22-25 October 1941 (Axis)

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

22^nd to 25^th October 1941

Turn 7 (Axis)

Reinforcement DR = 5,3 (-1) so 1 Fighter and 2 Pax

Rebuilds:  900 “Lehr” Brigade

Supply DR = 5,3  = 13(+1) = 14 SP

A disastrous day for the Luftwaffe.  The policy of sweeping fighters from the forward Soviet airbases saw several Messerchmitt Bf 109 gesachwader destroyed in exchange for a group of decrepit Pe 2 bombers.  The bombers did even worse.  Only 2 of the first 10 bombing missions were effective and more Stukas and Heinkels were lost.

Starya Russka

With some rail capacity available, about half of “Totenkopf” Division was sent to Nelidovo.  Otherwise all still.

Nelidovo – Vyazma

Although tempted to harass the Russians retreating north from the ill-fated attempt to retake Nelifovo, supply was needed for more pressing targets.  Two infantry regiments of 6^th Panzer Division were able to eliminate 23^rd Strelkovaya near Olenino, but were forced to retreat.  An escape route for the Soviets is still open.

The Soviet airbase at Rzhev was shut down, with a group of Pe-2 bombers hit on the tarmac.  Vyazma was also attacked and closed, but at the cost of some Bf 109E fighters.

Near Sychevka, the failure of the Luftwaffe to disrupt the defenders did not deter the ground troops.   Although Stukas were again lost in attacking the fort lines, infantry worked their way around the fortifications.  58^th Strelkovaya was overrun by 81.ID and 23^rd Strelkovaya was mauled and pushed back in heavy fighting behind the defences.

Spas Demyasnk – Yukhnov – Bryansk

The captured airbase at near Spas Demyansk was doubled in size to create room for bomber geschwader.  Bringing these aircraft closer to the front should improve their performance which has been much criticised.  While the improvement was being carried out fighters from the existing base hit the Soviet airfields at Kalunga but were beaten off with losses.

North of Spas Demyansk infantry moved forward.  A single light tank brigade guarding an important bridge crossing was destroyed, even though it had the advantage of prepared defences.  A rifle division slightly east fared better, able to retreat when attacked by a whole division.

The town of Yukhnov finally fell to on the third assault.  The victory was emphatic and there were no survivors from 11^th Tank Brigade and the 64^th Fortified Region Brigade.  A worker brigade north of the town was also destroyed.

Having stockpiled a great deal of ammunition near Bryansk, several units were able to mount attacks.  Having been previously cut off, 17.ID was pleased to go on the offensive, pushing back the retreating garrison troops and destroying the Bryansk Infantry Regiment.  The main effort, however, was on the city itself and luck went the way of the attackers.  280^th Strelkovaya was torn to pieces by “Das Reich” and infantry support after they crossed the river defences.  400 tonnes of supplies were captured and an equal amount destroyed.    If that were not enough, an infantry regiment lunged south and hit 307^th Strelkovaya while it was in rapid transport formation: needless to say it was annihilated.

Poltava

No less than 6 missions were sent to bomb Krasnograd, and this huge effort achieved nothing.  A planned overrun by armoured units was called off, and a full scale assault took place.  Stiffened by the presence of NKVD troops, the Russians fought hard, wiping out the Italian 104^th Machine-gun Bn.  They paid a price however.  As the Axis units pulled back, it was only the NKVD who remained alive in the town.  (A worker brigade near the town had been slaughtered earlier.)

Zaporezh’e

Faced with the huge build-up to the south of the city, a large counterattack was organised at the eastern end of the line.  Although an entire division was used, it only served to push the Russians back a few miles.

Novaya Khakovka – Kherson

The Luftwaffe lost more Heinkels over the front lines, but did manage to disrupt a 10 mile stretch.  Not surprisingly, there were no attacks by the Axis, as the slower infantry units struggled to get into position after the long march west.

Supply                    Axis rec’d            14 SP

                                Axis used             16.3 SP

                                Soviet used        5 SP

Dead Units         

Axis                         4(4)3                      104^th Machine gun Bn (Italian)

Soviet                     3 x 4(0)2               Worker Brigades

                                3 x 12(2)2             23, 275, 280 Inf. Div

                                2 x 11(1)1             58, 307 Inf. Div

                                3(2)2                      Bryansk Infantry Reg’t

                                6(2)5                      11^th Tank Brigade

                                2(2)6                      5^th Lt Tank Brigade

                                5(0)1                      64^th UR Brigade

Air Losses

Luftwaffe                Fighter                    2 x Bf 109E steps

                                Bomber                   Ju 87 “Stuka” step  (Flak)

                                                                He 111 step (Flak)

VVS                        Bomber                      Pe-2 step