Operation Uranus Konstantin Rokossovsky

operation uranus

on september 28, 1942, @ zhukov s urging, rokossovsky given overall command of 65th army (4th tank army), 24th army , 66th army, brought don front part of stalin s criticized reorganization of southern front in preparation planned soviet counterattack @ stalingrad: operation uranus . put rokossovky s armies directly opposite xi, viii , xiv corps of 6th army, including 16th panzer , 14th panzer divisions, of destroyed in ensuing battle.

with german forces heavily engaged @ stalingrad , spread thinly due deep penetrations caucasus, wehrmacht increasingly reliant on romanian , italian allies cover flanks of extended line, on north along don, , south along volga. operation uranus kicked off on november 17 intention of making double envelopment of paulus s men @ stalingrad breaking through flanks. southwestern front commanded general vatutin overwhelmed 3rd romanian army north of rokossovsky s don front, while yeryomenko s stalingrad front began own attack south of stalingrad. rokossovsky s don front played largely subordinate role in main attack, 66th army supported vatutin s attack north outflanking left extreme of german line met romanian 3rd army, while 24th , 65th squeezed german defenders—pinning them in place pincers of main attacks rapidly enveloped them.

in less week, in face of deteriorating weather , blizzard conditions, soviet forces had sealed gap behind stalingrad, , had begun reinforce investment around city in order prevent attempted escape. no organized effort made 6th army break out, , operation winter storm , mid december german effort relieve encircled army, failed break soviet defenses. after, soviets launched operation little saturn , consolidated position.