Operation Solstice

Company solstice, also known as "Company parforce " or the " Stargard Tank Battle ", a German offensive operation on the Eastern Front in Pomerania from the 15th was to 18 February 1945. Die Wehrmacht saw originally codenamed parforce ago, but the SS insisted on the name solstice. Originally planned as a major offensive, it was ultimately executed as a localized attack. This was repulsed by the Red Army, but he had helped to make move the planned attack on Berlin by the Soviet High Command.

Planning

General Heinz Guderian had originally planned to have run a large flank offensive against the 1st Belorussian Front east of the Oder. The Soviet armed forces should be attacked both from Stargard in Pomerania in the north and from Glogau in Silesia and Brandenburg Guben in the south. To carry out these plans, he demanded that the Kurland kettle should be evacuated, as well as the offices of Italy and Norway in order to have enough troops available.

Objectives

In its final form consisted Operation Solstice from a stronger counter-offensive by the three corps of the 11th SS Panzer Army, which were used in Pomerania against the tips of the 1st Belorussian Front. The German forces should first proceed along a 50 -km front around Stargard south- east to Arnswalde. Their goal was the liberation of the trapped German garrison in Kuestrin.

Participating units

• Leader of Grenadier - Division
• 163rd Infantry Division
• 281st Infantry Division
• 104th Panzer Brigade hunting

Result

The attack failed after minor initial successes, and ended with the withdrawal of the Oder.