Battle report: The battle for the Vilno-Pskov Road

This climactic battle saw three German divisions (1st and 2nd Infantry Divisions and 1st Panzer Division) attacking a Russian force that comprised 1st Rifle Division and the remnants of 2nd Rifle Division and 1st Tank Corps. The latter two formations had received some replacements, none of which were of high quality, and some of the Russians units occupied hastily constructed field fortifications.

In light of the failure of the Russian troops to hold back the German invaders, the Russian leader had issued a 'Not one step back!' (Ни шагу назад!/Ni shagu nazad!) order, which meant that no Russian unit could retreat, whatever the circumstances.

The attackers

• 1st Infantry Division:
• General von Tarlenheim (Average; 6 SPs)
• 1st Divisional HQ (Average; 2 SPs)
• 1st Infantry Regiment (Average; 3 SPs)
• 2nd Infantry Regiment (Average; 3 SPs)
• 3rd Infantry Regiment (Average; 4 SPs)
• 1st Artillery Regiment (Average; 2 SPs + 2 SPs)
• 1st Anti-tank Battalion (Average; 2 SPs + 2SPs)
• Total strength: 26 SPs (equivalent to 13,000 men)
• Exhaustion Point: 9 SPs

• 2nd Infantry Division:
• General Sapt (Average; 6 SPs)
• 2nd Divisional HQ (Average; 2 SPs)
• 4th Infantry Regiment (Average; 4 SPs)
• 5th Infantry Regiment (Average; 4 SPs)
• 6th Infantry Regiment (Average; 4 SPs)
• 2nd Artillery Regiment (Average; 2 SPs + 2 SPs)
• 2nd Anti-tank Battalion (Average; 2 SPs + 2 SPs)
• Total strength: 28 SPs (equivalent to 14,000 men)
• Exhaustion Point: 10 SPs

• 1st Panzer Division:
• General Hentzau (Above average; 6 SPs)
• 4th Divisional HQ (Average; 2 SPs)
• 1st Armoured Car Battalion (Average; 2 SPs)
• 1st Panzer Regiment (Average; 3 SPs)
• 2nd Panzer Regiment (Average; 3 SPs)
• 7th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Average; 4 SPs + 3 SPs)
• 4th Artillery Regiment (Average; 2 SPs)
• 4th Panzerjager Battalion (Average; 2 SPs)
• Total strength: 27 SPs (equivalent to 13,500 men)
• Exhaustion Point: 9 SPs

The German total strength = 81 SPs (equivalent to 40,500 men).

The defenders

• 1st Rifle Division:
• DivCom Renko (Average; 6 SPs) [In overall charge of the Russian troops]
• 1st Divisional Reconnaissance Unit (Average; 1 SP)
• 1st Rifle Regiment (Average; 4 SPs)
• 2nd Rifle Regiment (Average; 4 SPs)
• 3rd Rifle Regiment (Average; 4 SPs)
• 1st Artillery Regiment (Average; 2 SPs + 2 SPs)
• 1st Anti-tank Battalion (Average; 2 SPs + 2 SPs)
• Total strength: 27 SPs (equivalent to 13,500 men)
• Exhaustion Point: 9 SPs

• 2nd Rifle Division:
• 4th Rifle Regiment (Poor; 4 SPs)
• 5th Rifle Regiment (Average; 4 SPs)
• 6th Rifle Regiment (Poor; 4 SPs)
• 2nd Artillery Regiment (Poor; 2 SPs + 2 SP)
• 2nd Anti-tank Battalion (Average; 2 SPs + 2 SPs)
• Total strength: 20 SPs (equivalent to 10,000 men)
• Exhaustion Point: 7 SPs

• 1st Tank Corps:
• 1st Armoured Car Regiment (Average; 2 SPs)
• 1st Tank Brigade (Average: 3 SPs)
• 2nd Tank Brigade (Poor; 3 SPs)
• Total strength: 8 SPs (equivalent to 4,000 men)
• Exhaustion Point: 3 SPs

The Russian total strength = 55 SPs (equivalent to 27,500 men). [Any unit that has been reconstituted or received 50% or more replacement personnel have been downgraded.]

