Russian winter offensive Dec 1941 - April 1942

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Jaywol
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Russian winter offensive Dec 1941 - April 1942

Post by Jaywol »

Hi. Following a period of research in this battle, I have exhausted my limited research resources. I am hoping that you guys can fill in the blanks, point out any errors and hopefully provide some additional information. Here is what I've put together so far. More to follow later.

The Moscow Counter Offensive

Situation

As the German advance towards Moscow began to stall short of the city, Russian forces were preparing to launch a counter offensive, which would throw it back to the west.
STAVKA planned to carry out the offensive in two phases. The first phase, beginning on the 5th of December, would be launched primarily against Army Group Center and was planned to last approximately one month. The second phase would follow on from the first, if it was successful, and would begin on the 5th of January. The second phase would encompass the entire front and be would be launched against all three German Army Groups.
During November, Russian forces had mounted a series of spoiling attacks designed to weaken German forces and prevent them from drawing reserves from their flanks and committing them to the attack against the city. These included the actions of the 1st Shock Army, in the area of Rogachevo, which had advanced against the 41st Arny Corps and consolidated positions along the Moscow-Volga Canal including the capture of a bridgehead at Iakhroma. On December 3rd, the 20th Army also went over to the offensive in the direction of Krasnaia Poliana. The 5th, 33rd and 43rd Armies conducted a strong defence along the line Zvenigorod, Naro-Fominsk and Dubrovka. The 50th Army conducted a staunch defence of Tula, foiling the attempts of the 2nd Panzer army to capture the city. The 1st Guards Cavalry Corps broke through the encirclement of the 43rd Army Corps in the area noth of Vanev, which allowed elements of the 10th Army to mount offensive operations in the area of Stalinogorsk.
In the time gained during these offensive actions, STAVKA began its concentration of reserve Armies in the form of the 1st Shock and 20th Armies to the north of Moscow and the 10th Army to the east of Tula, while heavily reinforcing the 30th Army to the east of Kalinin.
The offensive was to take place on two axes. The first to the north of Moscow, would be initiated on the 5th of December by the Kalinin Fronts 22nd, 29th and 31st Armies, while the second would follow the next day to the west and south of the city, with the Western Fronts 16th, 20th, 30th and 1st Shock Armies. Also involved on the southern flank were elements of the Southwestern Front, which included the 3rd and 13th Armies and the Kostenko Operational Group.
The Russian forces taking part in the counter offensive had been heavily reinforced, with some 27 additional Divisions being brought into service. However, the combat effectiveness of many of these units was low due to their poor training and lack of experienced leadership. Many formations went into combat straight from the march, without proper assembly or preparation.
The Russian forces in place to the west of Moscow, the 5th, 33rd, 43rd and 49th Armies, were to tie down German forces and prevent them from reinforcing their flanks. Many of the units in these formations were severely under strength following months of heavy fighting.
The German position was even worse. Many units were severely under strength and at the end of over extended supply lines. The harsh winter conditions were playing havoc with both personnel and equipment. German ground troops without adeqate winter clothing were suffering more casualties from frostbite than from enemy action. German equipment, unsuited to the conditions of the Russian winter, was failing at every level. The Luftwaffe, on whom the ground forces had relied so heavily during their earlier advances, was operating from poorly equipped and badly prepared forward airfields and were also struggling to operate effectively in the harsh winter conditions.
The German forces of Army Group Centre facing the offensive were, from north to south, 9th Army, 3rd Panzer Group, 4th Army, 4th Panzer Group, 2nd Army and 2nd Panzer Group.

The Offensive Begins

Kalinin Front

The Kalinin Front’s offensive opened on the morning of the 5th of December, when elements of the 39th, 29th and 31st Armies attacked along the northern flank of the Klin bulge, which contained elements of the German 9th Army and 3rd Panzer Group.
The attack of the 29th Army, which was directed towards Rzhev, was disjointed and initially made little progress. However, better progress was made to the southeast of Kalinin by the 31st Army. It managed to secure a bridgehead over the Volga and penetrate a further 7 miles, severing the Kalinin-Turginovo road and threatening to envelop German forces in Kalinin from the east. Both Armies continued their advance to the southwest, eventually being halted by German forces to the northeast of Rzhev. Further to the southeast the 30th Army also made good progress in the direction of Volokolamsk. The German garrison at Kalinin began to evacuate the city on the 14th of December and it was finally liberated by elements of the 31st Army on the 16th of December.

