As the panzer regiment and its supporting elements were finishing taking up their positions, the hum of multiple aircraft engines was heard approaching from the west. Soon, approximately a regiment-worth of heavy bombers flew over the German unit. Believing them to be their own aircraft, the German flak gunners did not even unlimber their cannon. However, very soon red stars became clearly visible on the wings of the large aircraft. Fortunately for the surprised Germans, they were not the intended target of the Soviet bombers, who continued droning on towards the east as if not even noticing German forces concentrated directly below them.[16] It was also possible that the Soviet bomber force was returning to their home airfield after expanding their entire payload on other targets.
Advancing with its two battalions abreast in line, the 15th Panzer Regiment moved on to Radekhov. As the German panzers crept closer, they were met with intense defensive fire of several batteries of Soviet artillery, drawing out the noise of tank engines. Supporting their infantry, a dozen Soviet tanks entered the fray:
Overall, majority of [15th] Regiment for the time being had only the hostile infantry opposing it; however, part of the 1st Battalion… had to contend with the Russian tanks. Soon, three enemy vehicles went up in flames. Unfortunately, a [tank] of the 1st Kompanie had its turrett shot away. Feldwebel Hans Albrecht was mortally wounded during this incident.[17]
Still, despite spirited opposition, the Germans broke into Radekhov. Under mounting German pressure, the survivors of the Soviet force abandoned town and retreated south and southwest.
Pursuing the Soviets out of the town, the main body of the 15th Panzer Regiment halted between Radekhov and a hill to its southwest. Schrodek picks up the story:
The area to the south continued to rise gently and was visible for a couple of kilometers. A group of volunteers went forward to scout out the intentions of enemy forces. Lieutenant von Renesse, Commander of 2nd Platton/5th Company led the scouting party composed of all five [tanks] of the 2nd Plt, three of them armed with 5cm (Short) cannons, and the other two with 3,7cm cannons. One of the 3,7cm KwK cannons was non-operational, but to participate was everything. They formed up in wedge and moved forward….
Less than 100 meters before the highway, which runs transverse to it and is not visible from the staging area, the 2nd Platoon halted and sent out its first situation report. There was nothing special to report; so far everything was running smoothly, and apart from several enemy infantrymen, nothing was seen. The transmission hardly over, engine noises [arose] from right of the road leading into a small forest.
Watch out!—then the Soviets come.
A tank comes in sight and a second one perhaps 50 meters behind it, than a third and finally a fourth follow. It is not clear what type of tank it is. Watching the tanks, the men of the scout detachment completely get off the road….
The Russians did not see the German vehicles and continued down the road without decreasing speed. Can our combat vehicles hold against them? As an enemy panzer came exactly opposite vehicles from 2nd Platoon, Sergeant Schrodek, the gunner on platoon leader’s vehicle (vehicle #21) sent off his first armor-piercing round with his best regards at the Russians. All other vehicles of the platoon also opened fire.
Even though at this short distance every shot was a hit, the Russians drove on without much visible effect. For God’s sake, were the Russians so superior that they could only be affected by their own tank guns?
Only the rapid fire and repeated hits got the reactions from Russians, who turned around and quickly retreated from where they come from.
“Second platoon, come on!—Second platoon, come on!”
While the one-sided combat was fading away and the enemy tanks were still followed by some shells, the platoon leader received a call over the radio. He finally acknowledged it and reported: “Found ourselves in combat with four enemy tanks. Type unknown, not indicated on recognition tables. Despite repeated hits, our fire had no effect. It appears as if shells are simply bouncing off. The enemy tanks disengaged without fight and retreated. Are we to push on? Please advise.”
The 2nd Platoon received instructions to return as soon as possible. The men of the reconnaissance detachment were only happy to follow the instructions, because it did not appeal to them to follow the enemy who shrugged off the well-placed hits without effect.
Significant in this minor exchange of gunfire was the appearance of the new Soviet T-34 tanks. This was one of the earliest references to the arrival of T-34s. Amazement and anxiety experienced by German tankers at the sight of these new machines was clearly demonstrated in Sergeant Schrodek’s description.
The Soviets did not pursue Lieutenant von Renesses’s detachment, and his men had a chance to refuel their tanks and replenish the ammunition, and even catch a quick cat-nap. The lull in action did not last long, shredded by a Soviet artillery barrage, as short as it was ineffective. Coming on the heels of the artillery was the main Soviet push of the 10th Tank Division from the XV Mechanized Corps. Once again, Sergeant Schrodek tells the story:
A divisional reconnaissance plane—a Fiesseler Storch—flew over the regiment and threw out a message in the proximity of regimental commander Lieutenant Colonel Riebel’s car. Afterwards, the entire regiment received orders: “Clear for combat!”
Soon everyone down to the last man knew that behind the heights before Radekhov a large concentration of enemy tanks set itself to intercept the regiment’s direction of march and could emerge any moment.
Hardly quarter of an hour passes before one can see them coming. Ten—twenty—thirty—and still more coming, beginning to roll over the crest of the hill and open fire immediately. However, their fire is landing short, without seriously impacting the regiment.
It is better to let the Russian tanks get closer still, because it is best for our tank cannons to fire from less than 400 meters. A shallow dip in the ground temporarily hides the first wave of the enemy vehicles from the view. However, if they emerge from it again, they will give the men in the combat vehicles of the regiment an ideal firing position. The gunners on all cars re-sighted their guns in such a manner as to take the enemy tanks under fire the moment they emerge from the dip.
Then it’s time, and shell after shell flies towards the Russians. Most of the first shells were hits, some even direct hits. Others tear away whole sections of armor from the enemy combat vehicles. One can see damaged enemy tanks everywhere, with their crews dismounting the best they can. But still, tank fights tank, with new targets emerging. The Russians did not succeed [in] breaking down or breaking through the German lines anywhere, however.
When… in the afternoon of June 23rd, approached the end of the first large-scale acid test of the regiment in the Russian campaign, and the opponent withdrew to the south with heavy losses, 46 of his tanks remained destroyed on the battlefield.[18]
This was the litmus test for the Soviet tanks as well, the one in which they did not perform well. This attack was a microcosm of the deficiencies which were to plague the Soviet mechanized formations throughout the early period of the war. The difficulties could be summarized by an excerpt from a Soviet report: