First Battle of Kharkov

In the fall of 1941, Kharkov was of great strategic importance to the Soviets because of its vital rail and air connections. The city served as a crucial link between the east-west and north-south regions of Ukraine, as well as various central areas of the USSR, such as the Crimea, the Caucasus, the Dnieper region, and the Donbass.

As one of the largest industrial centers in the Soviet Union, Kharkov played a significant role in contributing to the country's military capabilities. In particular, the Kharkov Tractor Plant was instrumental in the design and development of the Soviet T-34 tank, which became a highly productive facility and a symbol of the city's industrial prowess. In addition to the Tractor Plant, Kharkov was home to other important industrial facilities such as the Kharkov Aircraft Plant, the Kharkov Plant of the NKVD (FED), and the Kharkov Turbine Plant.

The city's various military industries were responsible for the production of various critical items, including Su-2 aircraft, artillery tractors, 82mm mortars, submachine guns, ammunition, and other military equipment. Given the strategic importance of Kharkov's industrial production, German forces set their sights on seizing control of the city's railroads and military factories during the First Battle of Kharkov.[2]

Adolf Hitler himself emphasized the importance of capturing these military installations, recognizing that the region, especially the Donets Basin extending from the Kharkov area, was the foundation of the Russian economy. The Germans believed that control of this vital economic center would inevitably lead to the collapse of the entire Russian economy. As a result, they fought fiercely to retain control of the Kharkov industrial area.

Kharkov, a major Soviet city, had a population of 901,000 on 1 May 1941. By September of that year, however, the population had swelled to 1.5 million due to an influx of evacuees from other cities seeking refuge from the ongoing war. After enduring years of deadly conflict, Kharkov's population dwindled significantly to between 180,000 and 190,000 by the time the city was retaken in August 1943.[3]

German advances, 26 August – 5 December 1941

After the Battle of Kiev, the German Army High Command (OKH) ordered the Army Group Center to redeploy its forces for the attack on Moscow. As a result, the 2nd Panzer Group turned north toward Bryansk and Kursk. In its place, Army Group South, led by Walther von Reichenau's 6th Army and Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel's 17th Army, took command of the panzer divisions. Meanwhile, the main offensive formation of Army Group South, Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist's 1st Panzer Group, received orders to move south toward Rostov-on-Don and the Caucasian oil fields in accordance with Führer Directive No. 35. While the 1st Panzer Group secured the German victory at the Battle of Melitopol, the burden of processing the 600,000 Soviet prisoners of war from Kiev fell to the 6th and 17th Armies, resulting in a three-week regrouping period for these two armies.

To stabilize its southern flank, Stavka (the Soviet High Command) poured reinforcements into the area between Kursk and Rostov at the expense of its forces in front of Moscow.[4] The Southwestern Front, decimated during the Battle of Kiev, was rebuilt under the command of Marshal Semyon Timoshenko, known as one of the Red Army's most capable commanders. The 6th, 21st, 38th and 40th Armies were reconstituted almost from scratch.

Soviet bunkers used in the defense of Kharkov

The German Army enters downtown Kharkov

During the Battle of Moscow, the Germans found it crucial to protect their flanks. On 6 October, von Reichenau led an advance through Sumy and Okhtyrka towards Belgorod and Kharkov. At the same time, the 17th Army launched an offensive from Poltava toward Lozova and Izyum to protect the long flank of the 1st Panzer Army (formerly the 1st Panzer Group). This offensive resulted in the Soviet 6th Army (commanded by Rodion Malinovsky) and the 38th Army (commanded by Viktor Tsiganov) being pushed back in disarray. As the Battle of Moscow approached, the Soviet Red Army suffered major defeats at Vyazma and Bryansk, resulting in 700,000 casualties. The meager reserves available were urgently needed to defend the Soviet capital, leaving the Southwestern Front vulnerable. With no reinforcements to fill the gap, the Soviets were forced to retreat to Voronezh to prevent the collapse of their southern flank.[5]

