October 1943

Eastern Front

The long and bitter campaign in the Kuban ends as the 17th army withdraws to the Crimea. Hitler now detaches 8 divisions from the 17th Army, distributing them to more needy sectors to the north. The fighting in the peninsula has cost the North Caucasus Front 13,900 killed and missing and 50,000 wounded.

The South Front unleashes a massive arty barrage upon the 6th Army, followed by an infantry and armored attack. Hollidt's forces put up fierce resistance, bringing the initial Soviet attack to a halt. However, with numbers on their side, the South Front repeat its attacks, The German positions at Melitopol and the Nogaisk Steppe are the final defense line before the Dniepr River. If they fall, the subsequent retreat would leavd the 17th Army isolated in the Crimea. Having just escaped from one pocket the 17th seems about to become hemmed into another.