A Stalinesque Christmas ETO (id:#65256)

(Dispatches from the Bunker #50 ID: DB158)   [next]   [previous]

Northern District Krasny Oktyabr, Stalingrad 1942-12-25 (4 others)

Overview:

Infanterie-Regiment 369, an all Croatian raised unit, also known as the Hrvatske Legije (Croatian Legion), had entered Russia as a reinforced regiment in October 1941. Fighting along the way from Kharkov to Stalingrad had caused casualties, but the combat in the industrial city that bore Stalin's name had bled the legionnaires white, just as it had done to scores of German units. During mid-to-late October the legion, attached to the 79th Infantry Division, had fought in the “Red October” southern district in and around Halls 8, 9 and 10. However, on 6 November the legion, now but a reinforced “Croatian Battalion,” was transferred northwards and positioned in the line just west of Hall 1, with a primary responsibility for a sector comprising the L and U-Shaped Buildings, along with the Ladder House. This was for a time a quiet portion of the line, but in late December that all was to change. The Croatian section of the line was held by a composite Stosskompanie under the command of Leutnant Fijember. To help defend it the Croatians created two strongpoints, one called “the Little White House” the other the “Observation Point.” On Christmas morning the Russians launched an attack from Hall 4 first against Hall 2. . . . . "Andy Hershey has continued his hard look at the fighting in the factory districts with this little gem, as the Russian assault force tries to gain victory through the VC menu, with taking locations and possibly exiting the way to win. The Croatian has hard decisions on where to fight and how to deploy his thin line of troops. The Russian must be able to be flexible and maybe change his attack plan or goals as the situation dictates."

Defender: German (Elements of Stosskompanie Fijember, “Croatian Battalion,” 79. Infanterie-Division, 6 Armee and elements of Radfahr Abteilung 179)  

Errata (source)