1945 Battle of Chita (Hitler's World)

Overview
German advanced through a gap between the Soviet forces on the Novosibirsk and Irkutsk Fronts in to the eastern part of Chita Oblast in order encircles the Soviet holding out at Irkutsk after winning at Omsk. A perticuly fearice clash occurred in between German [|Panzerkampfwagen E-100] and BA-10 armoured cars clashed with 6 Mongolian BA-10 armoured cars and 20 Soviet TP7 tanks, 3 IS-2 Heavy, [|NI-tractor] and 4 KV-1 Heavy tanks  with heavy losses on both sides just north of the city of Chita. Although all the tanks had been adapted on all sides to cope in the snow (with the use of wider than average tracks), the lighter TP7 tanks and BA 10 half-track armoured cars had a mobility advantage in the heavy snow. Mines, ambushes, suicide attacks and snipers all used to deadly effect by both sides to the conflict to.

Causes of the conflict
A Waffen-SS Suicide Squadrons detachment from the SS Division Das Reich, armed with 10 captured Soviet BA-10 armored cars, 20 [Panzerkampfwagen | E-100 Panzerkampfwagen] and 10 Tiger II tanks advanced through a gap between the Soviet forces on the Novosibirsk  and Irkutsk Fronts in to the eastern part of Chita Oblast in order encircles the Soviet holding out at Irkutsk.

Tactics
The Germans had manipulated the fear of communism in Europe to call upon extra forces from Vichy France (which was not invaded as in OTL) and troops from Norway, Hungary, Romania and the USA, and Denmark. This allowed Germany to mustering a massive German-allied force of Hungarian, Danish, Norwegian, and Romanian divisions. The Soviets and Mongolians used both the bitterly cold water, heavy snow and terrain to their full advantage.

Result
A Soviet and Mongolian defensive victory. The Germans had been held off long enough for Stalin to begin a counter offensive, with the rebuilding of tanks and divisions, the Red army could now immediately get itself back up and strike hard against the German-allied armies. The Soviet high command assessed the importance of bringing Germany deeper and deeper into the heart of Siberia, where it could now unleash a very destructive guerrilla war using the bitter cold and winter as an ally.

Political outcome
With its immediate goals achieved Germany, Romania, Vichy France and Hungary could afford to consolidate their gains and fall back to the more secure territories around Omsk and Kurgan.

Also see

 * Hitlers World