TIRASPOL-MELITOPOL DEFENSIVE OPERATION: July 27 to September 28

On August 17, 9th and 18th Soviet Armies withdrawed behind Ingulets river. In with carry by the opponent of the main efforts on Krivoy Rog-Dnepropetrovsk direction Soviet forses have had an opportunity is systematic to withdrawed behind Dnieper river. To the moment of exit of Germans on a boundary of Kremenchug, Krivoy Rog and further, here it was possible to put forward only 5 formed and not of the completely made up new Soviet divisions. Nevertheless they managed to slow promoting of an enemy to the Dnieper river and to supply withdrawed on the left bank formations of 18th and 9th Armies, and to the end of August all forces of Southern Front, which one has taken a defense in a band of width 500 km.

By the end of 20th August, 2nd Cavalry Corps has moved at Gavrilovka, Aleksandrovka, Dutchino area in alertness to cross on east coast of Dnieper at Lopatikha area. 18th Army retreated to Dnieper crossings. The exact data on units positions are absent. 9th Army ends the cross through Dnieper at Kakhovka, Kherson area and organizes the defense. 296th Rifle Division — Kakhovka, Britany area. 48th Rifle Corps — Britany, khutor (or farm-stead) Podstepnoe area. 150th Rifle Division — Tsiurupinsk, Rybal’che area. Danube flotilla and marines group — Kherson area. 51st Rifle Division — army reserve at Radinskoe, Kostogryzovo, B. Kopan area.

August 22.

«... A defense on the eastern bank of Dnieper, except for Dnepropetrovsk region, is executed unsufficiently precisely. Instead of a defense on a boundary of the river, even on reference directions, the task is actually reduced to supervision. As a result of withdrawed by Chervichenko from Dnieper from half up to two thirds of forces, the opponent was forwarded through river. Instead of Kherson defense by forces of regiment of 296th Division, this city was defended by the seamen. In outcome the city was handed without a persistent defense of an infantry, despite of availability on Borislav two infantry regiments...»

On August 25, on the basis of Reserve Army of the Southern Front there were formed new 6th and 12th Armies. Commanding of 6th Army- Major-General Malinovsky; 12th Army- Major-General Galanin.

On August 26, the General of the Army Tulenev (head of the Southern Front), was freeded from his post. The Lieutenant-General Rybyshev, commander of 38th Army, now was assigned by commanding of Southern Front.

August 30.

«Under the available items of information the opponent (the Germans) managed to be forwarded for Dnepropetrovsk due to criminal carelessness and irresponsibility of commanders. Bridges and removal of troops not defense, that has enabled the opponent on shoulders of a removing troops to rush on the left bank of the river.»

On September 2, the Germans crossed the Dnieper River and occupied Kahovka and Malaya Kahovka.

«Against the Germans one regiment of 30th Division is entered; acts in Lubimovka direction, 296th Rifle Division on it left flank, in the structure very weak; one regiment of 51st Rifle Division takes a boundary of three kilometers south-east Kahovka; 176th Rifle Division takes front of Hutora,Yarmaki, Novy Sadki, having on the left flank one regiment of 74th Rifle Division in region of Korobki, Kisly; 10–8 kms to the south of Kahovka are centred a reserve of 51st Rifle Division.... In region of Dnepropetrovsk at 18:00 Germans up to a motorized division prolongs to be retained on the left bank of Dnieper river, taking the right flank of Sahalin, Manuylovka. By the right flank was ripped in Osipovka direction; a reserve one regiment of 169th Rifle Division there is thrown. Against Germans act 26th Cavalry Division- 400 persons, 275th Rifle Division-500 persons, 266th Rifle Division — new formation (not in war), squads of military academies up to 400 bayonets. Besides two regiments of 169th Rifle Division are entered into a combat.»

September 16. 4th Rifle Division — boundary Bolshoy Tokmak, 136th Rifle Division- Melitopol'.

On September 20.

«On a right wing of front the forward German formations are stopped on a boundary of Orel' river. In center — in region of Dnepropetrovsk, Zaporozhye — the opponent does not exhibit of activity. On the left wing of front the opponent prolongs offensive by forces up to seven infantry, one panzer divisions in Melitopol' direction. Armies of front, prolonging on a right wing stop attempts of the opponent to be forwarded through Orel' river and in center strongly to retain in hand a boundary of Dnieper river, left wing pass in a counteroffensive with a task to route melitopol' grouping of Germans.

6th Army in a former structure strongly retain in the hand a boundary Orel-Dnieper rivers. By a fissile defense to not admit propagation of the opponent in the eastern direction from Orel' and extension Lomov bridgehead.

18th Army:164th, 130th, 96th, 270th, 4th, 136th Rifle Divisions, 2nd, 7th and 15th Tank Brigade, 266th, 394th, 267th, 437th Artillery Regiment, 4th Antitank Brigade. To take in offensive in a general direction Timoshevka, Pokrovka, Dmitrievka and, in interaction with 9th and 51st Armies, to route Melitopol' grouping of the opponent. 27.09 — came on front Verhniy Rogachik, Pokrovka. Main impact from front Bolshaya Belozerka, Novaya Ivanovka, by forces of four rifle divisions and two tank brigades and one division (on motor vehicles) to have in an army reserve on a main axis of advance. Start attack — 23.09. The boundary at the left — Cycykulak, Troitskoye, Novaya Popovka, Dem'yanovka, Novaya Torgayevka. 9th Army: 30t, 176th, 150th, 218th, 296th Rifle Division, 521st Artillery Regiment, tank brigade of 8th Tank Division. By impact in a general direction Elisavetovka, Novy Serogozy promote offensive of 18th Army. 27.09- came on front Dem'yanovka, Annovka. One rifle division have in an army reserve. 30th Cavalry Division by a morning 23.9 remove in a reserve of front in region Bogdanovka, Troitskoye. Start attack — 23.09.»

On September 26, derivates new 6th Army (45000 persons). The carrying on combats under Krasnograd 270th and 275th Rifle Division, have came in its structure. September 27 in its structure enters 26th, 28th Cavalry Division and 255th Rifle Division.

According to some German memories, on September 26, the Russians have struck a blow on 30th Army Corps:

«The impact on front of 30th Army Corps had no success, but the situation became rather tight. But in a line of 3rd Romanian Army the Soviets has knocked down from positions of 4th Brigade and has knocked in front of army gap of width 15 km. This Romanian formation has lost almost all artillery. Two other Romanian brigades also have suffered large losses.»

On September 27, the Germans had advanced on Novomoskovsk (10 km to the North of Dnepropetrovsk), Spaskoye.

On September 30, formed 10th Soviet Reserve Army. Its structure: 238th, 411th, 393th, 383th and 395th Rifle Division, 35,38,56th and 49th Cavalry Division, 582,591,765 and 885th Antitank Regiment defense on a boundary: Kharkov, Lozovaya, Krasnoarmeysk, Mariupol with the purpose of cover Donbas.

Author: Dmitriy Egorov
Special thanks to: Hannes Gruber