german bombardment began on 12 june. artillery fire from 'dora' had failed to neutralise the fort. nevertheless, a combined arms attack from eleven 420 mm mortars and dive-bombing by ju 87s of stg 77 knocked out the fort's main armament (three of the four 76.2 mm guns). at 19:00 the 22nd divisional artillery began shelling the fort and its smaller supporting fortress, volga, located to stalin's rear, with 210, 280 and 305 mm weapons. at 03:00 the german infantry attacked. the fog of war intervened. the soviet mortar teams were not suppressed, and a fierce battle developed which lasted until 05:30. the germans, with the support of five assault guns and a few 37 mm weapons, silenced the fort, bunker by bunker. in the heavy fighting a large number of company commanders were killed.