Wiking Volunteers Defend 2/43*
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Date: February 10, 1943*                     
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Battle Type: Finnish defense versus Russian Assault*
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Design: CB Blackard*
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Battle Description: At the beginning of 1943, the WIKING Division, now designated as a panzergrenadier division, was ordered to withdraw from the Caucasus after months of heavy fighting.  As it moved northwestward through Rostov, the division received word that the Soviets had launched a huge offensive in an attempt to not only capture the 6th Army at Stalingrad but to also cut off the forces of Army Group South still in the Caucasus.*
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On February 10, the WIKING was thrown into the fray as the 1st Panzer Army attempted to halt the advancing Soviet Tank Group Popov near Krasno-Armaiskoje.  
This scenario depicts the heroic defense of the nearby town of Gubin by the Finnish battalion of the NORDLAND Regiment led by Stubaf. Hans Collani. This would be the final major battle for the Finns of the WIKING division.  In April 1943, the battalion returned to Finland via Reval and its members were transferred to the regular Finnish army.*
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*Sources:  Strassner, "European Volunteers"; "Panzergrenadiere der Panzerdivision 'Wiking'"; "Verweht sind die Spuren".*

