Thread by @OberstWKlink

#OTD 1943 | Vatutin’s South Western Front launched their assault on January 30th, 1943. The initial aim was
to clear Krasnyy Liman and break through the heavily
wooded Severnyy Donets river valley and into the
Donbas steppe beyond. #OperationGallop 1/X

1stGuards Army was to lead this push and the four tank
corps of Mobile Group Popov was to exploit. 6th Army was given the task of capturing the city of #Izyum
and maintaining a link with Voronezh Front to the
north. 2/X

To support #OperationGallop, South Western Front needed to clear the forests north of the #SevernyyDonets. This involved pushing the 19.PzDiv away from #KrasnyyLiman, creating a bridgehead over the river, and advancing towards #Slavyansk. 3/X

Additional, the Soviet 4th Guards Rifle Corps was assigned to this mission and had support from the 4th Guards Tank Corps. 4X

RKKA situation map of Operation Star & Gallop, 1st - 19th February 1943. 5/X

#OTD 1943 Operation Star and Gallop kicked off in earnest. Situation: Operation Gallop was the follow-up operation to Operation Saturn with similar ambitions. The forces involved were the South Western Front's 1st Guards Army, 6th Army and Popov's Mobile Group. 6/X

Meanwhile, Stalin broadened the Soviet offensive to include the capture of Kursk and Kharkov, Operation Star. The Voronezh Front was tasked with these objectives and instructed the 38th and 60th Armies to take Kursk and the 3rd Tank, 40th, and 69th Armies to capture Kharkov. 7/X

On the German side, there were few forces between the Dnepr and Oskol. The 1st and 4th Panzer Armies were still arriving from beyond Rostov, and Army Detachment Kempf was being formed around Kharkov. The first major reinforcement, PzGrenDiv Großdeutschland, had arrived 8/X

from Western Europe on January 21st and was followed by SS PzGren Div LAH and DR over the next two weeks. In the meantime, Kempf only had three weak infantry divisions (168th, 298th, and 320th) to cover over 200 km of the front, with remnants of Hungarian divisions and 9/X

other rear area troops used to form a line. South of the #SevernyyDonets, forces from the 1st Panzer Armee were just arriving and setting up hasty defences along the Zherebets River and #Slavyansk. The connection between 1st Panzer Armee and Kempf's forces was at best loose. 10/X

On February 2nd, the 320th Infantry Division had been pushed back across the Oskol River, and the 19th Panzer Division had retreated south of the #SevernyyDonets, detaching its armour and the 901st Lehr Regiment to counter Soviet forces at #Lisichansk. 11/X

This created a 40 km gap in the German lines. With the front line disrupted, Popov ordered the 4th Guards Tank Corp to take advantage of the opening and head south to Kramatorsk. The 4th Guards Tank Corp, like the rest of Popov's forces, had limited tank strength 12/X

and had concentrated nearly all its armor in the 14th Guards Tank Brigade. Popov's other tank corps were waiting for the Soviet infantry to secure #Slavyansk. 13/X

The Soviet 6th Army crossed the Oskol River while the 4th Guard's Tank Corp waited for support at #Kramatorsk. The 320th German Infantry Division broke into regimental groups to secure the main crossing points. The Soviets successfully crossed at #Kopyansk #Uzlovoy, 14/X

Sen'kova, and #Gorokhovatka, but were initially blocked in front of #Izyum. An assault with the 267th Rifle Division and elements of the 35th Guards Rifle was needed to cross the river and capture the city. 15/X

The 69th Army, with 4 Rifle Divisions (161st, 180th, 219th, and 270th) and attached brigades, including the 173rd Tank Brigade, was tasked with clearing the highway to #Volchansk and bordered the north of the 3rd Tank Army. The infantry heavy force faced the elite 16/X

Panzer Grenadier Division Großdeutschland, which slowed down the 69th Army, but was unable to stop it due to the broad front it had to cover. Eventually, it was the danger of the Soviet 40th Army advancing behind Grossdeutschland's lines that caused it to retreat. 17/X

