September 1943

Eastern Front

Mariupol falls to the 28th and 44th Armies as the XXIX Corps is forced back. Barvenkovo falls to the 1st Guards Army.

Fighting rages in the Kuban as the North Caucasus Front launches uncoordinated attacks against the 17th Army, committing nearly 250,000 men to the offensive. The 18th Army enters the outskirts of Novorossiysk and becomes embroiled in bitter fighting with XLIX Mountain Corps. During the remainder of the month the 17th Army evacuates 250,000 soldiers of its V, XLIX Mountain and XLIV Corps from the Kuban.