Eastern FrontSOUTHERN SECTORNorth of Kharkov, the 38th Army launches a limited action, but is soon under heavy German counterattack and is forced to pull back to its start lines. Later in the morning, the 28th Army also attempts an attack but achieves only limited success. Throughout the day, Group Kleist continues to pound the 57th and 9th Armies. Forward units of the XLIV Corps close upon Izyum, but strong resistance by the V Cavalry Corps prevents the early capture of the town. The Soviet 6th Army continues to attack, but its XXIII and XXI Tank Corps are, during the day, ordered to disengage and march east to deal with the threat to the 57th and 9th Armies. Bobkin's advance is now fully stalled around Krasnograd, the Soviet force no longer having the strength to overcome the increasingly strong German forces in the town. Timoshenko resists requests by his army commanders to abandon the offensive and orders them to press on. |
| [ May 17th - May 19th] |