Map OKH Lage Ost 02/02/1943 Southern Sector 18/X

On February 4th, Soviet forces advanced slowly on all fronts. The 3rd Tank Army captured #VerlikiyBurlok but discovered SS PzGrenDiv DR well established just north of the village. This area served as a bulwark for the Germans, separating the advancing 69th & 3rd Tank Armies. 19/X

From this stronghold, the SS PzGrenDiv DR launched local counter-attacks. The German 298th ID was eventually forced to abandon #Kupyansk as the roads westward became increasingly inaccessible. The AufklAbt of SS PzGrenDiv LAH left #Chuguev on the 3rd in order to try to 20/X

reach 298th ID, but were stopped by Soviet Cavalry. After a two-day battle with Großeutschland's Fusilier Regiment, the 69th Army's 161st and 219th Rifle Divisions cleared #VelikoMikhaylovka. The 3rd Panzer Division was immediately dispatched to the east of Slavyansk after 21/X

arriving from the 1st Panzer Army. They arrived in time to prevent the 7th Panzer Division from being surrounded two days later. | OKH Lage Ost Map 04.02.1943 22/X

#OTD 1943 | 40th Army of the Voronezh Front was poised to commence its attack on #Belgorod. Due to the ongoing efforts of three Rifle Divisions and the 5th Guards Tank Corps to neutralize German forces in the rear areas, the 40th Army was compelled to launch its offensive in 23/X

two stages. Under the leadership of Moskalenko, the army utilized its five available rifle divisions with the immediate objective of capturing #Korocha and breaching the Lipovyy and Severnyy Donets rivers at their upper reaches. 24X

40th Army's attack on 168.InfDiv posed a serious threat to the Germans as the division was weakened and unable to cover enough ground to fend off a Soviet flanking manoeuvre. GrenRgt 429 put up resistance at #Korocha for a day before joining the rest of the division 25/X

in a fighting retreat towards #Belgorod. This retreat quickly exposed the flank of Großdeutschland, leading to a rapid pullback in front of the 69th Army. In the southern sector, the172nd RD of 6th Army captured #Balaklaya while the 267th RD took #Izyum, causing the 26/X

320.InfDiv to retreat in regimental columns towards #Andreyevka. The 3rd TC of Mobile Group Popov joined the 4th GGTC at #Kramatorsk, where they stopped and fortified their position. The lead elements of the 11.PzDiv began disembarking at #Konstantinovka and were joined by 27/X

a Rgt from 333.InfDiv, with orders to prepare for opposition against Popov's Tank Corps. SS PzGrenDiv DR launched a heavy counterattack from the #VerlikiyBurlok area preventing 69th Army from maintaining contact with 3rd Tank Army’s right flank. The unit would continue to 28/X

hold a salient in this area for a further four days. | OKH Lage Ost Map 05.02.1943 29/X

#OTD 1943 | Blizzard conditions caused a severe reduction of visibility and added to the deep snow as the 57th Guards and 195th RD attempted to fight their way into #Slavyansk, but were stopped by the well-entrenched 7.PzDiv This marked the start of a two week struggle. 30/X

11.PzDiv marched north towards #Kramatorsk and had a sharp engagement with the 4th GTC at #Druzhkovka, successfully turning the Soviets back but losing all of its Pak and some SPW. 33.InfDiv discovered the 35th GRD looting a German supply dump at #Barvenkovo. 31/X

333.InfDiv was forced to retreat down the RR towards #Lozovaya after failing to meet up with the 7.PzDiv at #Slavyansk. Voronezh Front sector: 15th TC and 160th RD tried to cross the Severnyy Donets at #Pechenegi, but were repulsed by SS PzGrenDiv LAH with heavy casualties. 32/X

The Germans were forced to abandon their bridgehead at #Chuguev. The strong resistance led to a Soviet reassessment of their plan to cross the river and they decided to move the 6th GCC further south through 6th Army's sector to #NovayaVodolaga, starting the following day. 33/X

The resistance at #SevernyyDonets required the 3rd Tank Army to take a three day break to bring up heavy guns and assets to cross the river. In the 40th Army sector, Moskalenko's 2nd echelon arrived, reinforcing his advance towards #Belgorod. Fighting took place at #Korocha 34/X

on the 6th and 7th with Grenadier Regiment 429, 168.InfDiv forced to withdraw to avoid being encircled in the town. OKH Lage Ost Map 06.02.1943 35/X

