Tanks forward! (Blitzkrieg - Second World War in Fight, First Edition, No. 35) - The Russian Campaign, 1941: The 6th Panzer Division in Combat during Operation “Barbarossa“ #1001969

June 22, 1941 marked the beginning of the German Wehrmacht’s attack on the Soviet Union. Operation “Barbarossa” was launched with massive artillery and air raids on a front line more than 1,600 kilometres in length. The Wehrmacht entered Russian territory with an unprecedented force of 3.25 million soldiers, some 3,500 tanks and 2,700 fighter planes. The German units were divided into three Army Groups. On the left wing, Army Group North was commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb. The 18th Army (Generaloberst von Küchler), the 16th Army (Generaloberst Busch), and the 4th Panzer Group (Generaloberst Hoepner) were under his command.

During the advance of Army Group North, the 6th Panzer Division under the command of the 4th Panzer Group broke through the Soviet border fortifications. Immediately upon crossing the border, the Division commanded by General der Panzertruppen Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma had to prove itself in the tank battle at Rossienie before it could begin its advance into the vastnesses of the Soviet North. The tank battle at Rossienie was the first test for the German armored forces in the East. The German Panzer III and IV faced off against the Russian KV IB, a heavy tank that was to become a worthy opponent.

The following account centres on the advance of a Panzer Company as vanguard of the 6th Panzer Division. The crew of the Panzer IV and their commanding officer Leutnant Karl are ordered to flank the infantry battles with supporting fire and to lead the attacking troops to a rapid victory. Tanks forward!