February 1942

Eastern Front

The Stavka orders the 2nd Shock and 54th Armies to link up and encircle the German forces in the Lubansk area.

The Germans launch a fierce counterattack at Demidov, forcing back the 4th Shock Army.

The 51st Army repeats its attacks on the Kerch peninsula, suffering terrible casualties as the 11th Army rains fire down upon it.

During February the Germans commit 8 infantry divisions to the east, bringing their strength up to 19 panzer, 15 motorized and 123 infantry divisions. A casualty return by the Ostheer records that up to the end of February the war in the east has cost 394,000 killed (44,000 in February), 725,000 wounded, 414,000 captured, 46,000 missing and 112,000 injured through frostbite and illnesses. Army Group Center alone has suffered a staggering 357,000 casualties but has received only 130,000 replacements. The field armies have also lost 3,240 tanks and assault guns but have received only 840 replacement vehicles. This leaves the panzer divisions with fewer than 900 vehicles, of which only 465 are operational. Combined with the depletion of its offensive capability, the supply and logistic services have lost 74,000 motor vehicles since October 1941 but replaced only 7,500. The already inadequate motor pool has been reduced to less than a quarter of its June 1941 complement. Since the beginnig of Operation TYPHOON in October, the Ostheer has also lost 180,000 horses but has replaced only 20,000.