As dawn drew near a heavy artillery barrage courtesy of the Red Army begun. The rounds impacted close to the StuGs sending shockwaves that were strong enough to rock the tank on its suspension. As well as artillery, the Soviets had Katyusha rocket launchers firing up into the dawn sky like a deadly firework display. Out of the gloom at the foot of the plain several IS-2 tanks came into view. These were formidable tanks and more than a match for the Tigers let alone the StuGs. The IS-2 had infantry soldiers hitching a lift huddled behind the main turret. The StuGs opened up their shells doing very little damage other than displacing the infantry riding on the rear. A total of eight IS-2s advanced at full pace firing on the German armour. A Tiger was knocked out almost instantly from a 122mm round that penetrated the left hand front corner of the Tiger. Killing three of the crew instantly as shrapnel flew around the interior of the tank inflicting fatal wounds. Rounds started to hit the StuGs but luckily, they did little damage initially as they were deflected by its armour. The StuGs concealment made them much harder to hit, especially in their weaker areas. The StuGs 75mm rounds continued to hit the IS-2s but still did not inflict anything more than very minor damage. The 88mm on the Tigers was having more luck. One hit from an 88mm round jammed the IS-2s turret and another blew another IS-2s track off. The Soviet infantry following the IS-2s and were much easier targets for the various MG gunners to cut down. Rounds from the IS-2s kept coming at quite a rate. Although the D-25T gun even with a semi-automatic breach could only fire up to two rounds a minute, which was slower than the Panther and the Tiger. Another issue for the IS-2s was that they only carried 28 rounds. This was due to limited space and size of the 122 mm rounds and using a separate shell and powder charge.
Even with its left track blown off, the IS-2 continued to fire. Finally, a round hit a StuG killing its gunner. A second round managed to pass straight through the frontal armour before bouncing off the rear bulkhead and killing everyone else except the Danish driver. The round had started an engine fire – so with no other choice the driver leapt out of the StuG and ran backwards to the German mortar teams. The third and final StuG exploded after a HE round hit the rear section and ignited the engine and fuel tanks sending debris in all directions. The IS-2s still advanced as a Tiger hit another causing its ammunition to explode in a large ball of fire.
The whole area was now filled with burnt bodies in every direction. Some hanging out of armoured vehicles some lying in contorted positions in the snow. On both sides, loses were beginning to mount up. German infantry was trying to disable IS-2s with Panzerfausts. To use the Panzerfaust, the soldier took off the safety, aimed, and, with a little squeeze, fired the projectile. One soldier got lucky with a Panzerfaust and caused an engine fire that led to its crew bailing out before being cut up by heavy German MG fire.
Then another Tiger exploded from several hits from IS-2s. This left three Tigers against five IS-2s, which were advancing rapidly. They just rolled over the German infantry crushing them to death. Their tracks ripping arms and legs off in the process. Their death cries could even be heard over the deafening noise of battle. The MG gunners on the IS-2s cut the German infantry down as they approached, literally shredding their bodies in the process.
The Tigers continued to fire and destroyed another IS-2 with a well-placed round to the side that killed all the crew inside instantaneously. In revenge three IS-2s opened up on the single Tiger blowing it to bits in a matter of seconds. It’s turret half hanging off and the crew burning to death inside. The final two Tigers began to retreat backwards still firing on the remaining IS-2s. A Tiger as it reversed backwards scored another IS-2 hit, just below the tracks towards the rear. It caused the rear engine panels to blow off before an explosion blew the turret hatch open. A much bigger secondary explosion sent a huge tower of red and orange flame high into the sky. Black smoke poured out of the rear as diesel and oil caught fire. The Tigers reversed down out of the IS-2s line of fire. They continued to point their guns towards the ridge in anticipation for the IS-2s appearing over the ridgeline.
For whatever reason the IS-2s never appeared and the Tiger crews breathed a sigh of relief. The Tigers continued to reverse into a better position before requesting resupply and repairs before the next encounter. Both the Tiger crews were suffering from exhaustion, but knew that they still had to fight. The Red Army had proven to be a much more tenacious in battle than they ever thought they could be. The cold just added to their misery and valuable energy was being wasted just keeping warm.
