Melitopol Sept-Oct 1943 East Rampart

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Hitler agreed on the subject of a fallback position on the Dnepr River, Wotan -Panther Line, Hitler also agreed with Von Manstein on the subject of another Offensive. More Infantry and Panzer Divisions would be sent immediately from France, Norway , etc.
Army Groups North-Center-and A would also ante up their available Panzer and Infantry Divisions.
These variable factors would take to much time to be transported and concentrated together.
Von Mansteirns idea, Assault Gun Battalions/Sturm Geschutz abteilung, derived from his own 1935 idea for Self Propelled Guns/Sturm Artillerie.
Added features these new formations would have their own Infantry Support, heavily armed , 2 Battaliions (800) Troops, with new Panzerfaust/Panzershcreck capability.
These Formations could be quickly transported by Rail where ever needed.
Previous ideas near Rostov using Tiger I with Assault Guns in support were a precursor , showing the Heavy Tiger could not be expeditiously moved by Rail in the hectic stop and go actions.
One such Formation was Sturm Geschutz Abteilung 209, Commander by Major Rupert Gruber, former Capt of 1st Battery, 209, seeing action at Stalino and Melitopol, outfitted with 31 StuG Turretless Assault Guns, the Support Infantry heavily armed with extra automatic weapons.
Other Formations in the area:
Schwere Panzer Jager Abteiling 653 / outfitted with Super Heavy Ferdinand Elefants carrying the Tank Destroying 88 Gun at Zaporzhye North Melitpol
Schwere Panzer Regiment Baake reported outfitted with Tiger I in action South of Melitopol (Paul Carrell Scorched Earth Book)
Panzer Div 13 in action south of Melitpol
Panzer Div 23 in action Zaporzhye area
Mansteins New Assault Gun Battalions would form the hard kernal of defense around Mellitpol

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Schwere Panzer Gruppe Bake was in action in Earyl 1944,
Panzer Gruppe Von Hake was in Action SW of Melitopol
with Schwere PanzerJager Abt 93

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Reference source History of 23rd Panzer Division Ernst Rebentisch

Reference source includes daily reports from each German Battle Group of 23rd PZ and other groups in action with 23rd PZ

The Germans adopted a defense of strongpoints fitted out with assault guns(Mansteins idea) and heavily armed Infantry setup in ambush positions
in buildings or in the heavy overgrowth in the area, backing these units , would be dug in field howitzers or self propelled howitzers, backing these up long range tank destroyers.
Hitler authorized work to begin of constructing Eastern Rampart,Wotan-Panther Position in Sept 1943, German Troops deployed to Melitopol found few field works , and hastily dug anti tank ditches , east and west of Molochnaya River/Stream.
The ambush tactics were to violently engage Russian Lead elements, to delay and possible Russian Bridgehead of Troops to build up.
Around Melitipol, German s used security elements manning fortifications armed with HMG, in a trip wire defense, once Russian elements approached in force, German Garrison elements and Regular Formations would deploy from staging areas to concentrate.

The Soviet 4th Ukrainian Front General Tolbukhin began arriving in the area, Sept 1943. German MG and Artillery covered all road approaches.
General Tolbukhin then received Stavka High Command Reserves, to use in the Stavka staggered General Offensive taking place along the entire Eastern Front. Once this occurred the fighting was hectic, German Reserves arriving by rail were "sluiced" in the battle , jumping directly from moving trains or transports into battle. In the Streets of Melitopol, the Germans setup more strongpoints in advantageous building locations , and on roooftops.
General Tolbukhin would have to reduce each in turn in costly battle.