Kalinin Russia 11/14/1941

[robot]

Kalinin Russia
11/14/1941
0800

Once again we have been given the task of slowing the germans mad advance thru Russia. Last month my predasessor allowed way too many losses and has been given a vacation in Sibera I understand.

This is my first command and I am really excited to command such a great group of men. I am told they did a heck of a job fighting against over whelming odds last month.

Today will be a tough fight we are in the middle of a heavy snowstorm. We were unable to find any mines and the only ones being laid are what the engineers carried with them. We are to delay the Germans for as long as we can then get out with as few losses as possible. Visability is 800 even with the storm so we should be able to use our big guns. We can expect a lot of armor comin at us.

HQ: V Heavy Guards
Boris Malinkoff Commanding

[robot]

Kalinin Ruaaia
11/14/1941
0720 Hours

The germans are trying to beat me with 251/1 and 251/10 Aromor no tanks so far. We have shot to pieces at least 12 of there armored APCs. They began to show up at 0715 Hours. The vis being 800 today is in our favor. We have been laying into them with our ATG. The snowstorm has not hurt us so far maybe even has helped us some in concealing our positions.

Have given A co the north flank and B the more or less center. The Canadians are to hold the south again. So far the Germans have been hitting the right flank of A in the north. They are holding well and inflicting heavy losses to the enemy force. You can see by the recon photo I am sending with this where the German force is concentrated. No losses to our side so far in equipment.

But at 0720 Hours they opened up with a heavy concentration of artillery fire. Rockets hit Co B and 105s also opened up on them. From the reports I have recieved so far they have lost some where around 12 men. 81 MM mortars also began to fall in a heavy rain on them as well.

I dont see this battle lasting very long they can not continue to send men into the rain of death our heavy Artty is dropping on them. I know at least 70 men are laying out in front of us and this with the battle only being 20 minutes long.

HQ: V Heavy Guards
Col: Boris Malinkoff Commanding

[robot]

Kalinin Russia
11/14/1941
0735 Hours

Little over half an hour into the battle and all our lines are holding. Really nothing has even gotten closer then 400 feet to our front. We have taken out at least 20 APC at the present time. There tanks began to show up 10 minutes ago and they sent a large armor force at us. In three different places tanks began to attack. We believe we counted some wheres round 40 tanks there may be more just cant see them as yet. We have blown at least 20 of them up so far with no loss to our side at all.

Have lost maybe 30 men so far from there constant bombardment of our side. heavy 81 mm Mortar fire and 105s dropping every five minutes. About 25 minutes ago there was a heavy rocket barrage that killed most of our men.

Our guys still are lousy shots and we really need to do something about this. I believe that the only thing that has kept there armor at bay has been the 120 and 107 mortars heavy barage on there area.

The recon photo shows where there tanks are coming at us. We will slow them and give them hell today. Mother Russia should be very proud of these men today they are giving there all.

HQ V Heavy Guards
Col: Boris Malinkoff Commanding

[robot]

Kalinin Russia
11/14/1941
0750 Hours

The germans have given up and or retiring from the battle field. We not only held them but inflicted savere losses to them. Even tho we have the worst damm shots in any army we managed to take out 56 of there tanks plus 26 APC as well. We lost 10 tanks which may be worse for us then them. As we were unable to replace all the other commander lost last month before he was sent to Siberia.

I hope I dont lose my job due too the fact we not only delayed them we stopped them cold. We lost 29 men while killing 726 of there men. When they began to leave the field you could see they still had a sizeable force left. Guess the will to fight just went out of them.

We have been told we will be staying here at least thru next month. At least we will have a whole month to get ready for the enemy to return and try and push past us again. We are to get a few upgrades to our armor mostly the Infantry tanks will be newer design im told. Heavier and a better gun mounted on them. Also replacements will be coming in soon as well. Hope I have some time to work on making them shoot better then the ones here now.

I am told we are to hold and slow there progress as much as we can and hurt them even worse if at all possible. Looks like we will be fighting thru Christmas it seems.

HQ: V Heavy Guards
Col: Boris Malinkoff Commanding