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March 1, 1943 . 618th day of war
Kharkov offensive operation . (See map Kharkov offensive operation (111 KB) (inaccessible link) ). Zinkovic’s group of the 3rd Panzer Army ( P. S. Rybalko ) of the Southwestern Front ( N. F. Vatutin ) in the Kegichevka area reflected the attacks of three German divisions. Totenkopf and Das Reich sought to get around Kegichevka from the east, and Das Reich was supposed to connect with Leibstandart in the Staroverovka area, north of Kegichevka.
Sovinformburo [1] . THE ELIMINATION OF THE STRENGTHENED OPPONENT FOOTBOARD IN THE DEMYANSK AREA ... Recently, the troops of the North-Western Front under the command of Marshal Tymoshenko went on the offensive against the 16th German army. During the battles, our troops, breaking through a strongly fortified enemy line in a number of sectors, created a real threat of the double encirclement of Nazi troops. The enemy, sensing the danger of encirclement, began, under the blows of our troops, a hasty retreat to the west. Over eight days of fighting, our troops liberated 302 settlements, including the city of Demyansk and the regional centers of Lychkovo and Zaluchye. An area of 2,350 square kilometers has been cleared of the enemy. In eight days of fighting, our troops captured 3,000 German soldiers and officers. During the same time, the following trophies were taken: aircraft — 78, tanks — 97, guns of various calibers — 289, machine guns — 711, as well as a large number of ammunition and many other military equipment. The enemy left more than 8,000 corpses on the battlefield.
March 2, 1943 . 619th day of war
Rzhev-Vyazemsky operation . (see map of the Rzhev-Vyazemsky operation (86 KB) (unavailable link) ) The Rzhev-Vyazemsky offensive operation of the Kalininsky (43rd, 41st, 22nd and 39th Army, 3rd Air Army) and Western (30th, 31st, 5, 33, 49, 50, 10 and 20th armies, 1st air army) fronts.
Little Archangel operation . The Maloarkhangelsk offensive operation of the troops of the 13th and 48th armies of the Bryansk Front ended. The troops could not complete the tasks of encircling and destroying the Oryol group of the enemy. The advance of the troops ranged from 10 to 35 kilometers. Losses of Soviet troops amounted to 19,684 people - irrecoverable and 34,615 people - sanitary. Total losses amounted to 54,299 people. The average daily loss for 26 days of the operation is 2,088 people. [2]
Sevsk operation . The troops of the 2nd Soviet Tank Army and the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, with the support of the 65th Army, liberated the city of Sevsk.
Kharkov offensive operation . On March 2, at 4.20 p.m., the Leibstandart units were connected west of Lozova with the Das Reich reconnaissance units. The encirclement ring around the group of M.I. Zinkovich of the 3rd Tank Army ( P.S. Rybalko ) of the Southwestern Front ( N.F. Vatutin ) closed. At 10.30 p.m., the group formations received a breakthrough command. By the morning of March 3, the 12th and 15th tank corps of the 3rd Panzer Army, having lost almost all of their tanks, left the encirclement. [3] (p. 418)
Army Group South . Manstein : “On March 2, the group could already reveal the results of its first counterattack carried out by the forces of 4 tank army and the left flank of 1 tank army in the enemy’s grouping located between the Donets and the Dnieper ... It could be assumed that we destroyed 25 mk and three rifle divisions, defeated 3 mk and 4 Guards. mk, 10 mk, one separate tank brigade, one mechanized brigade, one rifle division and one ski brigade. Significant losses suffered 1 Guards. shopping mall and 18 shopping mall, 6 rifle divisions and 2 ski brigades. According to reports of our troops, the enemy in this battle between the Donets and the Dnieper lost 23,000 killed. We captured 615 tanks, 354 guns, 69 anti-aircraft guns and a large number of machine guns and mortars. There were few prisoners - 9000 ... But we were not able to cut Donets behind enemy lines, since the river was still icebound and it was easily overcome by soldiers with light weapons. In addition to these enemy units, we destroyed the 4 Guards surrounded by Miusa abroad. mk and 7 Guards. kk. ” [4] (p. 474)
Sovinformburo . During March 2, our troops fought offensive in the same directions.
