21st Tank Brigade was pulled out of the frontline before it could participate at the ill-fated Operation Mars and reorganised as a heavy tank regiment and received the title of 12th Guards Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment. The unit was sent to 11th Army sector north of Demyansk and took part in the attempt to snatch off the bulge, once more together with other tank regiments. Unfortunately they encountered the 184. Sturmgeschütz Abteilung equipped with new StuGIII’s. Oberfeldwebel Horst Naumann became the first NCO to receive the Knights Cross in the German assault gun arm for taking out so many KV’s.
Attacker: Friendly (12th Guards Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment)
