Cavalry enters Krasnograd*
*
Series: 2nd Battle of Kharkov
*
_Soviet Union*
_____vs.*
__Germany*

*
Date: 16th of May, 1942*
0445 Hours*
Location: South of Kharkov*
*
Designed By: Ts4EVER*
*
Background 2nd Battle of Kharkov: Following the successful winter offensives in 1941, Stalin was keen to keep the pressure on the enemy, hoping to preempt another assault on Moscow with his own offensive. He was especially in favor of going on the offensive in the Kharkov sector, the city having fallen to the enemy in the summer of 1941. The attack was to be undertaken by the South-West-Front in a pincer movement, from the Barvenkovo salient and the Stariy Saltov bridgehead. Once massed artillery had broken through the German line, mobile group would be fed into the breaches to encircle AOK6 and reconquer Kharkov. However, due to supply issues, especially with artillery ammunition, as well as the undetected presence of German mobile reserves, the plan soon proved ill-advised...
*
*
Briefing: Having pushed back the enemy screening forces in front of the city and having crossed the river, a battalion of the 49th cavalry division is silently approaching the outskirts of Krasnograd from the north. Civilians have confirmed that the city is weakly held and a heavy artillery battery has taken up positions near the city center. You decide to launch a night attack, hoping to surprise and overwhelm the Germans. Considering the light armament of a cavalry division, it is of the utmost importance to seize the town in a coup de main and not get involved in a protracted siege or bloody urban combat.
*
*
The exact enemy force is unknown, but it appears the Germans have formed an ad hoc defensive grouping called "Sperrverband Ziegelmayer".
*
*
Historical Scenario, designed to be played as the Russians.
*
*
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
*
*
Historical outcome: Using the element of surprise, the Russian cavalry managed to overrun a German infantry company and parts of a 150mm artillery battery in the north-eastern part of Krasnograd. Dawn saw the German struggling to organize a counter attack from the improvised forces still in the town.