March 3, 1943 . 620th day of war
Kharkov offensive operation . The Kharkov offensive operation was completed. The troops of the Voronezh Front (F. I. Golikov) advanced 100-260 km, reached the line of Rylsk, Sudzha, Lebedin, Oposhnia, and Minkovka. By March 3, the battle went into the phase of the advance of German troops in all directions and the withdrawal of troops of the 3rd Panzer ( P.S. Rybalko ) and the remnants of the 6th Army (F.M. Kharitonov) of the South-Western Front ( N.F. Vatutin ) all over the front.
Sovinformburo . I. OUR MILITARY TAKES THE CITY OF RZHE. A few days ago, our troops launched a decisive assault on the city of Rzhev. The Germans have long turned the city and the approaches to it into a heavily fortified area. Today, March 3, after a long and fierce battle, our troops captured Rzhev. According to incomplete data, the following trophies were taken: tanks - 112, guns of various calibers - 78, steam locomotives - 35, wagons - 1,200, warehouses of different types - 5, as well as many shells, mines, machine guns, rifles and other military equipment. The enemy left up to 2,000 soldiers and officers killed on the outskirts of the city and in Rzhev itself ...
II. OUR MILITIES TAKE THE CITIES OF LEGS AND DMITRIEV-LIGOVSKY. After stubborn battles, our troops occupied the city and the railway center of Lgov. Large trophies were taken, including 148 carriages of shells, 22 carriages of gunpowder, 3 warehouses with ammunition and separately large stacks of shells, 2 warehouses with engineering equipment. After a decisive attack, our troops occupied the city of Dmitriyev-Lgovsky. Trophies that are counted are taken.
March 4, 1943 . 621st day of war
Old Russian operation . The Starorusskaya operation of the troops of the North-Western Front (S.K. Timoshenko) began in full force, the second part of the general plan of the operation "Polar Star". The five combined arms armies of the front tried to break through the defenses of the 16th German army of Army Group North and surround the old Russian enemy group. The offensive of the Soviet armies, which suffered losses in the Demian operation and did not receive replenishment and ammunition in the conditions of the thaw and severe debauchery, was not successful. It was only possible to force the Lovat river, advance from 5 to 10 kilometers and reach the next defensive line of the enemy along the Redya River, where the Soviet offensive was finally stopped by the enemy.
Kharkov defensive operation . (see map Kharkov defensive operation (98 KB) (unavailable link) ) The Kharkov defensive operation of the troops of the left wing of the Voronezh Front (40th and 69th armies, 3rd tank army) began. On March 4, the German 4th Panzer Army launched an offensive against the troops of the 3rd Panzer Army ( P. S. Rybalko ) of the Voronezh Front (F. I. Golikov). The 25th Guards Rifle Division, commanded by Major General P.M. Shafarenko, held the defense for five days at the Taranovka-Zmiev line, blocking the Lozova-Kharkov railway.
Sovinformburo . On March 4, west of Rzhev, our troops captured the city and the Olenino railway station, and also occupied the large Chertolino railway station. In the Oryol region, our troops after a stubborn battle occupied the city of Sevsk. In the Kursk region, our troops as a result of a decisive attack captured the city and the Suja railway station.
March 5, 1943 . 622nd day of war
Army Group South . Manstein : “The immediate goal, therefore, was to defeat the enemy’s southern flank, located on Berestovaya, southwest of Kharkov, on which 3 Soviet tank army operated. This goal was achieved by the 4th Panzer Army by March 5th. Of the 3 tank army of the enemy, 12 and 4 mk, one cavalry corps and three infantry divisions were partially defeated, part of their personnel was captured in a small boiler near Krasnograd. There were comparatively few prisoners again, but the enemy lost about 12,000 people; we captured 61 tanks, 225 guns and 600 vehicles. However, according to meteorological conditions, our goal now turned out to be impracticable - to go behind the enemy lines, pushing Kempf’s group in the direction of Akhtyrka and Poltava, and force him to accept the battle with a turned front. ” [4] (p. 475)
Sovinformburo . During March 5, our troops conducted offensive battles in the same directions.
