6/21/41 SS trys todelay Russia at Grodno

[robot]

Grodno Belorussia
6/21/1941
1900 Hours

We have been told to set up a static defense line out side of Grodno. We are at all costs to delay the Russian advance. We are not to give up any ground to the Russian horde. HQ expects us to face at least 6 companys including a large amount of Russian armor. The visability is only 300 yards so this is goin to be an up close and personal fight today. Each company will have one platoon of Engineers out front trying to lay some kind of a small mine field to help slow down the armor they are sure to send at us. That is all the mines we wil have supply told me they had sent all the mines they had to somewhere near Minsk. So we are out of luck today. All companys have the infantry up front in the hope they can slow the armor down and our tanks can then pick them off one at a time.

HQ: Panzer SS
Col: Karl Vogel

[robot]

Grodno Belorussia
6/21/1941
1930 Hours

They hit us at 1905 hours. The first to appear where some engineers near the south flank. Five minutes later and there was at least 3 companys facing us. Our HMG were constantly firing thought the barrels would burn up. The tanks began to appear at 1915 hours. they hit the south flank and the center with a large concentration at this time.

I brought the tanks forward on either flank of the grouping of enemy tanks. They worked from either flank not having more then three tanks in there sights at a time. Lost 3 sig33 and 2 sp atg in the first five minutes of furious fighting. The Russians really went after the sig 33 as they were cutting hugh holes in there lines. At one time I actually thought about giving the order to retreat. There was a hell of a lot of tanks out there. After 25 minutes I knew we had them we had cut down at least 45 tanks by this time and there forward movement had all but stopped. Several tanks got right into our lines but the engineers were great today throwing satchel charges right and left. They alone managed to take out 3 tanks and disable at least four more. Even our weak atr did a heck of a job takeing out 3 tanks there selves. You could hear the pop of there guns firing like machine guns all thru the fight.

Thirty minutes and they had enough of us. We lost 61 men to there 694 also they knocked out only 4 of our armor while we blowed the heck out of 50 of theres. I did not expect it to be over so soon only a 30 minute fight and there whole army fell apart.

Hq has decided to reward our tankers with some new equipment. The first three tanks in each platoon in E company will get the new Pz IIIh tanks with the 50 mm gun on them and better armor plating as well. At least by the time we go back in the line next month we will be somewhat better equipped.

HQ:X SS Panzer
Col: Karl vogel