26-28 October (Axis)

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

26^th to 28^th October 1941

Turn 8 (Axis)

Reinforcement DR = 5,1 (-1) so 1 Pax

Supply DR = 5,5  = 15(+1) = 16 SP

Star’ya Russka – Nelidovo

The remaining units of “Totenkopf” railed to Nelidovo.  The long column that has existed for weeks along the road east through the rail depot has started to split, with half moving east towards Rzhev and the remainder heading to deal with the massive build up at Andreapol.

Rzhev – Vyazma – Yukhnov

The slow but steady advance south-west of Sychevka continued as artillery from 14^th Motorised shocked the Russians holding the most northerly fort.  The subsequent assault was incredibly successful.  An elite regiment was destroyed, and a rifle division took losses before it fled.

On the other side of Vyazma, things went just as well.  A combined 19^th and 20^th PzD armoured attack saw 251^st Strelkovaya disintegrate allowing the infantry and armour to exploit the breakthrough.

The short-lived supply crisis for the Yuhknov area was ended when a German infantry division overran the position.  The presence of a detached regiment behind the defending cavalry forced the Russians to retreat away from safety.

With supply restored, II/7 Panzer Bn, 10^th PzD was able to destroy a railway repair unit and then inflict casualties on 160(ii) Rifle Division before pulling back to relative safety.

Sukhinichi – Bryansk – Orel

The infantry near Sukhinichi pulled back slightly: there is not enough supply to allow offensive action and the forward position was too vulnerable to counter-attack.

287^th Strelkovaya was successfully overrun east of Bryansk as the struggle to eliminate the trapped Red Army units continued.   Even the perfect ground conditions were not enough to allow rapid movement through the network of streams, woods and swamps near the city.

Kursk – Belgograd

There was not a uninterrupted series of victories.  A probing attack west of Kursk cost the Axis a Pionier Bn when the attack was easily repulsed.

On the other hand, “Gross Deutschchland” Infantry Regiment and 119^th Motorised Infantry (27^th Mot. Div) completely outclassed 3^rd Airborne Brigade south of Belgograd.  The attackers wisely pulled back.  The huge Khark’ov garrison has sent considerable forces north.

Poltava - Dnepropetrovsk – Zaporezh’e

Another attack on Krasnograd was a bitter fight to the death.  Spurred on by the NKVD, the men of 7^th Tank Brigade fought hard from behind the fortifications, and 94.ID, already at half strength, was completely destroyed.  The attack was beaten off, but once again the NKVD was left by itself: 7^th Tank Brigade had ceased to exist.

Precious fuel was provided to the Italians who were able to move most of their forces to the south, to support the defence of Zaporezh’e.  The Soviets have been heard claiming the city is as good as recaptured already.

Novaya Kerkhova – Kherson

The Axis could not defend the extended front line and have pulled back further.  Will they be able to hold the final river before falling back behind the Dneipr?

Supply:                   Axis rec’d                            16 SP

                                Axis used                             13.3 SP

                                Soviet used                        2.1 SP

Dead units

Axis                         2(5)4                                      43^rd Pionier Bn

                                20(4)3                                   94.ID

Soviet                      11(1)1                                   287^th Strelkovaya

                                12(2)2                                   251^st Strelkovaya

                                5(3)3                                      3^rd Airborne Brigade

        (1)(0)3                                  Railway Repair Bn

                                5(1)5                                      7^th Tank Brigade

Air losses             Nil (no air operations)