The battlefield

A map of the battlefield.

A photograph of the battlefield.

The disposition of the opposing forces

The Russian defenders were located as shown on the following map:

A map of the battlefield showing the locations of the Russian defenders.

A photograph of the battlefield showing the locations of the Russian defenders.

Note: Because of the sheer size of this battle in comparison with the earlier two, I have not produced a detailed blow-by-blow account. Instead, I have fought each turn and then summarised the events in a short description and in the the captions for each image.

Turn 1: The attack by the 1st Infantry Division begins

It had been decided that 1st Infantry Division should begin the process of destroying the remaining Russian forces on the Vilno-Pskov Road. As a result, they mounted their attack from the north-western (top left-hand) corner of the battlefield.

The leading elements of 1st Infantry Division advance onto the battlefield.

The Russian 1st and 2nd Tank Brigades immediately move forward to counter-attack, but inflict no casualties on the German attackers.

A photograph of the battlefield showing the situation at the end of Turn 1.

Turn 2: The 1st Infantry Division blunts the Russian counter-attack and the 2nd Infantry Division begins their attack

The 1st Infantry Division immediately engaged the oncoming Russian 1st and 2nd Tank Brigades.

The counter-attack by the Russian 1st and 2nd Tank Brigades meets with some success, but the 1st Tank Brigade suffers two-thirds casualties in the process. The German 1st Anti-tank Battalion is caught in the flank by the 2nd Tank Brigade, and is reduced to 50% effectiveness.

Whilst the 1st Infantry Division's attack began to develop, the 2nd Infantry Division mounted their attack from the eastern side of the battlefield.

The 4th and 5th Infantry Regiments engage the foremost Russian units (1st Divisional Reconnaissance Unit and 1st Anti-tank Battalion) in close combat.

Despite being in a complex of field defences, the 1st Divisional Reconnaissance Unit is overrun by 5th Infantry Regiment, which immediately engages the 1st Anti-tank Battalion in the flank. The latter has already been mauled by the 4th Infantry Regiment, and is wiped out by the German attack.

A photograph of the battlefield showing the situation at the end of Turn 2.

Turn 3: The 1st Infantry Division attack is stalled whilst the fighting in the south intensifies

The Russian counter-attack continued, and although the Russian 1st and 2nd Tank Brigades were effectively destroyed, the 1st Infantry Division suffered significant casualties.

The Russian 1st and 2nd Tank Brigades are destroyed in the fighting with the 1st Infantry Division, but in the process, they overrun and destroy the 1st Anti-tank Battalion and inflict casualties on  1st Infantry Regiment. For the moment, this effectively stalls the continued advance of the 1st Infantry Division.

The 1st Armoured Car Regiment takes up a position astride the bridge over the river.

The 2nd Infantry Division continued its attack, but began to find that the Russian defences were much stronger than anticipated. Casualties began to mount on both sides, and by this stage in the battle, the Germans had already suffered more casualties than they had in their previous battles.

The 4th and 5th Infantry Regiments begin their attacks on the main Russian defences ... and find them far more difficult to overcome than they expected. The 2nd Artillery Regiment arrives, and it is hoped that they will soon be able to give much-need fire support to the attacking infantry, but it is doubtful that the Russian artillery (the 1st Artillery Regiment) on the nearby hill is not going to engage the Germans with counter-battery fire.

A photograph of the battlefield showing the situation at the end of Turn 3.

By this point in the fighting, the Russians had lost 13 SPs (equivalent to 6,500 men) and the German had lost 8 SPs (equivalent to 4,000 men).

Turn 4: The fighting turns into a slogging match

Realising that a swift victory was not possible, the Germans began to consolidate their position, and adopted slower and more deliberate tactics.

Using the remnants of  the 1st and 2nd Infantry Regiments to guard their left flank from any possible Russian attack, the 1st Infantry Division begin to bombard the nearest Russian defences. At the same time, the 3rd Infantry Regiment moves forward on the Division's right flank.

