Operation Koltso (Operation Ring) was the last part of the Battle of Stalingrad. It resulted in the capitulation of the remaining Axis forces encircled in the city.
The operation was launched on 10 January 1943 with a mass artillery bombardment of the German positions outside the city, with 7,000 field guns, launchers and mortars,[6][7] by the seven encircling Soviet armies.
On the 10th, it became clear the main goal was the Pitomnik airfield, which was captured on 16 January. "The 44th, 76th and 28th (Motorised) Infantry Divisions were badly hit." The 3rd (Motorised) Infantry Division, deployed on the southwestern corner of the cauldron since the end of Nov. 1942, was ordered to retreat to new defensive positions to avoid encirclement.[6] In the first three days, the Soviets lost 26,000 men and over half their tanks.[8] The western half of the Stalingrad pocket had been lost by 17 January. The fighting then paused for four days while the Soviet forces regrouped and redeployed for the next phase of the operation.
Understanding the desperate nature of the struggle, on the 19th, Paulus requested permission from OKH to lead a breakout to the South:[9]
The Fortress can only be held for a few days longer [...] The heroism of the soldiers is still unbroken. In order to exploit this to the last beat, on the verge of collapse I intend to command all of the units to make an organised breakthrough to the South. Individual groups will get through and at least create confusion in the Russian front, whereas while staying where they are all will certainly perish and as prisoners will die of hunger and freeze to death.
OKH responded that "[t]he Fuhrer has reserved the final decision [about the breakout] for himself". The second phase of the offensive began on 20 January with a Soviet push toward the airfield at Gumrak. Two days later, the airfield was occupied by the Soviets. Its capture meant an end to the evacuation of the German wounded and that any further air supply would have to be by parachute.
Russians in action in 6 km wide on both sides Voroponovo, some with flags unfurled to the east. No way to close the gap. Withdrawal to neighboring fronts who are also without ammunition, useless and not feasible. Supply with ammunition from other fronts also no longer possible. Food at an end. More than 12,000 unprovided for wounded in the encirclement. What orders shall I give the troops who have no more ammunition and will be further attacked with heavy artillery, tanks and massed infantry? Fastest decision necessary because dissolution in some places already started. Confidence in the leadership still exists.
German retreatedit
The Axis retreated back into the city itself. Resistance to the Soviet advance gradually diminished due to the exhaustion of all supplies on the Axis side. On 25 January, LI Corps commander Walther von Seydlitz-Kurzbach told his divisional commanders to decide for themselves on the matter of surrender. He was immediately relieved of his command by Paulus. Seydlitz-Kurzbach later fled the German lines under German fire and personally surrendered to the Soviets.[10]
On 26 January, detachments of 21st Army met up with the 13th Guards Division to the north of the Mamaev Kurgan, which cut the Axis pocket in Stalingrad in two. Paulus and many of his senior German commanders were in the smaller southern pocket based in the city center of Stalingrad. The northern pocket was led by XI Corps commander General Karl Strecker and centered in the area around the tractor factory.
In bitter fighting, the Soviets gradually cleared the city center. By 31 January, German resistance in the southern pocket was confined to individual buildings. Soviet forces reached Paulus's headquarters in the Univermag Department Store and the remaining German soldiers ceased their resistance. Soviet Staff officers entered the building and negotiated terms with General Schmidt. Paulus refused to participate directly. In Soviet captivity, Paulus denied having surrendered, claiming to have been taken by surprise. He refused to issue an order to the remaining Germans in the southern pocket to surrender. He also denied having the authority to issue an order for the northern pocket to surrender.[11]
The battle endsedit
Disposition of forces in and around Stalingrad.
The entire Soviet force at Stalingrad now concentrated on the northern pocket. Intense artillery fire was used to reduce resistance. Soviet forces then followed up, destroying any remaining bunkers, often with direct fire at short range from tanks or artillery.
