29 - 30 November 1941 (Axis)

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

29^th to 30^th November 1941

Turn 18 (Axis)

Replacement DR = 3,3 (-1) so 1 Pax

Attrition DR = 6,2 (+1) so – 2Pax, -1 Eq

Supply DR = 3,3 so 13 (+1) SP

 

With the whole of the north in danger, trucks raced to set up a road connection between the Zemtsy – Nelidovo rail line and the Bryansk line.  This was achieved by setting up an interim depot at Spas Demysansk.  From here, other truck and wagon depots were enough to keep the north in trace supply.  Getting ammunition to them would be much harder.

Zemtsy

All the Germans could in the Zemtsy area was adjust their defensive line.  Lack of supply made any offensive action expensive: units would have to use internal stocks which would be expensive to replace.

 

Sychevka

 

To the troops cut off near Sychevka, there was no option but to try to break out using their one supply stores.  Some degree of success was achieved, as a Soviet rifle division, a tank battalion and a cavalry division were destroyed in the area. But the trapped units were still trapped, and the tanks were virtually defenceless.

 

Smolensk

 

All available fuel, ammunition and transport was made available to units in the Spas Demyansk area.  11^th and 20^th Panzer Divisions with nearly a dozen independent mobile units raced towards Smolensk.  In a critical attack, 9^th Tank battalion was overrun, allowing units to contact the other Russians close to Smolensk.  All were destroyed in combat., for the cost of one German unit.  The threat to Smolensk was over, at least for now.  To slow down any attempt to move more troops up, German aircraft flew interdiction over the track north to Staryy Torpopets.

 

Vyazma – Spas Demyansk

 

An attack on the fortified line south of Vyazma was partially successful, with a rifle division destroyed and a fort captured.  Unfortunately a tank battalion was lost in the attack.

Brysansk – Zaporezh’e

Very little movement: supply preference to the endangered north meant little was available for the south.  Some excess wagons were railed north.

Kherson

Some adjustments were made to the defence line following the abortive Russian attacks

 

 

 Supply          Axis  rec’d                 14 SP

                        Axis used                   15.5 SP

                        Soviet used              3.1 SP

 

Dead Units

Axis                 6(5)8                          II/27 Tank Bn, 19^th Panzer

                        4(5)8                          92^nd Aufklärung Bn, 20^th Panzer

Soviet             2 x 12(2)2                 8^th, 239^th Strelkovaya

                        2 x 7(3)6                   9^th, 28^th Tank Brigades

                        6(2)5                          20^th Tank Brigade

                        7(3)4                          3^rd Division, 5^th Cavalry Corps

Position maps for end of November 1941

North

 

South

Crimea