Tin Soldiers ETO (id:#62383)

(Russian Rarities 1 ID: RR#4)   [next]   [previous]

Dubno, Russia 1941-06-27 (16 others)

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Overview:

an effort to slow the German advance, Stalin ordered counter attacks by any units available. The German 11th, 13th and 16th Panzer Divisions formed the Schwerpunkt for Panzer Gruppe 1, and had broken through the border defenses and were charging into the Soviet rear. But as the advance continued, gaps grew between the Panzer units and the follow up Infan- try Divisions. A counter attack was planned by the 5th and 6th armies against the flanks of Panzer Gruppe 1. The attack made progress with the 34th Tank Division, leading the 6th armies attack, and cutting the main supply line for the 16th Panzer Division. To prevent the situation from getting worse, the 111th Infantry Division was ordered to establish a blocking position in Dobono. The 34th Tank Division was one of the better equipped units in the Red Army, with a number of new KV-1 and T- 34 tanks, along with older T-35 and other outdated vehicles. After cutting the road used to supply the 16th Panzer Division, the 34th Tank Division ran into the anti tank gun line deployed by the 111th Infantry Division outside of Dobono. In heavy fighting, the men of the 1 Ith were able to keep the Soviet armor from taking Dobono, and kept them engaged until elements from the 16th Panzer Division began to disengage and counter attack the flank of the 34th Tank Division. In a confused battle lasting four days, the 34th Tank Division, now trapped between the guns of the 111th Infantry and the Panzers of the 16th, was crushed. A few survivors were able to make it back to friendly lines. Even though the counter attack failed to eliminate the German Panzer thrust, the delay caused by this attack and others would delay the Germans long enough to allow the Red Army and general winter to stop the Germans at the gates of Moscow. For the troops at the sharp end, the desperate fighting was a taste of the years to come.Russian rare tank featured: T-27

Defender: German (Elements 111th Infantry Division)  

Errata (source)