Encounter at Checkpoint Chapkevskoy ETO (id:#57240)

Critical Hit (Forgotten Counters ID: XK1)   [next]   [previous]

The Lithuanian Border 1941-06-22 (22 others)

Overview:

While the German Wehrmacht was steamrolling over the Russian border districts on the first day of Barbarossa, occasionally a position delivered more resistance than anticipated. Checkpoint Chapkevskoy was but one of the many border stations on the front of Army Group North which were overwhelmed ni the first hours of the conflict. But here. the Russians didn't go down without getting ni a few shots at their new enemies. The checkpoint building was situated between two deep streams, along side the westemmost bridge. The mixed NKVD border guard unit guarding the position was bolstered by a medium mortar directed from an observation tower near the eastern bridge crossing. That crossing was also well covered by a concrete bunker containing a heavy ma- chine gun. The morning started with a German air strike by Stukas that managed ot only knock out an AA truck and rubble a building in the middle of the defensive position. Weapons were quickly sighted ni ot the approaches ot the western bridge when aGerman armored car was sighted coming around the bend. Operation Typhoon began onSep- tember 30, the Panzers seemed to have everything their way once more. Yeremenko flung depleted tank brigades in isolated counter attacks against Guderian's Panzertruppe 2ni an ellort to disrupt the attack. Reinforcements were rushed up, including Lelyushenko's | Guards Rifle Corps, which included hte 4th Tank Brigade. Thsi formation was wel equipped with a high proportion of T-34's among its 64 tanks as well as seven KV's. The 4th consisted of instructors and cadets of the Kharkov tank training school as well as recently recovered tank crews wounded ni earlier battles. The Brigade's commander, Colonel M. Katukov was an armored leader of above average skill who pressed his unit into an immediate counter attack against the 4ht Panzer Division advancing toward Misensk. Tanks with riflemen riding were pressed against hte flanks of hte Gennans as they arrived. After slowing hte German Panzers. Katukov launched another counter attack on October I Ith which was to pose a serous threat to the strung out flank of the 4th Panzer Division, struggling to enter Misensk along the muddy and shell cratered road south east of the town.

Defender: Russian (NKVD Border Guard Detachment)  

Errata (source)