September 1943

Eastern Front

The German 9th Army begins to evacuate Bryansk, heavy fighting raging in and around the city. West Front attacks also draw closer to Smolensk, while the Kalinin Front pushes down from the north. Dukhovschina falls to the 39th Army of the Kalinin Front.

In the Kuban the German 17th Army withdraws from the Gotenkopf line.

Hitler agrees to a withdrawal from Smolensk to reduce the pressure upon Army Group Center.