12 14 November 1941 (Axis)

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

 

12^th to 14^th November1941

 

Turn 13 (Axis)

Reinforcement DR = 6,1 (-1) so one Pax

Supply DR = 4,1 so 11 (+1) SP

Toropets

 

With the loss of 10^th Armeekorps HQ, many of the units west of Toropets were out of supply range.  They all had to urgently pull back to Toropets itself or to the neighbouring Staryy Torpopets.  This was the limit of the control area of 41^st Panzerkorps.  To the west, there is nothing to prevent the Russians from advancing – nothing bar the Soviets own supply problems.

 

Rzhev

 

The Axis attempt to cut the Soviet supply line at Peno has failed.  The ability of the Russians to rail reinforcements to the area and the tenuous supply links of the German attackers combined to doom the mission.  The exhausted survivors made it back to Selizharvso, where an attack was mounted on the infantry unit in column outside the town.  To underline the Soviet success, the Ivans surprised the attackers and 26.ID was forced back having lost a regiment.

In front of the Rzhev, the threatening Soviet forces were forced back but at the cost of 36^th Kradschützen, 36.ID (mot) which was hit by defensive artillery.

The centre fort of the line in front of Seychevka was stormed, though some of the last Dornier bombers in the Luftwaffe were lost in a preliminary bombing attack.  402^nd Strelkovaya was obliterated.

 

Orel – Kursk

 

Strong Soviet forces prevent any action in the Orel area, while Kursk is surrounded.

Kharkov

 

Although no combat had taken place for some days, a slow advance by significant Soviet armour and infantry had cut off the lead units of 9^th Panzer.  With priority for supply being given to the north, the push for Khark’ov has been suspended and the troops ordered to pull back.  In a coordinated attack, the trapped units and the relief forces eliminated 3^rd Tank Brigade which blocked the way.  Low on supply, the tank units moved 8 kilometres closer to safety.

 

Denpropetrovesk – Zaporezh’e

 

East of the city, near Vasikovska, the Axis units pulled back, shocked by the destruction of the Czechs a few days earlier.  More importantly, all available troops are being diverted west to meet the threat from the Soviet Dneipr bridgehead.

Supply has also been sent west, and allowed several artillery barrages on the Russian headquarters on the south side of the river.  Both were hit, and though no losses were recorded, the temporary bridges that supplied the Soviets who had crossed the river were put out of use.

Supply                       Axis rec’d                  12 SP

                                    Axis used                  10 SP

 

                                    Soviet used              2.1 SP

 

Dead Units

Axis                             4(5)8                          36^th Kradschützen, 36^th Mot.Div

 

Soviet                         11(1)1                       402^nd Strelkovaya

                                    6(2)5                          3^rd Tank Brigade