May 1942

Eastern Front

The Southwest Front begins its offensive to liberate Kharkov and throw Army Group South back to the Dniepr and the Azov Sea. Over the previous month the Soviet forces around Kharkov has been heavily reinforced. The plan is for the 6th Army to puch toward Kharkov from the south, while Group Bobkin attacks toward Khasnograd, securing the southern flank of the 6th Army. The 28th Army attacks from Volchansk, together with the 21st and 38th Armies, flanking Kharkov from the north. While the Southwest Front attacks, the South Front is to envelop the Germans from the south with its 9th and 57th Armies. The Soviet forces total 765,000 men, 1,200 tanks, 13,000 artillery pieces and 900 aircraft.

At 0630 hours the Soviet offensive north of Kharkov begins with an hour-long artillery barrage. After the artillery fire subsides, the infantry and tanks of the 21st, 28th and 38th Armies attack, only to encounter heavy fire from the infatnry of the XVII and LI Corps. During heavy fighting, the 38th Army mangages to advance 6 miles, while the 21st Army has also puched around 6 miles forward. The spearhead 28th Army is struggling against fierce German resistance and has only managed to advance about 2 miles.

Despite their relatively successful defense, the XVII and LI Corps have been taken by surprise by the Soviet attacks. Bitter fighting has seen the 294th Infantry Division of the XVII Corps suffer extremely high losses. In an effort to offer stability to their defensive positions, the 6th Army command begins the movement of the 3rd and 23rd Panzer Divisions up to the Donets bridgehead from their positions around Kharkov. These forces have been earmarked for the planned offensive south of Kharkav against the Izyum pocket.

As with the forces to the north, the Soviet offensive south of Kharkov begins at 0630 hours with an hour-long artillery preparation. Following the barrage, elements of Gorodnyansky's 6th Army attacks the LI and VIII Corps. The 62nd Infantry Division is hard pressed by the left wing of the 6th Army south of Taranovka. On the southern wing of the Soviet 6th Army, Group Bobkin begins its attack. Thrusting the VI Cavalry Corps into the fighting, Bobkin virtually destroys the 454th Security Division and reaches the Orel River. By dusk the 6th Army and Group Bobkin have advanced up to 10 miles on a 25-mile front.