What's left of the Russian bridgehead on the western of the Volga is reduced to a narrow strip of terrain. Between the Barrikady and the Red October factories, the German assault groups were only 400 meters from the Volga, and already threaten the crosing of the Soviet reinforcementc from the eastern bank. To buy time, Lt.-General Chuikov (62nd Army) decides to launch a counterattack with three salvaged wrecked tanks and about fifty riflemen from various HQs and sanitary units.
