But he was wrong….
3rd Panzergrenadier Division had just arrived to bring Knobelsdorff up to proper strength. With that division, and the infantry Model had sent, the Germans had sewn together their shattered front, and had continuous lines again, all the way back to Kharkov.
Hitler came to the map room at OKW for a situation report late in the day, still weary from his travel. Zeitzler had good news for him.
“My Führer,” he said. “This is the latest situation report, and as you can see, the redisposition of forces ordered by General Manstein has closed the front up and eliminated the gap in the north.”
“What about this!” Hitler could not help but see the massive gap in the center. “What is to stop them from going all the way to Poltava?”
“Steiner,” said Zeitzler.
“What? Steiner is defending Kharkov. What are you saying?”
“No longer,” said Zeitzler. “Korps Raus has taken over the outer defense, and that line is holding. Steiner began pulling out last night. His divisions should be about here, passing through Valki.”
“Steiner has been sent to defend that frontage? What if they get through the infantry. Kharkov would be lost, and that must not happen!”
“Das Reich remains in the city on reserve. They will not get through, and Steiner has not gone to take up defensive positions. He is attacking.” Zeitzler looked at his watch. “It will be dark there soon, and Steiner will make good use of that. We believe his movement has largely gone undetected thus far. Manstein now has three strong divisions, and we believe he is bringing the Korps here, to attack the enemy breakthrough south of Novaya Vologda into this gap. My Führer, Operation Donnerschlag should begin at tonight.”
“Operation Donnerschlag?” It was obvious that Hitler liked the sound of that—Thunderclap —and it would come with thunderclap surprise to Vasily Kuznetsov, a major counterattack, prepared and assembled without detection, and aimed at his widely expanded breakthrough zone, but 50 kilometers south of all his principle mobile assets.
The miracle worker had performed one more strategic trick, and now it remained for his troops to do the job they had before them. If one had to give such a mission to any three divisions in the army, Grossdeutschland, Leibstandarte, and Totenkopf would be excellent choices, and they would be driving into the operational zone of one more fabled division, the 5th SS Wiking.
Chapter 23
Kuznetsov was awakened at 04:00 with the news. The recon battalion and assault gun regiment of 10th Tank Corps had been hit near midnight by German Panzer troops.
“Panzers? What division? Has anything been identified?”
“Yes sir,” the staff officer looked confused. “It says they were SS troops from the 1st Division, and others from their Guards Division. How did they get there? We thought they were still in the city.”
“Apparently not,” said the General, leaning heavily as he got up off the bed in the burnt-out hotel at Zimyev. He had set up his headquarters there to avoid German Stukas, finding a few rooms on the lower floors still intact. Minutes later he was heading for the radio, needing to know more. He soon learned that Burkov had reacted to the incident by pulling his tank corps together and moving through the village of Fedorovka, where he ran into SS troops from the 1st Division, confirming the reports.
There were still too many unanswered questions in his mind. Troops from two German mobile divisions had been identified, but soon he had a report from the 60th Guards Rifle Division. It had been posted on the extreme left of his infantry in the breakthrough zone, and it had moved one regiment to the sound of the fighting that night. The only thing they found were a few companies of German recon units, with some engineers. Tanks had been reported moving further northwest, but no one had encountered them.
What was going on here? Was this what it seemed to be, a movement of two German mobile divisions to his flank? Was it merely a feint, a spoiling attack? Then he got news that small detachments of German troops had been harassing the lines of his infantry much further south, and that the German Wiking Division had suddenly pulled out if its defensive positions and moved into a night action against 4th Guard Army further south. The 3rd Guard Tank Corps reported heavy casualties, and they had pulled back two kilometers to regroup. He would be making a good many calls that morning.
A tickle here, a punch there, he thought. The Germans have finally realized we have been slowly expanding that bridgehead, and now they are trying to do something about it. But how strong will this counterattack be if one comes. I will likely not learn enough about the situation until morning. In the meantime, it may be wise to create a mobile reserve, but with what? Everything at hand is on the line. If I pull anything off, it would have to come from my left, otherwise I will weaken my attack on the city.
Seleikov’s 7th Tank Corps is there, and it is just screening that sector. I could detach it and send it south to join Burkov…. That will be the order.
It was a logical first response to a situation that was not yet understood, but it would not be enough. Two hours later Kuznetsov learned that Burkov’s probing maneuver through Fedorovka had run into fire and brimstone, and the leading half of his corps was suddenly attacked by the entire 1st SS Division. At the same time, the 60th Guards, a few kilometers to the south, were swarmed over by the fast moving Grossdeutschland Division. Still farther south, 44th Guards was being hit by 3rd SS.
Three divisions, he thought with great alarm, and the sudden realization of what his crafty enemy had done. They must have pulled out completely, and marched all day and night to reach those positions. Now they are smashing into the outer frontier of our breakthrough along a 20-kilometer front. All this other action in the south is meant only to tie up those forces and prevent them from reacting to this counterattack. 10th Tank Corps is unsupported. I must get a mobile force together at once, and the 7th Tank Corps will not do the job by itself. All my good infantry is spread out on a wide front. We must fall back and concentrate!
Reports that the Germans had launched a spoiling attack against his near left flank were more frustrating than serious. The German 36th Infantry division, which had been on defense for days, suddenly advanced against that flank, and some fast-moving Luftwaffe flak units actually made it as far as the main road and rail line leading southwest to Alexandrovka and on to Novaya Vodolaga. This meant that the assault on Kharkov could not be continued that morning, as it was now necessary to secure that flank. 2nd Mech would have to go defensive, and allow 1st Mech to intervene, with 1st Guards Tank providing the necessary muscle.
The General would get no breakfast that morning, nor would a good many men of the 1st Guards Army. Before the sun would rise, the 60th Guards Rifle division would sustain 70% casualties, and virtually cease to exist.
So it has begun, thought Manstein, a cold lump of fear in his chest in spite of his outer air of confidence. The movement was superb, the timing perfect, and we have achieved complete surprise. Yet they are only three divisions, which is why Kirchner must jog left and the Wiking Division must punch hard as well. Their Guards infantry will fight, and I have no doubt that they will fall back to consolidate and strengthen their lines. They will be the first hard shield to crack, but our lances are still sharp.