December 1942

Eastern Front

The 3rd Shock makes significant penetrations into the German defenses around Velikiye Luki amid bitter resistance.

Along the Chir, the 5th Shock and 5th Tank Armies continue to attack pinning down the XLVIII Panzer Corps so it can take no part in the Stalingrad relief attack. The relief force pushes on, but the IV Mechanized and the XIII Tank Corps enter the battle against it. Furious fighting develops at Verkhne Kumski as the IV Mechanized tries to halt the 6th Panzer Division and gains time for the arrival of the 2nd Guards Army.

The Luftwaffe struggles to provide 6th Army with its quota of supplies. German aircraft deliver only 150 tons of supplies, far short of the Luftwaffe declared minimum of 350 tons. 6th Army has to drastically reduce its defensive operations and cut rations to the barest minimum.

With Hoth's relief attack the Soviet High Command postpones Operation KOLTSO, the reduction of the 6th Army.