  To the southeast of the city, 177^th Assault Gun Bn showed what armour can do against demoralised infantry, overrunning 4 rifle divisions and destroying both 303^rd and 139^th Divisions.  Two other StuG battalions that were ready to assist moved towards Spas Demyansk.

Spas Demysansk

 

 

With the road to Spas Demyansk was already congested, the operations of Russian aircraft around the town a real concern.  To add to the traffic jams near at the town, large numbers of units were arriving up the track from the Roslavl area.  Unable to use its full manoeuvrability, 5^th Panzer carried out a standard assault, taking the town and its garrison, 60^th Strelkovaya.  Unfortunately 11/31 Pz Bn was lost in the fighting.  The real cost to the Germans, however, was the delay caused by the combination of air and ground hindrances.  There was some good news for the transport crews: a rail engineer battalion reached Yeln’ya, allowing it to be used as a forward supply centre.  And Messerschmitts were already landing at the newly captured airbase, ready for the return of harassing bombers.

Bryansk

German units advanced slowly, but were reluctant to give battle, perhaps wary as a result of the lesson handed out to “Das Reich” previously.

Seredinava Buda – L’Gov – Belopol’ye

Having survived the Russian attack, 191^st Assault Gun Bn may have expected to be relieved.  It was not so lucky.  Supply was sent to replace the internal stocks used, but it was asked to hold just a little longer.    1^st Cavalry Division, that could have assisted, was instead directed south east.

Guderian’s main concerns were far to the east and to the south.  The disruption caused by VVS bombers to the troops packed into Dimitirev-L’Govskiy slowed the drive on Orel, and only an assault gun and a panzerjäger battalion could be spared to travel north from Kromy to block the major road west from Orel.   There was better news from Belopol’ye: a rail conversion team pushed European guage to the town allowing supply to be railed in.  Then, after a series of bombing raids, 243^rd Assault Gun Bn overran 129^th Tank Brigade and then 43^rd Cavalry Division.  Not to be outdone, “Groß Deutschland” made short work of 293^rd Strelkovaya to the south of the town.   The Russian blockade was shattered.

Poltava – Dnepropetrovsk

 

 

To the north of Poltava, a defence line was assembled along the Vorskla River.  To the east, the front line troops withdrew behind the nearby river.

16^th Pzd was given additional supplies to allow it to drive north.  15^th and 230^th Strelkovaya disintegrated on impact, but 393^rd put up a fight before it too was destroyed.  Thousands of Italian troops surged north to link up with the armoured spearhead.  A mixed force of Hungarians, Italian cavalry and SS “Wiking” Motorised Division raced south, enveloping the city and garrison of Zaporezh’e.

Melitopol and Crimea

Cautious of the Soviet build up in the Melitopol area and conscious that few reinforcements or supply could be expected as Unternehmen Taifun raged to the north, the Rumanian and German forces withdrew slightly.  An infantry regiment was detached and sent to aid 22.ID as it blocked access to and from the Arabatskaya Isthmus.

Rail conversion reached Novaya Mayachka.

Supply: Axis rec’d 14 SPs

            Axis used 14.3 SPs

            Soviet used 3 SPs

Dead units

Axis:     5^th Panzer Division      5(5)8 11/31 Pz Bn

            Truck                           (Recalled)

Soviet  6(2)5 Tank Battalion(129)

            2(1)4 Cav Division  (43)

            10(0)1 Infantry Division

            2 x 11(1)1 Infantry Division (303, 393)

            5 x 12(2)2 Infantry Division (15, 60, 202, 230, 293)

Air Losses: No air losses either side

1-4 October: Soviet

Guderian’s Blitzkrieg II AAR (includes Enemy at the Gates and Case Blue)

 1^st to 4th October 1941

Turn 1 (Soviet)

Replacement DR = 5 (-1) so Nil (+1 Pax)

Supply DR = 7 so 22 SP + 1 SP = 23 SP

Many Russian units found themselves without access to supply, but nearly all were able to draw what was needed from local supply dumps.  Of those without access to any supply, only one tank unit surrendered, while two infantry divisions were able to breakout.

4 tank brigades became available, as well as 2 motorised infantry brigades.  It is thought all were deployed through Moscow, taking advantage of the major rail network.  In fact, so many troops were moved by rail that there was no rolling stock available to transport fuel and ammunition in the north.

Star’ya Russka

Large numbers of Russian troops were observed heading east, many of them moving at maximum speed.  Those remaining pulled back several miles from the German forces

To the south, Zapadnaya Dvina was evacuated.

Nelidovo

(The "Rising Sun" counters used for air-interdiction are not the ones provided in the game.  We found we needed something that stood out and the "Train-busting" counters blended into the background too well.  The numbers on the counters don't have any significance.)


Soviet forces withdrew north behind the Mezha River to protect Nelidivo.  Other units ranged themselves in prepared fortifications to the west of Rzhev.  Not all movement was defensive: at least one tank unit advanced to Pussii, threatening the slender Axis line snaking east through the woods towards Sychevka.

