Quote:The initial assault was launched from the Vazusa River bridgehead on the morning of the 11th of December. At 10:10 hours massed infantry from the 20th and 29th Armies, resumed their attacks under heavy German fire. Attacking recklessly across a 4km sector, against heavily reinforced German antitank defences. The desperate assault saw 20th Army lose almost 300 tanks in two days of incessant combat and the attack broke down along the majority of the penetration front. Then, the 5th Tank Corps was committed to the battle, its armour desperately trying to penetrate the enemy defences. The tank assaults gave way to furious enemy counterattacks and individual heights and key positions changed hands several times, with both sides suffering heavy losses. The assaults continued for three days, before collapsing in utter exhaustion on the 15th of December.