Panzers at Razof

By Michael mc Fadden


After Action Report by Captain Eric Von Dudenburg

   On the morning of Dec 19 1941, I was ordered by our Battalion Commander Major 
Geier, to take my company of 12 Mk IVG panzers plus 3 companies of panzergrenidiers and 
counter attack against a Soviet force which had captured the town + bridge of Razof. Which 
was one of the two lines of retreat of 4th Panzer Armies. At 0750 after getting our supplies and 
meeting with the 3 companies of panzergrenidiers and getting what limited Intel that was 
avaible we proceeded west to Razof. 
   At 0910 we were within 3 Km of Razof, I ordered 4 panzers to stay in reserve and one 
company of panzergrenidiers to stay also. Then with my remaining 8 panzers we attacked in 
line with the panzergrenidiers in there half tracks directly behind our panzers. At 0945 we 
came under fire from Soviet T-34 tanks defending the town. They opened up at 1000 m range 
and over the course of the next 9 minutes we destroyed 10 of the Soviet vehicles. Then we 
closed the distance to 150 m outside of the town and sent in the panzergrenidiers who then 
proceeded to destroy the remaining Soviet infantry in the town with the help of the MkIVG's  
75 mm cannons and machine guns. 
   At approximately 1100 hours the town and bridge were ours again. During this 
engagement we did not lose a tank, however 5 half tracks were destroyed or immobilised, 35 
panzergrenidiers from all 3 companies were killed and another 50 wounded. The Soviet losses 
were 10 tanks destroyed and 92 killed with another 150 wounded or captured. 
We then set about securing the town and questioning the prisoners. I learned from the 
prisoners that the main force had captured the town + bridge and had proceeded south to 
capture the remaining bridge, and that another force  was coming to relieve the one we had 
captured within two hours, comprised of a battalion of tanks with infantry support to reinforce 
the company in the town and dig in to trap 4th panzer army. I radioed my battalion commander 
with the Intel we had gleamed from the prisoners and asked for reinforcements. Apparently 
none could be spared and we were to keep the bridge ours whatever the cost. 
   On further questioning I learned that the enemy troops themselves were green, and had 
never before seen combat. With no troops to spare it was decided to dispose of the prisoners 
less they prove themselves a nuisance during the up coming battle. With this chore done I 
ordered the infantry to dig in around the bridge while 8 of the panzers proceeded south about 3 
km and hid in some forest along the expected attack route of the enemy. While the remaining 
4 took up hull down position outside of the town and waited for the enemy to come. I posted 
scouts with radios around the whole town about 5 Km away to warn of any enemy approach 
from any direction, and with this waited the enemy approach. 
   The plan was for the 4 panzers I had posted outside the town to engage the enemy at 
about 1400 m and keep hitting them until they got to about 500 m at which point they were to 
retreat behind the infantry screen and support the infantry in holding off the Soviets. Once the 
Soviets were engaged in the town, the remaining 8 tanks were to attack from behind and 
annihilate the Soviet force.
   At 14:20 the scouts I had placed along the Soviets expected approach route radioed in to 
say at least 60 enemy tanks plus a large group of trucks were approximately 10 minutes away. 
I relayed this to everyone concerned and awaited the Soviet force to come into our trap.10 
minutes later the Soviet force entered the 1400 m range I had set for our Cougars and they duly 
opened up. Over the course of the next 12 minutes they destroyed or damaged 29 Soviet tanks. 
Then they withdrew to the centre of town although they lost one of there number to Soviet 
tank fire. 
   Then over the course of the next 45 minute the Soviet infantry plus tanks with the 
support of 6 120 mm mortars proceeded to try and dislodge my troops in the town. At this 
stage I must mention sergeant Schulze for exemplary bravery, he knocked out 3 T-34 tanks 
himself and killed their crews. I am putting him up for the iron cross second class. 
I now ordered our reserve force to counter attack. They exploded from the woods and 
proceeded to first kill the mortars and trucks the soviets had left outside of town. Then they 
proceeded to come into the rear of the Soviet force and kill all of the remaining Soviet force.  
          At the battles end a total of 70 Soviet tanks were destroyed along with 80 trucks,  6 120 
mm mortars and 900 men Killed, wounded, or taken prisioner. The total causalities for our 
forces were 1 panzer killed, 7 half tracks destroyed, 73 infantry killed and another 145 injured. 
The bridge was held and over the course of the next 5 days most of 4th panzer army escaped.

Submitted by 
Captain Eric von Dudenburg.