The Second battle - A German Perspective

It was planned to have three attacks of which one (headed by the Panther Battalion) would be the schwerpunkt, the others with limited objectives. This attack was to go in on the (German)right flank and take the village of Milbcha and it's bridge over the river. The middle attack, led by the mixed panzer battalion (Panzer IVH and Stugs) supported by pioneers was to simply advance to the start of the shallow balka and set-up a blocking position. On the (German)left flank the grenadier kampfgruppe was tasked with clearing the woods and hamlets on that flank of any Soviet stay-behinds.

Shortly after the units moved off an unidentified aircraft was spotted heading into the battle zone. It was identified as a Henschel ground attack aircraft, but then to the surprise and dismay of the attacking Panther battalion and it's supporting SPW the aircraft started to make an attack run. The accompanying flak vehicles engaged the hostile aircraft. As it flew low it was unidentified as a Romanian aircraft. It made several bombing runs but was then hit and brought down by a 'Wirbelwind' flak unit. No casualties were sustained in this attack.

Shortly after this air attack, contact was made with enemy tank units about 1km south of Milbcha and brought under fire from the Panther battalion. A fierce tank battle ensued with casualties on both sides. The Panther battalion claimed the destruction of four T34s and two Shermans in this action, for the loss of three of their own.

The supporting grenadiers ably supported the Panthers in fighting around the village of Milbcha, which the Soviets defended with infantry and PAK (one PAK ambushed two panthers KOing them).

On the left flank fierce close combat fighting broke out between the grenadiers and strong Soviet SMG units. this fighting was particularly violent and the grenadiers suffered heavy casualties in the close range fighting.

In the centre the Panzers and assault guns came under heavy and accurate fire from Soviet armour nearly two kilometers away and lost nearly six vehicles. The survivors manged to gain the shelter of a shallow balka and continued on their mission. They ably supported the pioneers in blocking an attack by a Soviet rifle company. The rifle company was destroyed but in the process the pioneers suffered nearly 50% casualties.

As night fell the units pulled back to their start lines. The casualty report for the day is as follows:

263 casualties

235 KIA

5 mortars lost

11 AFVs KOd