SOLITAIRE ASL - With Rostov lost, 1st Panzer Army had to withdraw to defensible positions. Wiking was given the order to cover that withdrawal. This meant a lot of ground had to be covered : Nordland was responsible for more than 40 km of frontage! Alte Fritz kept 15. Kompanie in reserve but had to put them in action after 2nd Battalion was engulfed. After helping the Battalion, the motorcyclists clung onto the town, with Untersturmführer Friedel being wounded, until all elements of Nordland had withdrawn. Obersturmführer Klapdor was the last German to quit Astachovo. Retreating from the village the columns were struck by artillery causing even more losses.
