The liberation of Kharkov from the German fascist invaders

The battle for Kharkov became a natural and very important result of the successful actions of the Soviet troops on the Kursk Bulge. The last powerful attempt of the German counteroffensive was foiled, and now the task was to liberate the industrial regions of Ukraine as soon as possible, capable of giving much to the front.

Objectives of the operation

The offensive on Kharkov had many tasks before it. The most important one can be considered the creation of a springboard for the further liberation of the left-bank Ukraine in general and the industrial Donbass in particular (there was the possibility of a flank strike). It was also necessary to master the transport infrastructure of the city (here there was the airport and airfield of the aircraft factory) and finally stop the further attempts of the fascists to go over to the counteroffensive by defeating their Kharkov grouping (significant in strength and strength).

Why Kharkov?

In this connection, the city was given such importance? The answer lies in the history of Kharkov, which since the XVIII century was the main center of economic and cultural life of Sloboda Ukraine. Already in the middle of the XIX century the city received a railway communication with Moscow. It was here that in 1805 the first modern university in Ukraine began to work (medieval academies and Lviv University in this respect do not count), and then the Polytechnic Institute.

In the pre-war period, Kharkov was the largest machine-building center, it provided 40% of the output of this industry in Ukraine and 5% - throughout the country. Accordingly, there was scientific and technical potential.

There were also ideological reasons. It was in Kharkov in December 1917 that the Congress of Soviets was held, which declared the creation of the Ukrainian Soviet Republic. Until 1934 the city was the official capital of the Ukrainian SSR (the "Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic" was deciphered, and not as post-war generation was used, and in Ukrainian there is a difference in abbreviations).

Background of the Question

Both the German and the Soviet sides understood perfectly the significance of Kharkov. Therefore, the fate of the city during the war period was very difficult. The liberation of Kharkov in 1943 - this was the fourth battle for the city. How did it happen? This will be discussed later.

On October 24-25, 1941, Kharkov was occupied by the Nazis. It cost them relatively little - the consequences of the recent encirclement and the rout of Kiev and the Uman kettle affected the losses of Soviet troops counted to hundreds of thousands. The only thing left in the city were radio-controlled mines (some subsequent explosions proved to be very successful), and a considerable part of the industrial equipment had time to be taken out or destroyed.

But already in the late spring of 1942 the Soviet command made an attempt to repulse the city. The offensive was poorly prepared (in the absence of efficient reserves), and the city again came under the control of the Red Army for only a few days. The operation lasted from May 12 to May 29 and ended with the encirclement of a significant group of Soviet troops and their complete rout.

The third attempt was made in more favorable conditions. Even during the Battle of Stalingrad, parts of the Southwestern Front began offensive operations in the Donbas. After the surrender of the Paulus grouping, the Voronezh Front launched the offensive. In February, its units took Kursk and Belgorod, and on the 16th they seized Kharkov.

Having in mind the idea of a large-scale counteroffensive operation ("Citadel", which was put an end to the Kursk Bulge), the German leadership could not agree with the loss of such an important transport hub as Kharkov. On March 15, 1943, by the forces of two SS divisions (and one should not think that they were only able to shoot Jews and burn Khatyn - SS units were elite in the Hitlerite army!) The city was again captured.

If the enemy does not give up ...

But in July the plan of Hitler's counter-offensive failed; Soviet command was to develop success. The attack on Kharkov was seen as the most important for the near future even before the end of the Battle of Kursk. When planning the forthcoming liberation of Kharkov, the main question was discussed: whether to carry out an operation to surround or destroy an enemy?

They decided to hit the destruction - the environment required a lot of time. Yes, it was brilliantly succeeded at Stalingrad, but later, during the offensive battles, the Red Army again resorted to it only in early 1944, during the Korsun-Shevchenko operation. At the same time, attacking Kharkov, the Soviet command even deliberately left the "corridor" for the release of Hitler's troops - it was easier to finish them off in the field.

Today here - tomorrow there

In the summer of 1943, during the fighting near Kursk, another interesting strategic tactic was realized, which became a kind of "chip" of the Red Army. He was involved in striking strong enough blows in various parts of a fairly long section of the front. As a result, the enemy was forced to feverishly shift his reserves over long distances. But he did not have time to do it, as the blow was applied in another place, and in the first sector the battles took on a protracted character.

So it was in the battle for Kharkov. The activity of Soviet troops in the Donbas and at the northern extremity of the Kursk Bulge forced the fascists to transfer forces there from under Kharkov. It was possible to advance.

The forces of the parties

From the Soviet side, the troops of Voronezh (commander - Army General Vatutin) and Stepnoy (commander - Colonel-General Konev) of the fronts acted. The command applied the practice of transferring parts of one front to another in order to more rationally use them. Marshal Vasilevsky carried out the coordination of actions on the Kharkiv, Oryol and Donets directions .

