Kholm Operation - German Firepower vs Russian Manpower?

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PassandReviewofWW2
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Kholm Operation - German Firepower vs Russian Manpower?

#1

Post by PassandReviewofWW2 » 22 Nov 2016, 22:24

Countering Hitlers Operation Typhoon. GKO Stavka High Command Russian General Strategic Counter Offensive operations plan objective was to defeat all German Forces and push them back to Berlin.
This General Order was promulgated in pre war GKO(GlavKomm) Stavka Staff Planning sessions, in accordance with Plans MP 41 and DP 41.
This Prewar Planning recommended the number of Rifle Divisions , etc, that would be required for Wartime Establishments, during map exercises and at least one Prewar Field Exercise between Blue and Red Forces, with Russian Army General Zhukov participating.

Initial German gains/advances during Operation Typhoon carried the same striking power as the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa, on June 22, 1941. German Panzer Armies and The Luftwaffe once again blasted their way thru Russian Front Lines, cutting off entire Rifle Armies

To attain the impressive force equivalency levels , German Commanders resorted to combining depleted units, to make up for shortfalls, this practice would have to be relied upon with German replacements /reinforcements arriving hap hazard

Approx Jan 1942 Russian General Counteroffensive Operations were in progress, Russian Strike forces were able to retake some of the towns and
supply points crossroads from the Germans, who managed to hold on to most of their supply points located in towns, while Russians
controlled open/wooded areas. Russian Rifle elements attacks were still conducted in the Infantry Charge style of WW I in spite of
General Zhukov s orders to not conduct such attacks. Russian Rifle Forces attacked with minimal covering fire /Artillery/Air Support,
that usually ended in a shambles vs German Squads armed with High Rate of Fire Machine Guns, emplaced Guns and the occasional
Stuka Mission

During these actions the German strong Point at Kholm would hold out for over 100 days against repeated attacks of Russian Rifle and Tanks groups that were committed in not enough force to expel the large number of German Troops that went unaccounted for in the Russian plans

mars
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Re: Kholm Operation - German Firepower vs Russian Manpower?

#2

Post by mars » 23 Nov 2016, 16:06

Recommand you to read "Besieged: The Epic Battle for Cholm" (http://www.leapinghorseman.com/proddeta ... 7690&cat=5), an excellent research by Jason Mark, this book would answer all of your questions and dispute many myths regarding to this battle


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