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In late 1943 the Grossdeutschland Division was heavily engaged in multiple defensive battles east of Krivoi-Rog. It was here the division earned the nickname "The Fire Brigade." One such encounter occurred when the German 9th Panzer Division was folded back …

1943-11-04

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In late 1943 the Grossdeutschland Division was heavily engaged in multiple defensive battles east of Krivoi-Rog. It was here the division earned the nickname "The Fire Brigade." One such encounter occurred when the German 9th Panzer Division was folded back upon itself near Krasny Oiiik. Tlie flank had stabilized for the time being. Grossdeutschland's Assualt Gun Battalion were ordered to keep a "watchful" eye on the the division's left flank, as this border between them and 9th Panzer was one of the weakest points along the front here. On November 4 Major Frantz, the Assault Gun Battalion commander, became quite wary when he heard the sounds of combat to his north. This northern flank was to be held by 9th Panzer. However, nothing could be seen over the high rail line that divided their two sections of the front. Were they still there and holding the line? Major Frantz decided to investigate the situation for himself and crossed the rail line with another assault gun. As he watched German troops and guns stream by in retreat he found himself in the midst of a tall cornfield with Russian T-34s streaming by at a range of 20 yards. They were faster than he was, and were by him in an instant...

Krasny Orlik, near Kharkov, Ukraine

The Second Battle of Kiev was a part of a much wider Soviet offensive in Ukraine known as the Battle of the Dnieper involving three strategic operations by the Soviet Red Army and one operational counterattack by the Wehrmacht, which took place between 3 November and 22 December 1943. Following the Battle of Kursk, the Red Army launched the Belgorod-Kharkov Offensive Operation, pushing Erich von Manstein's Army Group South back towards the Dnieper River. Stavka, the Soviet high command, ordered the Central Front and the Voronezh Front to force crossings of the Dnieper. When this was unsuccessful in October, the effort was handed over to theist Ukrainian Front, with some support from the 2nd Ukrainian Front. Theist Ukrainian Front, commanded by Nikolai Vatutin, was able to secure bridgeheads north and south of Kiev (Kyiv).

Wikipedia: Battle of Kiev (1943)

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