Dzershinzky Tractor Factory

Fighting for the factories: Part I 14-16 October ~ The Attack on the “Dzershinzky” Tractor Factory ‘In the north part of the city we now face the toughest job, namely to take the three big factories ~ the “Dzershinzky” tractor works, the “Red October” gun foundry and the “Red Barricade” metallurgical works ~ in order to reach the bank of the Volga there.

The plan of attack is to assault the “Dzershinzky” factory first, then both the other factories and finally to roll up the oil tanks and the rest of the city centre from north to south. Two new divisions are assigned to this job, the 305th Infantry Division (General Oppenlander) and the 14th Panzer Division (General Heim)’ ~ General of Artillery Wather von Seydlitz-Kurzbach. During the early morning of 14 October the German forces in the North of Stalingrad waited while their artillery and the Luftwaffe unleashed a devastating barrage on the Soviet defenders in and around the Stalingrad tractor factory. Soon the Panzers and Panzergrenadiers of the 14th Panzer Division were rumbling towards the tractor works. The effects of the bombing could be seen in the distance, clouds of black smoke billowed up from the burning oil tanks and a black haze hung over the factory district. Through this the Panzergrenadiers and Grenadiers of LI Armeekorps advanced and began their assault on the factories of Stalingrad. The initial attacks took them through the workers houses and apartments, fighting house-to-house, room-to-room through cellars and canals.

Their struggle eventually leading to the steps of the great factory halls. All the time the Soviets held on to every inch of ground with great tenacity. The end of the first day saw men and machines with a foothold in the “Dzershinzky” Tractor Factory complex. Now the hard fighting would begin. The 14th Panzer Division had made it to the northwestern side of the works, but progress had been halted by the barricaded railway carriages hindering movement of the Panzer troops tanks and halftracks. The 305th Infantry division had taken the majority of the eastern city suburbs to the northwest of the factory.

The Soviets still held the western half of the factory complex, and were to prove tough to shift and they were supported by their artillery from the other bank of the Volga river.

Fighting up to the factory steps This is a great opportunity to use the City Fighting rules from Iron Corss and Enemy at the Gates the No Retreat mission (page 110 of Flames Of War). The Soviets have taken up positions on the outskirts of the of the factory works, barricading the streets and defending the worker’s housing. Remember with City Fighting you can’t dig-in on the hard surfaces of the buildings and streets, but your initial starting positions are in Fox Holes. Fighting to Hall 7, Red October Factory...  The Fight for the “Red October”...  Download the V4 City Fighting rules and Missions PDF...

Grenadier Company ~ 305. Infanteriedivision (Iron Cross)   Grenadier Company HQ (MG215) 2x MP40 SMG teams Panzerknacker command card 2 points 2 points 1st Grenadier Platoon (MG216) 7x MG34 & K98 rifle team Panzerknacker command card 9 points 2 points 2nd Grenadier Platoon (MG216) 7x MG34 & K98 rifle team Panzerknacker command card 9 points 2 points 3rd Grenadier Platoon (MG216) 7x MG34 & K98 rifle team Panzerknacker command card 9 points 2 points 8cm Mortar Platoon (MG218) 2x 8cm mortar 3 points 15cm Infantry Gun Platoon (MG214) 2x 15cm gun 8 points Support Units   Assault Pioneer Platoon (MG217) 7x MP40 SMG team 2x Flame-thrower 1x sMG34 HMG 14 points 2 points Assault Tank Platoon (community card) 3x StuIG33B 30 points Looted T-34 1x T34 (76mm) (Looted T-34 Command Card)   7 points Total 97 points

Hero Rifle Battalion ~ 95th Rifle Division (Enemy at the Gates)   Hero Rifle Battalion HQ (MS120) 2x M1891 rifle team 1 point 1st Hero Rifle Company (MS121) 10x DP and M1891 rifle team 1x Komissar team 1x Maksim HMG 1x Flame-thrower team 7 points 1 point 2 points 2nd Hero Rifle Company (MS121) 10x DP and M1891 rifle team 1x Komissar team 1x Maksim HMG 7 points 1 point 3rd Hero Rifle Company (MS121) 10x DP and M1891 rifle team 1x Komissar team 1x Maksim HMG 7 points 1 point Maksim MG Company (MS114) 6x Maksim HMG 4 points Hero SMG Company (MS123) 7x PPSh SMG team 1x Komissar team 6 points 45mm Anti-tank Platoon (MS116) 2x Short 45mm gun 3 points 45mm Anti-tank Platoon (MS116) 2x Short 45mm gun Infantry Guns command card (76mm obr 1927 guns) 3 points 0 points Support Units   Light Tank-killer Company (MS132) 4x Long 45mm gun 14 points Katyusha Guards Rocket Battery (MS129) 4x Katyusha 8 points Katyusha Guards Rocket Battery (MS129) 4x Katyusha 8 points KV-1 Tank Company (MS101) 3x KV-1 (76mm) 24 points Total 97 points