valued Kharkov as an industrial center and railroad hub. Capturing the city would push the Soviet Southwestern and Southern Front armies back on Voronezh and Stalingrad as their major transport hubs. The German offensive stalled in the second week of October due to the rasputitsa mud season and the poor logistics in the area between the Dnepr and the front: all road bridges had collapsed and ice threatened the pontoon replacements. Hitler allocated resources from the 17th Army to the 6th Army to ensure the capture of Kharkov. This, however, weakened the 17th Army's effort to protect the flank of the 1st Panzer Army and contributed to the German defeat at the Battle of Rostov. After 17 October, night frost improved the roads, but snow and cold started to hamper the autumn-equipped Germans, who had expected the entire Barbarossa invasion to be over before winter. Course of the battle Preparing to take the city The task of assaulting Kharkov itself was given to the German LV. Armeekorps commanded by General der Infanterie Erwin Vierow. This corps had at its disposal the 101. Leichte-Division, commanded by Generalleutnant Josef Brauner von Haydringen and coming in from the north, the 57. Infanterie-Division, commanded by Generalmajor Anton Dostler and coming in from the south, and the 100. Leichte-Division, which did not take part in the battle. Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 197, commanded by Hauptmann Kurt von Barisani had two of its three batteries attached to the 57. Infanterie-Division to provide close fire support during the assault. For the defense of Kharkov, the Soviet 216th Rifle Division had been reformed there after its destruction at Kiev. It received little to no support because the 38th Army was in strategic retreat and planned to defend Kharkov only until its factory equipment had been evacuated. Battles on the western edge of the city (20–23 October) 57th Infantry Division plus a Panzer Brigade 101st Light Division By 21 October the 101st Light Division had reached a line about six kilometers west of Kharkov. The 228th Light Regiment spearheaded the division, its 1st and 3rd battalions taking up defensive positions on the front, with the 2nd battalion in reserve. On 22 October the regiment was ordered to conduct reconnaissance to determine the enemy's strength. That same day at noon the regiment was attacked by a Soviet infantry battalion supported by tanks. The attack was repulsed and two tanks were disabled. That night