Food For An Army ETO (id:#63840)

(WASLC's Rally Point! # 4.3 ID: RP18)   [next]   [previous]

Northeast of Kharkov, Russia 1942-05-17 (2 others)

Overview:

For the purpose of gaining a proper starting line for the great summer offensive of 1942 from the Kharkov area, the Germans had to eliminate the Soviet bulge on both sides of Izyum, which represented a permanent threat to Kharkov. The Russians too had a plan. Marshal Timoshenko wanted to repeat his January offensive. The German timetable envisaged the 18th of May as the day for their attack, but Timoshenko was quicker. As the Russians sped forward towards Kharkov, huge supplies stored in warehouses in Kharkov were about to fall into Russian hands. The German lines were overrun but at the same time, just as during the winter battles, numerous German strongpoints held out in the rear of the advancing enemy. Reserve units moved to plug ever increasing gaps in the lines. Transports arrived at warehouses in the path of the on-rushing Soviets, quickly loading up with supplies to attempt to move them out of the grasp of the hard charging Russians. . . . VC is getting 8 of 12 ammo counters loaded and back off south edge.

Defender: German (3rd Panzer Division Supply Depot with Kampfgruppe Mahler)  

Errata (source)