May 1942

Eastern Front

In the Crimea the Germans push rapidly east with mobile forces, while the bulk of the XXX Corps thrusts into the rear of the 51st Army. The XLII and VII Rumanian Cavalry Corps pin the 51st frontally while the XXX Corps penetrates into the rear. After just 4 days of intense fighting, the 44th Army has been virtually destroyed. Late in the day the 22nd Panzer Division reaches the northern coast of the Kerch peninsula, isolating the bulk of the 51st Army, some 8 Soviet divisions.

In the sun-drenched Ukraine, Timoshenko prepared to launch the second battle for Kharkov. Having massed more than three quarters of a million men and large quantities of equipment, the Soviet armies were sure of victory. But the Germans lay in wait, replenished and ready to attack. Hard fighting lay ahead before the real business of the summer could begin.