More obvious was the presence of scores of Soviet aircraft harassing roads in the area, slowing the Axis advance.  A fighter sweep of Rzhev airbase destroyed a few I.16s but none of the bombers in the area were hit by flak.

The unfortunate 242^nd Strelkovaya, half its men dead from the Stuka attack, faded into the woods.  It successfully escaped east and the remnants should be reformed by 22^nd October.

East of Smolensk-Roslavl

To the south of the railway, a Russian rifle division moved into the swamps, possibly considering an advance towards Smolensk.  Further north, a major assault (including a preliminary barrage) broke a divisional line, but the Soviet infantry involved were unable to advance.   143 Tank Brigade was released from reserve and passed through the gap to attack a large group of artillery in the German rear, but this too had mixed results.  An artillery group was destroyed, but the rest escaped, and the Russian tanks were forced to withdraw.

With the railway southwest through Yeln’ya cut by German motorcyclists, a large group of infantry divisions slowly started to retreat north, heading for the Moscow-Smolensk highway.  Tanks and motorised infantry made swifter progress.

Further south, 145^th Tank Brigade, cut off from fuel and ammunition, surrendered.  The nearby 211^th Strelkovaya, however, split up and vanished in the forest, heading east.  It will be nearly a month before they can rejoin the fight.

More long-range bombers hit roads south of Spas Demyansk, concentrating on making German overruns unlikely.

West of Bryansk

Southwest of the city the Soviets were in full retreat.  As far as can be determined, the objective is to reach the Desna River and hold the bridges.

Seredivinava Buda to L’Gov

Several Bf109F fighters were lost to defending Soviet aircraft over Vyazma, but some Heinkels were able, nevertheless, to break up infantry massing for an attack on the assault guns guarding the bridge northwest of Seredinava Buda.  The Soviets, however, were desperate to re-open a route that not only promised supply but also escape, and launched the attack anyway.  Fortified by the Luftwaffe’s assistance, the StuGs caught the attackers by surprise, destroying 141^st Tank Brigade.

Further south, 293^rd Strelkovaya overran 400^th Artillery Bn, using its internal stocks of ammunition to do so.  A column of other units then created a safe supply route for the beleaguered defenders of Belepol’ye.  What was disastrous for the Germans was that one of these units was a motorcycle unit held in reserve: after reaching the Belopol’ye area it then launched a long-range thrust into the German rear, reaching the newly arrived units of 10^th Motorised as they were strung out along the road, defenceless.  In the ensuing slaughter, 10^th Motorised lost its artillery battalion and an infantry regiment.  It was little consolation that the Russians were out of fuel and likely to die of starvation.

There was further bad news for General Guderian.  Russian pilots braved the anti-air defences of the airbase at Dimitriev-L’Govskiy, and threw most of 7^th PzD into turmoil.  They will not be able to move far in the next few days.

West of Poltava to Dnepropetrovsk

The Russians manoeuvred as if to mount an assault on the southern end of the line in front of Poltava.  German reserves were sent forward and the Luftwaffe bombed one area with some success.  In the end, no attack was launched but there was no joy at 1^st Panzer Group Army HQ: General von Kleist was informed that a battalion of assault guns sent forward to bolster the defence was hit by Soviet artillery and destroyed.

Stavka appears to have abandoned Dnepropetrovsk, all units having pulled away from the area of the Axis breakthrough.  Cavalry were seen concentrating in the Pavlograd area, however, indicating that fighting may not yet be over.

More disruption to road movement was caused by Soviet aircraft.  It is believed that one formation of Pe-8 bombers travelled hundreds of miles from Serpukhov to Dnepropetrovsk to complete its mission.

Melitopol and the Crimea

Despite the threats of immediate action in the south, the Soviets were content to bring up more troops.  Long range bombers targeted the wagon track west from Kherson, slowing progress considerably.  Flak units from “Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler” did shoot down some TB-3s, the first success against interdicting aircraft.

At the northern end of the Arabatskaya peninsula, 22.ID also congratulated its anti-air gunners after they destroyed half the Il-2s attempting to soften them up for a ground attack, a ground attack that as a result never came.

Supply: Soviet rec’d 23 SP

            Soviet used 21.2 SP

            Axis used 0.2 SP

Dead Units

Axis:     10^th Motorised Division           8(4)3 41^st Mot Inf Regt, 20(3)3 Mot Art Regt

            7(3)3 Artillery Bn (400)

            26(2)2 Artillery Group

Soviet: 5(1)5 Tank Brigade (141)        Surrender

            3(2)5 Tank Brigade (145)

Aircraft losses

Axis      Fighters         Bf 109F            1 step

            Bombers        Nil

Soviet  Fighters           I.16                  1 step

           

            Bombers         Il-2                   1 step (Flak)

                                   TB-3                 1 step (Flak)