February 1942

Eastern Front

The Stavka orders the Volkhov Front to form shock groups to break the German lines. The 2nd Shock forms a group of 4 divisions, 59th Army one of 3 divisions and 4th Army one of 2 divisions. Meretskov visits the 2nd Shock Army headquarters and finds its command disorganized and demoralized. Vlassov is appointed commander in place of Klykov.

The relief attack toward Demidov succeeds, as the garrison is relieved.

The Soviets begin a new attack in the Crimea aimed at dislodging the 11th Army from the Kerch peninsula and relieving Sevastopol. On the Kerch peninsula, the 51st Army attacks in unwieldy columns, supported by tanks, but is smashed by German artillery fire and air strikes. The costly attacks continue for the next two weeks. The Sevastopol garrison also attacks but is unable to break through the ring of forces around the city.