Bluffing at Melitopol Sep-Oct 1943

[PassandReviewofWW2]

After Stalingrad Hitler reminded his Army Group Commanders and Generals that they only need quit retreating and regain their nerves , and that the reports concerning the increasing capabilities of the Russians were nothing but a gigantic bluff.

By Sept 1943 Soviet General Tolbukhin Commanding 4th Ukrainian Front was ready to make good on all bets.

The Germans still had half a Panzer Division , The 13th Panzer, with 83 Tanks somewhere in the 56 miles Zaporozhye to Melitopol- plus another 15 miles to Sea of Azov, 13 Infantry Divisions and whatever unknown variables, that could make for a tricky business.

Oct 8 1943 General Tolbukhin began with a preliminary attack on the right of the line

Oct 9 1943 General Tolbukhin sent in another attack acrosss 20 mile front Straddling Meitopol- tdhe 28th Army objective to strike west into
the south side of Melitopol astride the Molochnaya River
Oct 12 1943 51st Army w/11 Tank Corps Reinforce 21st Army drive into Melitopol, taking high losses advancing into vicious German Fire.
to contain these large attacks the Germans had to commit more Infantry into the Melitopol bag, 73 Infantry Division, 370 Infantry Division, Kampfgupped Gruber SturmGeschutz BN 209 with 800 men, Garrison and , Luftwaffed Field Divisions remnants used as security garrison
In the grueling , grinding battle , as it is described, Russian casualties were staggering, in this process however, the Rifle element
began to gain foothold and then positions, keeping the German attention IN Melitopol

Oct 24 1943 Part of General Tolbukhins main Tank Force(200 T34 s) struck the Wotan line further south of Melitopol, when the line began to crack the work quickly passed , to disengage before the Russians made a complete breakthrough.
During this action, German 97 Jage Div on the south side break folded its line back toward Crimea, 370 Infantry Divsion on the North side of break folded its lines back accordingly. The 73 Infantry Division began retrograde fighting to get out and across the Dnepr before the Russians circled behind Melitopol, Kampfgruppe Gruber doing the same, those unable to make it out attempted to stall the Russians now doing mop up fighting.
Oct 27 1943 The 13th Panzer Division remaining Tanks stationed near Zaporozhye since early Oct waiting to for an addition of New Panther
Tanks , Battalion of 71 Panthers, attempted a Strike South toward Melitopol but quickly pulled back across the Dnepr, the Panthers arriving in fits and
starts did not arrive all at once, with events elsewhere along the front outpacing projected refitting to full operational status.
With the 3rd Ukrainian Fronts massed attacks and breach at Zaporozhye and 4th Ukrainian Front breach south of Melitopol the Wotan Line could not hold out.

[PassandReviewofWW2]

Reference: NY TImes Articles Mine City in Peril, Red Army Takes Melitopol etc
Albert Seaton Russo German War
Earl Ziemke Stalingrad to Berlin
Robert Forczyk Caucus 1942 - Dnepr 43- Panther vs T34
Ernst Rebentisch History 23 Panzer Div