HSG KH3 Rear Guard - Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

11 February, 1943, Petschenegi, Russia In February the Soviets were in the middle of Operation Star. Operation Star was an extension of Operation Gallop. The goal of Operation Gallop was to drive the Germans from the Donbas. The goal of Operation Star was the liberation of Kharkov. An ambitious undertaking. The Red Army was tired and had taken heavy losses in Operation Gallop. There was only a brief period between the end of Operation Gallop and the beginning of Operation Star. Not enough time to allow for the resupply of units and the arrival of replacements. In the southern sector General Rybalko's 3rd Tank Army was advancing. They were pushing the 1st SS Panzer Grenadier Division "Leibstandte-SS-Adolf Hitler" in front of them. The 15th Tank Corps had crossed the Donets and forced the LAH to abandon it's positions around the village of Petschenegi. The 12th Tank Corps was also advancing in LAH's sector down the Rogan road. LAH withdrew under the pressure of the two Tank Corps. They were trying to set up a defense that they could hold. The SS commanders decided to fight for the town of Rogan.