January 1943

Eastern Front

Elements of the 2nd Shock Army and 67th Army link up near Schlusselburg, which falls after heavy fighting. A five-mile corridor has been punched through the German positions south of Lake Ladoga, easing the supply situation into Leningrad.

The 40th Army and 3rd Tank Army links up at Alexievka, isolating the Hungarian IV Corps together with large parts of the Hungarians III and VII Corps and the remnants of the Italian Alpine Corps.

Inside the Stalingrad pocket the 21st Army brings Gumrak under heavy fire as the Germans try to bring the primitive airbase back into use. Army Group A pulls out of Cherkessk and Divnoye.

Gen Zhukov is promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union and makes Deputy Supreme Commander of the Soviet Armed Forces.

Valilevsky presents plans to Stalin for the next phase of the offensive aimed at destroying the German 2nd Army. 13th Army is to attack north of Kastornoye while 40th, 38th and 60th Armies also attack.