May 1942

Eastern Front

The 52nd and 59th Armies launch repeated atacks in an effort to free the 2nd Shock Army. The 3 armies begin the operation with 231,900 men.

Soviet forces north of Kharkov renew their attacks. Efforts by the 21st Army to expand its positions meet fierce German resistance. Leading Soviet units, however, bypass the German defenses to advance south of Murom, pushing forward 7 miles during the course of the day. The 38th Army also meets with success, advancing some 3 miles by 1300 hours, but are then struck by strong German counterattacks. Elements of the 3rd and 23rd Panzer Divisions have reached the forward Soviet positions and bring the advance to an abrupt halt. Heavy fighting inflicts severe losses upon the rifle units of the 38th, bringing its offensive to a complete halt. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Timoshenko orders Moskalenko to place his 38th firmly on the defensive.

Heavy fighting south of Kharkov resumes once again as the Soviets renew their attacks. The VI Cavalry Corps continues its drive into the defenses of the VIII Corps toward Krasnograd, while the Soviet 6th Army establishes a strong bridgehead over the Orel River. Fierce fighting rages all day as the VIII and LI Corps throw in repeated counterattacks. With the success of their offensive toward Krasnograd, the Southwest Front command decides that it will commit its armor to this axis during the following day.

On the Kerch peninsula, lead elements of the 11th Army draw closer to Kerch as the 44th and 51st Armies, isolated to the rear, are destroyed.