KHARKOV ’43 GRAND CAMPAIGN---Day 1
Where is Mobile Group Popov?!?!
Day one saw the anticipated assault/advance by the Russian Hordes in the center…but nary a whisper of the Russian exploitation forces (3 motorized infantry Battalions did show up at Slavynansk)…multiple recon flights found nothing…where are they?
North Front
This front was static on the first day…should be quiet today as well…unless something goes wrong with Grossdeutschland to the east…
Northeast
On the northern flank of the Grossdeutschland, the Fusilier regiment fell back most of the day, conducting local counterattacks as dusk fell. The object of these were to free up units that become trapped by Russian units.
South of the Fusilier regiment, the Grenadier regiment fell back as well, withdrawing north of Budarka. We must make a decision whether to hold here for a day or keep moving west…the Russian 69th Army has been pushing hard on our heals all day! The recon battalion of 2nd SS PZG should fall back on Budarka proper with little problem...
South of Budarka, the Deutschland regiment of 2nd SS PZG is falling back in good order…very little enemy action here on the first day…we are a bit faster than the Russians and have created some space, plus the fact that there does not seem to be a major Russian probe in this area…yet! The bulk of the regiment will continue to fall back on the divisional headquarters at Ol’khovatka.
We have pushed the Der Fuhrer regiment of 2nd SS PZG east to Verilkiy Burlok, hoping to counterattack the northern flank of 3rd Tank Army, slowing it down.
The Russians have recon elements as far north Shipovatoye, blocking the retreat of two regiments of the 298th INF division…so we plan on using the Der Fuhrer regiment to counterattack southeast from Verilkiy Burlok to blunt the Russian sword a bit. The flanks of the thrust will be held by elements of the Deutschland regiment in the Vyselok area and the 526th & 527th regiments of the 298th along the main highway…they have a stretch of good defensive terrain to anchor their line. This is a bit risky so approval from Heerresgruppe Don/Sud is still pending…
Center Front
The poor 6th SS Polizei RGT has almost ceased to exist…only 3 companies are left, trapped northeast of the 298th. While the 526th & 527th (mentioned earlier and shown below again have their retreat route blocked, the 525th is retreating in good order west towards Staroverovka…the catch being that there is a 20+ Km gap between them and the rest of the division. Not sure what will happen here as day 2 unfolds. This is the main hesitation for launching the Der Fuhrer counterattack…the Russians could shoot through the Novonikolayevka gap, turn north and catch all of the 526th & 527th regiments, and by extension, the Der Fuhrer regiment in a trap.
The day appeared to be going well for the 585th regiment of the 320th INF division, falling back in good order west towards Poveykovka…but as midnight approached, mobile units of the Russian 6th Army appeared behind them…so it does not look good. The STUG-IIIg’s of the divisions recon battalion are the only blocking force on the main highway at this moment. South of the highway, several companies of the regiment are moving west slowly…
Center-South Front
The 320th INF Division’s 586th regiment is falling back on Kun’ye and Chervona-Dolina…very little enemy action here today, just some elements of the 106th Rifle Brigade showing up by late afternoon.
South of the 586th’s retreat, the critical crossroads at Izyum has been turned into a “fortress city”. The 587th regiment from the 320th arrived by dusk to reinforce the 619th reserve regiment of the 382nd Feld Aus division. The decision was made to hold this city since the retreat routes southwest from Izyum move through terrain easily reachable by the Russians and northwest is difficult terrain to move through.
Southeast Front
This sector has was our only bright spot on the first day…7th Panzer held Slavyansk, with elements of 4th GDS Tank Gorp (part of Mobile Group Popov) & 197th Rifle division showing up in the northern outskirts in early afternoon…they pushed 1 km into the city but no worries yet.
To the east, 19th & 27th Panzer pushed north. 19th Pz had considerable success…trapping 3 battalions south of the river and mauling the rest of the 52nd Rifle Division, throwing it back across the Donets.
By late afternoon the river crossing was secured (The Russians engineers tore down the bridge) and the bulk of the 19th Pz slid east to support the under-staffed 27th. Terrain is against us here…there is a ridge with scant defensive terrain. We secured the hill but became engaged with 2 Guards Rifle Divisions opposite us, neither side gaining advantage. With our repulse of the 52nd to the west, they slowed their advance and did not push south by early afternoon… we will see what the morning brings.
Here is the strategic overview...I could only include 10 images in the day 1 update