Order for the Attack
The Historical Solution to the Second Problem of 'Snow'
The following post provides the historical solution to the second problem of a decision-forcing case. For the first three parts of this exercise, please see …
If you are new to decision-forcing cases, you may want to read …
27 February 1942
1200
Order of Captain Middeldorf, commanding Battle Group Mollenhauer
Soviet paratroopers and partisans occupy the villages Pashoga, Stanino, and Tjakino.
The mission of our battalion is to capture and hold the village of Pashoga.
The battalion attacks early in the morning of 28 February 1942, enveloping the enemy forces in Pashoga prior to destroying them in a coup de main (Handstreich) conducted without the aid of preparation fire.
The Ski Company (Lieutenant Boeck) departs Wassilevschina at 0100, moving to the west in order to take possession of the hill 500 meters NW of Pashoga. This done, the Ski Company awaits the order to attack the southwest edge of the village. While waiting, the Ski Company will send a patrol in the direction of Tjakino.
The Reconnaissance Company (Lieutenant Count Kottulinsky) departs Wassilevschina at 0100, moving to the south, along the south edge of the woods, in order to take possession of Hill 188. This done, the Reconnaissance Company awaits the order to attack the southeast edge of the village. While waiting, the Reconnaissance Company will send a patrol in the direction of Stanino.
9./Brandenburg departs Wassilevschina at 0400, moving to the south along the path that connects Wassilevschina to Pashoga, in order to conduct a coup de main against the collective farm on the northeast corner of Pashoga. If this succeeds, the battalion commander will give the command for the attack of the Ski Company and the Reconnaissance Company. If the coup de main fails, the battalion commander will give the order to attack after the first substantial exchange of fire.
The heavy weapons of the Heavy Company (Lieutenant Mohr) will cooperate with 9./Brandenburg.
The Reserve Company (Lieutenant Kuelcke) will move into the woods southwest of Wassilevschina at 0430.
Except in cases of self-defense, no unit will fire before it receives the order from the battalion commander.
The artillery battery will prepare:
to support the attack of 9./Brandenburg upon the collective farm, in the event that the coup de main fails.
to place suppressive fire upon enemy forces on the west and eastern edges of Pashoga, Hill 188, and the path into Pashoga from the south
The leader of the Headquarters Company will assume the duties of commandant of Wassilevschina at 1200 on 27 February 1942. All elements of the battalion not involved in the attack on Pashoga will be at his disposal for service related to the security of Wassilevschina.
The Communication Platoon will establish communications with all companies. All units will keep radio silence until 0400 on 28 February 1942.
The Communication Platoon will lay cable between Wassilevschina and Pashoga.
The Medical Platoon will establish casualty clearing stations in Wassilevschina and the collective farm on the northeast edge of Pashoga. Stretcher bearers with sleds are to be attached to all companies.
The battalion command post will be located in Wassilevschina. Later, it will move to the collective farm northeast of Pashoga. During the attack, I will be located with 9./Brandenburg. The leader of the Reserve Company will accompany me.
Company commanders will repeat their missions, review the aerial photo, and have sketches prepared. This order will be reduced to writing at 1500.
The moon is new.
The sun will rise at 0625.
The sun will set at 1700.
The next post in this series will describe the course of this attack and pose the third problem of the exercise.