Voronezh–Kastornoye offensive

The 1943 Battle of Voronezh or Voronezh–Kastornoye offensive operation (often credited in Russian as the liberation of Voronezh (освобождение Воронежа)) was a Soviet counter-offensive on the Eastern Front of World War II on recapturing the city of Voronezh during January 1943.

Voronezh–Kastornoye offensive
Part of the Eastern Front of World War II

Soviet soldiers in the liberated city of Voronezh, on 25 January 1943
Date24 January – 17 February 1943
Location
Result Soviet victory
Belligerents
 Germany
 Hungary
 Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Nazi Germany Maximilian von Weichs
Nazi Germany Hans von Salmuth
Hungary Gusztáv Jány
Soviet Union Aleksandr Vasilevsky
Soviet Union Filipp Golikov
Soviet Union Max Reyter
Units involved
Strength
327,900 men, 960 tanks 987,000 men, 2,100 tanks
Casualties and losses
58,000 dead, wounded, missing, about 20,000 taken prisoner 75,000 overall

It took place between 24 January and 17 February 1943, as 4th phase of the general Soviet winter offensive of 1942–1943, immediately following the Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh offensive.

The Axis had captured Voronezh in a 1942 battle, and the 2nd German Army occupied this important bridgehead over the Don, together with Hungarian troops that had escaped the destruction of the Hungarian 2nd Army during the Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh offensive.

The Red Army executed a new pincer movement in difficult winter conditions. From the south, the troops of the Voronezh Front under command of General Golikov attacked, in collaboration with the left flank of the Bryansk Front under General Max Reyter, which attacked from the north.[1]

The Germans, attacked on both flanks, were forced into a retreat in the middle of the Russian winter. Their losses were considerable and the 2nd German Army only narrowly escaped destruction, leaving a big gap in the Axis frontline. It opened for the Soviets the way to Kursk, which would be liberated during Operation Star, and also threatened the important bastion of Orel.

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ John Erickson, The road to Berlin, Cassel, 1983 ; AA.VV., L'URSS nella seconda guerra mondiale, volume III, CEI, 1978.

Bibliography

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  • Glantz, David M. (1991). From the Don to the Dnepr: Soviet Offensive Operations, December 1942 – August 1943. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-7146-3350-X.