10/22/41 Panzer assault Rzhev

[robot]

Rzhev Russia
10/22/1941
0800 Hours

We have been given orders to once again assault the Red horde that is known as Russia. This may be the last chance for the enemy to stop our headlong push to destroy Mother Russia. It is cold too dam cold and it is causing us some trouble. We will not only be going up against a determined enemy but nature as well.

A and B company has been given the task of securing the cernter objectives. Each company has been given 2 extra platoons of engineers to clear out the mines we are expecting to encounter. Thay will proceed along an old mining road that runs west to east towards Rzhev. They will have a lot of open land to cross and be under the eyes of any enemy on two hills that sit behind the suspected mine fields. There tank support have been put on hills behind thrm to help cover there approach and the field guns as well. Visability is good near 3000 yards should be in our favor as we can see the hills all the way to the top and be able to pick anything off that pops up to shoot at our engineers as they move forward. It is going to be slow going for the Engineers as we just had a heavy snow fall last nite and the drifts are high and deep they will have to try and walk thru. Going to be a slow mine removel as well due to the frozen ground and all this late snow.

Each company has at least 3 flame tanks to help with the snow melting and clearing of the mine fields as well.

C company is to move forward at the very southern edge of the map so as to take the objective there. Figure the enemy emplacements will not be as heavy as further north and in the center. As soon as they have there area clear and secure they are to move as fast as possible towards the rear southern objective . Getting thru the mine field once again will be our biggest headache of the day im sure. The enemy should not be that much trouble if any indication from our earlier battles hold true once again.

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel Commanding

[robot]

Rzhev Russia
10/22/1941
0815 Hours

We have already come under attack from the hill behind the center approach along the road. Zis 30 and r 35 tanks opened up on us at range. We returned fire and so far have taken out at least 5 zis and 3 35. Plus 3 MMG bunkers where seen sitting a straddle this road just past the mine field about 300 yards. Several of our tanks had clear shots at them and took out all 3.

So far the Engineers have not reached the mine field. Very slow going across the open field in all this piled up snow. Lost two of our flame tanks before one from the zis and one from a 122 that opened up on us 10 minutes ago. Plus one of our AA was hit and went up with a mighty roar. Couple of casualtys from the 122 as well. Spirits are high yet as we still have not really seen but a few Russians on the other side of the mines and they were all running towards the rear. Should have heard our men shout as the 81 mortar hit and we saw this squad of the enemy jump up and begin to run.

Have called for smoke on our left flank to stop the small arm harrassing fire from that direction. Also called for a 150 to drop some shells in on that area to give them something to think about. Moving slow but we are still moving forward at this time.

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel Commanding

[robot]

Rzhev Russia
10/22/1941
0810/Hours

An hour to get the center thru the mine fields. They have finally broken thru and or on the move towards there disignated objectives. So far our losses have been slight mostly due to there constant bombardment with there 122s. We have taken out at least 10 zis 30 and maybe 5 r-35s. these have all been destroyed from long range. Have been conserving on my artty shots so as to have some ammo left for when we push towards there rear areas. Figure to run into a lot of bunkers and hiden atg and aa.

We are maybe 300 yards short of taking the center objective and maybe 600 short of the northern one. See recon photo that is enclosed of routes of march these are proposed and not written in stone as of yet. B company in the north is supposed to try and help A with taking the center objective and there left flank is to split off and head ne to take the north one. While As right flank is to take the hill to there front and proceed to the north rear objective after this is secured. As left flank is to help B secure the center then proceed down the road to the rear as well.

C in the south has been held up trying to get thru two rows of heavy mines. This is shown by the red line. They still have near 600 yards before they can take there objective. Hoping to bust thru here within the next 15 minutes. They have to be moving towards the rear lower objective at around the same time as A in the center. So as to pull some of the enemy away from A companys line of march towards the rear. This is shown quite clearly in the recon photo.

