DavidFrankenberg wrote: ↑24 Jan 2019 02:33
Voronej was important for the soviets because of the railroads. The only interest in taking Voronej was to cut the railroad track.
The Germans did not occupy the whole city. They let the railroad trafic free for the soviets. That was like they were not in the city indeed.
Great, sir! Von Bock and Weichs agree with you completely.

Let's look at Bock's diary:
" 5 July 1942 ... At Voronezh the enemy's resistance increased. Although he clearly lacks artillery, the situation may change, as reinforcements come to Voronezh from all sides. Goth is a consistent opponent of the attack on the city; we once again learned about his unwillingness to attack Voronezh from the radio message sent by the 4th tank army liaison officer from the Supreme command of the land forces. Unlike the commander of the 4th tank army, Weichs wants to make an attempt to capture Voronezh tomorrow morning-until the enemy had time to strengthen thoroughly, especially in terms of artillery. The Supreme command of the land forces was informed that, according to Weichs, it is possible to keep the bridgehead on the opposite Bank of the Don only on condition that Voronezh will be captured.
Weichs also believes that the railway communications, which are replenished to the city from the West Bank of the don, can not be cut by us if the enemy takes away this bridgehead from us.
The Voronezh really was'nt fully occupied. But why? Because of Hitler's wrong decision. Right? Why Hitler made this mistake? Because of lack of real information. Von Bock also at that time had no reliable information about the intention of the Russians regarding (towards) Voronezh. He wrote 5 July that " ... the situation may change, as
reinforcements come to Voronezh from all sides ... " . It was'nt reinforcements and the Russians had no plans ( intentions) to defend the city. They used it as a railway station to transport their retreating troops to Stalingrad. Of course, the Russian troops in the city repelled the attack of German units, but not to protect the city, but to protect themselves. And as a result : " 6 July 1942 ... I am informed that in several places Russians "run". Almost simultaneously, the news came that the enemy began to evacuate from Voronezh and that during the night the battalion of the 24th tank division broke through the southern part of the city to the Voronezh river. ... The city of Voronezh and another bridge across the Don were captured by us without any resistance." Any resistance, sir! The Germans could also capture the left-bank part of Voronezh, but since Hitler did not insist on it, von Bock decided not to waste time.
Some examples of " resistance":
- "6 июля Die südwestl. und westl. Woronesch vorgehenden eign. Div.en konnten die Brückenköpfe nur wenig erweitern gegen starken feindl. Widerstand in ausgebauten Stellungen westl. und süd= westl. Woronesch. Die Besatzung besteht zum großen Teil aus Arbeitermilizen.
http://www.znaci.net/zb/7_2_1.pdf
" ... The crews are mostly made up of workers ' militias". They are serious defenders, aren't they?
- " ... Im Sommer 1942 an der Südfront im Einsatz, fasste Blumenthal zusammen mit fünf weiteren Kameraden im Juli den selbständigen Entschluss, die wichtige Don-Brücke bei Woronesh in Besitz zu nehmen. Die Inbesitznahme der Brücke war entscheidend für den Fortgang der Operationen der gesamten Südfront. Für seinen persönlichen Einsatz erhielt Blumenthal am 18. September 1942 das Ritterkreuz verliehen." It's about oberleutnant Blumenthal, commander of the company of the infantry regiment of the division "Grossdeutschlland". Pay attention! Not a company and not a regiment, but six soldiers only captured the bridge unharmed.
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/b ... udwig.pdf