The 389th Infantry Division deployed at and south of Radvanovka also made contact with Soviet paratroopers from 5th Guards Airborne.
January 25, 1944. – Morning. Weather – Bleak; Frozen.
On January 25th the Russians attacked. Four Soviet armies and one cavalry corps smashed at the northern wing of the German Eighth Army.
General Ryshov’s 4th Guards Army was to punch a hole in General Stemmermann’s XI Korps in the vicinity of Radvanovka. In the morning light, the Soviets unleashed their amassed artillery at the fortified positions along Radvanovka and especially just north of the village where the 545/389 Infantry Regiment was deployed at the left flank of the division. After murderous bombardment, Soviet 5th Guards Airborne and 62 Guards Infantry division struck. Despite the intense barrage, Germans put up a relentless fight, inflicting heavy casualties on the Russians. But the already weakened 545 Infantry Regiment stood no chance against the two fresh Guards divisions and ceased to exist before noon. The left flank of the Hessian 389th Infantry Division was breached and only the minefields delayed the Guards’ advance for a few precious hours.
All across the front, soviet divisions attacked German strongholds pinning the thin lines of the XI and XLVII Korps.
At the same time as the battle for Radvanovka raged on the 240/106 infantry regiment defending the road to Kamenovatka-Slatopol evaporated under murderous Soviet artillery fire and continued attacks by 233 and 133 infantry divisions, and later by 233, 214 and 1st Guards Airborne. This left only the very bloodied 239/106 Infantry Regiment barring the road to Kamenovatka where the rest of the badly mauled 106th division was recuperating from recent fighting.
General von Vormann’s XLVII Panzer Korps was attacked by the 53 Army and 5th Guards Tank Army. Von Vormann had 3 panzer divisions in the immediate area. The 3rd Panzer, very much under-strength was already engaged in fighting. The 14th Panzer and the elite 11th Panzer were refitting just behind the 320th Infantry division. Both divisions were servicing its tanks and resting and it would take at least 24 hours before they could be thrown into battle.
At noon the situation was critical, the Soviets swiftly bypassed the light front fortifications and were driving into an open hole north of Radvanovka. In the XLVII Korps sector the 239th regiment would not hold for long unless immediately reinforced.
Both General Stemmermann and General von Vormann did not fully appreciate the magnitude of the Russian attack. Following Hitler’s orders not to give ground under any circumstances, their initial response to the attack was a desperate attempt to preserve the frontline and seal any breakthroughs.
January 25th, 1944 Afternoon; Weather – Bleak, Frozen.
General Stemmermann immediately ordered his only readily available division, the veteran 72nd Infantry to seal the breach north of Radvanovka leaving only a Fusiler detachment to keep guard over the Dnieper across which small Russian forces were already infiltrating. The 389th Infantry Division withdrew from Radvanovka across a small frozen river leaving a few well camouflaged paks and bunkers in the village to stall the Russians. 2 Stug abteilungs, the 6th and 226th ,the 3rd Panzerjager abteilung, as well as the strong 911 Ferdinand abteilung reinforced the division.
To the south von Vormann threw the two remaining regiments of the 106th from Kamenovatka to reinforce the 239/106 and link up with the 3rd Panzer operating just north of the road. The 320th Infantry abandoned its prepared positions to avoid flanking and formed up to the south of 106th.
The Russians did not waste time and were methodically eliminating the strongholds and clearing mines on the main defense line. At 3:00 PM Radvanovka fell. Shortly after night-break 12th Guards Cavalry attacked and destroyed several assault guns from the 226th Stug abt which without adequate infantry support was forced to withdraw. Tanks from 20th Tank Corps did not fare so well against the 6 Stug abt and left several burning T-34s.
To the south, 138th Guards Infantry Division supported by tanks and heavy artillery wiped out the 525/230 Infantry Regiment while 25th Guards Division supported by 170 Tank Regiment from 18th Tank Corps advanced through a gap between the regiments of the 3rd Panzer Division. The 3rd Panzer immediately counterattacked the overextended Soviet forces and completely destroyed the 170/18 Tank Regiment.
Despite this local success, it was becoming apparent that the Soviet strength, especially in artillery is overwhelming. In just one day of fighting, Wehrmacht lost three regiments of infantry and almost all fortified positions
January 26th, 1944 Morning; Weather – Bleak, Frozen
Von Vormann threw the Silesian 11th Panzer panzergrenadiers to support the faltering line around Kamenovatka while the 16th Panzer regiment stopped at Kamenovatka to refuel and receive a dozen newly arrived Panthers.
As a result of the havoc the rushed 111/11 PzGrenadier regiment enroute to strengthen the 106th division fighting very heavy battles with 53rd Army was met by the 138th Guards and 68th Guards Division supported by tanks and shot up in their halftracks before they were able to establish a defensive perimeter.
The 29th Tank Corps and 25th Guards Infantry division continued their attacks against the 3rd Panzer sector and managed to throw back the weak 106th Fusilier battalion, once again dangerously clawing into 3rd Panzer’s front.
In the north the Russians threw the 5 Guards Cavalry Corps which together with the 4 Guards Army pressed its attacks against the newly redeployed 72nd Infantry. Against impossible odds, after very heavy fighting both 105/72 and 124/72 regiments and 546/389 yielded taking heavy casualties.
January 26th, 1944 Afternoon; Weather – Bleak, Frozen
Before nightfall on the 26th the 5 Guards Cavalry Corps supported by 4 Guards and 53 Army pierce through the thin line of the veteran 72nd Infantry Division. Under murderous attacks 105/72 regiment and 72 Fusilier battalion evaporate at Zerdyukovka. The newly redeployed 57 Infantry Division can only secure the road to Smela but there is nothing that Stammermann can throw to seal the gaping hole ripped by 5 Guards Cavalry Corps. The 5 SS Viking Division aside from one panzergrenadier regiment already engaged, is still a few hours away. The XI Corps frontline has been torn.
XLVII freshly reinforced with 14th Panzer is fighting delaying battles but despite its strength looses ground and manpower every hour.
Stemmermann quickly discusses the situation with von Vormann and both agree – they must disengage immediately and try to fall back onto the switch line.
January 27th, 1944 Morning; Weather – Bleak, Frozen
XLVII Corps is still holding onto some key towns and von Vormann decides to hold them as long as possible while Stammermann attempts to reach the switchline.
The town of Shpola and Slatopol are to be made into fortresses.
5 SS Viking deploys in Stanislavchik, the last village in the way of the Russians before the switchline. 57th virtually encircled is to hold Orlovets for as long as possible.
This campaign is played vs. DPoM who's playing the Russians. I'll post less detailed reports as the situtation unfolds. At this stage I can only say that the 1st Panzer Armee is holding and the Germans have to worry only about the gaping hole in the east.
