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[Toten Tanz]

From the Regimental Combat Diary of the 28th/18 Panzer Regiment, Col Eckhardt (Toten Tanz) commanding

Date: July 3, 1941
Location: Lipki, Belarus
Weather: Clear with a slight haze, visibility good.
Entry Time: 12.30 hours (Turn 6)


The Btl guns of 88th/18 Recon Btl fired two missions in support of the defense of Stayki. The results were ineffectual.

Seeing the exposed Russian infantry, estimated to be of comapny strength, Cpt. Gebhard ordered all units forward. Advancing through the now burning Stayki, set alight by the burning tanks, the Regimental objectives in the village were secured. The PzIVs of 3 Co, I/28 Pz suppressed the enemy infantry, while the tanks from 1 Co. assaluted them. Approx. 80 enemy were Killed or wounded, and 40 captured. A BT-7 was also destroyed in the renewed attack. The surviving Russian units; an understrengthed rifle platoon and 2 machine gun sections, retreated some 500m to the SE along the main road. Two T-34s fired upon the Light Plt, 5 Co, II/28, destroying 2 PzIIs.

After destroying the enemy infantry and the loss of 5 Co's. tanks, Cpt. Gebhard consolidated his postion, some 500m E/SE of Stayki, against attack by the remaing Russian armor to his front. Cpt. Gebhard called for an airstrike on the exposed Russian tanks. He also sent the Russian PWs to the rear under the guard of men from HQ Co, I/28Pz, which had moved forward, into Stayki.

SE of Lipki, after 1 Plt rejoined it, 5 Co. II/28Pz formed a defensive line on the lower reaches of Lipki Ridge. From it's vantage point, it could see any Russian units advancing along the ridge. 2 Co. I/28 Pz formed a defensive line along the edge of the fields E of Lipki. The AT assets in the Lipki area were realigned to meet the expected Russian attacks.

The company commander of 3 Co, 88th/18 Recon Btl prepared his unit for an expected attack by the unseen T-26s. He placed his AT assets in a favorable ambush positon and waited.

The exposed Russian tanks fired at Capt. Gebhard's forces, destroying a PZIII from 2 Plt., 1 Co. I/28 Pz and a PzII from the Light Plt. of 4 Co, II/Pz. They then retreated along the road to Novosady Station.

5 Co. II/28Pz observed Russian armor, 10 T-34s, massing at the upper elevations of Lipki Ridge, along the Moscow Motor Hiway. Intantry was also observed taking up positions in the woods 1500 to the SE of Lipki. The Russian armor that had been seen coming S from Pogodista was observed traversing the high ground to the E of Lipki.

German Losses:
4 x PzIIF
12 x PzIII of various models
1 x Pz IV
Cpt. Fegelien - KIA

Russian Losses:
16 x BT-7
2 x T-34M40
8 x Trucks
10 x BA-20
26 x Inf Squads (approx 200-KIA/WIA 40-PW)