Panthers vs IS-2s: A Panzer Ace’s Desperate Fight for Survival at Kurland Pocket

In the fall of 1944, Germany’s Army Group North led by Colonel General Ferdinand Schörner found themselves stranded within Latvia’s Courland Peninsula. Beneath that fragile defense line, the Red-Army had surged through the Baltic states putting immense pressure on the Army group North. Sensing the urgency, Schörner mobilized a formidable force comprising three Panzer divisions. His strategy: unleash this powerful unit against the advancing Russian forces, aiming to push through toward Memel to move south and establish a connection with Army Group Center and reinforce their position. This move marked the beginning of a series of monumental battles setting the stage for an epic struggle for control over the region. At the heart of the intense conflict stood Sergeant First Class Hermann Bix, a thirty year old Panzer ace. #ww2tanks #tankbattle #panzer