1 Oct 1941
I have no idea what passed for reconnaissance ahead of our deployment to the jumping-off points, but whatever effort were made weren't good enough. The Soviets, far from being in headlong retreat from our advance, had consolidated and had drawn up a substantial armoured corps within a couple of hours of our deployment zones near Kharkov, prompting an immediate order for 3 Panzer and 25 Infanterie to adopt a robust, combined front and prepare for a measured advance that could easily pivot to a short-term defensive posture.
3 Oct 1941
Supported by air assets, 3 Panzer and 25 Infanterie have remained cohesive and suffered low casualties whilst blunting the Soviet armoured attack. Corps remains confident in the timetable.
Meanwhile, 10 Panzer has reported contact with another Soviet tank corps in its sector west of Stalino, including T34s. I am proud that my humble administrative and liaison work to ensure delivery of our new self-propelled PaK 50s has provided both 10 Panzer and 49 Motorised further south with the means to defend themselves against this threat more effectively.
4 Oct 1941
The Soviets continue to fight bravely to stop our advance before its really begun, but some room for manuever has opened up for 10 Panzer thanks to the seasoned gunners of its panzerjaeger abteilung and their improved PaKs. Who knows what their situation would be like if they were relying on their outclassed PzJgr 1Bs to stop the onslaught?
Nearer Kharvov, Soviet tanks have broken off from their engagement with 10 Panzer and have put the stoic landsers of 25 Infanterie under pressure.
5 Oct 1941
Both of the Corps' panzer divisons have reported success against the Soviets today and it appears that the red tank units are reaching the end of their endurance.
The remaining enemy armour in the 25 Inf / 3 Pz sector is falling back into Kharkov in poor order:
6 Oct 1941
25 Infanterie - that least glamorous but most reliable division - reports the successful capture of Kharkov.
10 Oct 1941
Following action to capture Belgorod, the plan to move mobile units across the steppe was put into action. However, the bruckenpionieres were not able to deploy their bridging equipment after having mobilised on their motorised transport; this was a major blow to operations and something we weren't prepared for. An assortment of unarmoured Red units had indeed been kept in reserve east of the river near Izyum.
15 Oct 1941
Following some routine tactical situations around Izyum, Stalino and Mariupol - all quite lightly defended, as the enemy now seems to have expended it's offensive strength, assault units are moving into position to start the final push into Rostov. The situation here is complicated by the fact that a sizeable, fortified emplacement in the SE of the city up against the bend of the river is going to make any attempt to encircle the city or capture the airfield too costly and too time consuming to attempt. The Stukas of StG 3 that have rebased at Stalino frustratingly report that this Soviet strongpoint is just beyond their operational range!
17 Oct 1941
4 days ahead of schedule, the coup de grace is about to be delivered in the heart of Rostov. Shelling the troublesome fortifications around the airfield into submission (or obliteration) will be the next order of business whilst the combat divisions recuperate and reorganise in readiness for the next orders from OKH.
