TIRASPOL-MELITOPOL DEFENSIVE OPERATION: July 27 to September 28

Number of 18th and 9th Army on the begining of operation — 280510 men.

Total casualties — 121650;

irrevocable (KIA + MIA)- 75424;

sanitarian (WIA)- 46226.

umane tirmil nikolaev Battle at Dnepropetrovsk bridg... melit melcount

The removal of 9th Primorsk Army on the left bank of Dniepr was completed on July 24. By this time Soviet 6th and 12th Armies have been encircled by the Germans from the West, North and East. This actually have adjoined the right flank of Southern Front. July 25 under the solution of the Soviet High Command these Soviet armies were subordinated to the Southern Front.

It is necessary to underline, that the Soviet High Command didn't definitely realize the danger of the situation on the joint of South-Western and Southern Fronts. The transfer of 6th and 12th armies to Southern Front as resulted in final loss of control by them and has sped up catastrophe. Supposing, that the main impact the Germans puts on Kiev, and aiming to assist its advocates, the Soviet High Command has commanded to Southern Front to organize counterattack in flank to a grouping of the opponent operating on the Kiev direction. However both 6th and 12th Armies required the expedited help. Unfortunately, commanding by troops of front and its headquarters did not know a true situation in these armies, therefore and have not accepted measures for rendering of the essential help. The main attention conversioned on reflection of attempts of the opponent to be ripped on the joint of 18th and 9th Armies and on preparation of counterattack. In outcome, 6th and 12th Armies actually lost fighting capability, were completely surrounded.

On July 24, commanding of Soviet 18th Army has put 48th Rifle Corps an offensive task- to rout Balta-Kodyma grouping of the opponent and assist operational to the north 6th and 12th Armies, fallen under threat of encirclement. The 2nd Cavalry Corps should take initial position on the right flank of 9th Army, front on northwest. In a gap of front between 9th and 18th Soviet Armies wedged German 30th Army Corps and by part of forces take Balta city.

The command of Southern Front has made a number of changes in a structure of 9th Army, together with Primorsk Army, namely:
— 25th and 95th Rifle Division finally remain in a structure of Primorsk Army and in 9th Army will not return. They will participate in a defense of Odessa;
— 150th and 51st Rifle Division are transfered from Primorsk Army in to 9th Army (to be exact — in reserve of Southern Front). They will be thrown at once on the right flank: 150th Rifle Division will take boundaries of a defense Kotovsk, and 51st Rifle Division- boundaries of a defense Anan'ev.

The 150th Rifle Division was ordered to be loaded at motor vehicles of 9th Automobile Regiment for redeployment from Tiraspol to Kotovsk to defend the city, on which came formations of 11th German Army.

On July 28, under the order of front, 150th R.D. have retreated from Kotovsk. On same day, 5th Cavalry Division taken initial position on right flank of cavalry corps, successfully attacked Germans in 3–5 km to the west of Balta. The headquarters of 198th German Infantry Division was shabby. However at this time on the left flank of corps 9th Cavalry Division, having a gap with the neighbour at the left (150th Rifle Division), has received impact of the opponent by forces of two infantry batallions with tanks in the flank and rear.

The situation of 18th Soviet Army became rather unstable to a morning of July 29. In a gap between 18th and 9th Soviet Armies, German divisions persistently wedged. Having trapped Balta, they endangered to flank of 2th Cavalry Corps. Under the order of 9th Army on August 1, 2nd Cavalry Corps has received a defensive task to retain region Pasat, Balta. All 9th Army too has passed to a defense. However on August 2, 2nd Cavalry Corps was subordinate to a commanding of Southern Front to the general of army Tulenev I. V. Also has received from him a task to be centred to the south of Pervomaysk. On August 2 and 3, Pervomaisk and Kirovograd were occupied by the Germans. The front hung on the east on 160–180 km from a north above Kotovsk.

Pervomaisk was already taken by German formations of 14th Motorized Corps. The foe's divisions restricted 18th Army on the south from Pervomaisk, clearly displaying the intention deeply encirclement the right flank of 18th Soviet Army. The highway from Pervomaisk to Nikolaev drove through Voznesensk on the left bank of Dniepr river. It meant, that if the Germans will take Voznesensk and take the offensive on Nikolaev, the main Soviet forces of Southern Front will be pushed to the Black Sea and are cut off from the east.

On August 4 evening, 5th Cavalry Division was in Vradievka, and 9th in Trikraty. On August 5, two regiments of 9th Cavalry Division was forwarded through Bug river. However, on August 6, German tanks routed this Soviet formations and captured a bridge in Voznesensk.

By August 3, the Southern Front was reinforced with 223th, 253th, 273th, 296th, 275th, 276th, 226th, 230th, 255th Rifle Division, and 26th, 28th, 30th Cavalry Division.

On August 5.

«...In order to schedule us together with Budenny and Tulenev creation of a robust defensive line passing approximately from Herson and Kahovka through Krivoy Rog, than Kremenchug and is farther north-up on Dnieper...

...The Germans prolongs to develop the operations on the joint of fronts, on a segment Korsun', Pervomaysk, stretch of 160 kms, there were no our troops. Today by a morning Germans has taken possession of Kirovograd region.»

(From talk of S.H.C with HQ of the Southwest Front).

On August 6, the Germans have undertaken massive offensive on the all left flank of Southern Front. Having forced Dniestr river, ten german divisions have ripped a defense of 9th Soviet Army and by August 8 cut front in the joint between 30th Rifle Division (it was to the south) and 51st Rifle Division (it was to the north) in Berezovka direction. Between these by two divisions was 150th Rifle Division.

On August 7, the 18th Army having the rearguards on Schastlivoe-Ivanovka line, began to retreat. Sergienko group (rests of 218th Mot Rifle Divisions, 47th Tank Divisions, 26th Motorcycle Regiment, border units) retreated to Akmechet. The rests of 164th Rifle Divisions retreated to Liubomirovka, Domanevka, Mordovka area. 55th Rifle Corps (130th Rifle Division), covering the retreat of 18th Army from northwest, retreated to Bulgarka-Ivanovka line. The task was to retreat on Novoselovka-Sofievka-Shirokij line. Staff of 17th Rifle Corps, the rests of 169th Rifle Division retreated to Mostovoe, Ljakhovo. 9th Army being covered with north by forward group, began the withdrawal without the resistance of enemy. The army take such positions by morning of 7th August. 74 Rifle Division — Ananiev, Nv.Georgievka. 176th Rifle Division — Kochurovka, Kondratovka. 51st Rifle Division — Mordarovka, st. Perekrestovo. 30th Rifle Division — Gederimovo, Bogdanovo (under the command of Primorsk Army). 150th Rifle Division — Novoselovka. 2nd Cavalry Corps was involved in fighting at Voznesensk. The group of Odessa Infantry School has retreated from Bratskoe area to Elanets. The special group under command of the Colonel Petukhov was formed for the cover of Nikolaev direction:
— group of Odessa infantry school; the special communist group;
— composite battalion (rests of frontier guards, infantry, tanks and aty units).

The group has take the defense on Peski, Shevchenko, Nv. Odessa line.