A Limited Offensive ETO (id:#67094)

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Yegorye, Russia 1942-07-03 (2 others)

Overview:

Having stopped the Germans just outside of Moscow in December 1941, the Russians began a series of major counterattacks that pushed the German forces back to the west. One of these attacks came from Soviet Kalinin Front in the north and succeeded in punching a hole to the west of the lead German units in and around Rzhev. As a result, the German 9th Army, on the northern flank of Army Group Center, was left in possession of what became know as the “Rzhev Salient.” This salient pointed north from the main German lines and was threatened by Soviet forces from the 22nd, 39th, and 41st Armies and the 11th Cavalry Corps occupying the difficult terrain to its west and extensive elements from Zhukov’s West Front to its east. In order to alleviate the threat to 9th Army’s west, shorten their lines, and encircle substantial Russian forces, the Germans conducted a “limited offensive,” Operation Seydlitz, starting 2 July 1942. Using a total of ten infantry and four panzer divisions, the Germans attacked from the 9th Army’s positions into the northwestern flank of the Russian positions west of Rzhev and into the southwestern flank of the Russian positions from the main German lines north of Smolensk. After hard fighting on 2 July, the Germans began to break through the Russian lines on 3 July, threatening to close a large encirclement around large Soviet forces. The 2nd Panzer Division, fighting near the junction of the Soviet 39th and 41st Armies, was counterattacked from the west by Russian troops from the 41st Army. Second Panzer shrugged aside this counterattack and broke into the rear areas of the Soviet forces. Several tanks with machine gunners attacked the headquarters of the 135th Rifle Division.

Defender: Russian (HQ Elements, 135th Rifle Division, 41st Army)  

Errata (source)