Frozen Vzvad ETO (id:#61818)

(March Madness 2013 Commissar Pack ID: MM30)   [next]   [previous]

Vzvad, Russia 1942-01-10 (3 others)

Overview:

Since October 1941, the German 10th corps had secured the right flank of Army Group North. It was positioned south of Lake Il'man and had held farily static lines for over three months. In order to defend more territory the Corps' divisions, including the 290th infantry Division, had fortified a series of strongpoints along the front. These strongpoints were spread thinly and the Russians found it easy to infiltrate between the strongpoints at night. However, moving around strongpoints was one thing, capturing them was much more difficult. Strongpoint Vzvad was built in a fishing village on the neck of land between the shores of lake Il'man and Lake Seliger. On 8 January 1942, in temperatures hovering around 40 degrees C below zero and with nearly two feet of snow on the ground, the Soviets surrounded and assaulted Strongpoint Vzvad. The Panzerjagers held out, even counterattacking and capturing 120 Russians. On the night of 10 January, the Russians attacked again – this time backed up by rocket artillery.

Defender: German (PzJager Abtl 290, Inf Div 290)  

Errata (source)