HSG EW1 Porsch Tank Killers - Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

18 April 1945 Seelowe, Germany The Soviet attack to take the Seelowe Heights has been successful. The Soviet spearheads, are far to the west of Seelowe now, moving ever closer to Berlin. All that remains is to clean up the small pockets that are holding out in the various rear areas. Seelowe itself has a pocket of resistance that just won't give up. The resistance is led by Untersturmfuhrer Porsch. He is the commander of the SS 500th Bewahrungs Battalion. This battalion has just recently been formed. They were specially trained to destroy tanks with hand held weapons, like the magnetic mine, the Panzerfaust and the Panzerschrek. They are a mobile unit having been issued bicycles to transport themselves and their equipment. The battalion was known as DORA II. DORA II was a thorn in the side of the Soviet command. They were still fighting in Seelowe and the Soviets wanted the town cleared. On 18 April they launched an attack that was to clear DORA II out of Seelowe. The operation started with a tank attack that included both T-34's and JS-II's. When that didn't work they added an infantry attack to carry the town.