March 6, 1943 . 623rd day of war
Kharkov defensive operation . On the morning of March 6, at the junction of the 69th and 3rd tank armies of the Voronezh Front (F.I. Golikov), the 2nd SS Panzer Corps went on the offensive. On the left flank of the 69th Army, “Leibstandart” traveled nearly 30 km in a day, pushed parts of the 69th Army to the Valka area and captured bridgeheads on the Mzha River east of the city.
The German 6th Panzer Division of the 48th Panzer Corps was drawn into street battles with the 25th Guards Rifle Division and the 179th Panzer Brigade, Colonel F.N. Rudkin, at the Taranovka railway junction. The 11th Panzer Division pushed the cavalry corps of S.V. Sokolov to Mzhe, but could not capture the bridgehead.
Sovinformburo . On March 6, our troops captured the city of Gzhatsk as a result of a double assault.
March 7, 1943 . 624th day of war
Kharkov defensive operation . On March 7, the Leibstandarta regiment went around the city of Valki from the east and northeast, blocking the escape routes of its defenders. Parts of the 48th division of the 3rd tank army of the army P.S. Rybalko were surrounded in the city. Soviet troops departing north from the city were hit by the Great Germany. On March 7, the Deutschland Regiment of the Das Reich Division completed the battles for the New Vodolaga and seized the bridgehead through Mzhu in the Pavlovka area. The 62nd Guards Rifle Division of the 3rd Panzer Army of the Voronezh Front (F. I. Golikov) was withdrawn from Kharkov and sent to the position between Borki and Merefa to the south-east of the city.
Sovinformburo . During March 7, our troops conducted offensive battles in the same directions.
March 8, 1943 . 625th day of war
Kharkov defensive operation . By March 8, the SS Panzer Corps broke through the defenses of the 3rd Panzer Army southwest of Kharkov. The defeated 48th Guards Rifle Division went out of combat to put themselves in order. The 104th rifle brigade thrown into battle from the march in the battles with Das Reich for the New and Old Vodoloda suffered losses and moved to the area of the Kut farm (8 km southwest of Lyubotin). The advance of the Das Reich on March 8 was only restrained by the lag of the German 48th Corps, as a result of which the Deutschland regiment was lined up eastward, and the Der Fuhrer continued the offensive.
Sovinformburo . On March 8, our troops after stubborn two-day battles captured the city and the Sychevka railway station (north of the city of Vyazma). On other sectors of the front, our troops conducted offensive battles in the same directions.
March 9, 1943 . 626th day of war
Kharkov defensive operation . On the night of March 9, the Totenkopf regiment occupied Olshany, and by mid-afternoon captured bridgeheads on the Uday River east of Olshany. "Das Reich" in the evening captured Korotich. At 6.00 from the Lyubotin area, the offensive of the Leibstandart began, which went on the approaches to the Dergachs. A 45-kilometer gap was formed on the left wing of the Voronezh Front between the 69th and 3rd Panzer Armies, which opened the way for the enemy to Zolochev and further to Belgorod. The command of the Voronezh Front did not have the opportunity to eliminate this gap, since all available forces were drawn into the battles of Kharkov.
On March 9, the German 11th Panzer Division of the 48th Panzer Corps crossed Mzhu and by 11.30 left behind the lines of P. S. Rybalko, the army and infantry brigades of the army defending in Rakitnoye. By 14.45, the rocket was captured. After the capture of Rocket, the 11th Panzer Division moved to Merefa. The 6th Panzer Division of the 48th Corps repelled Taranovka from the 25th Guards Rifle Division on March 9.
For the defense of Kharkov, the 19th Infantry Division of Colonel G. A. Gogolitsyn, the 17th Infantry Brigade of the NKVD Colonel I. A. Tankopia, the 86th Tank Brigade, arrived in the 3rd Tank Army ( P. S. Rybalko ), three anti-tank regiments and the RS division. In addition, the 3rd Guards Tank Corps of V. M. Badanov, which numbered 120 tanks from the 3rd Guards Army of the South-Western Front, entered the 3rd Tank Army on March 9. The 3rd Guards Tank Corps of I.A. Vovchenko from the Southern Front was also transferred to the Voronezh Front. On March 9, the 2nd Guards Tank Corps of the 3rd Guards Army of the Southwestern Front (N.F. Vatutin) launched a counterattack from the Zmiev area, but it was repelled by the German 15th Infantry Division.
