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PANZERS IN FINLAND II*
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Sturmgeschuetz Brigade 303 at Ihantala
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Date: June 27, 1944, 0600*                     
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Battle location:  Ihantala, Finland*
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Battle Type: Finland/German assault vs. USSR defend*
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Design by:  Zipuli*
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BACKGROUND:*
To stop the Soviet attack on Karelian Isthmus in summer 1944 Germans sent troops and equipment to aid Finland. Among these were new AT weapons, assault guns, Sturmgeschuetz Brigade 303 and Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey. These assets came in time to take part in the biggest battle fought on Finnish, or any other nordic country's soil.*
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StgBr303 was a battalion size unit, as all German Stg battalions were renamed brigades. The unit was quickly loaded into ships in Tallin, and was shipped to Helsinki, where due to too high speed or bad loading, the ship carrying most of the assault guns fell on its side and some vehicles sank in the harbour. From Helsinki the unit was quickly transfered to Karelian Isthmus, where the battle, that was to be known as Battle of Tali-Ihantala, was raging.*
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The Brigade, formed in Burg, late 1943, had seen action since January 1944 in area around Pskov. For example the third battery (company) had destroyed 46 Soviet tanks. For some reason the Finns usually describe the Brigade being rather ineffective in battle - something that may have been true, but unlikely.* 
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With the Brigade attached to Major General Lagus' Armoured Division, the Brigade saw action supporting Finnish infantry committed to ferocious counter-attacks to stop the Soviet steam roller. The Brigade's 2nd Battery (Oberleutnant Baldauf, 7 Stg IIIGs - the StuH platoon is missing) was ordered to support Osasto Forsberg (unit Forsberg) commanded by Eversti (Colonel) Vaino Forsberg. The unit consisted of troops from two battalions of JR48 (Infantry Regiment 48), and from one battalion of JR13.*
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ENEMY:*
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The enemy has pushed relentlessly towards Ihantala. They are only few kilometres south of it, actually! Their first infantry units have reached Marjamaki and have dug in. There has not yet been any signs of enemy tanks in this particular area. The enemy unit is supported by strong artillery.*
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OWN:*
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Osasto Forsberg will attack supported by the German assault guns along the Tali-Ihantala -road, destroy the enemy in Marjamaki, and take the Vakkila Crossroads. From there the unit will prepare to continue the attack towards Tali, heading south from Vakkila. H-Hour is 0600.*
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME:*
The attack begun 0600 in the morning of 27th June 1944, and made good progress, thanks to the German Stugs. The enemy positions at Marjamaki were taken after heavy fighting, though lost again for a short time when the Russians counter-attacked. The Germans quickly ran out of HE ammo and 5 vehicles headed back to refill - AP ammo was not used as enemy tanks did not take part in the fighting this time. One of the assault guns received a top hit near Nurmela, but managed to pull back on its own. The driver received a Medal of Freedom 1st Class from the Finns for this feat. The attack continued when the Germans returned to support, even as the Russian artillery kept the attackers constantly under fire. StgBr303 commander, Hauptmann Schrerer was wounded in Marjamaki. The Vakkila crossroad was reached in the evening, and Lagus ordered to continue the push to Talinmylly. The infantry unit was so exhausted and weakened in the attack that they could not continue, though the German assault guns were used to open the road. The forces then took defensive positions at Vakkila crossroad and the Stg Battery was transfered back to Ihantala for rest and repairs.*