"Wagner's Funeral March" -- On November 28, 1942, the 8.Panzerdivision was sent northeast of Velikiye Luki as the 3rd Shock Army threatened to take the town and breakthrough to Nevel. The division was “Panzer” in name only, decimated at the end of 1941 during the battle for Tikhvin and never really reconstituted since. Despite its material and personnel deficits, it played a non-negligible role during the battles around Demyansk, then Kholm. On the 29th, the first engagement ended in modest gains and the loss of 286 people! It then progressed just as slowly and without succeeding in creating a breach. On December 14, after repelling armored counter-attacks, it attempted a last effort via the Kampfgruppe of Oberst Wagner.
Attacker: German (Elements of Kampfgruppe Wagner, 8th Panzer Division)
Defender: Russian (Elements of the 381st Rifle Division)