Western Front northern flank

On the 6th of December, the Western Front’s 30th, 1st Shock and 20th Armies struck to the north and south of Dmitrov along the Volga Moscow Canal. Elements of the 8th Tank Brigade and the 365th Rifle Division breached the defences of the 3rd Panzer Group and advanced towards Klin from the northeast. Klin was an important road hub and its loss would close any route of escape for the remainder of the Panzer Group attempting to withdraw from Dmitrov and Solnechnogorsk, where they were being pursued by the 1st Shock and 20th Armies. On the 6th of December, the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th Panzer and 14th Motorized Divisions began to conduct a fighting withdrawal back towards Klin.
The 1st Shock and 20th Armies continued their slow progress towards Iakhroma and Krasnaya Polyana and were joined on the 8th of December by elements of the 16th Army to the southeast of Volokolamsk.
The same day, elements of the 30th Army had advanced to within five miles of Klin’s northern edge and were threatening to envelop the town, its 379th Infantry Division cutting the Klin-Kalinin rail line. Heavy fighting raged around the city during the 8th of December as German forces raced to withdraw through it to the west.
Meanwhile, the 16th Army advanced towards Istra. Its 9th Guards Rifle Division threatened to encircle the SS ‘Das Reich’ Division at Snegiri and forced it to withdraw back towards the Istra River. The sector was briefly reinforced by elements of the 10th Panzer Division in an attempt to slow the Russian advance, before it was moved north to help with the defence of Klin.
German forces at Istra demolished the Istra reservoir, flooding the river and creating a water barrier some 100m wide, which managed to halt any further advance by the 16th Army. The 16th Army, mounted an attack with two mobile groups, commanded by Remizov and Katukov, in an attempt to envelop the reservoir from the north and the swollen river from the south. Remizov’s Group managed to push 10 miles to the west of the Istra reservoir, while Katukov’s Group fought its way some 24 miles to the west of the town.
Further south the 4th Panzer Groups 5th Corps began to withdraw westwards, its 23rd, 106th and 35th Infantry Divisions unable to hold out against the attacks of the 49th Army ?

On the 9th of December, General Zhukov, disappointed with the lack of progress in some areas, issued a curt directive to Western Front commanders, decrying the profligate frontal attacks as ‘negative operational measures which play into the enemy's hands.’ Zhukov ordered his subordinates to, ‘avoid further frontal attacks against reinforced centers of resistance’ and urged instead that German strong points be bypassed completely. The bypassed German strong points would hopefully be isolated by the Russian advance and then later reduced by following echelons.
By the 12th of December, the 1st Shock and 30th Armies had closed around Klin from the north and east, while the 20th Army had captured Solnechnagorsk to the southeast and the 16th Army, Istra to the south.
The same day, elements of the 4th Panzer Army began to reach new defensive positions along the Istra River line. Unable to hold them, the Army continued its retreat towards the River Ruza.
The two Mobile Groups of 16th Army renewed their attack in the Istra area on the 13th of December and achieved immediate success.
On the 14th of December, the 30th Army pushed a mobile group consisting of the 18th and 82nd Cavalry and the 107th Motor Rifle Division’s to the west of Klin in an effort to cut the German supply lines and routes of escape to the west of the town. The group managed to reach Diatlovo, but was halted by elements of the 6th Panzer and 14th Motorized Division’s.
On the same day, the 5th Army’s 18th, 32nd and 326th Rifle Divisions formed a shock group, which broke through the defensive positions of the 78th Sturm Division on the northern bank of the Moskva River, advancing along a narrow front towards Russa. The penetration was rapidly exploited by the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps and the 20th Tank Brigade.
Klin finally fell on the 15th of December, to the 30th Armies 365th and 371st Rifle Divisions and the 1st Shock Armies 348th Rifle Division.
After four days of heavy fighting, during which the 78th Sturm Division almost became encircled, it was forced to break out westwards in order to survive. The remnants of the Division reached the Ruza River on the 20th of December.
On the 23rd of December, in 4th Army’s area, the 98th infantry Division began withdrawing from its positions on the Nara River. Its remnants reassembled three days later on the Istya River, but were forced to withdraw once more on the 29th of December towards the River Protva, along with elements of the 15th Infantry and 19th Panzer Divisions. The remnants of the Division eventually reformed in the town of Maloyaroslavets, which it defended until the town was lost on the 2nd of January.
In 4th Army’s area, the 292nd Infantry Division was also fighting on the Nara River.
By the 25th, the offensive was beginning to lose momentum in the Western Front’s area of operations. The 16th and 20th Armies were halted at the Lama and Ruza Rivers in the face of stiff German resistance.


Western Front southern flank

To the south of the city, Guderian’s 2nd Panzer Army lay in a vulnerable salient to the east of Tula. On the 6th of December, its weakened eastern flank was attacked by elements of the 10th Army in the area of Stalinogorsk. During two days of heavy fighting, Russian forces captured Mikhailov and Serebrianye Prudy, advancing up to 18 miles. The 50th Army joined the attack on the 7th of December in an attempt to advance to the southeast from Tula and complete the encirclement of the 2nd Panzer Army.
In response, the German 43rd Corps began to withdraw back towards the Shat and Don Rivers, reaching the area of Dedilovo. Elements of the 50th Army then swung to the south, but were halted by the 296th Infantry Division, having made only limited gains.
By the 9th of December, elements of the 112th Infantry Division had managed to halt the advance of the Russian 19th Army along the Shat and Don Rivers, but Mobile Group Beleov captured Venev and then Stalinogorsk the following day.
On the 15th of December, the 50th Army began its pursuit of the withdrawing German forces in the direction of Kaluga and Belev, while the 10th Army reoriented itself and advanced towards Plavsk.
By the 16th of December, elements of the 10th Army had captured Bogoroditsk, while mobile Group Belov captured Dedilovo. The same day, elements of the 49th Army also joined the offensive in the area of Aleksin, breaching the defenses of the German 43rd Corps and achieving a penetration of up to 30 miles.
On the 19th of December, elements of the 10th Army reached the Plava River, capturing the town of Plavsk.
On the 21st of December, Group Beleov reached Kaluga and severed communications between the 2nd Panzer Army and 4th Army to its north. The 2nd Panzer Army continued its withdrawal towards Orel, while elements of the 4th Army withdrew in the direction of Kaluga.
On the 25th of December, the town of Chern, in 2nd Panzer Army’s area, was recaptured as elements of the 10th Motorized Division were forced to retreat, while four days later Kaluga was also liberated by elements of the 50th Army.

