After a massive air and artillery bombardment the Germans began their offensive against the northern factory district. The forward Soviet positions were devastated by the bombardment and the Germans began their ground assault with Kampfgruppen from 14.Panzer-Division and 305.Infanterie-Division pushing towards the Tractor Factory.
The German attack struck 37th Guards Rifle Division at the boundary between Omelchenko's 109th Guards Rifle Regiment and the neighbouring 114th Guards Rifle Regiment. Omelchenko's regiment took the brunt of the assault with his 2nd Battalion soon being isolated in the workers settlement. Omelchenko's headquarters was located further back in a stout five-storey building known as the 'House of the Professors,' but was soon under direct attack.
In this painting, II./Panzer-Regiment 36 lead the attack with a handful of PzKpfw III tanks, struggling across the cratered, rubble strewn landscape. One of the tanks was knocked out by anti-tank rifle fire and Molotov cocktails. The Germans soon brought forward infantry who we see picking their way through a shattered Soviet 120mm mortar position destroyed in the bombardment. The German infantry managed to storm the lower levels of the building but were thrown out after hand to hand fighting.
The Germans decided to bypass the building, leaving a small force to to deal with the Soviet position and pressed onto the Tractor Factory. Once night fell Omelchenco led a breakout of the survivors, reaching the Soviet positions near the Barrikady Factory with about 70, mostly wounded men.
Omelchenko soon learned of the loss of the Tractor Factory to the Germans and the destruction of 37th Guards Rifle Division which had lost 95 percent of its troops in the days fighting.

FROM: Osprey Publishing's: Stalingrad 1942-43 (2)

PRICE:£670.00 (unframed)
IMAGE SIZE: Approx. H 34cm x W 50cm ( H 13.25 inches x W 19.75 inches)
MEDIUM: Watercolour and gouache