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As in, what was the time period of the engagement? While the only book I have read that discusses it is Fulgrim (I'm waiting for a bigger order of HH books to come in), it describes the fighting as lasting for what seems like a few hours, with pockets of loyalists here-and-there and some trying to get back to their flyers etc. So does anyone know something more specific, or at least more helpful?

Any information is greatly appreciated.

Wasn't the DSM covered in the second or third HH book?

Anyway, yeah, the massacre itself was a few hours, although mop-up operations took a few weeks.

 Furyou Miko wrote:
Wasn't the DSM covered in the second or third HH book?

Anyway, yeah, the massacre itself was a few hours, although mop-up operations took a few weeks.

What is meant by the 'mop up?

The Salamanders and Iron Hands were all but annihilated, a significant portion of the Raven Guard however were able to break off contact and carried on a guerrilla war against the traitors for 3 months: the last few thousand were extracted after 98 days.

The massacre itself was a few hours, the campaign lasted for months however. Corax retreated into the mountains with a small contingent of survivors and waged a guerrilla war.

 TheManWithNoPlan wrote:

What is meant by the 'mop up?

Mopping up is what it's called when there's maybe three to five percent of the enemy force still active that need eliminating. Not enough to be a credible threat, but too many to be allowed to wander around unchecked.

 Gashrog wrote:
The Salamanders and Iron Hands were all but annihilated, a significant portion of the Raven Guard however were able to break off contact and carried on a guerrilla war against the traitors for 3 months: the last few thousand were extracted after 98 days.

Just as a sidenote, only fraction of the Iron Hands even landed on the planet. The majority were in the second wave and while they still took losses, it's not the same kind of annihilation that the other legions went through.

As an addendum to jareddm's point above, Ferrus Manus only deployed the Morlocks and armoured elements of the Avernii Clan in any real strength. So furious was he with Fulgrim's betrayal, he went straight to Isstvan V with his elite companies whilst the rest of the Iron Hands followed on. Of the Avernii - almost all were annihilated. Of the followers, a great many were killed when they translated into the hostile system unaware of the betrayal of the 2nd wave Legions, but many more escaped leaving the Iron Hands in a better position than the Raven Guard or Salamanders, albeit without their Primarch.