Southwestern Front

On the 6th of December, the Southwestern Front’s 13th Army opened its attack against the German 2nd Army in the area of Yelets, to the south of Moscow.
On the 7th of December, elements of the 40th Army joined the offensive to the southwest of the town, in the area of Volovo.
The 13th Army’s Mobile Group Kostenko, which consisted of the 5th Cavalry Corps, struck southwestwards towards Yelets, with its 148th Rifle Division capturing the town on the 9th of December.
The German 34th Corps, which was defending the southern flank of the 2nd Army, became encircled, when elements of the 150th Tank Corps opened a gap in its front line at the juction of the 45th and 95th Infantry Divisions, between Yelets and Livny. Elements of the 5th Cavalry Corps, supported by the 121st Rifle Division, rapidly exploited the penetration between Kosaki and Teterenka, attacked Preobraschenka and pushed forward to Tschernawa, opening a 50-mile deep wedge in the direction of Novosil.
By the 21st of December, the remnants of the encircled German Corps, including the 45th, 95th and 134th Infantry Divisions had been all but destroyed. The Germans threw elements of the 56th Infantry Division into the gap near Livny, in an attempt to slow the Russian advance. The Russian mobile group managed to advance some 10 miles in two days, cutting the German withdrawal routes to the west of Zvenigorod.

Thx for any help, gratefully recieved. Regards Jaywol.
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Re: Russian winter offensive Dec 1941 - April 1942

Post by Jaywol »

The second phase of the counter offensive opened on the 5th January 1942

The German Response

When the German armies on the Eastern Front adopted a defensive stance in early December, they did not expect an immediate major Russian counter offensive. Therefore, most German Divisions deployed into a thin linear defense. These lacked the depth and reserves of a true elastic defense, with the linear formation merely stretched German forward units into a semblance of a continuous defensive front. The Russian counter offensive completely overwhelmed this flimsy German defensive line and those German units not destroyed outright were swept rearward in a series of running battles against superior Red Army forces.
Driven to the shelter of Russian towns and villages as an emergency measure, German troops did their best to fortify these positions against the inevitable Russian assaults. Defensive techniques varied from Division to Division, according to local conditions and experiences.
The Germans first began to use strongpoint defensive positions during these hazardous early withdrawals. Frequently out of contact with neighbouring forces and lacking sufficient time to prepare real defensive works, retreating units formed self-defence hedgehog perimeters around villages, towns and important communications centres such as road and rail junctions.
On the 16th of December, Hitler ordered Army Group Centre to cease all withdrawals and to defend its present positions. German soldiers would take ‘not one single step back.’ At a late night conference the same evening, Hitler extended the stand-fast order to the entire Eastern Front. A general withdrawal, he declared, was ‘out of the question.’
A winter retreat would cost the Germans much of their artillery and heavy equipment, which would have to be abandoned for lack of transport. Because of Hitler's procrastination in November, no rearward defensive line had been prepared, so a withdrawal promised little improvement over the tactical situation that the Germans already faced.
As already experienced to the south of Moscow, withdrawal could easily lead to an even greater crisis, if enemy units managed to thrust between the retreating German columns. Finally, if a general withdrawal was attempted through the Russian winter, it was possible that moral and combat effectiveness would be rapidly denuded in the harsh conditions.
The alternative seemed even more desperate. A continued defence from present positions could succeed only if German defensive endurance exceeded Russian offensive endurance, a slim prospect considering the exhausted state of the German forces. The chances for success were best on the extreme northern and southern wings, where the Leningrad siege works and the Mius River line offered some protection. Between these two poles, however, a stand-fast defense would surely cost the Germans heavily.

The January Offensive

At the beginning of January, the STAVKA decided to widen the offensive following its initial success in the Moscow area. The Russian High Command intended to continue to develop the counter offensive against Army Group Centre, while also opening subsequent offensives along the entire front, against Army Group North in the Leningrad area, Army Group South in the eastern Ukraine and Donets Basin and the 11th Army in the Crimea.
The Kalinin and Western fronts would press German forces westward from Moscow, while the left wing of the Western Front and the right wing of the Kalinin Front, would attack from south and north to meet at Vyazma, in an attempt to encircle the bulk of German Army Group Center.

