December 1942

Eastern Front

The Voronezh and Southwest Fronts open attacks against the Italian 8th Army at 0800 hours. Arty fire in the 1st Guards, 6th and 3rd Guards Army sectors hit the Italian lines but thick mist prevented accurate plotting of the barrage. Leading elements of the 1st Guards and 6th Armies bagin to attack but encounter strong resistance, only managing limited gains. German infantry have been rapidly moving into the Italian positions at the first signs of the attack and open a withering fire upon the attacking Soviet units. Elements of the 27th Panzer Division move from the reserve to counterattack, also slowing the offensive. With the attack stalled, Vatutin orders the commitment of the armor. Units of the XVIII and XXV Tank Corps of the 1st Guards Army surge forward while the 6th Army commits its XVII Tank Corps. Still without effective arty support and attacking over badly reconnoitred ground, the XVIII and XXV Tank Corps run into minefields, suffering heavy losses.

The 3rd Guards Army hits 2 German divisions at Krasnokutskaya and Bokovskaya but after penetrating the line is thrown back by the 22nd Panzer Division.

At Verkhne Kumski the bitter battle between the LVII Panzer Corps and the 51st Army ends with a slow Soviet withdrawal. Hoth's advance has been seriously delayed and his small force has suffered heavy casualties.