HSG EW SS Eagles - Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

8 February 1945, Ziegenhagen, East Prussia The Soviet offensives continue to roll westward. Each new offensive takes them closer to the Oder River and Berlin. Here just to the east of the Oder River near Stargard the Russians are pressing the attack. The village of Reetz has been lost and there is fighting for Jacobshagen as well. A twenty-two year old Untersturmfuhrer is given the order to advance to the villages of Ziegenhagen and Klein-Silber and cut off the reported Russian advance. What an incredible mission! Untersturmfuhrer Fritz Kauerauf, was assigned to the SS sPzAbt. 503. Even so, he was to do this feat of magic with only four armored vehicles. The Russian advance to the Oder River was being made by the 2nd Belorussian Front units. The 61st Army was in the process of surrounding the defenders in Arnswald. Kauerauf's call sign was "Alder I" or "Eagle I". Early on the morning of 8 February, the small SS KG moved out towards Ziegenhagen to stop the advance of an entire Army. The SS Eagles are about to fly.