19-21 October 1941 (Axis)

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

19^th to 21^st October 1941

Turn 6 (Axis)

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

Rebuilds: Pax placed on map

Supply DR = 1,4 = 13(+1) = 14 SP

The mud has led to a very quiet period for the Axis: not because it affected the mobility of the combat units (though that was true to a slight extent) but more because it proved impossible to move sufficient supplies up the tracks and paths that served as roads.  While the rail engineers had performed wonders moving European gauge east, lack of locomotives and rolling stock mean that the railways could not substitute.

As a result, in many areas the front line stayed immobile.  OKH took the opportunity to release maps of the entire combat zone, in addition to the local maps issued to date.

The North

The South 

Star’aya Russka

Infantry moved east, while “Totenkopf” extracted itself from the front lines and moved west.

Andreapov was evacuated by the Wehrmacht.  As the German infantry set up a defence behind the Western Dvina River a Russian rifle division that had been in reserve also crossed the river and threatened the left flank of the new position.

Nelidovo – Sychevka – Vyazma

Waves of Dorniers and Heinkels struck around Nelidovo but with little success.  In fact, several of the “Flying Pencils” were lost to flak.  Nevertheless 161.ID overran 246^th Strelkovaya clearing the railway north of the town.   A little to the west, a Russian rifle division lost heavily as it withdrew with an accompanying artillery unit.  But the way is clear for the rail engineers to move forward.

In the Sychevka area, the Luftwaffe had more luck, Stukas wiping out 140 Strelkovaya.   There were no attacks as forward units slowly pulled back while a few units edged south.

Directly east of Smolensk, German infantry oozed around the first line of defences but here too no attacks were made.

Yukhnov – Bryansk

Another attack was made on Yukhnov but with only slightly better results than before.  8^th+ 9^th Motorcycle Battalion was destroyed but the other defenders remained.   Hopes of a quick breakthrough faded.

North of Bryansk the Germans finally acted to stop the flight of troops from the city.  The two infantry divisions blocking the route to Sukhinichi had to move to access supplies, but two attacks from the west eliminated 29^th Infantry Regiment.  Unfortunately it was not without cost, as the first attack (which failed) cost “Das Reich” the Langemarck Motorised Infantry Regiment.   167.ID was able to revenge the deaths of the SS troopers.

Orel – Kursk

Most of Guderian’s forces halted, and in fact some pulled back out of artillery range.  The only exception was around L’Gov.  The Luftwaffe again failed, but the infantry stormed the city regardless.  900 “Lehr” was knocked out of action for the second time, but the Russians were forced out of their redoubt.  They took losses, but as they were still in good order despite the bombing, 160 Strelkovaya survived.

Poltava

III/2 Panzer Bn, 16^th PzD, cut 255^th Strlekovaya to pieces on the open ground in front of Kirovgrad.  The town is now cut off.  Otherwise the Wehrmacht and the Italian and Czech allies moved cautiously towards Kharkov.

Dnepetropetrovsk – Zaporezh’e

South of Zaporezh’e a sharp counter-attack claimed 21^st Motorcycle Bn.  That was the only offensive move, however, as the mobile units backed away from the mass of Russian tanks and infantry moving north from Melitopol.

“The South”

After brief consideration, offensive action was discarded as an option.  After taking heavy losses, the Axis had barely enough men to hold a thin line against the Russian attacks.  With the last of the eastern Kampfgruppe nearing safety, Chaplinka and the Perekop Isthmus was left to the Soviets.

Supply:                   German rec’d :                    14 SP

                                German used:                     11.1 SP

                                Russian used:                     2.2 SP

Dead Units

German:                  8(4)3                                    “Langemarck” Mot Inf Reg’t, “Das Reich” SS Mot Div.

                                10(5)4                                   900 “Lehr” Brigade

Russian                   3(2)2                                      29^th Infantry Reg’t

                                11(1)1                                   255^th Strelkovaya

                                12(1)1                                   246^th Strelkovaya

                                10(0)1                                   140^th Strelkovaya

                                2 x 4(3)6                               8+9, 21^st Motorcycle Bns

Air losses

German               Bomber                                       Dornier 17 step (Flak)