Keeping the Door Open

Once again, the Soviet armies had encircled German forces on the tenuous and dynamic Ost Front. The encircled this time were six German Divisions that had been holding defensive positions along the Dnepr River in the Korsun Pocket. German High …

1944-02-16

NOSB11

Once again, the Soviet armies had encircled German forces on the tenuous and dynamic Ost Front. The encircled this time were six German Divisions that had been holding defensive positions along the Dnepr River in the Korsun Pocket. German High Command, however, was quick to assemble forces to open a line ofretreat for the trapped divisions. On the tip of the counterattacking spear was the renowned 503rd tank battalion led by Lt. Col. Franz Bake. Bake's armor, along with attached SS Panzer Grenadiers, slogged through the heavy Ukrainian mud and successfully punched through four Russian Corps in their way. Bake was able to establish a small bridgehead close enough for the trapped Divisions to escape. The Russians were intent on slamming the door and quickly counterattacked the exhausted SS men at the town of Lysyanka. - Dale Holmstrom

Lysyanka, Russia

The Battle of the Korsun–Cherkasy Pocket was a World War II battle fought from 24 January to 16 February 1944 in the course of the Soviet Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive in Ukraine following the Korsun-Shevchenkovsky Offensive. In the battle, theist and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts, commanded, respectively, by Nikolai Vatutin and Ivan Konev, encircled German forces of Army Group South in a pocket near the Dnieper River. During weeks of fighting, the two Red Army Fronts tried to eradicate the pocket. The encircled German units attempted a breakout in coordination with a relief attempt by other German forces, resulting in heavy casualties, estimates of which vary.

Wikipedia: Battle of the Korsun–Cherkassy Pocket

Russia

Germany