Battle of Crimea (1941)
Encyclopedia
The Crimea Campaign was an eight month long campaign of the Axis forces to conquer the Crimea
peninsula, and was the scene of some of the bloodiest battles on the Eastern Front
during World War II
. The German
and Romanian
troops suffered heavy casualties as they tried to advance through the isthmus
linking the Crimean peninsula to the mainland at Perekop
, from summer of 1941 through to the first half of 1942.
From the 26 September 1941 the German 11th Army
and troops from the Romania
n Third Army and Fourth Army
were involved in the fighting, opposed by the Red Army's 51st Army
and elements of the Black Sea Fleet
. After the campaign, the peninsula was occupied by Army Group A
with the 17th Army
as its major subordinate formation.
Once the Axis (German and Romanian troops) broke through, they occupied most of Crimea, with the exception of the city of Sevastopol (given the title of Hero City
later) and Kerch
, which was recaptured by the Soviets during an amphibious operation near the end of 1941 and then once again by Germans during Operation Bustard Hunt
on 8 May. Sevastopol held out for 250 days from 30 October 1941 until 4 July 1942, when the Germans finally captured the city.
In 1944, Crimea was recaptured by the troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front
during the Crimean Offensive (8 April 1944 - 12 May 1944) and its three sub-operations:
The main object of the Campaign, Sevastopol was surrounded by German forces an assaulted on 30 October 1941. German troops were repulsed by a Soviet counter-attack, which was latter supported by many troops evacuated from Odessa
. The Germans then began an encirclement of the city. Other attacks on 11 November and 30 November, in the eastern and southern sectiotns of the city, failed. Germany was then reinforced by several artillery regiments, one of which included the railway gun Schwerer Gustav
. Another attack on 17 December was repulsed at the last moment with the help of reinforcements, and Soviet troops soon started landing on the Kerch peninsula the day after Christmas
, to draw German forces away from Sevastopol. The army made progress until a 9 April German counterattack. The Soviet forces held on for another month before being captured on 18 May. With the distraction removed, German forces renewed their assault on Sevastopol, penetrating the inner defensive lines on 29 June. Soviet leaders had been flown out or taken by submarine by then, and the city surrenderd on 4 July 1942, although Russian troops held out in caves outside of the city until the 9th.
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
peninsula, and was the scene of some of the bloodiest battles on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
and Romanian
Romania during World War II
Following the outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939, the Kingdom of Romania officially adopted a position of neutrality. However, the rapidly changing situation in Europe during 1940, as well as domestic political upheaval, undermined this stance. Fascist political forces such as the Iron...
troops suffered heavy casualties as they tried to advance through the isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
linking the Crimean peninsula to the mainland at Perekop
Perekop
Perekop is a village located at the Perekop Isthmus connecting Crimean peninsula to the Ukrainian mainland. It is known for the Fortress Or Qapi that served as the gateway to Crimea...
, from summer of 1941 through to the first half of 1942.
From the 26 September 1941 the German 11th Army
11th Army (Germany)
The 11th Army was a World War I and a World War II field army.-World War I:The 11th Army was formed in early 1915. It briefly fought on the Western Front during the Battle of Ypres, holding the line against the allied attack...
and troops from the Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n Third Army and Fourth Army
Fourth Army (Romania)
The Fourth Army was a field army of the Romanian Land Forces active from the 19th century to the 1990s.-History:The Fourth Army fought in the Romanian Campaign of World War I, under the command of General Prezan...
were involved in the fighting, opposed by the Red Army's 51st Army
51st Army (Soviet Union)
The 51st Army was a field army of the Red Army that saw action against the Germans in World War II on both the southern and northern sectors of the front. In particular, it was involved in the Crimean debacle of May 1942, and the final cutting-off of German forces in the Courland area next to the...
and elements of the Black Sea Fleet
Black Sea Fleet
The Black Sea Fleet is a large operational-strategic sub-unit of the Russian Navy, operating in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea since the late 18th century. It is based in various harbors of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov....
