March 1943

Eastern Front

The 4th Panzer Army unleashes a furious attack that destroys further remnants of the 3rd Tank Army near Krasnograd. Units of the XLVIII Panzer Corps attack at Taranovka while the SS pushes the tank army cavalry back. The 3rd Tank Army has lost more than 12,000 killed and over 60 tanks, 200 arty pieces and 600 motor vehicles during its bloody battle with the German panzer corps.

As the thaw draws ever closer the Germans rush to redeploy to continue their drive upon Kharkov. Gen Kempf concentrates his forces west of Krasnograd, deploying the 3 infantry divisions of Corps Raus along the Psel south of Valki, and placing the refreshed Grossdeutschland Division at Chudovo. Grossdeutschland is to prise apart the remnants of the 3rd Tank and 69th Armies while the infantry hit 40th Army at Akhtyrka. The newly reconstituted VII Corps, on the southern wing of the 2nd Army, will also push along the Psel River with its 3 infantry divisions.