Eastern FrontSOUTHERN SECTORThe 1st Panzer Army begins the final phase of its move out of the Caucasus, entering the eastern Ukraine in force to rejoin the main German combat line. However, over 350,000 men of the 17th Army are to be incarcerated in the Kuban. The 1st Panzer is instructed to deploy along the Donets from Kupyansk to Voroshilovgrad while Detachment Hollidt covers the line from Voroshilovgrad to the Azov Sea. By the time it redeploys the panzer army comprises XXX Corps, recently redeployed from the central sector, and the III and XL Panzer Corps. Facing these forces the Soviets deploy their 6th Army, 1st Guards, Group Popov, 3rd Guards Army and 5th Tank Army. |
| [ January 26th - January 28th] |