. After the campaign, the peninsula was occupied by Army Group A
Army Group A
Army Group A was the name of a number of German Army Groups during World War II.-Western Front, 1940:During the German invasion of the Low Countries and France Army Group A was under the command of General Gerd von Rundstedt, and was responsible for the break-out through the Ardennes...
with the 17th Army
17th Army (Germany)
The German Seventeenth Army was a World War II field army.-Commanding officers:* General der Infanterie Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel * Generaloberst Hermann Hoth...
as its major subordinate formation.
Once the Axis (German and Romanian troops) broke through, they occupied most of Crimea, with the exception of the city of Sevastopol (given the title of Hero City
Hero City
Hero City is a Soviet honorary title awarded for outstanding heroism during the German-Soviet War of 1941 to 1945. It was awarded to twelve cities of the Soviet Union. In addition the Brest Fortress was awarded an equivalent title of Hero-Fortress...
later) and Kerch
Kerch
Kerch is a city on the Kerch Peninsula of eastern Crimea, an important industrial, transport and tourist centre of Ukraine. Kerch, founded 2600 years ago, is considered as one of the most ancient cities in Ukraine.-Ancient times:...
, which was recaptured by the Soviets during an amphibious operation near the end of 1941 and then once again by Germans during Operation Bustard Hunt
Battle of the Kerch Peninsula
Battle of the Kerch Peninsula was a World War II offensive by German and Romanian armies against the Soviet Crimean Front forces defending the Kerch Peninsula, in the eastern part of the Crimea. It was launched on 8 May 1942 and concluded around 18 May 1942 with the near complete destruction of...
on 8 May. Sevastopol held out for 250 days from 30 October 1941 until 4 July 1942, when the Germans finally captured the city.
In 1944, Crimea was recaptured by the troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front
4th Ukrainian Front
The 4th Ukrainian Front was a front of the Red Army during World War II...
during the Crimean Offensive (8 April 1944 - 12 May 1944) and its three sub-operations:
- Kerch–Eltigen Operation (31 October 1943 - 11 December 1943)
- Perekop-Sevastopol Offensive Operation (8 April 1944 - 12 May 1944)
- Kerch-Sevastopol Offensive Operation (11 April 1944 - 12 May 1944)
Siege of Sevastopol
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
. The Germans then began an encirclement of the city. Other attacks on 11 November and 30 November, in the eastern and southern sectiotns of the city, failed. Germany was then reinforced by several artillery regiments, one of which included the railway gun Schwerer Gustav
Schwerer Gustav
Schwerer Gustav and Dora were the names of two massive World War II German 80 cm K railway siege guns. They were developed in the late 1930s by Krupp for the express purpose of destroying heavy fortifications, specifically those in the French Maginot Line...
. Another attack on 17 December was repulsed at the last moment with the help of reinforcements, and Soviet troops soon started landing on the Kerch peninsula the day after Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, to draw German forces away from Sevastopol. The army made progress until a 9 April German counterattack. The Soviet forces held on for another month before being captured on 18 May. With the distraction removed, German forces renewed their assault on Sevastopol, penetrating the inner defensive lines on 29 June. Soviet leaders had been flown out or taken by submarine by then, and the city surrenderd on 4 July 1942, although Russian troops held out in caves outside of the city until the 9th.
Sources
- Bishop, Chris, The Military Atlas of World War II, Igloo Books, London, 2005 ISBN 1904687539
- http://www.soldat.ru/spravka/freedom/1-ssr-3.html Dudarenko, M.L., Perechnev, Yu.G., Yeliseev, V.T., et.el., Reference guide "Liberation of cities": reference for liberation of cities during the period of the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945, Moscow, 1985 (Дударенко, М.Л., Перечнев, Ю.Г., Елисеев, В.Т. и др., сост. Справочник «Освобождение городов: Справочник по освобождению городов в период Великой Отечественной войны 1941-1945»)
- Keegan, John, The Times Atlas of the Second World War, Crescent Books, New York