2. kompanie in coloR (2023)
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On April 14-15 2023, members of 2. Kompanie from all over the United States, to portray German soldiers of "Kampfgruppe Simon" part of SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1, SS-Division "Totenkopf" during the Battle of Demjansk in April of 1942.
By the fall of 1941, the vast advances made during Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, had begun to slow and even halt. The men of the SS-Totenkopfdivision found themselves near Lake Ilmen, and the Russian city of Demjansk.
While the men of the SSTK defended their positions in the winter of 1941, they were eventually cut off and surrounded. The encirclement began with a massive Soviet Offensive in the Northern Sector during January, 1942. SSTK was surrounded from January 8 until April 21. During that time, Totenkopf held its ground, defending against an onslaught of five Soviet armies, including 18 Rifle Divisions, and 3 Armored Brigades. One should also note, at this time the division was not a Panzer Division, and thus was not outfitted with many tanks.
The men of SSTK, led a counter-assault, and managed to break out of the encirclement on April 21, and managed to reach the area of the Lovat River, and link up with other German forces. The division, now at less than 15% strength, more or less the size of a battalion, from the intense fighting in their defense of Demjansk, stayed in the area until October 1942.
By the fall of 1941, the vast advances made during Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, had begun to slow and even halt. The men of the SS-Totenkopfdivision found themselves near Lake Ilmen, and the Russian city of Demjansk.
While the men of the SSTK defended their positions in the winter of 1941, they were eventually cut off and surrounded. The encirclement began with a massive Soviet Offensive in the Northern Sector during January, 1942. SSTK was surrounded from January 8 until April 21. During that time, Totenkopf held its ground, defending against an onslaught of five Soviet armies, including 18 Rifle Divisions, and 3 Armored Brigades. One should also note, at this time the division was not a Panzer Division, and thus was not outfitted with many tanks.
The men of SSTK, led a counter-assault, and managed to break out of the encirclement on April 21, and managed to reach the area of the Lovat River, and link up with other German forces. The division, now at less than 15% strength, more or less the size of a battalion, from the intense fighting in their defense of Demjansk, stayed in the area until October 1942.