Western Front

The forces of the Western Front were to continue their offensive to the west of Moscow.
In the center, the 5th and 33rd Armies were to continue to attack the 4th Army in the area of Vyazma.
On the southern flank, the 50th Army was to continue its good progress and envelop the southern flank of the 4th Army in the direction of Yukhnov. Boldin’s mobile Group was to advance northwestwards between Vyazma and Yartsezo, to link up with forces from the Kalinin Front and close the trap on Army Group Center. The 10th Army was to protect Boldin’s open southern flank and prevent elements of the 2nd Panzer Army providing any assistance.
On the 3rd of January, elements of the 4th Panzer Army were ordered to close the Maloyaroslavets breach. This was made all the more difficult as the army’s position was threatened on its northern flank by the Western Front’s 20th and 5th Armies, which continued to probe against 9th Army. Any further Russian success here would bring them into the Army’s rear.
On the southern flank, the gaping Maloyaroslavets breach was being exploited by elements of the 33rd Army. As it began to wheel to the northwest it threatened the 20th Corps, on 4th Panzer Army’s southern flank. Also threatened by the rapidly advancing 10th Army and 1st Guards Cavalry Corps, was the town of Sukhinichi, the large supply and communications center, which was defended by the recently arrived 216th Infantry Division.
Also on the 3rd and 4th of January, to assist the advance of the 43rd and 49th armies, Battalion-size airborne assaults secured objectives in German 4th Army’s rear area at Bol'shoye, Fat’yanovo, Myatlevo and in the Gusevo area north of Medyn.
On the 8th of January, the 20th, 1st Shock and 16th Armies opened an offensive along a narrow 20km corridor between Volokolamsk and Shahovskaya. The attack succeeded in breaching the German front, with the 352nd Rifle Division capturing Timonino. On January the 10th, the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps began to exploit the breach.
On the 10th of January, the 1st Shock and 20th Armies continued to press the 3rd Panzer Army in the area of Volokolamsk.
A counter attack against the threat posed by the 33rd Army was mounted on the 18th of January by elements of the 4th Panzer and 4th Armies in the area to the southeast of Vyazma. The attack achieved limited success and relieved the town of Sukhinichi on the 24th of January.
On the 18th of January, in the Zhel-an'ye area west of Yukhnov, a Regimental-size force was air dropped to assist the 1st Guards Cavalry Corps in crossing the Moscow-Warsaw highway to the southwest of Yukhnov. The aim of the drop was also to cause confusion in the rear areas and coordinate the actions of the large Partisan groups, which were forming in the area.
On the 19th of January, the 1st Shock Army was withdrawn from the Western Front and moved to the Northwestern Front. Likewise on the 21st, the 16th Army was also withdrawn and moved to the Southwestern Front. This left only the 20th Army attacking along the Klin-Rzhev axis and the attack lost momentum, failing to make significant progress.
Meanwhile elements of the German 4th Army were still withdrawing westwards under pressure from the 33rd, 10th and 50th Armies. The encircled 43rd Corps managed to breakout and withdrew westwards towards Yukhnov.
By the 26th of January, Group Belov and other elements of the 50th Army had cut the Warsaw highway and encircled a large German force, consisting of elements of the 98th, 34th, 27th, 268th, 131st, 31st, 52nd, 263rd and 260th Infantry, 19th Motorized and 19th Panzer Divisions, in the area of Yukhnov.
On the 27th of January, the 4th Airborne Corps began a series of air drops in the area to the southwest of Vyazma in an effort to cut German communications between Vyazma and Smolensk, while a secondary force would harass the withdrawal of German units from Vyaz'ma to the west.
By mid-January, the 11th Panzer Division had general responsibility for security of the highway to the west of Vyazma and although still committed to action farther east, the 3rd Motorized Division had units patrolling the highways to the east and south of the city.
The 8th Airborne Brigade, preceded by a forward detachment, landed near Ozerechnya in order to secure a line from Rebrovo through Gradino to Bereznikiand and block German movement along the Vyazma-Smolensk and Vyazma-Dorogobuzh roads. The 9th Airborne Brigade landed near Goryainovo, securing a line from Goryainovo through Ivanikito Popovo, to prevent the approach of German reinforcements from the west. The 214th Airborne Brigade, reinforced by the separate tank and artillery Battalions of the Corps, landed in the Vysotskoye, Pleshkovo and Uvarovo areas and would act as the Corps reserve.
However, due to a series of factors, the initial drops went badly. A lack of sufficient aircraft, poor organisation and delayed assembly at the airfields and disorientation over the drop zones, left the airborne forces off target and widely scattered.
German forces in the area reacted quickly and the Luftwaffe bombed the assembly airfields, both destroying aircraft and halting any further airlifts during the day.
On the 28th of January the main force involved in the airborne landings began their drops. However, due to the shortage of aircraft, the drops only continued sporadically. Poor communications on the ground lead to the various groups having great difficulty joining together and forming cohesive units.
On the 29th of January, elements of the 43rd Army captured Miatlevo.
By February the 1st, when all further air drops were halted, some 2000 men had been airdropped and on the 12th of February they finally established contact with elements of the 1st Guards Cavalry Corps near Ugra.
On the 13th of February, the 10th Army went over to the offensive, capturing Mar'ino, Zamosh'ye, Gorelovski and then continued its advance in the direction of Yakovlevka.
On the 17th of February, elements of the 16th Army captured Bryansk.
On the 21st of February, the 43rd, 49th and 50th armies began their reduction of the Yuhknov pocket.
On the 12th of March, the 16th Army reached the town of Bryn.

Kalinin Front

In the north, the Kalinin Front was to advance towards Rzhev, Yartsevo and Vyazma, in an attempt to turn the left flank of the German 9th Army and sever the rearward communications of the whole Army Group.
The northern flank of the 9th Army was under heavy pressure from the Russian 39th Army in the area south of Staritsa and was withdrawing back towards Rzhev. By the 13th of January, Russian forces had opened a gap between the 6th and 23rd Corps and elements of the 39th Army had penetrated beyond the winter line, reaching the town of Sychevka, cutting the Rzhev-Vyazma rail line.
By the 15th of January, elements of the 22nd Army had occupied Selizharovo and the following day had managed to force a crossing of the Volga. Other elements of the Army had become involved in heavy fighting for the city of Bely.