Sovinformburo . Counter-offensive of the Germans in the Donbass-Karkov District. In the Donbass region, the enemy replenished 8 tank and 5 infantry divisions disheveled and defeated in previous battles and recently hastily transferred 12 fresh divisions from Western Europe to this region, including 4 tank divisions, 1 motor division and 7 infantry divisions. Thus, the Germans concentrated 12 tank divisions, 1 motor division and 12 infantry, and only 25 divisions on a narrow section of the front. At the end of February, the enemy launched strong counterattacks against our troops advancing towards the Dnieper River. The German command intended by means of deep encompassing strikes to encircle and destroy our advanced forces and take control of the Kharkov region.
Our advanced military units, conducting stubborn restraining battles with a numerically superior enemy, on the orders of the Command timely retreated north-east to the areas of the northern coast of the North Donets, leaving the cities of Krasnograd, Lozovaya, Pavlograd, Krasnoarmeyskoye, Kramatorskaya, Barvenkovo, Slavyansk, Lisichansk. Further attempts by the enemy to develop an offensive, force the North Donets River and take Kharkov met strong resistance from our troops and are not successful. Fierce battles, during which the Nazi troops suffer huge losses in people and equipment, especially in tanks, continue in areas south and west of Kharkov ...
March 10, 1943 . 627th day of war
Sevsk operation . The troops of the equestrian-rifle group of General Kryukov of the Central Front (the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps and three ski brigades) reached maximum advancement, having traveled 120 km west through the rear of the enemy, reaching the approaches to Trubchevsk and Novgorod-Seversky.
Kharkov defensive operation . March 10, "Great Germany" took to the approaches to Bogodukhov. At the same time, the enemy managed to enter the northern outskirts of Kharkov. In conditions of deep flank coverage, the 69th Army of M.I.Kazakov was forced to move east and take positions between Bogodukhov and Kharkov. The 40th Army (K. S. Moskalenko) of the Voronezh Front (F. I. Golikov) defended the front to the southeast from Krasnokutsk to Bogodukhov. The 3rd Panzer Army took up defense on the western and northwestern outskirts of Kharkov. The front gap between the 69th and 3rd tank armies increased to 60 kilometers. [5] (p. 121)
Sovinformburo . On March 10, our troops, continuing to develop the offensive, captured the city of Bely (Smolensk region). On other sectors of the front, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 11, 1943 . 628th day of war
Sevsk operation . German and Hungarian troops, by joint forces of up to 6 divisions, launched a counterattack against the general-infantry group of General Kryukov. In the following days, they cut her lines of communication and achieved complete encirclement. Parts of the group suffered heavy losses and began to make their way east.
Kharkov defensive operation . March 11, "Great Germany" was captured by God-Gods. To close the gap between the armies, the command of the Voronezh Front sent the 3rd Guards Tank Corps of I. A. Vovchenko to the 40th Army (K. S. Moskalenko), and the 2nd Guards Tank Corps of V. M. Badanov to the 69th army (M.I. Kazakov). On the morning of March 11, the Leibstandart Adolf Hitler division launched an assault on Kharkov from the Belgorod highway.
Sovinformburo . During March 11, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 12, 1943 . 629th day of war
Kharkov defensive operation . The commander of the German 4th Panzer Army (G. Goth) ordered Hausser to withdraw the Das Reich division of the 2nd SS Panzer Corps from the battles for Kharkov and direct it to the Totenkopf position. The battle group of Baum of the Totenkopf division moved around the city from the north. The Leibstandart Adolf Hitler division continued to storm the city.
South of the city, the German 48th Panzer Corps attacked in the direction of Chuguev in order to cover Kharkov from the south. The offensive of the 11th Panzer Division from the bridgehead at Zmiev was unsuccessful, the division was met by heavy artillery fire. To help the 48th Corps, the 106th Infantry Division was advanced.
