HSGK Ring of Fire - Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

22 May 1942, Pesochnoe, which is due east of Kharkov, Russia The German attack on the south of the Barenkovo Salient began the 20th of May. The Soviets weren't caught completely by surprise. They had shifted both the 21st and 23rd Tank Corps into the area. What did catch the Soviets by surprise was the intensity of the attack and the fact that two Panzer Divisions where leading it. The 14th Panzer Division broke the front on the May 21st and began the exploitation phase of the operation with a deep penetration due north. The Germans were moving to create another pocket full of Soviet troops and tanks. The Soviet command moved to counter this threat. 64th Tank Brigade, of the 21st Tank Corp, was ordered to close the gap. If 21st Tank Corps couldn't stop the 14th Panzer Division the Germans would form another, "Ring of Fire"!