The German Army's primary objectives before winter were to seize Leningrad, Moscow, and the approaches to the Caucasian oil fields. Kharkov, though a secondary objective, was of vital importance. In addition to protecting the flanks of their motorized spearheads, the Germans valued Kharkov for its industrial importance and its role as a critical rail junction. Capturing the city would push the Soviet armies of the Southwest and Southern Fronts back toward Voronezh and Stalingrad, cutting off their main transportation hubs. By the second week of October, however, the German offensive was hampered by the Rasputitsa mud season and logistical challenges in the area between the Dnepr and the front lines. All road bridges had collapsed, and the threat of ice posed a challenge to pontoon replacements.[6] To ensure the capture of Kharkov, Hitler diverted resources from the 17th Army to support the 6th Army. This weakened the 17th Army's efforts to protect the flank of the 1st Panzer Army and contributed to the German defeat at the Battle of Rostov.[7] After 17 October, night frosts improved road conditions, but the autumn-equipped Germans were hampered by snow and cold as they expected the entire Barbarossa invasion to be completed before winter.

The task of attacking Kharkov itself was assigned to the German LV. Armeekorps under the command of General der Infanterie Erwin Vierow. This corps consisted of three divisions: 101. Leichte-Division, under the command of Generalleutnant Josef Brauner von Haydringen, advancing from the north; the 57. Infanterie-Division, under the command of Generalmajor Anton Dostler, advancing from the south; and the 100. Leichte-Division, which did not take part in the battle. Hauptmann Kurt von Barisani's Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 197 had two of its three batteries attached to the 57. Infanterie-Division and provided close fire support during the attack.

For the defense of Kharkov, the Soviet 216th Rifle Division had been re-established there after its destruction in Kiev. However, it received little to no support as the 38th Army was in strategic retreat and planned to defend Kharkov only until its factory equipment had been evacuated.

German troops enter Kharkov from the west, crossing the main railroad running through the city on the viaduct of Sverdlov Street.[8]

Five German soldiers of the 89th Infantry Regiment with a 3.7 cm Pak 36 anti-tank gun on a Kharkov street. A sandbag barricade is visible in the background.

By 21 October, the 101st Light Division had advanced to a position about six kilometers west of Kharkov. As the spearhead of the division, the 228th Light Regiment positioned its 1st and 3rd Battalions defensively at the front, while the 2nd Battalion remained in reserve. On 22 October, the regiment was assigned to conduct reconnaissance to assess enemy strength. Later that day, around noon, a Soviet infantry battalion with tank support launched an attack against the regiment. The regiment successfully repulsed the attack and managed to disable two enemy tanks. During the night, reconnaissance information was relayed to division headquarters, revealing that the 216th Rifle Division had taken up position on the western edge of the city, reinforcing its position with machine gun nests, mortar pits, and minefields.

In preparation for the upcoming offensive, the 3rd Battalion (positioned on the regiment's right flank) received reinforcements, including two guns from the division's artillery unit, the 85th Artillery Regiment, a company of engineers, and an 88-mm antiaircraft gun. The 2nd Battalion received the same reinforcements except for the AA gun. Meanwhile, the 1st Battalion was designated as the regimental reserve. In addition, the 1st Battalion of the 229th Light Regiment was assigned to secure the left flank of the 228th.

The planned hour for the attack was set for noon to coincide with the actions of the 57th Infantry Division. However, due to a delay in the readiness of the 85th Artillery, the attack had to be postponed. During this time, the antitank company, which had been stuck in the mud in the rear, finally reached the front and was ordered to provide a 37mm AT gun platoon to each frontline battalion. Finally, at 14:25, the artillery was fully prepared and the attack was rescheduled for 15:00.

The evacuation of industrial plants had begun before the Germans arrived and was nearly complete by 20 October, 1941. A total of 320 trains were used to transport equipment from 70 large factories. On 24 October 1941, Kharkov was captured by von Reichenau's 6th Army.