Soviet Army using captured German AFVs in surprise assault.

[JohnFoA]

So the rather excellent WW2 Day by Day channel (Instagram and YouTube) today said that the Soviet assault on Kalach - behind Stalingrad- was undertaken using captured German tanks to get over Don bridge and capture that and supplies areas intact.

This is entirely plausible but I had not come across this detail before. Has anyone else? I have missed this cunning plan? They quote Beevor as source.

Can anyone who has heard about this offer a second source?

I'm intrigued.

Thanks

John

[cuprum]

This story did not look quite like that.

In this area, the Germans had a training tank unit equipped with captured Russian T-34 tanks. This unit has used the bridge in question many times before. Therefore, when a marching column of five Russian tanks appeared, the Nazis took it for their tanks. And the Russian column without any obstacles, without a single shot, went to the bridge and entered the battle.

I describe the battle according to Russian archival sources - award lists for distinguished servicemen, as well as the memoirs of direct participants in the events, stored in the museum of the Battle of Stalingrad.

Here is their photo, of course, in Russian:

[JohnFoA]

Superb prime source. Thanks for correction. A great example of why it is bad to use enemy equipment.

Really appreciate your response.

Stay safe

John

[soldieroftheline]

I remember reading a scenario based on this incident some time ago. Possibly in the original Duncan M edited Miniature Wargames. I'll see if I have a copy if anyone is interested.

[cuprum]

Stay safe

Thank you John, I wish you the same 

A great example of why it is bad to use enemy equipment.

A few captured tanks will never hurt anyone, but you should be more zealous about performing the assigned service. In my opinion, it was just negligence, successfully used by the enemy.

[JohnFoA]

Hey Cuprum

Yeah I agree.

The training unit shouldn't be so close to the front and should have had deployment notices. But its also complacency bred by over familiarity and routine.

I remember a story about a Australian APC commander in Vietnam who brandished a trophy AK during a firefight. He quickly threw it away when his Infantry started firing at the sound of an enemy weapon.

Note withstanding the Russians did well chancing their arm and got away with it.

[7dot62mm]

There is an ASL scenario on this action. It's called WG210 Across The Don, you should be able to find it online.

[dadlamassu]

The training unit shouldn't be so close to the front and should have had deployment notices. But its also complacency bred by over familiarity and routine.

It was not that close to the front.  Kalach (Kalach-na-Donu) is 80km from Stalingrad (Volgograd) probably further from the Soviet start line in the north.   Normally this distance would be regarded as relatively safe.