22nd PZD - Brigade Groddek2 - Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

Title: 22nd PZD - Brigade Groddek2: HtH Version Type: Axis Blocking Action Date: 12 May 1942, 1000 hours Location: Saraymin, 25km SW of Kerch, East Crimea Region: South Weather: Clear, Warm Terrain: Town, Rural Hills/Woods, Damp Ground Wind: Breeze ENE Turns: 25+

Author: William 'Renaud' Bird

Note: Battle #4 of the 22nd PZD series. (This version playable only Head-to-Head, see Groddeck1 for Axis vs. AI)

Background: It has been four days since the start of Operation TrappenJagd ('Bustard Hunt'), General Manstein's 11th Army offensive in East Crimea. On day 1, 30 Corp Infantry, supported by artillery and the entire VIII Air Corp, broke through the Parpach defenses. The 11th Army mobile reserve, consisting of the 'Groddek Brigade' and 22nd Panzer Division, was committed on day 2. While the 22nd PZD wheeled north toward the Sea of Azov to encircle the Soviet 51st Army, the unique 'Groddek' mechanized brigade raced east with the mission of blocking any Soviet retreat to Kerch and preventing the establishment of new defensive lines behind the ancient 'Tartar Ditch'. The 24th Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion of the 22nd PZD is one of the German units assigned to Brigade Groddek.

Despite heavy rains the night of the 9th, Brigade Groddek makes good time and reaches Saraymin by the 11th, but is unsuccessful in capturing the town. Colonel Radu Korne, leader of the majority Romanian contingent and 2nd in command, is lightly wounded in the action. On the 12th and morning of the 13th Brigade Groddek defends positions nearby the town in an effort to control the Kerch-Saraymin road traffic. Numerous Soviet infantry divisions and mechanized units are attempting to retreat east toward Kerch through Saraymin.

Historical note: On the 14th Colonel Groddek was mortally wounded in the attack on Ortaely and Col. Korne assumed command. Later that day the Brigade linked up with the 132nd infantry division at Kamish Burun, a few kilometers south of Kerch.

References: 1. Lost Victories, the war memoirs of Field Marshal Erich von Manstein. 2. Map of East Crimea: cartography department of the Russian military topography corps, Moscow 1920 3. I. Moshchansky, A. Savin, "Bor'ba za Krym. Sentyabr' 1941 - Iyul 1942.", Voyennaya Letopis', #1, 2002 4. http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com 5. http://www.feldgrau.com 6. http://www.worldwar2.ro

Renaud 11.13.05 [email protected]