Yelnya Offensive
Encyclopedia
The Soviet Army
's Yelnya Offensive operation (August 30 – September 8, 1941) was part of the Battle of Smolensk
during the initial period of the German-Soviet War
.
The offensive was against the semi-circular Yelnya
salient
which the German
4th Army had extended 50 km south-east of Smolensk
forming a staging area for a continued offensive towards Vyazma
and eventually Moscow.
, and the 202nd Assault Gun Battalion among others;
however these were replaced by the 137th, 78th Infantry Division and 292nd infantry divisions
in addition to the 268th, about 70,000 troops in all with some 500 artillery pieces and 40 StuG IIIs of the 202nd Assault Gun Battalion, last three a part of the German XX Army Corps. The northern base of the salient was held by the 15th Infantry Division
, while the southern base was held by the 7th Infantry Division
. Although Guderian proposed a withdrawal on the 4 August during a meeting with Hitler and other Army Group Centre
commanders during a meeting at Novy Borisov, this was rejected as an option.
ordered the 24th Army of the Reserve Front, led by Marshal
Georgy Zhukov
, to start an offensive beginning August 30 against the salient. The intent of this offensive was to assault the bases of the salient, with the 102nd Tank and 303rd Rifle divisions forming the outer front of the encirclement, and the 107th, 100th Rifle divisions of the northern pincer and 106th Mechanized Rifle division of the southern pincer forming the inner front of the encirclement. Supporting the 106th in the south was the 303rd Rifle Division. Containing the salient in the central (eastern) sector of the offensive were the 19th and 309th Rifle Divisions. The 103rd Motorized and 120th Rifle divisions were deployed n the northern and southern sides of the salient in heavily fortified field positions to prevent possible routes of escape by the German divisions. The 24th Army was allocated only 20 aircraft for reconnaissance and correction of artillery fire for the operation, with no dedicated fighter or strike support.
This was the most substantial reverse that the Wehrmacht
had suffered up to that date and the first successful planned Soviet offensive operation in the Soviet-German war. German losses in the operation are unknown. The Red Army losses are estimated at 31,853 overall casualties. Major General Rakutin was killed during the battle.
s when the 100th and 127th Rifle divisions were renamed into 1st and 2nd Guards Rifle divisions. On 26 September 1941 the 107th and 120th Rifle divisions were also renamed the 5th and 6th Guards Rifle divisions.
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
's Yelnya Offensive operation (August 30 – September 8, 1941) was part of the Battle of Smolensk
Battle of Smolensk (1941)
The Battle of Smolensk was a largely successful encirclement operation by the German Army Group Centre's 2nd Panzer Group led by Heinz Guderian and the 3rd Panzer Group led by Hermann Hoth against parts of four Soviet Fronts during World War II...
during the initial period of the German-Soviet War
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...
.
The offensive was against the semi-circular Yelnya
Yelnya
Yelnya is a town and the administrative center of Yelninsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, situated on the Desna River from Smolensk. Population: -History:...
salient
Salients, re-entrants and pockets
A salient is a battlefield feature that projects into enemy territory. The salient is surrounded by the enemy on three sides, making the troops occupying the salient vulnerable. The enemy's line facing a salient is referred to as a re-entrant...
which 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...
4th Army had extended 50 km south-east of Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
forming a staging area for a continued offensive towards Vyazma
Vyazma
Vyazma is a town and the administrative center of Vyazemsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Vyazma River, about halfway between Smolensk and Mozhaysk. Throughout its turbulent history, the city defended western approaches to the city of Moscow...
and eventually Moscow.
German dislocation
Initially located in the salient were the 10th Panzer Division, Waffen-SS Division Das Reich, 268th Infantry Division268th Infantry Division (Germany)
The 268. Infanterie-Division was a division of the Heer during the Second World War.The division was raised in August 1939, as part of the fourth mobilisation wave, commanded by Erich Straube....
