November 1943

Eastern Front

Believing the German counterattack to have ended for the duration of the autumn muddy period, the 1st Ukrainian is taken by surprose when the XLVIII Panzer Corps unleashes another attack in the Zhitomir area. The LIX Corps also attacks at Korosten and after a bitter battle recaptures the town from the 60th Army.

During November the Germans committed 3 panzer divisions, 2 SS panzer grenadier divisions, 2 infantry divisions and 1 security division to the front line. One panzer, 1 mountain and 2 infantry divisions have left or were destroyed, leaving the Ostheer with 24 panzer, 10 panzer grenadier and 155 infantry divisions.

From Norway to the Crimea, the Germans have 2,850,000 soldiers. Dietl's 20th Army in Norway has 176,000 ment, approximately 40,000 of which are combat infantry, leaving the main line armies with around 2,650,000. Actual combat infantry in the line are becoming a rare breed as losses mount and replacements become increasingly scarce.

Army Group North, with 44 infantry divisins, have a battel strength of only 140,000 combat infantry, 100 operational panzers and assault guns and 2,400 arty pieces. It faces Leningrad, Volkhov and Northwest Fronts with 355,000 combat troops in their rifle divisions, 650 tanks and Su's and 3,700 arty pieces.

Army Group Center has 46 infantry divisions but disposes of only 147,000 combat infantry, 216 panzers and assault guns and 2,600 arty pieces. Facing it are the Belorussian, West and 1st and 2nd Baltic Fronts with 650,000 combat soldiers, 3,000 tanks and Su's and 6,720 arty pieces.

Army Group South, the most heavily committe of all the German army groups, deploys 44 infantry divisions with 140,000 combat infantry, 270 panzers and assault guns and 2,200 arty pieces while Army Group A has 17 infantry divisions with 54,000 combat soldiers, 100 tanks and assault guns and 800 arty pieces. Attacking these armies are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Ukrainian Fronts and the North Caucasus Front. Combined, the rifle formations of these fronts total 899,000 combat infantry (616,000 facing Army Group South), 4,250 tanks and Su's and 9,300 arty pieces. It is apparent from these figures that the Ostheer is massively outnumbered. The average German infantry division at the front has a combat strength of just under 3,200 infantry.