February 1943

Eastern Front

Soviet forces close up to the Lovat River as the Germans leave the Demyansk pocket for good. The Northwest Front loses 10,016 killed and missing and 23,647 during the Demyansk Operation.

Elements of the 40th Army cross the Psel but are unable to reach Zenkov or capture Sumy, despite heavy fighting.

The XL Panzer Corps recaptures Kramatorsk while XLVIII Panzer Corps reaches the Donets west of Izyum, having forced I Guards Cavalry Corps back across the river. The Soviets withdraw from Barvenkov after a bitter battle and fall back upon Izyum in order to cross the Donets.

As February comes to a bloody end German commitment in the east stood at 16 panzer, 15 panzer grenadier and 140 infantry divisions. The Ostheer has lost 3 panzer, 3 motorized and 16 infantry divisions from its order of battle, the bulk of these at Stalingrad. However, 3 SS panzer grenadier divisions, 6 infantry and 1 Luftwaffe field division have been transferred from other areas to the east and enter the fighting.

The fighting during the winter of 1942-43 has cost Germany's allies thousands of men, Italy losing 185,000, Hungary 140,000 and Rumania 250,000.