March 1944

Wednesday, March 22nd

Eastern Front

SOUTHERN SECTOR

Malinovsky's 3rd Ukrainian Front breaches the German line on the Bug. As the fighting rages along the river, the 5th and 7th Guards Armies of the 2nd Ukrainian Front captures Pervomaisk.

SOVIET COMMAND

The Stavka amends the 1st and 2nd Ukrainian Front objectives. The 1st Ukrainian is to complete the encirclement and destruction of the 1st Panzer Army around Kamenets Podolsky, while the 2nd breaks free of the Dniestr to threaten the Rumanian borders.

GERMAN ALLIES

As the Red Army draws closer to the border, Marshal Antonescu, the Rumanian dictator, flies to Berlin to meet with Hitler. Antonescu aims to seek some degree of German support or flexibility against the advancing Communist forces.

With Russian forces also approaching their borders, the 1st Hungarian Army, which has only just begun to form up, enters the combat line near Chernovitsy.

[ March 21st - March 23rd]