In our defense, this scenario is representative of the battles Soviet Col. Gen. Tolbuknin pressed to seal off the Crimea and to cross the lower Dnepr.

German historian Paul Carell wrote a brief description of the campaign and from what we could tell, the campaign was bloody for both sides.

Carrell chronicles on series of attacks over two weels in a position on the open steppes. Despite being outnumbered an average of five to one in every category, ten to one in rifle units ( put together by NKVD press gangs, every swinging dick from 12 to 70 ), the Germans held the Kalmyk Steppes in this region for nearly a month before logistics and casualties finally took their toll.