The positions are to be broken through with a view to a drive on Moscow. The tank regiment of the 12th Panzer Division will form the head of the attacking wedge, with the SS guards as reserve on the right flank. Our company will be on the extreme left flank and has the task of penetrating behind the Russian positions and preparing the way for the companies following. 3 Company is the leading company. "Honor the memory of 3 Company," said Porta, with a laugh. We were to move up to a battered village just behind the main fighting line. There, panzer grenadiers from the 104th Riffle Regiment were to get up behind our tanks. 06.40 hours. Stukas attack. 06.48 hours. 3 Company attacks. 06.51 hours. Our company follows. A barrage will be laid three kilometers behind the enemy lines at 06.50 hours. It was a magnificent sight. Tracer projectiles of all the colors of the rainbow passed screeching across the heavens.
