La GD Sort Ses Griffes! ETO (id:#58996)

Vae Victis (Vae Victis # 17 ID: VV12)   [next]   [previous]

Grun, Russia 1943-08-15 (1 other)

Overview:

"The Gross Deutschland's Claws!" - - At dawn on 3rd August 1943, the Soviets launched Operation Rumyantsev, its goal to recapture the cities of Kharkov and Belgorod. German units, although decimated during Operation Citadelle, offered fierce resistance. Despite this, the armor of the Red Army successfully broke through, capturing Belgorod on the 5th and rushed towards the south-west, threatening to encircle the defenders of Kharkov. Faced with the gravity of the situation, the Gross Deutschland Division was brought in as reinforcement. On 8th August, the GD engaged the tip of the 4th Guards Tank Corps near Achtyrka. Two days of bitter fighting followed, with the Germans slowly retreating to the small town. The following day, the Russians commenced attacks to crack the German defenses without success, while the Germans sought to destabilize their opponents with local counter-attacks. On the 14th, a Kampfgruppe was formed under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Von Natzmer, chief of staff of the GD. He was to attack the flank of the 4th Guards Tank Corps which was seeking to encircle his division from the south. On the eve of the 15th, the panzers pressed their attack.

Defender: Russian (Reinforced elements of the 14th Guards Armored Brigade)  

Errata (source)