June 1942

Eastern Front

Army Group North deploys its 16th and 18th Armies across its sector of the front. The 18th Army comprises the I Corps (5 infantry divisions) on the Volkhov, the XXVI Corps (2 infantry divisions) south of Leningrad, the XXVIII Corps (1 panzer and 6 infantry divisions) soutn of Lake Ladoga, the XXXVIII Corps (5 infantry divisions) on the southern Volkhov and the L Corps (5 infantry divisions) around the Leningrad perimeter.

The 16th Army comprises the II Corps (7 infantry and 2 motorized divisions) in the exposed Demyansk salient, the X Corps (3 infantry and 1 motorized division) also in the salient and the XXXIX Panzer Corps (1 panzer and 1 infantry division) holding the long southern wing of the army.

Army Group Center deploys the 4th, 9th, 2nd Panzer and 3rd Panzer Armies. The 3rd Panzer Army, holding the eastern face of the Rzhev salient, comprises the IX Corps (4 infantry divisions) near Gzhatsk and the XX Corps (4 infantry divisions) northeast of Vyazma.

The 9th Army holds the long left wing of the army group with the VI Corps (3 infantry divisions) on the long Velizh sector, the XXIII Corps (2 panzer, 4 infantry divisions) west of Rzev, the XXVII Corps (3 infantry divisions) between Rzhev and Sychevka, the XLI Corps (1 motorized and 2 infantry divisions) near Belyi and the XLVI Panzer Corps (1 panzer and 1 infantry division) between Sychevka and Gzhatsk.

The 4th Army holds its XII Corps (4 infantry divisions) south of Vyazma, the XLIII Corps (3 infantry divisions) and the LVI Panzer Corps (1 motorized and 3 infantry divisions) to its south. The southern wing of the army group is secured by the 2nd Panzer Army which comprises the XXXV Corps (1 panzer and 3 infantry divisions), XLVII Panzer Corps (2 panzer and 5 infantry divisions) and the LIII Corps (1 motorized and 4 infantry divisions).

The 13th and 40th Armies fight desperately to hold off the German attacks that continue to develop on the road to Voronezh. The 40th Army is in difficulties as the armored support it expected floundered. The XVII Tank Corps is running on virtually dry tanks, while the IV and XXIV Tank Corps lose touch with the front headquarters. With the 4th Panzer Army and the 2nd Army pushing toward Voronezh, sweeping aside the shattered Bryansk Front, the 6th Army joins the offensive. Fierce artillery fire and air support accompany the attack, breaking the junction of the 21st and 28th Armies. German forces immediately exploit their gains and push toward Novy Oskol.

The 11th Army is involved in heavy fighting in Sevastopol, With Germans in their rear, the fall of Sevastopol is not far off. The Stavka orders the evacuation of the garrison, but the Black Sea Fleet is unable to mount an effective evacuation, leaving the majority of the garrison to its fate. Stalin orders the evacuation by air of Adm Oktybrski and Gen Petrov.

German commitment continues to increase, with 1 panzer, 1 motorized and 7 infantry divisions joining the line. Only 1 division leaves the combat zone, leaving the Ostheer with a force of 20 panzer, 16 motorized and 135 infantry divisions, plus allied divisions. The allies accounted for 13 Rumanian divisions, 9 Hungarian divisions, 3 Italian divisions and 1 brigade, 1 Slovak, 1 Spanish and 16 Finnish divisions.

Halder notes the the Ostheer has lost 1,362,000 men since June 1941, the amry in the field being reduced to 2,847,000 men. In June 1942 alone the field armies have lost 29,000 killed. In just hte last 20 days the Ostheer has lost 94,000 men. A report issued by Fremde Heer Ost claims that between June 22, 1941 and May 1, 1942 the Soviet armed forces have lost 7,300,000 killed, wounded, missing or captured. An appreciation of Soviet potential estimated that the Soviet armed forces had a further 9,700,000 men available for combat, of whom 7,800,000 have already been called up. Of these, 6,000,000 are serving in the Red Army, 4,500,000 of them in the front line, while 1,500,000 are with the Air Force. Another 500,000 are in the Navy. The appreciation is surprisingly accurate and gives a realistic idea of Soviet potential. The Soviet industrial potential, however, is massively underestimated and will be for the remainder of the war.

The Red Army and Navy have lost 842,898 killed and missing in action and 700,647 wounded during the second quarter of 1942.

The Soviets press ahead with the reorganization of their Air Force, raising the 6th, 8th and 14th Air Armies. These new units are distributed throughout the war zone, 6th going to the Northwest Front, 8th to the Stalingrad sector and the 14th to the Volkhov Front.