Turns 13-22
To the north, Germans increase pressure. Soviets resist, with mortar fire making further advances difficult and T34/76s causing losses to light armor. Soon, the Germans made a critical mistake. Lured by the possibility of killing two T34/76s, an entire PZIV company charged forward (1) to trade shots at short range with the T34s. That had the result of more T34/76s that were covering the other 2 T34s to ambush the PZIVs inside the streets of Szydlow and knock out 8 of them for the loss of one T34. In addition to that, German infantry advanced at (2) under cover of artillery fire, but in the street fighting with Soviet guards infantry, they were unable to defeat them. Finally, a couple of Soviet AT guns that were under hold fire orders (4), spot and open fire at 4 more PZIVs to the west of the town (3), knocking out 3 of them. One AT gun is knocked out by fire from PZIVs and King Tigers, but the gain far outweights the cost. Eventually, the German advance dies out and only small advances and artillery barrages from both sides happen inside and around the town.
To the center, AT guns on the hill (6) exchange fire with German heavy tanks ineffectively at (7), while artillery shells these tanks. Soon though, all Soviet AT guns are silenced by German tank fire. Some Soviet IS2s arrived at (5) dueled with the German heavy tanks but no damage occured to either side.
Finally to the south, Soviet forces (infantry and tanks) probe forward, engaging German scout elements and causing losses. Soon, both forests are secured (9 and 10), but any move over open field is negated by German MGs and tanks. Infantry losses for the Soviets are significant from MG and mortar fire. Aided by mortar fire, Soviets capture one more small forest to the south, when German PZIVs and King Tigers are spotted moving from (7) southwards. Soviet IS2s that were in reserve (8) opened fire and a brief tank duel ensued in which one more German PZIV was knocked out. No heavy tanks were damaged for either side.