Northwestern Front

Meanwhile, the Northwestern Front was to advance towards Velikiye Luki and Vitebsk, driving a wedge between Army Groups Center and North. The Northwestern Front had been allocated two reinforced shock Armies, the 3rd, which was to advance towards Cholm and Velikiye Luki and the 4th, which was to attack towards Toropets and Vitebsk.
The offensive opened on the 9th of January, from the area of Ostashkov. With the 22nd Army covering the open southern flank, the three Armies made good progress. They encountered heavy resistance at Andreapol and Toropets, where German forces had fortified the two towns. Due to the largely wooded terrain, large gaps appeared between the three Armies and command and supply became difficult. The 3rd Shock Army was unable to capture Cholm, which was bitterly defended by elements of the 281st Security and 123rd Infantry Division’s. It did however manage to capture Velikiye Luki on the 16th of January, despite its desperate defence by elements of the 83rd Infantry and 3rd Mountain Division’s. It also managed to encircle elements of the German 2nd Corps, consisting of the 12th, 30th, 32nd, 123rd and 290th infantry Division’s at Demyansk.

Bryansk Front

In the south, the Bryansk Front was to continue to pressure the German 2nd Panzer Army around Orel, while the Southwestern Front was to cross the Donets River and advance towards Kharkov. It was then to swing to the south and capture Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhe on the Dnepr River.
On the 7th of January, the 61st Army opened an attack from the Vyrka River in the general direction of Kasyanovo. The 346th Rifle Division was involved in heavy fighting in the areas of Veyno and Retyun, while the 342nd Rifle Division advanced towards Cherelushino and Hamkino where it engaged elements of the Grossduetschland Regiment. The 350th Rifle Division advanced in the area of Dulino, along the east bank of the river Oka from Sem'unovo. The 387th and 356th Rifle Divisions advanced towards Altuhovo, capturing the towns of Teromtsy, Karagashinka and Tolkachevo. However, by the 15th of January this attack was beginning to lose momentum as the German 35th, 34th and 48th Army Corps formed a coherent line of defense along the Oka, Zusha, Neruch and Tim Rivers.
On the 25th of January, the Bryansk Fronts 61st Army opened a new offensive against the 2nd Panzer Army in a southerly direction towards Orel. The 2nd Panzer Army had occupied a defensive line along the western bank of the river Optuha with its 53rd, 35th and 34th Corps. In the face of this attack, the 2nd Panzer Army was gradually forced to evacuate Sukhinichi and withdraw westwards.
On the 21st of February, elements of the 3rd Army began an offensive in the direction of Bolhov city.
On March the 2nd, the 3rd Army’s 283rd Rifle Division, attacked German positions at Hmelevaya and Fatnevo and captured Krivtsovo and Ushevo.
The same day, elements of the 8th Cavalry Corps captured Bagrinovo and then continued its advance towards Vvedenski and Dubrovski.
By March the 6th, the 53rd Corps, consisting of the 17th Panzer, 167th Infantry, 25th and 29th Motorized Division’s had established a defensive line running from Hmelevaya, Krivtsovo, Fetishevo, Chegodayevo and Gorodishe along the western bank of the Zusha River.
The 8th Cavalry Corps, supported by the 79th Tank Brigade, continued its advance in the direction Dubrovski, Milyatino, Pokrovskoye, Nasedkino and Malaya Kut'ma.
On March the 12th, the 61st Army continued its offensive in the direction Lubovka, Vesniny, Yelovski, and Dubenka. On March the 25th, its 328th Rifle Division captured Zhivodovka.
On April the 9th, the 16th Army’s 5th Guards Rifle Corps, 328th, 324th and 322nd Rifle Divisions were involved in fighting for Kotovitchi, Dubrovka, Klintsy and Hotkovo.
On April the 12th, the 61st Army, suspended all offensive action due to poor road conditions, its logistical situation becoming critical. The Army occupied a defensive line running from Vesniny, Krapivna, Kosovka, Pesochenka, Ozerenski, Peredel, Mitrohin, Romanovka, Stokanov, Bobrik river, Obloginyh, Dol'tsy and Mihaylovski. The 387th, 346th, 350th, 342nd and 356th Rifle Divisions occupy this line while the 149th Rifle Division is held in reserve in the area of Dubna, Brezhnevo, Sloboda, as is the 60th Rifle Division in the area Kuznetsovo, Bakino, Sobakino.

Southwestern Front

On March the 17th, the 3rd Army halted its offensive and began to withdraw the 283rd, 60th, 137th and 6th Guards Rifle Division’s and the 80th Tank Brigade from Hmelevaya, Krivtsovo and Fetishevo.

Southern Front

On the 18th of January, the Southern Front’s 57th and 9th Armies combined with the southwestern Front’s 6th Army to launch an attack along the northern Donets River to the south of Kharkov. Elements of the 6th Army breached the positions of the German 11th Corps to the north of Izyum and pushed the 6th Cavalry Corps through the gap to exploit the breach.
To the south of Izyum, the 57th Army also broke through and the 1st and 5th Cavalry Corps were used to exploit the breach there. By the 31st of January, Russian forces had captured the key rail junctions of Lozovaia and Barvenkovo and had carved a large salient into the German Front which threatened Kharkov to the north and the Donbas to the south.