Having suffered casualties trying to assault the Russian defences with a head-on attack, the 2nd Infantry Division pulls back its leading infantry regiments and the 2nd Artillery Regiment begins to bombard the 1st Artillery Regiment atop the nearby hill. The exchange of artillery fire reduces the 1st Artillery Regiment to 50% effectiveness, whilst the 2nd Artillery Regiment suffers no casualties whatsoever.

A photograph of the battlefield showing the situation at the end of Turn 4.

Turn 5: The slogging match continues

Whilst the German and Russian artillery seek to gain ascendancy over their opponents, the 3rd Infantry Regiment continues to insinuate its way forward.

In the northern part of the battlefield, the 1st Artillery Regiment and 2nd Artillery Regiment engage in counter-battery fire to little effect ....

... whereas at the southern end, the 2nd Artillery Regiment manages to eliminate the 1st Artillery Regiment.

Under cover of the artillery exchange, the 3rd Infantry Regiment uses the woods to mask their move forward.

A photograph of the battlefield showing the situation at the end of Turn 5.

Turn 6: The slow process of wearing down the defenders continues

The artillery duel in the north continues, and in the south the Germans gradually begin to whittle away at the Russian defences.

The duel between the 1st Artillery Regiment and the 2nd Artillery Regiment sees both side suffer casualties.

The strength of the defenders is gradually eroded by the superior firepower of the German infantry and their artillery support.

A photograph of the battlefield showing the situation at the end of Turn 6.

By this point in the fighting, the Russians had lost 22 SPs (equivalent to 11,000 men) and passed their Exhaustion Point, and the German had lost 12 SPs (equivalent to 6,000 men).

Turn 7: The beginning of the end

In the north, 1st Artillery Regiment fires at the 2nd Artillery Regiment, to no effect.

In the south, the 2nd Artillery Regiment's fire destroyed the last remnant of the 2nd Rifle Regiment in the nearby woods.

The Russian defences in the south are about to collapse after the destruction of the 2nd Rifle Regiment.

DivCom Renko is aware that the Germans are close to breaking through his defences in the south, and resolves to move his troops back to the bridge. He orders the 2nd Rifle Division to leave its current positions and 'realign' in the direction of the bridge over the river.

The 2nd Rifle Division begins its retreat towards the bridge.

Seeing the enemy withdrawing, the Germans mount major attacks in the northern and southern sectors of the battlefield.

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Infantry Regiments engage the retreating/'realigning' Russian 2nd Rifle Division, and destroy the 4th Rifle Regiment and the 2nd Artillery Regiment in the process. During the firefight with the 4th Rifle Regiment, DivCom Renko is killed.

Whilst the remaining soldiers of the 4th Infantry Regiment and 3rd Rifle Regiment  fight for possession of a section of the Russian defences, the 5th and 6th Infantry Regiments attack the 1st Rifle Regiment that is defending the woods.

At this point, the leading tanks of 1st Panzer Division appear from the west, precipitating a Russian surrender.

The arrival of the tank of 1st and 2nd Panzer Regiments in the rear of the retreating 2nd Rifle Division, coupled with the death of DivCom Renko, causes all the remaining Russian units to surrender.

A photograph of the battlefield showing the situation at the end of Turn 7.

The final tally

The Germans had completed the destruction of the Russian forces opposing them, and the road to Pskov was now open for them to advance ... but the cost of the victory had been high. Overall, the Germans had lost 14 SPs (equivalent to 7,000 men and approximately a quarter of all the German troops involved in the fighting), and only one of its infantry regiments was still at full strength. An anti-tank battalion would need to be replaced, and an artillery regiment was down to half its original strength. Both the 1st and 2nd Infantry Divisions would need time to recover, and although the 1st Panzer Division was at full strength, the infantry was needed to hold and defend any gains that had been achieved. They also had a large number of prisoners to process as well as stocks of captured equipment to deal with.

The Russian had lost two rifle division and a tank corps (equivalent to 21,000 men) ... but these could be replaced in a matter of weeks. The replacements would probably no be as well trained or equipped as the lost formations. but as the 'Boss' once aid, 'quantity has a quality all of its own'.