By the early morning of 2 February, Strecker was informed that one of his officers had gone to negotiate surrender terms with the Soviets. He then decided to put an end to the fighting. At 07:00 Strecker sent a radio message to subordinate units: "All fighting will cease; weapons will be destroyed; expect the Russians in about an hour". A final message was transmitted to Army Group Don at 08:00: "The XI Army Corps, consisting of 6 divisions, has fulfilled its duty by the heaviest fighting to the very last. Hail to the Fuhrer! Hail to Germany!". With a further incomplete message being picked up at 09:20: "The Russians are penetrating ... fighting ... Tractor Works ..." After which no more messages were sent.[12] Organized Axis resistance in the city then ended.
Referencesedit
^ abThe Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, 1941-1945. A Brief History, pp. 198-199
^David Glantz, Endgame at Stalingrad, The Stalingrad Trilogy Volume III: Book Two (2014), 582.
^David Glantz, Endgame at Stalingrad, The Stalingrad Trilogy Volume III: Book Two (2014), 581.
^David Glantz, Endgame at Stalingrad, The Stalingrad Trilogy Volume III: Book Two (2014), 599.
^David Glantz, Endgame at Stalingrad, The Stalingrad Trilogy Volume III: Book Two (2014), 581.
^ abAdam, Wilhelm; Ruhle, Otto (2015). With Paulus at Stalingrad. Translated by Tony Le Tissier. Pen and Sword Books Ltd. pp. 172–173. ISBN9781473833869.
^Zhukov, Georgy (1974). Marshal of Victory, Volume II. Pen and Sword Books Ltd. pp. 139–140. ISBN9781781592915.
^David Glantz, Endgame at Stalingrad, The Stalingrad Trilogy Volume III: Book Two (2014), 569.
November 01, 2023
operation, koltso, operation, ringpart, battle, stalingrad, during, eastern, front, world, iidate10, january, february, 1943locationstalingradresultsoviet, victorybelligerents, soviet, union, germany, romaniacommanders, leaderskonstantin, rokossovskyfriedrich,. Operation RingPart of the Battle of Stalingrad during the Eastern Front of World War IIDate10 January 2 February 1943LocationStalingradResultSoviet victoryBelligerents Soviet Union Germany RomaniaCommanders and leadersKonstantin RokossovskyFriedrich PaulusStrength212 000 troops6 860 guns and mortars257 tanks300 aircraft 1 281 158 2 250 000 soldiers4 130 guns and mortars300 tanks100 aircraft 1 212 000 3 Casualties and losses48 000 12 000 KIA MIA 4 250 000 100 000 KIA MIA 107 800 captured6 000 evacuated 5 Operation Koltso Operation Ring was the last part of the Battle of Stalingrad It resulted in the capitulation of the remaining Axis forces encircled in the city Contents 1 Initial attack 2 German retreat 3 The battle ends 4 ReferencesInitial attack editThe operation was launched on 10 January 1943 with a mass artillery bombardment of the German positions outside the city with 7 000 field guns launchers and mortars 6 7 by the seven encircling Soviet armies On the 10th it became clear the main goal was the Pitomnik airfield which was captured on 16 January The 44th 76th and 28th Motorised Infantry Divisions were badly hit The 3rd Motorised Infantry Division deployed on the southwestern corner of the cauldron since the end of Nov 1942 was ordered to retreat to new defensive positions to avoid encirclement 6 In the first three days the Soviets lost 26 000 men and over half their tanks 8 The western half of the Stalingrad pocket had been lost by 17 January The fighting then paused for four days while the Soviet forces regrouped and redeployed for the next phase of the operation Understanding the desperate nature of the struggle on the 19th Paulus requested permission from OKH to lead a breakout to the South 9 The Fortress can only be held for a few days longer The heroism of the soldiers is still unbroken In order to exploit this to the last beat on the verge of collapse I intend to command all of the units to make an organised breakthrough to the South Individual groups will get through and at least create confusion in the Russian front whereas while staying where they are all will certainly perish and as prisoners will die of hunger and freeze to death OKH responded that t he Fuhrer has reserved the final decision about the breakout for himself The second phase of the offensive began on 20 January with a Soviet push toward the airfield at Gumrak Two days later the airfield was occupied by the Soviets Its capture meant an end to the evacuation of the German wounded and that any further air