, and the 202nd Assault Gun Battalion among others;
however these were replaced by the 137th, 78th Infantry Division and 292nd infantry divisions
292nd Infantry Division (Germany)
The 292nd Infantry Division was a German infantry formation which fought during World War II.-History and organisation:The division was formed on 6 February 1940, in the 8th mobilisation wave, in Wehrkreis II , with the following organisation:*Infanterie-Regiment 507*Infanterie-Regiment...
in addition to the 268th, about 70,000 troops in all with some 500 artillery pieces and 40 StuG IIIs of the 202nd Assault Gun Battalion, last three a part of the German XX Army Corps. The northern base of the salient was held by the 15th Infantry Division
15th Infantry Division (Germany)
The German 15th Infantry Division was formed on 1 October 1934 in Würzburg under the cover name Artillerieführer V. With the announcement of German rearmament the division was renamed on 15 October 1935. Mobilzied on 25 August 1939 the division took part in the Invasion of Poland 1939 and the...
, while the southern base was held by the 7th Infantry Division
7th Infantry Division (Germany)
The 7th Infantry Division was a formation of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. It was formed 1 October 1934 in Munich from the Artillerieführer VII staff and renamed 7. Infanterie-Division with the disclosure of German rearmament on 15 October 1935...
. Although Guderian proposed a withdrawal on the 4 August during a meeting with Hitler and other Army Group Centre
Army Group Centre
Army Group Centre was the name of two distinct German strategic army groups that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. The first Army Group Centre was created on 22 June 1941, as one of three German Army formations assigned to the invasion of the Soviet Union...
commanders during a meeting at Novy Borisov, this was rejected as an option.
Soviet planning
On August 26 StavkaStavka
Stavka was the term used to refer to a command element of the armed forces from the time of the Kievan Rus′, more formally during the history of Imperial Russia as administrative staff and General Headquarters during late 19th Century Imperial Russian armed forces and those of the Soviet Union...
ordered the 24th Army of the Reserve Front, led by Marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
Georgy Zhukov
Georgy Zhukov
Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov , was a Russian career officer in the Red Army who, in the course of World War II, played a pivotal role in leading the Red Army through much of Eastern Europe to liberate the Soviet Union and other nations from the Axis Powers' occupation...
, to start an offensive beginning August 30 against the salient. The intent of this offensive was to assault the bases of the salient, with the 102nd Tank and 303rd Rifle divisions forming the outer front of the encirclement, and the 107th, 100th Rifle divisions of the northern pincer and 106th Mechanized Rifle division of the southern pincer forming the inner front of the encirclement. Supporting the 106th in the south was the 303rd Rifle Division. Containing the salient in the central (eastern) sector of the offensive were the 19th and 309th Rifle Divisions. The 103rd Motorized and 120th Rifle divisions were deployed n the northern and southern sides of the salient in heavily fortified field positions to prevent possible routes of escape by the German divisions. The 24th Army was allocated only 20 aircraft for reconnaissance and correction of artillery fire for the operation, with no dedicated fighter or strike support.
Conduct of the offensive
On September 3, under the threat of the encirclement the Germans started retreating from the salient while maintaining resistance on the flanks. On September 6 Yelnya was retaken. The Soviet offensive continued until September 8, until it was halted at the new German defense line.This was the most substantial reverse that the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
had suffered up to that date and the first successful planned Soviet offensive operation in the Soviet-German war. German losses in the operation are unknown. The Red Army losses are estimated at 31,853 overall casualties. Major General Rakutin was killed during the battle.
Creation of the Guards
The Yelnya Offensive is also associated with the creation of the veteran Guards unitGuards unit
Guards units are elite units and formations in the armed forces of the former Soviet Union, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. These units were awarded Guards status after distinguishing themselves in service, and are considered to have elite status. The Guards designation originated during the...
s when the 100th and 127th Rifle divisions were renamed into 1st and 2nd Guards Rifle divisions. On 26 September 1941 the 107th and 120th Rifle divisions were also renamed the 5th and 6th Guards Rifle divisions.
Recommended readings
- Voyenno-Istorichesky Zhurnal (Military History Journal), # 10, October 1986.