As part of the troops of the fronts there were 5 Guards armies (including 2 tank armies) and an air army. This shows the importance of the operation. On an area of the front designated for the breakthrough, an unprecedentedly high concentration of equipment and artillery was created, for which additional guns, self-propelled units and tanks T-34 and Kv-1 were hastily sent. The artillery corps of the Bryansk Front was also transferred to the offensive area. 2 armies were in the reserve of the stavka.

From the German side, the defense was held by the infantry and tank armies, as well as 14 infantry and 4 armored divisions. Later, after the operation began, the fascists immediately transferred reinforcements from the Bryansk Front and Miusa to the area of its conduct. Among these replenishments were such famous parts as "Totenkompf", "Viking", "Das Reich". Of the Hitlerite commanders, which had to do with the battles near Kharkov, the most famous is Field Marshal Manstein.

Commander of the past

The main part of the Kharkov strategic operation - actually the Belgorod-Kharkov offensive operation - received a conventional name - the operation "General of the Rumyantsev". During the Great Patriotic Soviet Union, he abandoned the previously widespread practice of completely distancing himself from the "imperial" past of the country. Now in Russian history, examples were sought that could inspire people for war and victory. The name of the operation for the liberation of Kharkov is from this region. The case is not the only one - the operation for the liberation of Belarus is known as "Bagration", and shortly before the Kharkov events the operation "Kutuzov" was carried out near the northern extremity of the Kursk arc.

Forward, to Kharkov!

It sounds good, but it was impossible to do that. The plan envisaged first covering the city with advancing parts, liberating as many large areas south and north of Kharkov, and then seizing the former capital of Ukraine.

The name "Commander of the Rumyantsev" was applied to the main part of the operation - actually the attack on Kharkov. The Belgorod-Kharkov operation began on August 3, 1943, and on the same day two Hitler's tank divisions were in the "cauldron" under Tomarovka. On the 5th day of the part of the Steppe Front they entered Belgorod with a fight. As on the same day the Eagle was occupied by the forces of the Bryansk Front, Moscow celebrated this double success with a festive salute. This was the first salute of victory during the Great Patriotic War.

August 6 operation "General of the Rumyantsev" was in full swing, the Soviet tanks completed the liquidation of the enemy in the Tomarovsky cauldron and moved to Zolochiv. They approached the city at night, and this was half the success. The tanks went quietly, with the headlights off. When, having entered the sleepy city, they turned them on and squeezed out full speed, the unexpectedness of the attack predetermined the success of the Belgorod-Kharkov operation. Further coverage of Kharkiv continued with the advance on Bogodukhov and the beginning of the fighting for Akhtyrka.

At the same time, parts of the South and South-Western fronts launched offensive operations in the Donbas, advancing towards the Voronezh Front. This did not allow the Nazis to transfer reinforcements to Kharkov. On August 10, the railway line Kharkiv-Poltava was taken under control. The Nazis tried to counterattack in the area of Bogodukhov and Akhtyrka (the selective parts of the SS participated), but the results of the counterattacks were tactical - they could not stop the Soviet offensive.

Red again

August 13 line of German defense was broken directly near Kharkov. Three days later the fighting was already on the outskirts of the city, but the Soviet units did not move forward as quickly as we would like - the German fortifications were very strong. Moreover, the advance of the Voronezh Front was delayed because of the events near Akhtyrka. But on the 21st the front resumed its offensive, defeating the Akhtyr group, and the 22nd Germans began withdrawing their units from Kharkov.

The official liberation day of Kharkov was August 23, when the Soviet army took control of the main part of the city. However, the suppression of the resistance of individual enemy groups and the purging of suburbs from it continued until the 30th. Complete liberation of Kharkov from the Nazi invaders occurred on this day. August 30 in the city staged a feast on the occasion of liberation. One of the guests of honor was the future secretary general, NS Khrushchev.

Heroes of Liberation

Since the Kharkov operation was given great importance, the government did not stint on the rewards of its participants. Several parts as an honorary title added to their names the words "Belgorodskaya" and "Kharkivska". Soldiers and officers were given state awards. But Kharkov himself was not awarded the title of hero city. They say that Stalin refused this idea because he finally managed to liberate the city only after the fourth attempt.

The 183rd Infantry Division has the right to the title of "twice Kharkov". It was the fighters of this unit that first entered the main square of the city (Dzerzhinsky) on February 16, and on August 23, 1943.

The Soviet attack aircraft "Petlyakov" and the legendary T-34 tanks showed themselves well in the Battle of Kharkov. Still, they were produced by specialists of the Kharkov Tractor Plant, among others! Evacuated to Chelyabinsk, the plant just in 1943 began mass production of tanks (now it is the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant).

Everlasting memory

There is no war without losses, and the history of Kharkov confirms this. The city turned out to be a sad leader in this matter. The loss of Soviet troops under this city was the most significant for the whole of the Great Patriotic War. Of course, the sum total of all four battles is implied. The liberation of the city and its environs cost more than 71 thousand lives.

But Kharkiv survived, rebuilt and for a long time continued to work with his hands and head for the benefit of the common great Motherland ... And now this city still has chances ...