A sp ATG was hit by a 50 MM Mortar a few minutes ago. The crew had ran from there unit and left it standing there. My adjutant made it clear to them this is not allowed in our army and they were very happy to return and reoccupy the unit after he had his little talk with them. My adjutant stands 6foot 2 in his stocking feet and weighs near 230 pounds with a sabre scar running down the right side of his face which turns red as fire when he gets really upset. A very imposing person and not one you disagree with too often.

HQ:X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel Commanding

[robot]

Rzhev Russia
10/22/1941
0945 Hours

Comin up on two hours that this battle has been raging. We have been steadly pushing the enemy towards the rear. Also have been taking a heavy toll on them in lives and heavy equipment. Have taken out at least 20 of those zis 30 type armor and also have taken out at least 10 of those pesky 50 mm mortars.

As you can see on the attatched recon photo our left flank has begun to split off and move towards the north objective. They are meeting with heavy resistence to this move. May have to move another platoon off from the center to help them achieve there objective. Will know on this within the next 15 minutes to how well they can move NE to that area. The center march will be just south of the road and after they take the center rear they can move south and help C company trying to take the southern rear.

The red circle shows the bunkers protecting the rear areas. They have been smoked and should be kept out of this fight. The circle on the south hill shows where some over excubent tankers have gotten out in front of there infantry support. Lost a tank there just 10 minutes ago which didnot have to happen. Got into a fight with at least 4 zis 30s we got all of them but lost the one tank in the process. Have been laying in our big 150s on those three bunkers for the last 1/2 hour with no sucess in even denting them. Mortars are out of ammo all but there smoke rounds so have been laying it down heavy on the bunkers to nullify there ability to stop us as we make the big push to the rear.

All goes as we planned so far today have had some losses to those dam 122 again. Once again I think they are sitting right on a ammo dump what with all the lead they have dropping on us today. We have lost maybe 4 tanks one to a dumb ass driver who tried to get thru the mines to dam fast. Should have waited for the all clear from the engineers instead of plowing ahead the way he did. Chalk up one dead smart ass.

Picture too large to upload had to take some of the lines off to get it in.

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel Commanding

[robot]

Rzhev Russia
10/22/1941
1005 Hours

We have been pushing the Russians back for over two hours now. They have not givin up the battle as yet and still putting up a heck of a fight. We have taken all the forward objectives plus have captured the southern rear. We are now moving on the north rear one at the present time. A lot of Russian infantry has been completely destroyed today. There are dead Russians where ever you look on the battle field. I dont know how many of there tanks we have taken out today but at least thirty can be seen burning.

It has been a brutal fight and hard fight all day with the Russians refusing to give up. As you can see on the attatched photo we are moving close to taking the north objective soon. Also the pill boxes protecting the approach that we have smoked and making up our minds if we want to even try and attack them. Also the two our southern flank of tanks have already taken out. Our Engineers are moving as fast as they can to get into position to blow the steel reinforced bunker. They are all covered in a heavy layer of smoke and so far have recieved no fire from them at all.

This battle went as planed so far and our losses are small compared to the Russin ones. Soon we will have them completely routed from the field and this battle will be another great victory for us.

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel Commanding

[robot]

Rzhev Russia
10/22/1941
1030 Hours

At last this battle is over all the objectives have been taken and are secure. We have run the Russians from the field. They are in full retreat. High command has callin this battle today a draw. I dont know how they came to this conclusion tho.

Granted our losses where some what high today but no wheres near what the Russians lost. we lost a total of 322 men while they lost 1463 men. They also lost 35 artty and 35 tanks to our 17 tanks and 2 planes. Doe not seem even close to even to be called a draw seems wrong to us. After all we gave our lifes and our sweat to trying to push the dam reds back.

We are to pull back and prepare our selves for next month anyways. have been told our stug b will be upgraded to a stug e with the mmg extra on it. That will be put to some good use during our next battle.

It is so cold here and that has been just as bad to battle as the Russians have been. Every thing seems to freeze and your fingers get so dam cold it makes it hard to pull the trigger of your gun. We were told when we came hare this would be over before the winter arrived full blown. Now it seems we will be fighting all this winter and the next one. Dam when will this war be over so we can all go home again.

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel Commanding