February 1943

Eastern Front

The Bryansk Front joins the general offensive in the Ukraine as it attacks with its 13th and 48th Armies against 2nd Panzer Army before Orel. These armies attempt to smash through the German line and outflank Orel.

The 40th Army throws its tank corps into the battle, striking the German positions at Zolochev while others push toward Dergachi.

>The 3rd Tank Army grinds its way into the inner defense zone of Kharkov, being involved in bitter fighting with Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler. SS Wiking counterattacks at Krasnoarmieskoye and Grishino, hitting Group Popov hard, Fierce batles rage all day but eventually the Soviets bring the German attack to a halt. The 7th and 11th Panzer Divisions push west from Slavyansk, striking Popov as he tries to move south. Again the German attack stalls.

Vatutin aims to broaden his offensive in the south. The 6th Army is instructed to take Zaporozhe and Group Popov is to operate in conjunction with the 6th. Popov has just 53 operational tanks and 13,000 men left after weeks of hard fighting yet is expected to push toward Stalino and Mariupol. 1st Guards Army is to pin the Germans at Slavyansk while 3rd Guards and 5th Tank Armies are to push west of Stalino.

The Black Sea Group captures Krasnodar from 17th Army after heavy fighting. Slowly but surely the 17th is being squeezed tighter into the Kuban.