The Soviets changed their usual pattern of a dawn barrage for opening the Zhitomir-Berdichev Operation, opting instead to attack in the middle of the day when it was hoped that the Germans would be well into their Christmas Eve celebrations. The 12th Guards Breakthrough Regiment was assigned to the new 101st Rifle Corps to support it in the initial assault. Its mission was to attack straight down the Kiev-Zhitomir Highway through Stavische to Kocherovo.
Objectives: Your company is tasked with breaking through this sector of the enemy line and taking the crossroads village. Your platoon forms the right flank of the company battleline, and will make a "right hook", driving south, then east into the village, as the center platoon thrusts south down the road. The command platoon will support both these attacks. A battery of SU-152 Mechanized Guns are deployed in support of the attack. The enemy has at least one company of armor and a section of 88mm antitank guns supporting the main line of strongpoints.