Sovinformburo . On March 12, the troops of the Western Front, after a decisive assault, captured the city and the Vyazma railway junction. On other sectors of the front, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 13, 1943 . 630th day of war
Kharkov defensive operation . On March 13, Baum’s battle group with a battalion of the tank regiment of the Totenkopf division went to Rogani, where it entered the battle with the 18th tank corps of B. S. Bakharov of the 3rd Panzer Army ( P. S. Rybalko ). By the end of March 13, Soviet troops held only the south-eastern part of Kharkov, where the 17th Rifle and 179th Tank Brigades stubbornly defended. By this time, the enemy captured Rogan and cut off the path of withdrawal of the 3rd Panzer Army from Kharkov.
Sovinformburo . During March 13, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 14, 1943 . 631st day of war
Kharkov defensive operation . On the night of March 14, the 18th Panzer Corps of B. S. Bakharov received an order to drive the enemy out of Rogani and go to the north-eastern outskirts of Kharkov. At 8.00, parts of the corps went on the attack and drove the Germans out of southern Rogani. However, at 14.00 the German counterattack, supported by tanks, was thrown back. Together with the 113th Infantry Division, the corps took up defense halfway to Chuguev, in Kamenny Yarug. On March 14, the enemy managed to complete the encirclement of Kharkov. The commander of the Voronezh Front (F. I. Golikov) ordered the abandonment of the city and the withdrawal of the 3rd Panzer Army ( P. S. Rybalko ) from the ring.
Army Group South . Manstein : “Finally, we managed to send the SS Panzer Corps bypassing Kharkov from the east. The city fell without big battles, and we managed to cut off the retreat of large enemy forces through Donetsk ... On March 14, the SS Panzer Corps captured Kharkov. At the same time, on the northern flank of the Kempf group, the Grossdeutchland division was rapidly advancing to Belgorod. The enemy threw large tank forces against it, which the division, however, defeated at Gayvoron, then the offensive began on Belgorod ” [4] (p. 476)
Sovinformburo . During March 14, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 15, 1943 . 632th day of war
Kharkov defensive operation . On March 15, the Totenkopf regiment launched an attack on Chuguev with the support of aviation and went to it by the night of March 16. On March 15, the commander of the 3rd Panzer Army P.S. Rybalko decided to withdraw the formations surrounded in Kharkov and its suburbs. Major General E. E. Belov, who led the defense of the city, decided to break through in the direction to the southeast, between Zmiev and Chuguev.
Sovinformburo . On March 15, our troops after many days of fierce fighting, on the orders of the Command, evacuated the city of Kharkov. In the Smolensk region, our troops, continuing the offensive, occupied the city of Kholm-Zhirkovsky. On the remaining fronts, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 16, 1943 . 633rd day of war
Kharkov defensive operation . During March 15 and 16, units of the 3rd Panzer Army P. S. Rybalko made three groups break out of the encirclement. During the breakthrough, the commander of the 17th NKVD brigade, Colonel I.A. Tankopiy, and the commander of the 62nd Guards Rifle Division of the Guard, Major General G. M. Zaitsev, were killed. By the morning of March 17, units of the 3rd Panzer Army concentrated on the eastern bank of the Seversky Donets River in the region of 10-20 kilometers southwest of Chuguev. The 1st Guards Cavalry Corps entered the 3rd Panzer Army, and with its support the army organized a defense east of Kharkov, along the banks of the Seversky Donets River on the Volchansk - Chuguev section. The 3rd Panzer Army became part of the Southwestern Front.
The 2nd SS Panzer Corps transfers its positions in the Kharkov region to the 48th Panzer Corps and is deployed to attack Belgorod. The Supreme Command Headquarters puts forward the 1st Tank Army under the command of Lieutenant General ME Katukov to meet the enemy and orders the commander of the Central Front K.K. Rokossovsky to send the 21st Army towards Kursk. The 64th Army is urgently transferred from the reserve of the Headquarters to the strip of the Voronezh Front.
