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 Erich von Manstein
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

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

It took place from 30 January to 29 February 1944. Troops of the 3rd and 4th Ukrainian Fronts defeated German troops in the Nikopol-Krivoy Rog area, capturing the Nikopol bridgehead on the Dnieper. Nikopol and Krivoy Rog were captured by Soviet troops. The offensive was part of the Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive. When Nikopol and Krivoy Rog were captured, a 224-gun, 20-salvo artillery salute was given in Moscow.

Situation

The area of Nikopol has rich deposits of manganese, used in Germany for the production of high-strength steel. Hitler 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 Erich von Manstein).

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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