Most heroic and famous units in the east

[Bear1888]

Hi all,

So I was thinking about the "great patriotic war" or the biggest military theater in the story of mankind and with hundreds of divisions involved, i wanted to know which units on both sides stand out through outstanding performance in your opinion.

I start with:

RED ARMY:

-13th guards rifle division under Rodimzev: Saved Stalingrad by crossing the Volga under fire and counter attacking and taking back the Mamaja hights from the Wehrmacht. In doing so, the Division saved the Volga river crossings from accurate German Artillery fire.

-4th Tank Brigade under Katukov: Saved Tula and helped to stop the southern arm of the Wehrmacht Moscow offensive. Katukov invented a lot of tactics which were implemented by the red Army later in the War like teaching his Tank commanders how to fix their Tanks or using camouflage measures.

-5th Guards Tank Army under Rotmistrow: Stopped the Operation Citadel in the south. Faced some of the best German armored units and although poorly lead and suffering heavy loses, forced the Germans into the defensive at Prochrovka.

-62nd Army, later 8th Guards Army: Under Tchuikov, the Army saved Stalingrad and went through the "Stalingrad urban fighting school". Later in Germany, it proved to be an expert Army when it came to urban warfare and helped to capture Berlin.

WEHRMACHT:

-Guderian's 2nd Panzer Group: Helped to close the massive Kiev pocket. Then turned around without any rest and advanced towards Moscow. Was repulsed at Tula. Guderian later rebuilt the shattered German Panzerwaffe and made it a formidable Force in early 43.

-4th Air Fleet under Von Richthofen: Blasted the way open for Mannstein to take Sevastopol. Then supported successfully the 6th Army on its Road from Don to Volga.

-16th Panzerdivision: Crossed the mighty Don river and reached Volga river in 24 hours. Repulsed several soviet attack from the north against the German spearhead.

Your turn.[:)]

[Zug]

I'll nominate the 11th Panzer Division and Hermann Balck. Their actions and operations around the Chir in December of '42 should be the stuff of legend. Balck is my favorite WitE general, and the first one I promote from 'division' command to corps command.

A summation of these actions won't do it justice, but if you're unfamiliar with what 11th Panzer accomplished in December of '42 it's well worth your time.

[Rusty1961]

ORIGINAL: Zug

I'll nominate the 11th Panzer Division and Hermann Balck. Their actions and operations around the Chir in December of '42 should be the stuff of legend. Balck is my favorite WitE general, and the first one I promote from 'division' command to corps command.

A summation of these actions won't do it justice, but if you're unfamiliar with what 11th Panzer accomplished in December of '42 it's well worth your time.

I was going to say 11th Pz, Ghost Division.

[xhoel]

ORIGINAL: Zug

I'll nominate the 11th Panzer Division and Hermann Balck. Their actions and operations around the Chir in December of '42 should be the stuff of legend. Balck is my favorite WitE general, and the first one I promote from 'division' command to corps command.

A summation of these actions won't do it justice, but if you're unfamiliar with what 11th Panzer accomplished in December of '42 it's well worth your time.

+1 on this. Balck was at its best in command of the 11th Panzer Division. Absolutely crazy what they did.

[Zug]

Here's an interesting piece on these battles by 11th Panzer. It details the battles and also the command and control, and communication of the leaders involved, including Balck. Not the sort of stuff we usually have easy access to on most battles.

https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a209474.pdf

[xhoel]

ORIGINAL: Zug

Here's an interesting piece on these battles by 11th Panzer. It details the battles and also the command and control, and communication of the leaders involved, including Balck. Not the sort of stuff we usually have easy access to on most battles.

https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a209474.pdf

Just started reading this one, thanks for posting it Zug!

[Bear1888]

Thanks for the link, Zug. A must read for me.

[Bear1888]

https://www.historynet.com/study-comman ... s-1942.htm

Found this about the Battle at Chir river.

It's really not a big battle like Kursk, Bagration etc. But its amazing what one single Panzerdivision was able to do in the hands of the right commander. It destroyed an entire soviet mechanized Corps with literary no own casualties.

[Zug]

My pleasure gents. Even now, having studied these action extensively, I find it difficult to imagine the sheer audacity and skill, and the overwhelming success the Ghost Division had in December of 1942. Against all odds really.

Balck won the Diamonds, and deservedly so.

[thedoctorking]

I nominate the 13th Poltava Guards Rifle Division.