the fall of fort stalin meant the soviet defenses in the north were on the verge of collapse. hansen ordered liv corps to divert its attention to fort maxim gorky and the elimination of the soviet 95th rifle division. the 95th rifle division had been halting the 132nd infantry division's progress since the start of the offensive. the 132nd was reinforced by one regiment from the idle 46th infantry division near kerch. the german 24th, 50th and romanian 4th mountain divisions were to maintain pressure in the central sector while they pushed towards the mekensia and gatani valley and the chernaya river opening at severnaya bay. for three days, 14–16 june, the battle continued as the axis advanced towards sevastopol in the face of soviet resistance. on 15 june the 132nd was within 900 metres of the maxim gorky's outer bastion (bastion i). the front opposite the 25th soviet rifles was still strong, but the northern flank was giving way. the 79th naval brigade had only 35 percent of its fighting strength remaining. blocking the way to maxim gorky was just 1,000 men of the 95th rifle division and 7th naval brigade.