September 1942

Eastern Front

Expecting the renewal of the German attack on the factory district, at 0600 hours Chuikov begins a spoiling attack in order to disrupt the German assault. While the 62nd Army tries to pin the Germans down, the 36th Guards Rifle Division of the 64th Army attempts to retake Kuporosnoye. After heavy fighting at 0800 hours, the Luftwaffe arrives over the city and begins to pound the Soviets, pinning down the 62nd Army. The 64th Army also fails to break the German positions. Furious attacks with aircraft and artillery strike the Mamayev Kurgan followed by and armored attack with 150 panzers upon the factory district. Throughout the morning, the 95th Rifle Division is almost wiped out on the Mamayev Kurgan, the Germans flailing away with the 100th Jaeger, 295th Infantry and 24th Panzer Divisions. By mid-afternoon, panzers penetrate to the western wall of the Red October factory, reaching the Banny Gully and southwestern corner of the Barrikady factory, where they are involved in heavy fighting. At dusk the 95th Rifle has been forced off the summit of Mamayev Kurgan and only holds the northern and eastern slopes.

The remnants of the 92nd Rifle Division disintegrate, allowing the Germans to reach the Volga on a 5-mile front south of the river. The 10th NKVD Division continues to fight on in the German rear south of the Tsaritsyn.

By the end of the day the 6th Army has bludgeoned its way a few hundred yards forward at a cost of 2,000 killed and 50 panzers destroyed. Chuikov calls upon the Southwest Front to support his hard pressed army. During the night the 193rd Rifle Division begins to cross the Volga, taking up positions in the Red October coke houses.

In the Caucasus, the 13th Panzer Division, 370th Infantry and the 5th SS Wiking Motorized Divisions fight their way into Elchetovo and capture the town. The Germans lack the strength to punch their way forward to Ordzhonikidzhe.