May 1942

Eastern Front

The 23rd and 3rd Panzer Divisions attack from Andreyevka and Balakleya, while the III Panzer pushes up from the south. By the end of the day, the pocket has been sealed. Timoshenko tries to counterattack immediately with the 38th Army in an effort to relieve the pocket, but his forces are unable to move in time. At the same time he orders the 6th and 57th Armies and Group Kostenko to break out.