Krasnodar operation . (see map - Krasnodar operation (96 KB) ) The Krasnodar operation was completed. The troops of the North Caucasus Front advanced 60–70 km, inflicting significant damage to the enemy. For differences in the battles to liberate Krasnodar, 3 formations of the 46th army received honorary titles.
Sovinformburo . During March 16, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 17, 1943 . 634th day of war
Northwest Front . The offensive battles of the troops of the North-Western Front in the area of Staraya Russa ended. The enemy bridgehead on the eastern bank of the river was eliminated. Lovat, the troops of the front went to the river. Radya, where the front stabilized until the end of the year.
Kharkov defensive operation . The 2nd SS Panzer Corps reached Borisovka and in the morning of March 17 launched an offensive on Belgorod from the south along the highway and railway. Units of the Paye army corps were attacking Belgorod from the west. Unions of the 69th Army were unable to provide organized resistance and, under threat of encirclement, retreated beyond the Northern Donets south of Belgorod.
Sovinformburo . During March 17, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 18, 1943 . 635th day of war
Kharkov defensive operation . The gap between the 40th and 69th armies of the Voronezh Front (F. I. Golikov) remained open: the 21st army was on a march in the Oboyan area. The city of Belgorod was practically not defended by anyone. In the Leibstandart Adolf Hitler division, an advanced detachment from the Piper motorized infantry battalion in the Ganomag armored troop carrier was assigned to capture Belgorod, which was assigned a company of Pz.IV tanks, both remaining combat-ready “tigers” and auxiliary units. Piper’s battle group began moving at 6.45 on March 18, and already at 10.00 captured the village of Krasnoye just a kilometer south of Belgorod. At 11.35 Piper reported that “the city of Belgorod was taken by a“ surprise attack. ”At 12.10, Piper was counterattacked by tanks, but by that time both the“ tigers ”attached to him had pulled themselves up, and the Soviet troops could not repel Belgorod. In the afternoon, to Belgorod from the south the Deutschland regiment of the Das Reich division entered. [3] (p. 435)
Sovinformburo . During March 18, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 19, 1943 . 636th day of war
Old Russian operation . The Old Russian operation of the North-Western Front (S.K. Timoshenko, then I.S. Konev) was completed. Instead of destroying the old Russian enemy group, they managed to advance up to 10 kilometers and occupy several villages. The loss of troops amounted to 31,789 people - irrevocable and 71,319 people - sanitary. Total losses - 103 108 people. The average daily loss is 6,444 people (one of the highest rates in 1943). [2]
Kharkov defensive operation . After the capture of Belgorod, the Kempf army group received orders to release the divisions of the 4th Panzer Army and take up defense at the front in the area of Belgorod and Tomarovka. During the battles, the SS divisions suffered heavy losses in people and equipment. There came a period of spring thaw, which became the time for an operational pause in the operations of both parties.
Sovinformburo . During March 19, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 20, 1943 . 637th day of war
Sevsk operation . The advancing armies of the Central Front ( K.K. Rokossovsky ) encountered German tank and infantry formations deployed from Rzhev. In the worst position was V.V. Kryukov's horse-shooting group, which made its way to the Desna near Novgorod-Seversky. “The horse-rifle group that reached the Desna was attacked by large enemy forces on the flank and rear and surrounded. Although she escaped from the encirclement, in which parts of the 65th Army and 2 TAs, which had arrived in time to help, helped her, but she suffered heavy losses. ” [6] (p. 250) By March 20, the mounted infantry group had retreated to the Sevsk region.
Sovinformburo . During March 20, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 21, 1943 . 638th day of war
Sevsk operation . Since March 21, the troops of the Central Front went over to the defensive along the Mtsensk-Novosil-Bryantsevo-Sevsk-Rylsk line, forming, together with the troops of the Bryansk Front, the northern face of the Kursk ledge. German units broke through to Sevsk. Parts of General Kryukov’s equestrian rifle group engaged in stubborn defensive street battles in the city, which lasted until March 27.
Sovinformburo . After fierce fighting on the orders of the Command, our troops evacuated the city of Belgorod. On other sectors of the front, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 22, 1943 . 639th day of war
The Nazi punishers burned down the village of Khatyn, Logoisk district, Minsk region, together with its inhabitants.
