Bear Swipe ETO (id:#66177)

(Breakout From Borisov 2 ID: BOR #11)   [next]   [previous]

Borisov, Russia 1941-07-03 (10 others)

Overview:

Soviet commanders, lacking good communications, often ordered units into battle across unfavorable terrain or against superior forces during the early phases of Operation Barbarossa. The Borisov Armored Training School near Borisov suffered such a fate. The unit was ordered by the Front Commander to counter-attack the German bridgehead across the Berezina. Commissar Susaikov, the commander of the school, formed his NCO's and Officer Cadets, into companies, armed them, and dult sent them in to the attack. They had a few training vehicles, none of the newer and better tanks the Germans would encounter later that week. Rain had made a morass of open fields, keeping vehicles on the roads. Despite these factors, Susaikov pushed his men and machines forward. The urgency of the situation meant every effort had to be made to eliminate the enemy bridgehead. Lacking heavy armor, the attack was laid in with training tanks which were easily handled by German weapons systems. Among the defenders, a German Lieutenant Isenbeck personally led the Panzerjäger Platoon through the Borisov streets, and stopped Susaikov's tanks as they attacked over the hills north of town.

Defender: German (5th Kompanie and Schwere Kompanie, 2nd Battalion, 101st Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 18th Panzer Division with 88th Psnzerjäger Abteilung)  

Errata (source)