1-4 November 1941 (Axis)

Guderians’s Blitzkrieg II (including Enemy at the Gates and Case Blue)

1^st to 4^th November1941

Turn 10 (Axis)

Reinforcement DR = 4,1 (-1) so Nil

Supply DR = 6,4  = 15(+1) = 16 SP

Valday – Toropets – Rzhev

Ignoring the presence of Russians at Velikiye Luki, the Germans in the Toropets area struck at the tenuous Soviet supply lines.  252.ID overran the infantry holding the railway line east to Andreapol.  The “Tula” Infantry Brigade was destroyed and a rifle division retreated with losses.  A subsequent attack destroyed a rail gun and drove a Soviet HQ towards the rear.

The Dovator cavalry held off a spirited attack, destroying the 53^rd Aufklärung Bn, 3^rd Motorised Division.  This used the last of the cavalry’s internal stocks of food and ammunition and left it vulnerable.

The VVS reacted strongly to the incursion of the Luftwaffe near Rzhev, but it cost them dearly.  Some newly arrived P-40s as well as some elderly I-16s were lost but they did shoot down some of the precious Messerschmitts. 

Vyazma

Unfortunately the bombers did not perform as well.  The failure of the bombers led to a disaster on the ground.  Leading an assault on 1^st Guards Infantry Division which blocked the direct route to Vyazma, 101^st Flammpanzer Bn was destroyed.

Things went a bit more smoothly to the west, as the last fort of the north sector of Vyazma line was captured by German infantry.  There were no survivors from 151^st Strelkovaya.

An attempt to catch a powerful Soviet tank brigade in the open failed when the Russians surprised the attackers and drove them back.  Again, there was better luck when attacking the fort line and the southernmost fort was captured.  As in the north, there were no survivors.

Axis units started to pull back from Yukhnov, cheered at the sight of Soviet fighters being shot down over the airbase.

Bryansk

The column of Ivans pushing slowly east was disrupted when 855th Infantry Brigade was annihilated by a surprise river crossing.  Even more devastating, 283.ID attacked the supply depot on the far bank of the river and not only destroyed the defending 283^rd Strelkovaya but also captured 400 tonnes of supplies.  The headquarters of 5^th Army was able to escape, but for how long?

Some Axis units were also seen to have started moving towards Kursk.

Poltava

There was some movement in the three mobile divisions near Belgograd, and indications that the troops around Poltava were again heading east.

Zaporezh’e

Preparations for an attack due south of the city were cancelled when a massive Soviet artillery barrage disrupted the units in their staging area.

Kherson

The arrival of some Romanian infantry, while welcome, did not alter the stalemate.

Supply     Axis rec’d            16 SP

                 Axis used             14.1 SP

                 Soviet used        5.1 SP

Dead units

Axis         3(5)8                      53^rd Aufklärungs Bn, 3^rd Motorised Infantry Division

                7(5)7                      101^st Flammpanzer Bn

Soviet      3(2)2                      “Tula” and 855^th Infantry Brigade

                12(2)2                   152^nd and 283^rd Strelkovaya

                 11(1)1                   33^rd Strelkovaya

                 6(0)                        Rail Gun

Aircraft Losses

Axis        Fighter                  Messerschmitt Bf 109E step

Soviet    Fighter                   P-40 step

                                             I-16 step

                                             Yak 1 step