Nikopol–Krivoi Rog Offensive

For the computer game with a similar name, see Decisive Battles of WWII: Korsun Pocket.
Nikopol–Krivoy Rog Offensive
Part of the Eastern Front of World War II

Tiger Is of the III Panzer Corps, February 1944
Date30 January 1944 – 29 February 1944
LocationNikopol / Krivoy Rog, USSR
Result Soviet victory[1]
Belligerents
 Germany  Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Nazi Germany Günther von Kluge
Nazi Germany Karl-Adolf Hollidt		 Soviet Union Rodion Malinovsky
Soviet Union Fyodor Tolbukhin
Strength
540 000 men in pocket
327 tanks in pocket
2416 artillery pieces in pocket		 705 000 men[2]
238 tanks (reinforcement)
1333 aircraft
7796 artillery pieces and mortars[3]
Casualties and losses
40 000 killed, missing and wounded

Nikopol-Krivoy Rog offensive was an offensive of the Red Army against the German forces during World War II.

Held from January 30 to February 29, 1944 troops of the 3rd and 4th Ukrainian Fronts to defeat Nikopol-Krivoy Rog enemy forces, the elimination of its Nikopol bridgehead on the Dnieper and the liberation of Nikopol and Krivoy Rog. Part of the Dnieper-Carpathian strategic offensive operation. On the occasion of the release of Nikopol and Krivoy Rog in Moscow was given a salute to the 20th artillery salvoes from 224's guns.

Situation

The area of Nikopol has rich deposits of manganese, used in Germany for the production high-strength steel. Hitler has repeatedly stressed the crucial importance of this area "As Nikopol manganese, its importance to us all can not be expressed in words. Loss of Nikopol (on the Dnieper, the south-west of Zaporozhye) would mean the end of war. "In addition, the bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnieper left the German command a strike in order to restore the land connection with the group of forces locked in the Crimea.

During the first half of January, Soviet troops made repeated attempts to eliminate the Nikopol-Krivoy Rog enemy group, but because of the stubborn resistance of German troops did not achieve success.

Powers

Soviet Union

3rd Ukrainian Front

Part forces of the 4th Ukrainian Front

Total 705 000, 7796 guns and mortars, 238 tanks and self-propelled guns, 1333 aircraft

Germany

Part of the forces of the Army Group South (commanded by Field Marshal Gunther von Kluge).

Total 540 000, 2416 guns and mortars, 327 tanks and assault guns, and 700 aircraft

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Nash, p. 382
  2. ↑ Krivosheev, p. 109
  3. ↑ Numbers of Soviet AFVs, aircraft, and guns taken from Frieser, p. 395
Bibliography

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