morvael
Posts: 11762
Joined: 9/8/2006 From: Poland Status: offline
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Even though it's middle of XXth century, and tens of thousands of mobile fighting machines made of steel fight along the front on both sides, there is still place for cavalry battles. XXIV Panzer Corps under Generaloberst von Schweppenburg, comprising of 24th Panzer and 8th SS Cavalry Divisions, force the 10th Guards Cavalry Corps to withdraw, and restore lines of communication with German troops surrounded along the eastern bank of Oder river. This victory is short lived though, as 9th Tank and 3rd Shock Armies close the gap further north, and this time the SS cavalry unit ends up on the wrong side. All other tank armies are engaged in the operation to encircle Berlin, but fail to accomplish this goal on time, leaving open the road through Nauen. The increased difficulty with which the Red Army advances can be attributed to the 6th SS Panzer Army that suddenly appears west of Potsdam, much to the chagrin of Soviet High Command. At least Potsdam, Oranienburg and Eberswalde are taken, forming firm anchors for future operations. Supply troubles mount for the leading 1st Guards, 2nd Guards, 5th and 8th Tank Armies, as the railhead at Liegnitz is far away, and the roads leading there are clogged by millions of soldiers and thousands of vehicles. 2nd Belorussian Front secures the south-western flank, while the armies of Konev's North Caucasus Front almost reach the outskirts of Berlin:
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