Liveblogging World War II: March 14, 1943
Third Battle of Kharkov - Wikipedia:
Manstein's counterattack: What was known to the Germans as the Donets Campaign took place between 19 February and 15 March 1943. Originally, Manstein foresaw a three-stage offensive. The first stage encompassed the destruction of the Soviet spearheads, which had over-extended themselves…. The second stage included the recapture of Kharkiv, while the third stage was designed to attack the Soviets at Kursk, in conjunction with Army Group Center—this final stage was ultimately called off due to the advent of the Soviet spring thaw… and Army Group Center's reluctance….
First stage: 19 February – 6 March: On 19 February, Hausser's SS Panzer Corps was ordered to strike southwards, to provide a screen for the 4th Panzer Army's attack. Simultaneously, Army Detachment Hollidt was ordered to contain the continuing Soviet efforts to break through German lines. The 1st Panzer Army was ordered to drive north in an attempt to cut off and destroy Popov's Mobile Group, using accurate intelligence on Soviet strength which allowed the Germans to pick and choose their engagements and bring about tactical numerical superiority. The 1st and 4th Panzer Armies were also ordered to attack the overextended Soviet 6th Army and 1st Guards Army.
Between 20–23 February, the 1st SS Panzer Division LSSAH cut through the 6th Army's flank, eliminating the Soviet threat to the Dnieper River and successfully surrounding and destroying a number of Red Army units south of the Samara River. The 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich advanced in a northeastern direction, while the 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf was put into action on 22 February, advancing parallel to the Das Reich. These two divisions successfully cut the supply lines to the Soviet spearheads. First Panzer Army was able to surround and pocket Popov's Mobile Group by 24 February, although a sizable contingent of Soviet troops managed to escape north. On 22 February, alarmed by the success of the German counterattack, the Soviet Stavka ordered the Voronezh Front to shift the 3rd Tank Army and 69th Army south, in an effort to alleviate pressure on the Southwestern Front and destroy German forces in the Krasnograd area….
The destruction of Popov's Mobile Group and the 6th Army during the early stages of the German counterattack created a large gap between Soviet lines. Taking advantage of uncoordinated and piecemeal Soviet attempts to plug this gap, Manstein ordered a continuation of the offensive towards Kharkiv. Between 1–5 March the 4th Panzer Army, including the SS Panzer Corps, covered 80 kilometers (50 mi) and positioned itself only about 16 kilometers (9.9 mi) south of Kharkiv. By 6 March, the 1st SS Panzer Division made a bridgehead over the Mosh River, opening the road to Kharkiv…. According to the Germans, the German counterattack had cost the Red Army an estimated 23,000 soldiers dead, along with 615 tanks and 352 artillery pieces lost.
Advance towards Kharkov: 7–10 March: While Rokossovsky's Central Front continued its offensive against the German Second Army, which had by now been substantially reinforced with fresh divisions, the renewed German offensive towards Kharkiv took it by surprise. On 7 March, Manstein made the decision to press on towards Kharkiv, despite the coming of the spring thaw…. Between 8–9 March, the SS Panzer Corps completed its drive north, splitting the 69th and 40th Soviet Armies, and on 9 March it turned east to complete its encirclement…. The Das Reich would come from the West, the LSSAH would attack from north, and the Totenkopf would provide a protective screen along the north and northwestern flanks…. Manstein issued an order to continue outflanking the city, although leaving room for a potential attack on Kharkiv if there was little Soviet resistance, but Hausser decided to disregard the order and continue with his own assault….
Fight for the city: 11–15 March: Early morning 11 March, the LSSAH launched a two-prong attack into northern Kharkiv…. Only with aerial and artillery support, coming from Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers and StuG assault guns, were the German infantry able to battle their way into the city….
On 12 March, the LSSAH made progress into the city's center, breaking through the staunch Soviet defenses in the northern suburbs and began a house to house fight towards the center. By the end of the day, the division had reached a position just two blocks north of Dzerzhinsky Square…. When taken, the square was renamed "Platz der Leibstandarte"…. The next day, the LSSAH struck southwards towards the Kharkiv River from Peiper's bridgehead….
Fighting in the city began to wind down on 14 March. The day was spent with the LSSAH clearing the remnants of Soviet resistance, pushing east along a broad front. By the end of the day, the entire city was declared to be back in German hands….
Army Group South's Donets Campaign had cost the Red Army… over 70,000–80,000 personnel casualties. Of these troops lost, an estimated 45,200 were killed or went missing…. Overall German casualties are more difficult to come by but clues are provided by examining the casualties of the SS Panzer Corps… around 160 officers and about 4,300 enlisted personnel….
After the fall of Kharkiv the Soviet defense of the Donets had collapsed,[93] allowing Manstein's forces to drive to Belgorod on 17 March,[94] and take it by the next day. However, weather and exhaustion forced Manstein's counterstroke to end soon thereafter….
One historian wrote that the Third Battle of Kharkov was "the last great victory of German arms in the eastern front"… delayed the advance of the Red Army into Germany by at least six months…
