German counter-attack in the Bukrin bridgeheads in Sept.1943 ?

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castro323
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Posts: 62
Joined: 26 Apr 2013, 21:54

German counter-attack in the Bukrin bridgeheads in Sept.1943 ?

#1

Post by castro323 » 02 Jan 2017, 19:36

Hello and happy new year to all members,

I just finished reading Osprey's The Dnepr 1943 by Robert Forczyk
A great book and it covers the battle of the bridgeheads at the Dnepr river in September to December 1943.
The book is not the same level like David Glantz' literature but Forczyk does cover some units involved in this battle.
To my knowledge, I think this is the only book that covers the Battle of Dnepr 1943 in the English language.

In the book, Forczyk describes a German counter-attack in the Bukrin region on 29 September 1943.

General Knobelsdorff's XXXXVIII.Panzerkorps was ordered to destroy the Soviets at Bukrin.
Forcyzk does not describe in details of the units involved in the counter-attack.
After researching through out the web, I found some few information.
According to http://www.diedeutschewehrmacht.de/
XXXXVIII.Panzerkorps (part of the 8.Armee) consisted:
Kampfgruppe 19.Panzer-Division (Forcyzk: one company from Pz.Rgt.27, Pz.Gr.Rgt.73, Pz.Auf.Abt.19)
72.Infanterie-Division,
20.Panzergrenadier-Division,
Kampfgruppe 112.Infanterie-Division.

Other German units in the Bukrin sector but not involved in the counter-attack.
Again according to http://www.diedeutschewehrmacht.de/
XXIV.Panzerkorps (part of the 8.Armee) consisted:
7.Panzer-Division,
57.Infanterie-Division,
112.Infanterie-Division,
255.Infanterie-Division,
10.Panzergrenadier-Division.

The Soviet forces defending the Bukrin bridges (already crossed the Dnepr river).
According to Forczyk,
http://bdsa.ru/состав-войск-(помесячный ... -1943-1880
http://fablewar.ru/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/s05.gif
47th Rifle Corps (part of the 40th Army) units:
253rd Rifle Division (west of Bukrin)
161st Rifle Division (western center of Bukrin)
337th Rifle Division (eastern center of Bukrin)
38th Rifle Division (east of Bukrin)

Tank support for the 47th Rifle Corps are:
3rd Guards Tank Army units:
6th Guards Tank Corps (behind the 38th Rifle Division sector) with T-34, SU-152, SU-76M
7th Guards Tank Corps (behind the 161st Rifle Division sector) with T-34, SU-152, SU-76M
9th Mechanized Corps (behind the 337th Rifle Division sector) with T-34, SU-122, M4A2 Sherman, Valentine VII, Valentine IX, Churchill MK.IV

Also more units that already crossed the Dnepr river at the western section of Bukrin in 29 September.
52nd Rifle Corps (part of the 40th Army) units:
68th Guards Rifle Division (west of 309th Rifle Division)
237th Rifle Division (west of 68th Guards Rifle Division)
309th Rifle Division (west of 253rd Rifle Division)

At this point, the German units in Bukrin possibly were not at full strength and they were organized in battle groups.
At the end of 29 September, the German counter-attack failed to destroy the Soviets in Bukrin.
The next day 30 September, the Soviets counter-attack which they also failed to gain any ground.

If possible please, can anyone share some information of the German tank strength for this specific counter-attack.
Or any books about this interesting battle of the bridgeheads of late 1943.

Thanks,
Apollo

steverodgers801
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Posts: 1147
Joined: 13 Aug 2011, 19:02

Re: German counter-attack in the Bukrin bridgeheads in Sept.1943 ?

#2

Post by steverodgers801 » 03 Jan 2017, 06:30

don to the dneiper by Glantz


castro323
Member
Posts: 62
Joined: 26 Apr 2013, 21:54

Re: German counter-attack in the Bukrin bridgeheads in Sept.1943 ?

#3

Post by castro323 » 03 Jan 2017, 08:37

steverodgers801 wrote:don to the dneiper by Glantz
I read the book already but it covers up to the Belgorod-Kharkov Operation in August 1943.
Not the September 1943 battles.

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