September 1943

Eastern Front

Fighting in the Smolensk sector intensifies as the Germans are pressed back around the city. Both the Kalinin and West Fronts approach from the north, east and south, hemming in the German 4th Army. Farther south, the 9th Army loses Unecha to the Bryansk Front.

Poltava falls to the Steppe Front. At Veliki Bukrin there is heavy fighting as the 3rd Guards Tank and 27th Armies extend their bridgehead.