February 1944

Eastern Front

Efforts by the 2nd Shock Army to cross the Narva are repelled by the III SS Panzer Corps after heavy fighting. German counterattacks near Utorgozh isolates 2 divisions of the 59th Army but are unable to destroy them. The Russian units resist for nearly two weeks until they rejoin the main combat line.

The III Panzer Corps begins a relief attack toward the Korsun pocket, deploying the 2 panzer divisions. This latest attack again meets ferocious resistance so to strengthen the attack force Hitler re-routes the 1st SS Panzer Divisoin to this sector. However, the 24th Panzer Division, also earmarked for the counterattack, is waylaid by Hitler and sent to Nikopol to aid the 6th Army. Heavy fighting continues on the south and southwest perimeters of the Korsun pocket as the 2nd Ukrainian Front tries to prevent German movement toward the relief forces. More territory is voluntarily given up from the north and east as Stemmerman pulls in to a shorter line.