Volkhov Front

In the north, the Volkhov Front opened its offensive on the 7th of January, to the north of Lake Ilmen and advanced to the northwest in the direction of Leningrad.
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Re: Russian winter offensive Dec 1941 - April 1942

Post by Jaywol »

C'mon guys. I can't believe no one at this forum has anything to add to this post. Someone must have some relevant info. Regards Jaywol.
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Re: Russian winter offensive Dec 1941 - April 1942

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Hello to all :D; after a while a little complement.............

Soviet offensive south of Lake Ilmen - Winter 1941/42.

Cholm 105 days of siege.

The Soviet offensive began suddenly and silently, without fire support on the night of January 8, 1942, the regiments of a Soviet Army went to the assault over the ice of Lake Ilmen towards the support point of Staraja Russa deep into the the German deployment. The next night on January 9, the great effort of four Soviet armies broke out westwards against the overextended front of Lake Seliger(11th, 34th 3rd and 4th Assault with the 22º protecting the southern flank). In this sector was deployed the 123. ID, which had to defend a front of 80 kilometers, the German soldiers were overwhelmed. The German northern front was broken and a catastrophe was expected. The Maps in the OKW were filled with red arrows pointing west, but a blue circle still remained south of the lake, in the fishing village of Vsvad (troops of Pz. Jäg Abt. 290; Kradsch. Btl 38; a company of Wach-Btl 615 and the 6. / Lw Nach. Reg 1 about 543 men under Hauptmann Pröhl and 80 Russian inhabitants). Besides all attacks against the front in Staraja Russa (18. ID Mot) had been repelled so far.

On January 13 two others Soviet armies went on to the offensive on the Wolchow's front and in ten days moved 100 km westwards. On January 18 the defenders of Vasvad could break out of the Soviet encirclement and got in contact with the Spanish company under Hauptmann Ordás, which had came to their rescue. On February 8, 1942 the Soviet ring closed around the II. AK under General Graf Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt and 100 thousand men in six divisions remained in the pocket of Demiansk. But south of Lake Ilmen yet another point of resistance stayed against the red tide, the small town of Cholm.

Source: 105 Tage im Kessel Cholm. Heinz Trantow. Das III Reich. Sondersheft 11. Grenadiere. Die Deutsche Infanterie von 1939-1945.
Richard Muck. Kampfgruppe Scherer. 105 tage eingeschlossen.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - Feliz Ano Novo - Gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!!!. :beer:
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Re: Russian winter offensive Dec 1941 - April 1942

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more follows.............

Soviet offensive south of Lake Ilmen - Winter 1941/42.

Cholm 105 days of siege.

Thus Staraja Russa, Demiansk and Cholm remained as resistance nests blocking the route of advance westwards between the Lakes Ilmen and Seliger. The town of Cholm was more a resting point that a nest of resistance and in the impoverished town of 12,000 inhabitants were all kinds of soldiers, including those of the rear service, unaccustomed to the demands of the combat. Shortly before the Soviet ring closed around the town, some troops were moved over there from the west; thus reached the town a group of Gebirgsjägers in a battalion strength (called Jagdkommando 8 under command of Hauptmann Spittäler) and at last moment arrived from Denmark the IR 386 (Oberstleutnant Manitius); the regimental motto was "Von der Schlagsahne in die Scheisse" (From the mousse to the sh..).

The Leutnant Hofstetter, Junior Assistant in the regiment, recalled: we were pressed in all types of light vehicles and transported to the front, it reminded me of the year 1914 during the Battle of the Marne with the French taxis, with us traveled some trucks driven by old comrades in naval uniform. When the column stopped,we were in Cholm; That was on January 28 and shortly after our arrival the ring was closed. However, the IR 386 had only the full I. Battalion, two companies of infantry and half machine guns company of the II. Battalion, some groups of the III. Battalion and two light infantry howitzers of the 13. Company.

As Commander of the strongpoint was appointed Generalmajor Scherer, commander of the 281. Sicherungs-Division (Security Division), while the Oberstleutnant Manitius was commander of the troops. In all there were about 5,000 men. Apart from Jagdkommando 8 and IR 386, there were also some remnants of the 123. ID, the IR 553 of the 329. ID (*), the Police Battalion Reserve 65, belonging to the 285. Sicherungs-Division and 20 naval drivers. Shortly afterwards part of the MG Btl 10 (about 200 men) were also added.

(*) As of February 20, 1942 the IR 553 was transferred by rail to the Eastern Front, to the area of responsibility of the 16. AOK. In Pskov, it was separated from the division, pushed to Cholm and airborne inside the encirclement.
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... R553-R.htm

Source: 105 Tage im Kessel Cholm. Heinz Trantow. Das III Reich. Sondersheft 11. Grenadiere. Die Deutsche Infanterie von 1939-1945.
Richard Muck. Kampfgruppe Scherer. 105 tage eingeschlossen.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/65699288776/this-map-shows-the-cholm-pocket-during-the
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Re: Russian winter offensive Dec 1941 - April 1942

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Hello to all :D; more follows.............

Soviet offensive south of Lake Ilmen - Winter 1941/42.

Cholm 105 days of siege.

Remember that Cholm had two peculiarities, first it was a fortress without artillery, all its fire support came from outside and secondly it was supplied by air, even though it did not have any aerodrome within its perimeter.