Errata: 333.InfDiv

#OTD 1943 | On February 7th, the Soviet advances slowed down on all fronts, except for the 40th Army sector. The German resistance in #Slavyansk made 1st Guards Army reassess its objectives, leading to a decision to send a larger force to bypass the German strongholds. 36/X

The 4th GTC was ordered from #Kramatorsk to #Krasnoarmeyskoye, while the 4th GRC headed southwest to #Lozovaya and then planned to move on to #Krasnoarmeyskoye. This change in strategy, to take the path of least resistance, ended up playing a role in Manstein's successful 37/X

counter offensive. 298.InfDiv, after retreating from #Kupyansk, was overpowered by the 3rd Tank Army, who had already reached the Severnyy Donets. The division was effectively destroyed. By midday, the 40th Army had reached the outskirts of #Belgorod and the arrival of 38/X

elements of PzGrenDiv Großdeutschland increased the urgency to capture the city. Moskalenko concentrated his artillery and launched a night assault that evening. Despite strong initial resistance, the city fell a few days later, with 168.InfDiv retreating west to #Tomarovka. 39/X

OKH Lage Ost Map 07.02.1943 40/X

#OTD 1943 | 8th of Februray, Popov's 10th and 18th TC were supporting the 6th GRC in capturing #Slavyansk and #Lisichansk. Lisichansk was captured on Feb 6th, but attempts to expand further failed due to unexpected German resistance. This splitting of forces resulted in 41/X

insufficient strength to capture Slavyansk or Kramatorsk. 11.PzDiv advanced to #Kramatorsk and entered the eastern side, but was unable to reach the centre due to destroyed bridges. Skirmishing continued for several days with neither side having enough strength to defeat 42/X

the other. The Soviet 6th Army was trying to encircle the 320.InfDiv, which was retreating northwest towards #Kharkov. The town of #Andreyevka was captured, but the advance of the 172nd RD stalled at #Zmiyev due to stiff German resistance. 320.InfDiv was still split into 43/X

into individual regimental columns and had been traveling in difficult conditions for over a week. After capturing Andreyevka, Stavka ordered the 6th GCC to cross the Donets, follow the highway through #VelikayaBereka, and turn north to reach #Yubotin via #NovayaVodolaga. 44/X

Kazakov's 69th Army continued to push PzGrenDiv Großdeutschland towards #Volchansk, which was weakening as units were sent to support the 168.InfDiv at #Belgorod. The decision was finally made to pull back all forces east of the Severnyy Donets. Großdeutschland would now not 45/X

only face 69th Army, but also being threatened by 40th Army moving on Kharkov from the north if Belgorod fell. At dawn, 40th Army committed three rifle divisions (183rd, 309th, and 340th) to attack Belgorod while mobile forces tried to encircle the city from both east and 46/X

west. The defence was supported by KG Pohlmann & AufklAbt GD. The Hungarian 23rd LtDiv & 1st ArmDiv briefly stopped the Soviet advance but were soon pushed back to the city. The defenders were running out of time due to an open flank to the west. | OKH Lage Ost Map 08.02.43 47/X

#OTD 1943 | On the morning of February 9th, Vatutin’s South Western Front was frustrated with their
inability to capture #Slavyansk. 41st GRD left #Lisichansk to bolster 195th & 57th GRD attempts to clear the city. More and more Soviet troops were being tied up by 48/X

the determined resistance of 7.PzDiv. At #Barvenkovo, 35th GRD resumed its advance following 333.InfDiv towards #Lozovaya. PzGrenDiv GD received orders to cross to the west side of the Severnyy Donets, and as a result, SS PzGrenDiv DR also began to withdraw, leaving their 49/X

position at Belyy Kolodez. The 69th Army took control of #Volchansk and #Shebekino, cutting off the road network on the east side of the Donets River. By the evening, the assault at #Belgorod successfully removed the German forces from the city. The depleted Axis forces 50/X

retreated to the south and west in an attempt to block the main roads to #Kharkov. The Soviet 40th Army was ready to continue its advance to the south. | OKH Lage Ost Map 09.02.43 51/X