StG 77 was instrumental in the First Battle of Kharkov, defeating Soviet counter-attacks from the Southwestern Front and allowing Army Group South to seize the city despite snowfall and a 500-ft ceiling. In November, after a skilful Soviet offensive had ejected German forces in the Battle of Rostov, from the city, StG 77 covered the German retreat to the Mius River. Reconnaissance discovered the build-up to another offensive on 7 December. StG 77 destroyed 70 trucks followed by more vehicles the next day, plus eight tanks and one artillery battery. On Boxing day 1941, the wing lost five Ju 87s near Stalino to ground-fire. All the crews returned, one from Soviet territory. Commander of I./StG 77, Helmut Bruck, landed twice on the steppe to pick up German airmen.