On January 23 came the first 11 Soviet tanks and were rejected losing three vehicles. While Cholm was besieged by three Soviet Rifle divisions, a German kampfgruppe under General Uckermann advanced up to 10 kilometers from the town and was halted there, but almost along the frontline deployed the batteries of the AR 218 and the schw. Art. Abt. 536 in order to support the defenders from the outside; as forward observers were airborne by gliders Oberleutnant Feist and Leutnant Dettmann. Later a track of 70 x 25 meters was built within the perimeter; it allowed the operation of the German Ju-52 that transported weapons, ammunition, supplies and evacuated 700 wounded. The German planes were able to land for the last time on February 25. Then the air supply was performed by gliders and by dropping supply bombs type containers. In total about 80 gliders reached its goal, often in no man's land and the defenders' patrols should keep the Soviets at bay.

Source: 105 Tage im Kessel Cholm. Heinz Trantow. Das III Reich. Sondersheft 11. Grenadiere. Die Deutsche Infanterie von 1939-1945.
Richard Muck. Kampfgruppe Scherer. 105 tage eingeschlossen.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
V(ersorgung) Bomben bei Cholm (Supply bombs at Cholm)......................
V(ersorgung) Bomben bei Cholm (Supply bombs at Cholm)......................
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Cholm after five weeks of fighting ..................................
Cholm after five weeks of fighting ..................................
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Re: Russian winter offensive Dec 1941 - April 1942

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Hello to all :D; more follows.............

Soviet offensive south of Lake Ilmen - Winter 1941/42.

Cholm 105 days of siege.

If for the crews of transport aircrafts was a serious risk the launching of the bombs with supplies, as they should fly no more than 200 meters high to throw in an area of 200 x 500 meters inside the fortress under constant fire of the Soviet antiaircraft artillery, was also a journey of death for the group that should recover it in the ground, for just a release was carried out, the opponent unleashed an intense artillery fire on the area seeking to destroy the cargo and men trying to retrieve it. If supplies fell into no man's land the defenders had to hold off the Russians retrievers by machine gun fire and at night an shock patrol was sent out in order to rescue the container.

Equally important and difficult struggle like to regain supplies was the fighting against the lice, Leutnant Hofstetter scored in the KTB of Kampfgruppe Scherer: March 12 first case of typhus. The kampfgruppe now had another insidious enemy against which to fight. Apart from the ghost of typhus, were the wounded who were treated under the care and leadership of Stabsarzt Dr. Ocker and surgeon Oberarzt Dr. Muck, who was to operate day and night under hostile fire. The wounded were lying on the bare ground in the huts still standing, attended by the sanitary personnel. Those slightly wounded had to donate blood for their most serious wounded comrades. The Soviets tried systematically to burn the houses still standing with incendiary grenades. One night the Main Aid Station was wrapped in flames and an unknown number of wounded were trapped in it. More than 1,500 wounded had to be now housed in the basement of the ruins.

Source: 105 Tage im Kessel Cholm. Heinz Trantow. Das III Reich. Sondersheft 11. Grenadiere. Die Deutsche Infanterie von 1939-1945.
Richard Muck. Kampfgruppe Scherer. 105 tage eingeschlossen.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
Difficult and often fatal task............................
Difficult and often fatal task............................
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Fighting against death, surgeons operating .........................
Fighting against death, surgeons operating .........................
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Re: Russian winter offensive Dec 1941 - April 1942

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Hello to all :D; more follows.............

Soviet offensive south of Lake Ilmen - Winter 1941/42.

Cholm 105 days of siege.

The Jagdkommando 8 was created on December 22, 1941 in the Wehrkreis XVIII. This command was first organized with three companies as a Valkyrie Unit in that district. Then the battalion was used in northern Russia in the fight against partisans. Apparently the command was used within the 281. Sicherungs-Division (Security Division). This command was disbanded in the early summer of 1942 and its elements used to form the Pz. Jäg. Abt. 218 and the Aufkl. Abt. 218.
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... ndo8-R.htm

On February 13, 1942 took place the first major Soviet attack but it was rejected after heavy fighting. The radio station of the IR 386 was destroyed by a direct hit and the regiment suffered heavy casualties. The Oberstleutnant Manitius moved the HQ from the prison of the GPU to the edge of the Lowat. The prison was now a strong point under the command of Hauptmann Biecker and was occupied by the company of Leutnant Frenzel.

On February 23, 1942, the Red Army's day, the Soviets conducted another great assault. From dawn the eastern edge of the town was subjected to continuous artillery fire and the ruins of the sector had only a 50/80 cm high. A Soviet Rifle Division, supported by tanks, attacked in successive waves. Soviet infantry reached the limits of the town and the fight developed in hand to hand struggles; the fighting was particularly intense in the area of the prison, until the attack was repulsed. The attack was repeated the next day. Leutnant Hofstetter wrote: February 24 our artillery opened fire and out of 100 shells, 75 of them did not explode. In the following days the Soviets attacked eighteen times and eighteen times were rejected.

Source: 105 Tage im Kessel Cholm. Heinz Trantow. Das III Reich. Sondersheft 11. Grenadiere. Die Deutsche Infanterie von 1939-1945.
Richard Muck. Kampfgruppe Scherer. 105 tage eingeschlossen.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
The prison of the GPU (second debris from left) key point of the German defense................
The prison of the GPU (second debris from left) key point of the German defense................
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After the intense fighting of February, the 20th of that month, by radio message, the Führer awarded the Knight's Cross to Generalmajor Scherer ............ Two crosses were lost before reaching their destination, but the third could reach Cholm.
After the intense fighting of February, the 20th of that month, by radio message, the Führer awarded the Knight's Cross to Generalmajor Scherer ............ Two crosses were lost before reaching their destination, but the third could reach Cholm.
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Re: Russian winter offensive Dec 1941 - April 1942

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Hello to all :D; more follows.............