supply would have to be by parachute Paulus on 22 January sent a radio message to OKH Russians in action in 6 km wide on both sides Voroponovo some with flags unfurled to the east No way to close the gap Withdrawal to neighboring fronts who are also without ammunition useless and not feasible Supply with ammunition from other fronts also no longer possible Food at an end More than 12 000 unprovided for wounded in the encirclement What orders shall I give the troops who have no more ammunition and will be further attacked with heavy artillery tanks and massed infantry Fastest decision necessary because dissolution in some places already started Confidence in the leadership still exists German retreat editThe Axis retreated back into the city itself Resistance to the Soviet advance gradually diminished due to the exhaustion of all supplies on the Axis side On 25 January LI Corps commander Walther von Seydlitz Kurzbach told his divisional commanders to decide for themselves on the matter of surrender He was immediately relieved of his command by Paulus Seydlitz Kurzbach later fled the German lines under German fire and personally surrendered to the Soviets 10 On 26 January detachments of 21st Army met up with the 13th Guards Division to the north of the Mamaev Kurgan which cut the Axis pocket in Stalingrad in two Paulus and many of his senior German commanders were in the smaller southern pocket based in the city center of Stalingrad The northern pocket was led by XI Corps commander General Karl Strecker and centered in the area around the tractor factory In bitter fighting the Soviets gradually cleared the city center By 31 January German resistance in the southern pocket was confined to individual buildings Soviet forces reached Paulus s headquarters in the Univermag Department Store and the remaining German soldiers ceased their resistance Soviet Staff officers entered the building and negotiated terms with General Schmidt Paulus refused to participate directly In Soviet captivity Paulus denied having surrendered claiming to have been taken by surprise He refused to issue an order to the remaining Germans in the southern pocket to surrender He also denied having the authority to issue an order for the northern pocket to surrender 11 The battle ends edit nbsp Disposition of forces in and around Stalingrad The entire Soviet force at Stalingrad now concentrated on the northern pocket Intense artillery fire was used to reduce resistance Soviet forces then followed up destroying any remaining bunkers often with direct fire at short range from tanks or artillery By the early morning of 2 February Strecker was informed that one of his officers had gone to negotiate surrender terms with the Soviets He then decided to put an end to the fighting At 07 00 Strecker sent a radio message to subordinate units All fighting will cease weapons will be destroyed expect the Russians in about an hour A final message was transmitted to Army Group Don at 08 00 The XI Army Corps consisting of 6 divisions has fulfilled its duty by the heaviest fighting to the very last Hail to the Fuhrer Hail to Germany With a further incomplete message being picked up at 09 20 The Russians are penetrating fighting Tractor Works After which no more messages were sent 12 Organized Axis resistance in the city then ended References edit a b The Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union 1941 1945 A Brief History pp 198 199 David Glantz Endgame at Stalingrad The Stalingrad Trilogy Volume III Book Two 2014 582 David Glantz Endgame at Stalingrad The Stalingrad Trilogy Volume III Book Two 2014 581 David Glantz Endgame at Stalingrad The Stalingrad Trilogy Volume III Book Two 2014 599 David Glantz Endgame at Stalingrad The Stalingrad Trilogy Volume III Book Two 2014 581 a b Adam Wilhelm Ruhle Otto 2015 With Paulus at Stalingrad Translated by Tony Le Tissier Pen and Sword Books Ltd pp 172 173 ISBN 9781473833869 Zhukov Georgy 1974 Marshal of Victory Volume II Pen and Sword Books Ltd pp 139 140 ISBN 9781781592915 Stalingrad Beevor p 356 David Glantz Endgame at Stalingrad The Stalingrad Trilogy Volume III Book Two 2014 504 Stalingrad Beevor p 382 Stalingrad Beevor p 390 David Glantz Endgame at Stalingrad The Stalingrad Trilogy Volume III Book Two 2014 569 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Operation Koltso amp oldid 1176579193, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