Rzhev-Vyazemsky operation . By March 22, Soviet troops approached the well-fortified enemy line of Ribshevo-Safonov-Milyatino, where they met strong resistance and were forced to go on the defensive.
Sovinformburo . During March 22, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 23, 1943 . 640th day of war
The Headquarters of the Supreme High Command created the Reserve (Kursk) Front. Commander - Colonel General M.A. Reuters.
Kharkov defensive operation . By March 23, the front line in the Oboyan area had stabilized. In the Belgorod-Volchansk-Chuguev region, heavy defensive battles continued against the SS tank corps, which sought to seize bridgeheads on the left bank of the North Donets and liquidate the bridgehead of Soviet troops on the right bank.
Sovinformburo . During March 23, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 24, 1943 . 641st day of war
Sovinformburo . ONE ONE Fake Hitler Command. Recently, Hitler’s counterfeiters have shown particular zeal in fabricating all kinds of false “military communications”. With one stroke of the pen, they destroy dozens of Soviet infantry, motorized and tank formations on paper. For example, on March 20, the German Information Bureau published a fraudulent statement stating that since February 13, 9 Soviet rifle divisions, 6 rifle brigades, 4 cavalry divisions, 9 motorized brigades, 25 were allegedly destroyed in the area between the North Donets and the Dnieper tank brigades, 2 tank regiments and a brigade of anti-tank guns. However, this was not enough for German liars. The report further says that, in addition, 19 infantry divisions, 16 motorized and tank brigades, as well as other formations and units of the Red Army suffered heavy losses ...
The German command launched a counterattack in the area between the North Donets and the Dnieper at the end of February, trying to encircle the Soviet troops and make them “German Stalingrad”. To this end, the Germans urgently transferred a large number of fresh infantry and tank divisions to the battle areas from Western Europe, and also sent 110-115 marching battalions from Germany to replenish their battered formations. In general, the Germans now dream of taking revenge for Stalingrad. However, they did not succeed, and their venture failed completely. Our troops, waging fierce restraining battles and inflicting heavy damage on the enemy, on the orders of the Command retreated to new lines of defense, thereby disrupting the intentions of the Germans. During these battles, our troops lost 36.722 people dead and missing. During this same time, our troops destroyed at least 52,000 German soldiers and officers. These are the actual results of the battles that took place between the North Donets and the Dnieper ...
On March 24, our advancing troops occupied the regional center and the Abinskaya railway station (northeast of Novorossiysk). On other fronts, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 25, 1943 . 642nd day of war
Kharkov defensive operation . From March 20 to March 25, the Germans made several attempts to develop an attack on Oboyan and Volchansk. But by this time the 64th Army had reached the Northern Donets, the 21st Army had organized a solid defense at the turn of 25-30 kilometers north of Belgorod. The 1st Panzer Army was concentrated in the Oboyan area. As a result of these measures, Kursk was reliably covered from the south.
The Kharkov operation ended: retreating 100-150 km, the troops of the Voronezh Front stopped the enemy, impeded the plans of the German command to surround and destroy Soviet troops in the areas of Kharkov and Kursk. The troops of the Voronezh Front went on the defensive, forming the southern face of the so-called Kursk ledge on the line Korenevo - Krasnopole - Gostishchevo and further along the left bank of the North Donets to Volchansk.
The irretrievable human losses of the troops of the 3rd Tank Army ( P. S. Rybalko ), the 40th (K. S. Moskalenko) and 69th (M. I. Kazakov) army of the Voronezh Front (F. I. Golikov), 6 -th Army (F.M. Kharitonov) of the South-Western Front (N.F. Vatutin) during the operation amounted to 45219 people (13.1% of the initial strength of 345900 people). Sanitary losses amounted to 41250 people. Total losses - 86,469 people. The average daily loss over 22 days of fighting is 3930 people. [2]
Sovinformburo . During March 25, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 26, 1943 . 643rd day of war
Sevsk operation . On the night of March 25 to 26, the German 4th Panzer Division knocked out V.V. Kryukov, an equestrian-rifle group, from Sevsk.
Sovinformburo . During March 26, our troops fought in the same directions.
