No Dubno ETO (id:#67205)

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Varkovichi, Soviet Union 0941-06-26 (0 others)

Overview:

Even though the German invasion of Russia was a surprise, the Soviet command in the south was able to start implementing their war plan. This included mobilizing various earmarked units for a counterattack. The 43rd Tank Division was mobilized and directed west to enter and defend Dubno. But like so much that happened those opening days, the situation rapidly changed by the hour. Dubno was taken by the 11th Panzer Division before the 43rd Tank Division got its orders. Now the Soviets had to fight their way west. At 1400 hours, the 43rd Tank Division launched an attack to clear Varkovichi. Varkovichi was a town east of Dubno which was seized that morning by the Germans as a bridgehead for their next objective. According to the 43rd Tank Division commander, his attack was successful until the Germans blew up all the bridges as they retreated, stripping his division of the capability of breaking through to Dubno. The 11th Panzer Division assessment on the clash with the 43rd Tank Division was far from rousing and differed greatly from that of the Russians. Per their history, they did not blow any bridges and the Russian counterattack only delayed their march east for a few hours. At Varkovichi, the 43rd lost its only two KV tanks (they both caught on fire), as well as fifteen T-26 tanks (of these, four were flame throwing tanks) and 128 soldiers.

Defender: German (11th Panzer Division)  

Errata (source)