1125_05: The Way to Urdom - PzC 09 Rzhev '42

Molodoi Tud, November 25th 1942: Maj Gen A.I. Zygin, commander of 39th Army, was preparing to launch this secondary attack with the main objective of capturing Olenino. Although his army lacked the mobile punch of the other four attacking armies, he possessed two capable tank brigades, one mechanized brigade and three tank regiments to accomplish his mission. With three Rifle Divisions, the 135th, 158th and 373rd, ready to breach the front line, he hoped to seize his initial objectives, including Urdom, before the Germans could assemble their reserves. A single German infantry division, the 206th, defended the entire line along the Molodoi Tud River. Zygin was informed by intelligence that elements of the 14.ID (mot) was in reserve in the Rzhev-Olenino area. Rumor had it that elements of the Gross Deutschland Infantry Division (mot) were also in the area, but were these rumors correct? The time is 10:00, the artillery preparation has abruptly stopped. It is time for the battle to be joined. [Size, medium]