March 27, 1943 . 644th day of war
The Supreme High Command Headquarters created the Reserve (Oryol) Front (on March 28 it was renamed the Bryansk Front). Commander - Colonel General M.A. Reuters.
Sevsk operation . German troops established final control over Sevsky. General Kryukov’s equestrian rifle group almost all died in these battles.
Sovinformburo . During March 27, no significant changes occurred at the fronts.
March 28, 1943 . 645th day of war
Sevsk operation . With a breakthrough from the encirclement of the remnants of the group of General Kryukov, the Sevsk operation and the offensive of the troops of the Central Front in the Oryol direction ended. The troops of the left wing of the front advanced 120 km. Losses of Soviet troops amounted to 30,439 people - irretrievable, 39,968 people - sanitary. Total losses - 70,407 people. The average daily loss is 2200 people. [2]
The Supreme High Command Headquarters again created the Bryansk Front. Commander - Colonel General M.A. Reuters.
Sovinformburo . Hitler’s counterfeiters are not letting go ... On March 24, the German information bureau published a report on the losses of Soviet troops over the past 8 weeks in the Orel region. This time the Hitlerites declared annihilated or suffered "especially heavy losses" as much as 41 rifle divisions, 11 rifle and 18 tank brigades. The fact is that we did not have and do not have so many troops in the Orel region. If we had so many troops in the area, there would be no trace of German troops ...
As for the actual situation in the Orel region, the following should be noted. At the end of January, our troops operating on this sector of the front broke through German lines of defense in a number of places and conquered a significant territory. During these battles, Soviet troops destroyed at least 20,000 German soldiers and officers, a large number of enemy equipment, captured trophies and 5,000 prisoners. During this same time, our troops lost 8.620 people killed and wounded. In mid-March, the Germans in the Orel region, intending to restore the situation, launched a counterattack, but did not succeed in any sector and suffered new losses. In the area north of Zhizdra alone, the enemy lost 140 tanks, 72 guns, 202 machine guns, 137 mortars and 8,000 soldiers and officers killed in four-day battles from March 19 to 23 ...
During March 28, there were no significant changes at the fronts.
March 29, 1943 . 646th day of war
Sovinformburo . During March 29, there were no significant changes at the fronts.
March 30, 1943 . 647th day of war
Sovinformburo . During March 30, there were no significant changes at the fronts.
March 31, 1943 . 648th day of war
Rzhev-Vyazemsky operation . The Rzhev-Vyazemsky operation ended (began on March 2). The troops of Kalininsky ( M. A. Purkaev ) and the Western Fronts (V. D. Sokolovsky) eliminated the enemy’s Rzhev-Vyazemsky ledge, pushed the front line 130-160 km from Moscow. Losses of Soviet troops amounted to 38,862 people - irrecoverable, 99,715 people - sanitary. Total losses amounted to 138,577 people. The average daily loss amounted to 4619 people. [2]
Sovinformburo . On March 31, our troops in the lower reaches of the Kuban occupied the most important German defense hub Anastasievskaya. On other fronts, no significant changes have occurred.
List of cards
- Kharkov offensive operation (111 KB) (inaccessible link)
- Rzhev-Vyazemsky operation (86 KB) (inaccessible link)
- Kharkov defensive operation (98 KB) (inaccessible link)
- Krasnodar operation (96 KB)
References
- ↑ Bulletins, reports of the Sovinformburo and Orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the USSR. 1941-1945
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 Russia and the USSR in the wars of the 20th century. Military Losses: A Statistical Study. / Under the total. ed. G.F. Krivosheeva. M .: Olma-Press, 2001.
- ↑ 1 2 Isaev A.V. When there was no suddenness. The history of the Second World War, which we did not know. - M .: Yauza, Eksmo, 2006.
- ↑ 1 2 3 Manstein E. Lost victories. - M .: ACT; St. Petersburg Terra Fantastica, 1999
- ↑ History of the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union 1941-1945. Volume Three Military Publishing. USSR Ministry of Defense M. −1961
- ↑ Rokossovsky K.K. Soldier duty. - M .: Military Publishing, 1988.