After a costly attack on the woods to the south of the Istra on the 23rd River 87th Infantry Division renewed its assault by attacking from the south. The Soviet engineering team which was to have blown the bridge was attacked by German aircraft and their vehicles destroyed. Having been informed of this the commander of the 316th infantry regiment sent an ad hoc force of four companies along with a tank platoon and an anti-tank battery to hold or recapture the bridge if it had been taken.
The attacking German force from the 87th was better balanced with 3 companies of infantry, two batteries of artillery and a tank platoon. In addition German troops had crossed the river at first light and had occupied an area between the bridge and the woods.
The Soviet commander, under instructions to recapture the bridge at all costs deployed his forces for attack immediately upon arrival and his initial force ('C' company plus the tank platoon) headed for the German company dug in beside the wood. This unit quickly deployed into the woods and a fierce firefight ensued.
The attacking German force from the 87th was better balanced with 3 companies of infantry, two batteries of artillery and a tank platoon. In addition German troops had crossed the river at first light and had occupied an area between the bridge and the woods.
The Soviet commander, under instructions to recapture the bridge at all costs deployed his forces for attack immediately upon arrival and his initial force ('C' company plus the tank platoon) headed for the German company dug in beside the wood. This unit quickly deployed into the woods and a fierce firefight ensued.
The pressure on the German troops in the wood was alleviated by the arrival of the German armoured unit, an infantry company and an artillery battery and the two armoured units engaged while 'C' company launched a flank attack on the woods. Simultaneously 'B' company and the anti-tank battery arrived although in the worst possible location from the Soviet commander's viewpoint and required four turns even to get into contact with the battle for the bridge.
The German artillery came into action very quickly and the concentration of fire on the Soviet tank platoon allied to the casualties from the firefight with the German armour resulted in the destruction of the Soviet armour.
The German artillery came into action very quickly and the concentration of fire on the Soviet tank platoon allied to the casualties from the firefight with the German armour resulted in the destruction of the Soviet armour.
The Soviet attack in the woods degenerated into something of a stalemate and the arrival of the remaining two companies 'A' and 'D' (again in the wrong position) was more than countered by another German artillery battery and the remaining infantry company.
The Soviet anti-tank unit opened fire with telling effect on the German armour and the concentrated fire on the second German infantry unit resulted in them routing while their armoured support burned. For a brief spell the battle looked finely poised but the continual bombardment from the two German artillery batteries rained down on the Soviet forces.
A desperate attack up the main road towards the bridge by 'B' Company did succeed in destroying one of the batteries but counter-battery fire from the remaining battery destroyed the anti-tank guns and the Soviet commander, with three of his four infantry companies out of action and his armour and anti-tank capability reduced to fragments decided to retreat with his remaining company 'D'.
Postscript - a dour defensive struggle for Istra ensued and the town was captured by a flank attack from 10th Panzer Division and the Das Reich SS Infantry Division on 27th November but was retaken on the third day of the Soviet counter-offensive on the 8th of December.
