Hitschhold's group assisted the breakthrough at Suwałki on 25 June, and engaged in anti-tank operations 80 km south of Grodno. He led II./StG 2 in the Battle of Białystok–Minsk, advance on Vilnius, Lepel, Vitebsk to force a bridgehead over the Dnieper. On 11 July the group attacked rail lines from Vitebsk to Smolensk, before supporting the destruction of the Smolensk pocket. On 8 August, Hitschhold was ordered north, to support the 16th army and Army Group North. The group supported the breach of the Velikaya River line, and the advance to Staraya Russa near Lake Ilmen. From 27 August to 8 September close air support was flown in support of XXVIII Army Corps and XXXIX Panzer Corps to Schlüsselburg at the mouth of the Neva River.