Futile Bravery ETO (id:#61812)

(March Madness 2013 Commissar Pack ID: MM25)

Smolensk, Russia 1941-07-16 (3 others)

Overview:

On 10 July 1941 both the German 2nd Panzer Group and the 3rd Panzer Group began offensives against the Soviet armies facing them – with the goal to encircle a large number of Russian forces near Smolensk. The 3rd Panzer Group, commanded by Generaloberst Hoth, established a bridgehead across the Dvina River and moved east and north past the city. To the south, the 2nd Panzer Group, commanded by General der Panzertruppe Guderian, crossed the Dnepr River and overran its opposition. By 13 July, the 2nd Panzer Group had bypassed Mogilev, trapping several Soviet divisions within a “kessel” and pressed north towards Smolensk. Four Soviet armies faced the two panzer Groups in and around the city. These armies conducted a series of counterattacks agsinst the advancing German forces wth marginal results. On 14 July, the 3rd Panzer Group reached positions west of Smolensk while the 2nd Panzer Group assaulted the city itself. The Germans succeeded in capturing one railroad bridge which gave them a small bridgehead north of the river. Orders went out to the Soviet 129th Infantry Division to counterattack and recapture or destroy the bridge.

Defender: German (15th Infantry Regiment (Motorized), 29th Infantry Division and the 129th Panzer Battalion)  

Errata (source)