May 1942

Eastern Front

The Soviet forces north of Kharkov go onto the defensive once more as the Germans pile on the pressure. The hard-won positions from the early days of the offensive are rapidly lost as the 3rd Panzer Division launches a fierce attack against the junction of the 21st and 28th Armies. By the end of the day, these forces are back to their May 12 start lines. This success enables the rapid transfer of the 3rd and 23rd Panzer Divisions to the south, to strike into the northern wing of the Izyum pocket.

The Soviet forces south of Kharkov hastily attempt to regroup in order to meet Kleist's attack. The Germans, however, plunge forward once again, smashing the extreme right wing of the 57th Army, bending it back upon itself toward Lozovaya. Now not only is the 9th Army in danger of disintegration and the rear of the 6th Army and Group Kostenko exposed, the 57th Army faces a separate encirclement. The XXIII Tank Corps attempts to bolster the now detached right wing of the 57th but is held back by the XLIV Corps. The gap between the XLIV Corps to the south and the LI Corps to the north of the salient is now just 12 miles.