After Action Review – Luchki – 19 July 1943 as reported by Polkovnik Tomasov, Comrade Commanding, 227th Rifle Regiment, 183rd Rifle Division

Sir,

It with great pleasure that I am able to report to you that at last the 3rd SS Division has been halted! The 3rd SS, is one of the best formations the Hitlerite scrum have brought to Mother Russia. They have the best equipment and training and they are fanatical in the devotion to the Nazi cause of domination.

After the 3rd SS had smashed through line after line of our Soviet Brothers, they at last came against our 227th Rifle Regiment in the vicinity of Luchki. The field of Luchki was very flat and open. I had centered our defensive line on the only hill in the area directly to the north of the town of Luchki.

The field of Luchki looking from the German lines towards the Soviets.

On our right, Anatov’s 1st Rifle Battalion deployed with a T-34 Company in Support. On our left Donaveski’s 2nd Rifle battalion deployed with a company T-70 and a SU-152s in support as well has the regiments 45mm AT Gun Company. In the center masked by the hills was our Regimental CP and a Guards Mortar Rocket Battery and to the rear of Anatov on our right we deployed a battalion of 76mm/122mm Artillery. In ambush I has our 57mm ZIS-2 guns waiting for the right time to cut down the German Panzers. Thus we were set to receive the attack of the Nazi Bastards. I knew that we could only withstand the German assault for a brief time so I prepared to conduct a Fighting Withdraw and fall back to the Psel River line after we had bled the Hitlerites.

Antonov's position on the Soviet Right.

Donaveski's Strelk Battalion on the Soviet left.

The 3rd SS Commander was wise. Rather than assault across our who front, he massed his tanks and halftracks to slam into Donaveski’s battalion on our left. The 3rd SS attacked with a Kampfgrouppe that consisted of a Panzer Grenadier Company, an Aufklarung Company, and a Stug-III Company.

The dreaded German Commanders (boo hiss..) plan their attack.

Gentlemen, start your engines!!!!!

The first blow fell on Donaveski’s lead company of Strelk. It was a large company with two dug in platoons and it was immediately assaulted by two Panzer Grenadier Platoons as well as a Stug-III platoon. One by one, Donaveski’s brave soldiers repelled these platoons. The first round of the battle was ours!

Donaveski's Strelk see of the first of the German assaults.

While this action occurred on the left, Anatov had no pressure on the left and so he sent his T-34 company forward to threaten the Germans artillery to the south of Luchki, to aid in this effort I directed that the full weight or our Rockets was also brought to bear on suppressing the German guns.

Antonov's T-34's take advantage of the German's open left flank.

However, the Germans were not yet done with Donaveski. They regrouped and sent in a second wave, which Donaveski’s men caused great damage too, but ultimately had to fall back from. This however cleared firing lanes for Donaveski’s 45mm AT Guns, Maxim HMGs, and T-70 which had been rushed forward. The combined fire of these units did great damage to Halftracks and annihilated the Panzer Grenadier Company.

Donaveski's 2nd Battalion prepares to meet another and bigger armored assault.

Meanwhile if the Center, the German Aufklarung Company broke through the Strelk defending the center hill. After brushing aside these troops, the crested the hill itself and fell upon my Regimental CP and threatened the Guards Rocket Battery. They Germans were on the bring of unhinging our defense, but Donaveski was able to bring his SU-152 over from the left to smash the Stug-IIIs and SdKfz 250’s that had made it into our rear.

The Aufklarung momentarily breaksthrough the Soviet line.

With two main assaults now checked, the 3rd SS commander lost heart and called off the attack. Even more importantly it appears that more bad news has reached him from the 11th Panzer Division’s defeat at Pskedov. Now all three German divisions have been halted and it appears that they are beginning a general retreat. Stalin be praised! I believe that this campaign has been decided and that we are beginning to realize that we have won a great victory for the Motherland. Now it will be “On to Berlin!”

Donaveski's 2nd Line holds firm!

I request that Podpolkovnik Donaveski be submitted for the "Order of the Red Banner" for his exmplary leadership which absorbed and then repulsed the brunt of the German attack.

Rodina,

Polkovnik Tomasov
Comrade Commanding, 227th Rifle Regiment, 183rd Rifle Division