Against the Odds 62 – Operation Fischreiher: Strike of the Heron (Inglés)

Strike of the Heron – The Approach to Stalingrad explores the sudden and astonishing breakthrough operation “Fischreiher” (Heron) by the German XIV Panzer Korps and other supporting units, to the Volga River in August, 1942.

It sent shock waves all the way up to Stalin and his Front commanders as the Soviets had been able to previously repel German attacks, allowing only a slow advance.

This rapid breakthrough and arrival of German units along the banks of Volga River at Rynok (just north of Stalingrad proper) on August 23rd also cutoff chances of a general offensive by Soviet forces on the German’s left flank to the north. This had been part of STAVKA’s overall plan but had to be hastily abandoned.

The suddenness of their success even caught the Germans off guard. How to keep and further exploit their break- through? All the units in the Panzer Korps had suffered losses prior and all were somewhat understrength. Many of the AFVs were Panzer II, the rest mostly Panzer III, and maybe 30 long barreled Panzer IV. The corridor was not wide, just a few miles and many miles long….