Soviet offensive south of Lake Ilmen - Winter 1941/42.

Cholm 105 days of siege.

By gliders the reinforcement were sent into the cauldron, men and heavy infantry weapons, among the latter an anti-tank gun of 50 cm. In the sector of the southern cemetery, Oberfeldwebel Behle saw five Russian tanks rolling to his position. Behle aimed quickly through the gun barrel, loaded and fired, hit at the first shot. Oberfeldwebel Behle destroyed five tanks with twenty shots using that primitive aiming system.

In April came a warm wave and snow and ice melted; all the positions were filled with water and the mud was the king of the land. Cholm became an island in the middle of a vast swamp. As clearly described it General Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt, the isthmus between the Ilmen and Seliger-See lakes off the road was impassable.

Source: 105 Tage im Kessel Cholm. Heinz Trantow. Das III Reich. Sondersheft 11. Grenadiere. Die Deutsche Infanterie von 1939-1945.
Richard Muck. Kampfgruppe Scherer. 105 tage eingeschlossen.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
On March 20 Hauptmann Biecker was awarded the Knight's Cross in recognition of his tremendous leadership in combat ........
On March 20 Hauptmann Biecker was awarded the Knight's Cross in recognition of his tremendous leadership in combat ........
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In all positions the foxholes were filled with water (up to 60 cm in some cases); here the emplacement of a MG-34...............
In all positions the foxholes were filled with water (up to 60 cm in some cases); here the emplacement of a MG-34...............
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Re: Russian winter offensive Dec 1941 - April 1942

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Hello to all :D; more follows.............

Soviet offensive south of Lake Ilmen - Winter 1941/42.

Cholm 105 days of siege.

It began to hear the rumor that General von Arnim was approaching with his divisions. However on May 1st optimism faded out and Cholm again received a large Soviet assault. The artillery fire barrage lasted one hour and then followed the infantry, wave after wave, supported by tanks. The Russians approached up to a few hundred meters from the Lowat's shore, but could not overcome the last 100 meters. The Stukas attacked. From the outside the German artillery opened fire. The infantry of Cholm, veterans of the First World War and the youth fought for survival and freedom. The Russians failed and on May 2 only small isolated blows were recorded.

On May 3 at 03:00 the Russians attacked again, but this time the defenders of Cholm also heard the sound of fighting due southwest. Friendly troops were approaching and the rescue was near.

Source: 105 Tage im Kessel Cholm. Heinz Trantow. Das III Reich. Sondersheft 11. Grenadiere. Die Deutsche Infanterie von 1939-1945.
Richard Muck. Kampfgruppe Scherer. 105 tage eingeschlossen.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
Easter in the fortress ...............................
Easter in the fortress ...............................
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Some tanks sought to break into the positions from the road, but three of them were disabled by the brave men of the antitank gun...................
Some tanks sought to break into the positions from the road, but three of them were disabled by the brave men of the antitank gun...................
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Another Knight's Cross, this time for Oberstleutnant Manitius, who the same day (April 3) was promoted to Oberst (Colonel) ...................... ..
Another Knight's Cross, this time for Oberstleutnant Manitius, who the same day (April 3) was promoted to Oberst (Colonel) ...................... ..
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Re: Russian winter offensive Dec 1941 - April 1942

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Hello to all :D; last part.............

Soviet offensive south of Lake Ilmen - Winter 1941/42.

Cholm 105 days of siege.

On May 4th combat noise approached and Stukas dropping bombs outside the fortress. On May 05 two assault guns of the "Greif" Group commanded by Oberleutnant Tornau attacked over the road to Cholm. Behind followed members of the sappers Platoon of the IR 411. After 105 days Cholm was free. Joy among the German defenders, joy among Russian civilians, about 60 men, women and children came out of their hiding places. They should have been evacuated to a safe place, but they did not want leave their broken homes.

But even Cholm was in the front line. Of the nearly 5,000 soldiers who had started the fight, 1,200 were combat ready yet, 2,200 were injured and transported to hospitals in rear and some 1,550 German soldiers remained in Cholm buried in three mass graves. The front-line at Cholm was held until the beginning of 1944.

Source: 105 Tage im Kessel Cholm. Heinz Trantow. Das III Reich. Sondersheft 11. Grenadiere. Die Deutsche Infanterie von 1939-1945.
Richard Muck. Kampfgruppe Scherer. 105 tage eingeschlossen.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
The first assault gun approaches Cholm ...............................
The first assault gun approaches Cholm ...............................
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The time of freedom has come ...................
The time of freedom has come ...................
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On May 1st the Soviet artillery fired more than 3,000 shells on the fortress; 70 fell over the GPU's prison, here was killed the Commander of the sector, Hauptmann Biecker, awarded with the Knight's Cross .......................
On May 1st the Soviet artillery fired more than 3,000 shells on the fortress; 70 fell over the GPU's prison, here was killed the Commander of the sector, Hauptmann Biecker, awarded with the Knight's Cross .......................
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Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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