The three rifle sections traveled nearly a day and a night in a northwesterly direction to their assigned city assault. Captain Borovkov pushed his Russian command with the promise of three days rest at the end of the assigment. His depleted rifle platoon was attached to a few T-34 tanks, to replace lost tank riders, as they secured another German city. Tank Commander Andrei's three T-34s provided mobile artillery support against any enemy strong points. The regiment was in reserve and was absorbing new replacements that came in that day. It was quiet nearly all afternoon, only a few small arms fired at them during the day. Yet, that Spring day in 1945 developed into an East Prussian Nightmare.
Section leader Sergey had heard no German counterattacks were anticipated in this sector. The rumor was the same within Alexandre's 2nd rifle section and Florov's 3rd rifle section. But some weak resistance was expected in the heart of the ruined city, along its river front. Captain Borovkov's job was to drive out any remaining organized resistance from the city's center. The German infantry, under Leutnant Martin, were under orders to hold the soviets at the river. Martin told his squad leaders, Feldwebel Frederick (1st Squad), Feldwebel Bormann (2nd squad) and Cpl. Herdelberger (3rd squad) that it was a brassy plan to hold the city's bridge with eighteen men. No support was available to stiffen their defense, both a material and manpower shortage existed everywhere.
As Captain Borovkov lead his dismounted troops through the city's rubbled remains, Feldwebel Bormann moved his MG42 gunner into a suitable firing position to cover the bridge. The light machine gun was set up on the second floor of a ruined building, overlooking the graveyard left of the bridge. In the graveyard a large stone wall pressed against the elevated river bank hiding the rest of Bormann's men. Frederick's 1st squad lined the wall of the destroyed cathedral, also overlooking the riverbank and adjacent to Bormann's position. Cpl. Herderlberger's men were hidden just right of the bridge, hugging the protection of a low stone wall on the river bank. In short, this last minute defensive action seemed a pretty desperate situation to Leutnant Martin.
Feldwebel Bormann put a sudden burst of fire across the river into Alexandre's 2nd rifle section that was climbing into a large ruined apartment complex. Immediately two of Heir Bormann's six men jammed their guns, cursing the shortage of lubricants. Alexandre's men dropped prone in the rubble's cover and returned rifle fire with no effect. Tank Commander Andrei's three buttoned up T-34s roar toward the contested city center, each seeking to cover the infantry advance with machine gun fire (but fail to spot their opponents). One of the T-34's rolled into the cover of a ruined house overlooking the river as Sergey's 1st section advanced into it. Both Sergrey's lead rifleman and LMG spot movement across their front, contemptuously raking the wall covering Cpl. Herdelberger's men.
Tank number three raced behind a low wall section of the apartment complex and pivoted its 75mm gun to cover the cathedral. Alexandre's LMG scornfully jumped on the tank to get it to direct fire at the graveyard rather than the cathedral. The frustrated tank commander can't seem to spot any of the Germans; he popped the command hatch open to talk with the fearless infantryman, and a chorus of German fire focused on the apartment complex and tank commander The MP44 assault rifle clipped the tank commander. He cravenly dropped into the tank and shouted to the crew, "at least five panzerfausts are aimed at us, get us out of this town!" The shocked German LMG jumped for cover.
A street over, Sergrey's 1st section poured fire into Cpl. Herdelberger and a companion. The wounded corporal became a heroic leader that day, spraying Sergrey's men with deadly fire; but, the other German soldier fled the field with his panzerfaust. The rest of Herdelberger's men jammed their rifles, in a shocking repeat of what was befalling the graveyard squad. Sergrey still ost two riflemen in the fire fight with Cpl. Herdelberger. In the ruined house Sergrey decided to crawl forward ( along the T-34/75) to direct the LMG's fire. The 75mm main gun fired on German's behind the low stone wall, wounding Herdelberger and killing the squad member with the MP44.
From its position on the road Commander Andrei's T-34/85 fired its bow machine gun on the graveyard with no effect. A series of main gun shots on the graveyard wound Feldwebel Bormann, manage to craven the squad's Panzerfaust holder and cause Sgt. Steiner to totally disregard all danger for the rest of the action. Steiner howled with rage at the intense HE fire; selectively, he aimed a SMG at the brave German LMG gunner in the apartment complex (with no effect) across the river. Alexandre's 2nd rifle section and Florov's 3rd rifle section continue suppressing the remainder of the graveyard Germans. Frederick's lst squad in the destroyed cathedral continue in their attempt to savage the Soviets in the apartment complex; and, Bortnann's MG42 gunner just can't unjam his weapon.
Cpl. Herdelberger's squad was effectively pinned down but its heroic leader braved death, as he shot his last panzerfaust into tank number two. The anti-tank round struck the front turret causing total destruction of the T-34/75. Segrey and his remaining men were all prone next to the tank and their spirits broke with the sudden removal of their tank support.
Commander Andrei was in the sole remaining tank. The imprudent Commander proceeded to cross the bridge with the T-34/85, incensed at the blunted Soviet thrust. Until now the Russians were concerned German mines existed on the bridge. Andrei found out the truth once across. The bridge wasn't mined. Meanwhile, what was left of Herdelberger's squad bolted at the approach of Andrei's tank. They prudently darted down the length of the low river wall, away from the bridge.
In the cathedral, one brave sole moved for a shot at the tank. Whereas, Steiner was the only German left in the graveyard. Since the graveyard was surrounded by a stone wall he felt fairly secure until he saw the tank move. Amazingly, Sgt. Steiner ran from cover to grab a fallen panzerfaust. His dash attracted intense fire from the two Russian squads in the ruined apartment complex (nothing hit Steiner). This was an obvious Iron Cross performance. A critical moment in history, supported by ineffective cover fire from the cathedral rubble and Bormann's LMG, stationed in the two story building, behind the graveyard.
Suddenly, a panzerfaust rang out from Frederick's 1st squad. It was a long shot from the cathedral but the German defense was breached. The T-34 bad to be stopped before the sovict infantry could join it. A prayer rose from the cathedral's hall but faith wasn't enough. The failed shot on the tank didn't phase Steiner as he lifted the last German Panzerfaust. He aimed and shot true. "It was amazingly simple", said Steiner later, "once the T-34 on the bridge brewed the Soviet infantry lost heart."
Thanks to WarHawk Hobbies in Rockford, IL for hosting this game. The scenario and rules offered us great fun. Kevin Readman-Iowa City
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© Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum
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