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Day one - 11 Nov, German Assault, Clear, Wet, no wind. German at start OB (ELR:4, SAN:3) Rifle 1st & 2nd Coy, Sturm 1st & 2nd Coy, Pionier 1st & 2nd Coy. Hvy Weapon 1st Pltn, StuIG 33B pltn, OBA: Med Arty 100+mm with a Spotter Plane. Germ OB 15 Leaders, Guns 2 GrW34, AFVs 3 StuIG 33B, 67 sq-eq (6x 2-2-8 crews, 16x 8-3-8 AE, 24x 5-4-8 E, 24x 4-6-7 1st), 40 SWs (2 HMG, 6 MMG, 12 LMG, 2 ATR, 2 Lt MTR, 6 FT, 10 DC). Russian at start OB (ELR:3, SAN:4) Rifle 1st & 2nd & 3rd Coy, SMG 1st Coy, Gds SMG 1st Coy, Gds SMG 2nd Coy (in Reserve), Hvy Weapon 1st & 2nd Pltn, 2 ART 76L Guns, 2 AT 45LL Guns, OBA: Two Lt Arty 70+mm, with two Offb'd Observers, 80 FPP & 20 Fort Loc. Commissar House designated Fanatic Building Nest. Russ OB 11 Leaders, Guns 2 AT 45LL, 2 ART 76L, 4 MTR 82mm, 71 Sq-eq (16x 228 crews, 18x 6-2-8 E, 36x 4-4-7 1st, 9x 5-2-7 1st), 25 SWs (4 HMG, 7 MMG, 6 LMG, 3 ATR, 3 Lt MTR, 2 DC). AFTERMATH 11 Nov (7 Turns): The final assault began on 11 November with the objective of reaching the Volga in the Barrikady sector. The operation was planned on a five-day timetable, backed by sufficient ammunition. German forces consisted of six companies, and two more Coy that were held in reserve for commitment on later days. They were supported by a heavy weapons platoon and an artillery observation aircraft tasked with directing fire from 100+mm guns onto identified Soviet strongpoints. The Panzerwaffe also committed a platoon of the new assault gun variant — a StuIG 33B mounting a 150mm gun. Facing them, the Soviets deployed six companies along the front line, with four more companies held in reserve on the eastern bank of the Volga, ready to be ferried across during the night. The defense also included two heavy weapons platoons, two ART 76L and two AT 45LL guns, two batteries of light artillery (70+mm). Several large buildings had been converted into fortified strongpoints, with many machineguns positions. At the signal to attack, the German company on the Volga sector advanced rapidly and cleared the forward area, meeting only scattered resistance. However, they were soon subjected to intense harassing fire from two Soviet artillery batteries. Although the shells caused few casualties, the bombardment slowed the advance considerably. Despite this, the attackers eventually secured a foothold in the Chemist’s Shop. In the central sector the assault wss directed towards the Commissar’s House, the Apothecary, the Kindergarten, the L-Shaped House and several adjacent buildings. The assault developed into a bloody, grinding fight. The weight of German firepower steadily wore down the Soviet defenders, forcing them back or annihilating those who stood their ground. Isolated groups, left without support, repeatedly launched desperate close-quarters counterattacks, charging forward even when death was almost certain. One factory hall was cleared in short order. The largest Soviet held-hall nearby was then assaulted from two directions at once; the defenders were squeezed out in a brutal melee that left the building reeking of cordite and blood. Further south, in the Bread Factory sector, the row houses fell quickly — the defenders were too understrength to hold against the concentrated attack. The Soviets withdrew to join up with reserve troops positions among the wooden workers’ barracks, where a savage close-quarters battle erupted. By nightfall the Germans had gained ground along the entire 2,000-metre front. Germ Casualties: 5 Ldr, 16.5 Squad-equivalents, 9 SWs. Russ Casualties: 1 Ldr, 28 Squad-equivalents, 13 SWs, 2 Guns. Germ OB, end of 11 Nov (SAN:2) 10 Ldr, Guns 2 GrW34, AFVs 3 StuIG 33B, 50.5 Squad-equivalents (6 crews, 11 AE, 20.5 E, 16 1st/2nd-Line), 31 SWs (2 HMG, 6 MMG, 9 LMG, 2 Lt MTR, 3 FT, 9 DC). Russ OB, end of 11 Nov (SAN:4) 10 Leaders, Guns AT 45LL, 2 ART 76L, 3 MTR 82mm, 43 Squad-equivalents (13 crews, 10 E, 19.5 1st-Line, 7 Conscripts), 13 SWs (3 HMG, 4 MMG, 3 LMG, 2 ATR, 1 DC).