Wiking defends Smela*
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Date: August 6, 1941*                     
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Battle Type: German defend versus Russian assault*
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Design: CB Blackard*
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Battle Description: In late July 1941, the WIKING Division, as part of III 
Panzer Corps, was marching southeastward toward Dnepropetrovsk in an effort 
to cut off Soviet troops falling back from Uman to the Dnieper River. On 
August 4, the division captured the town of Smela, southwest of Cherkassy, and
continued to probe to the southeast throughout the next day.*
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On August 6, however, the Soviet 116th Rifle Division and 672nd Infantry Regiment attacked Smela from the north and east, encircling units of the
GERMANIA Regiment and the artillery regiment.  Stukas were called in and troops from the NORDLAND Regiment commanded by Fritz Von Scholz attacked from the west to break the encirclement.  This scenario depicts the fighting in the northern part of the town.  Little did the WIKING troops know that in less than three years, they would be fighting another battle of encirclement in this same area.*
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Sources:  Strassner, "European Volunteers"; "Panzergrenadiere der Panzerdivision 'Wiking'"; "Verweht sind die Spuren".*
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