01:30 12 August 1941
Oberstlt. Schumacher had barely a chance to catch even a few hours sleep before a radio message was received from higher headquarters. It seems that Ivan had caught wind of the fact that we had little armor in our engagement of the day before and now he was going to attempt yet another breakout some 10-15 kilometers to the south of our current position. The kampfgruppe would need to conduct a night march in order to arrive in a position where a new defense could be established.
Support for our forces was being hastily scratched together as the previously attached infantry companies had already departed our area only hours ago. Two platoons of 5cm AT guns were being rushed to the area where Ivan was to be expected, along with a special weapons company consisting of machine guns and light mortars. There was no definitive word on what kind of armor the enemy would be bringing this time, but we couldn't count on our foes coming at us with more of the light types.
By 07:00 our new positions had been established. It wasn't long before the first enemy mortar and artillery fire were starting to come our way. The number of incoming rounds made it clear we were about to be seriously tested. Visibility was approximately eight hundred meters, so we would have to react quickly should the unexpected come about.
07:45
These are the defensive positions established by the kampfgruppe as enemy fire commenced.
Enemy indirect fire was of the 76mm, 82mm and 122mm variety. Although most of the initial rounds expended found nothing but ground to tear up, it was clearly in sufficient quantity to be a real threat if and when our positions were uncovered.
