15-18 October (Axis)

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

15^th to 18th October 1941

Turn 5 (Axis)

Reinforcement DR = 5,4 (-1) so 1 FTR,  2 Pax, 1 Eq

Rebuilds: Bf 109; 6^th Motorised Infantry Reg’t and III/25 Panzer Bn 7^th PzD

Supply DR = 4,3 so 13 (+1) SP

Star’aya Russka

Both sides have stabilised and the Germans have ignored the Russian HQ still occupying Valday.  The only point of interest is that the “Totenkopf” division has started to move west towards the rail terminus.

Nelidivo-Sychevka-Vyazma

Alarmed at Soviet troops moving to the forests on the left flank of the railway east to Nelidovo, authority was given for a large expenditure of supply to ensure that no forward supply base could be established.  Should the Russians set up a wagon supply depot, it would allow cavalry to raid the length of the railway line. 

Two full infantry divisions moved into the woods and when in contact called in waves of Stukas.  The air attacks did not end until all the Russians were completely disorganised.  In fact, one attack was so successful that 45^th Cavalry Division simply disintegrated.  (The Luftwaffe’s effort was not without cost: some Stukas did not return to base).  123.ID’s assault destroyed 262^nd Strelkovaya and drove the surviving cavalry north.  In terms of casualties, 110.ID’s attack was less effective, but it achieved its objective.  The Russian wagon supply base was dispersed and its protecting infantry was pushed back with losses.  Had the cavalry survived the bombing, things may have gone differently.

With his intended supply base destroyed, the Russian commander faced another challenge.  SS cavalry units moved 30 miles east of Nelidovo, occupying the track used to carry ammunition and food to the forward units. 

The Russians directly in front of Sychevka, as the Germans hit those closer to Vyazma.  1^st Motorised Infantry, 1^st Panzer, supported by flammpanzers, shattered the Yaroslavl militia and continued on to destroy 220^th Strlekovaya before both German units pulled back as they had outrun their supply lines.   To the west, German foot soldiers slowly moved along the left bank of the Dnepr.

Spas Demyansk – Yukhnov – Sukhinichi

German troops pulled back from the fortification line south of Vyazma, probably fearing artillery barrages.  To the east a river assault by 71.ID near Yukhnov succeeded, though casualties were taken in pushing back a fortified area brigade and a divisional line.  10^th Panzer Division, which had been held in reserve, dashed forward and threw its entire weight against the disorganised retreating defenders.  The attack, though perfectly planned, was executed poorly (1,1 rolled on attack after failing to get surprise) and the only result was the loss of 10^th Kradschützen Bn.

As elsewhere, valuable panzer and motorised units pulled away from the enemy near Sukhinichi.   The Red Army artillery has proved too effective to risk small units being overwhelmed by hordes of infantry after a barrage has disrupted them.

Bryansk – Orel – L’Gov

Infantry once again blocked the rail corridor north-east from Bryansk: this time in force and sitting astride the road and track that is the last source of supplies to the city.  Similarly, although pulling back out of range of the Orel based artillery, the panzers ensured the road west was securely held.

1/22 Bn of 1^st Kavellerie Division did its part, riding to the outskirts of Fatezh to call in a strike by Heinkels that demoralised some of the lead Soviet units.  It may not survive the Russian fury.

A probing attack on L’Gov by 900^th Motorised Brigade “Lehr” was thrown back, though both sides took losses: the Wehrmacht losing 5^th Machine Gun Bn which led the attack, while the Russians lost 9^th Cavalry Division.

East of L’Gov, German cavalry took a severe beating as they tried to infantry from the Kursk road.  Twice battalions of cavalry charged the Russians hoping to overrun them and twice the Russians somehow got foreknowledge of the attack and annihilated the horsemen.  If it had been pulled of the cavalry would have been congratulated, as it was it was seen to simply fool-hardy.

Poltava – Dnepropetrovsk

German infantry moved along both sides of the Kolomak River, and several Soviet divisions left to hinder the advance could be cut off from Kharkov.  The Italo-German force from Dnepropetrovsk was not as impetuous but still threatened to isolate a few Russian units.

Zaporezh’e

14^th PzD and “Wiking” retreated to the city outskirts.  The number of Russians on the road towards Melitpol made was too much for the two German divisions, both of which had taken casualties recently.

The South

Although the bulk of the Rumanian-German force was now safely within supply range of Novaya Khakova the situation to the south was grim.  The plan to stop the Russians in their tracks failed at nearly every stage.  The Luftwaffe for once was the first to fail.  An expendable Rumanian mountain cavalry battalion volunteered to ride forward and direct the bombers but its bravery was in vain.  Seven separate bombing missions involving every bomber from Poltava south achieved nothing.  Admittedly one group was forced to abort after it was intercepted by fighters from the Crimea, but otherwise it was simply unable to hit its targets.

The lead attack also failed, as 190^th Assault Gun Bn retreated from the airbase to Chaplinka when it hit resistance as it tried to overrun the nearby 48^th Cavalry Division despite the failure of the bombers to affect the horsemen.   As a result of its failure, there was little chance to co-ordinate a strong attack on the column advancing from Novoalekseyevka.  132.ID, one of the few Axis units moving west,  destroyed the Rostov Militia cavalry 10 miloes east of Chaplinka.  The Augklärungsabteilung from LAH SS Division was crushed by 48^th Cavalry division in an attempt to derail the Russian advance.  Even the Soviet 130^th Tank Brigade, on low ammunition and out of supply, was able to survive an attack by 50.ID by withdrawing slightly east.  A very poor performance by the Axis army in the south, and one that could be costly in the future.

Supply:                   Axis rec’d = 14SP

                               Axis used = 20 SP

                                Soviet used = 1.2 SP

Dead Units

Axis                         2(3)4                      Rumanian Mountain Cavalry Bn

                                3(5)8                      Aufklärung Bn, LAH SS Division

                                2 x 4(4)4               Cavalry Bn II/1 and II/2, 1^st Kavellerie Division

                                5(5)2                      5^th MG Bn

                                4(5)8                      10^th Kradschützen Bn, 10^th PzD

Soviet                     6(1)4                      45^th Cavalry Division

                                8(4)5                      Rostov Militia Cavalry Division

                                12(2)2                   220^th and 262^nd Strelkovaya

                                11(1)1                   Yaroslavl Militia Division

                                7(3)4                      9^th Cavalry Division

Aircraft Losses

Axis                        Bomber                                1 Stuka step (Flak)

Soviet                     Nil