Istya's Bridge ETO (id:#58501)

On All Fronts (On All Fronts # 72 ID: O72.1)   [next]   [previous]

Verabyi, Istya River, USSR 1941-10-16 (3 others)

Overview:

It was 60 miles to Moscow. The Protva River was crossed without difficulty. They kept moving. They were aiming at Verabyi on the Istya river. The bridge was intact. The crossing was furiously defended by a Soviet anti-tank gun. "All weapons, fire—and get across that bridge," von Werthern radioed to his unit commanders. They had just cleared the bridge when a Soviet anti-tank gun, emplaced to the left of the steep bank, caught them. There was a crash, and the tank filled with smoke. "We're getting out!" Second Lieutenant Range ordered. They all managed to clamber out of the tank and leap into the ditch. They saw the second tank receive a direct hit and burst into flames. Only the commander got out. But already the third was crossing the bridge, swiveling its turret to 10 o'clock and firing. A direct hit on the Soviet anti-tank gun. In the teeth of Russian artillery fire from the edge of the forest a tractor with an 8.8-cm. antiaircraft gun raced over the bridge. It went into position and at once opened fire at the Russian batteries. All right so far. Werthern's 1st Company established a bridgehead in the face of furious Russian opposition. The Russian troops were officer cadets who fought with unbelievable bravery, time and again attacking the German tanks at close quarters.

Defender: Russian (Cadets of Military College)  

Errata (source)