0107_01: Battle of Kirovograd - PzC 06 Korsun '44

Kirovograd, 100 km south of the Korsun Salient, January 7th 1944 (three weeks before the battle that formed the Korsun Pocket): After the Battle of Kursk, the Red Army started to push the German forces in the south back towards the Dnepr. Stavka realized that they had to get bridgeheads over Dnepr as fast as possible, so the Germans didn't get time to prepare a proper defense-line utilizing the river. It was Konev's 2nd Ukrainian Front that started to attack on 5th January. The attack was directed mainly against XXXXVIIth Panzer Corps from 8th Army, and not all forces in 2nd Ukrainian Front were used by Konev. Massed infantry burst through the thinly held front. They were followed by more infantry and anti-tank units to hold open the penetrations for the following Soviet armor. The Germans held on and then withdrew using their reserves for numerous small flank counter attacks. This scenario joins the action on the morning of January 7, as the Russians continued their attempt to capture Kirovograd. [Size large]