January 1943

Eastern Front

The Soviet forces in the Leningrad sector begin to bombard German positions along the Neva.

The Marinovka sector of the Stalingrad pocket is crushed, the Soviets herding the Germans back to the Rossoshka. The last remnants of the 29th Motorized and 376th Infantry Divisions are wiped out in bitter fighting. With his arm falling apart, Paulus receives an order from OKH which states that 6th Army must not under any circumstances surrender without prior approval.

The advance toward Rostov continues as 51st Army and 2nd Guards Army reaches the Manych River, threatening the rear of Army Group A.

In the Caucasus Georgievsk, Pyatigorsk and Mineralnye Vody falls as Army Group A withdraws to the north to avoid isolation. Both 46th and 18th Armies are preparing to attack the XLIV Corps of the 17th Army and force it back toward the Maikop oilfields, this attack being intended to act as a diversion to draw off German forces from the main attack to the east.