Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket

A Wehrmacht attempt on the Eastern Front of World War II to evade encirclement by the Red Army

Georgi Zhukov realized the role of the 1st Panzer Army, and began planning to bring about the Wehrmachts Armys destruction that could, and did, result in the collapse of the entire South-Eastern Front.

The 1st Panzer Army, commanded by Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube consisted of four Corps, three of which were Panzerkorps (comprising some 20 panzer or panzer grenadier divisions).

The Army had just completed operations to rescue the two Corps trapped in the Korsun-Shevchenkovsky Offensive, which had exhausted the armys III Panzerkorps. The 1st Panzer Army found itself defending the line in the north-western Ukraine.

Georgi Zhukov realized the role of the 1st Panzer Army, and began planning to bring about the Wehrmachts Armys destruction that could, and did, result in the collapse of the entire South-Eastern Front

The 1st Panzer Army included over 200,000 troops, and was the most powerful formation of Field Marshall Erich von Mansteins Army Group South. The 1st Panzer Army found itself defending the line in the north-western Ukraine.

The Army had just completed operations to rescue the two Corps trapped in the Korsun-Shevchenkovsky Offensive, which had exhausted the armys III Panzerkorps.

The 1st Panzer Army was now in a salient, Manstein requested that the position be withdrawn to avoid encirclement, but Hitler refused, persisting with his "no retreat" orders. Following an operational switching movement, five Red Army tank Corps of the 1st Tank Army, 3rd Guards Tank Army and the 4th Tank Army penetrated the extreme northern flank of Hubes position east of Ternopol

The 1st Panzer Army was now in a salient. Manstein requested that the position be withdrawn to avoid encirclement, but Hitler refused, persisting with his "no retreat" orders

The entire 1st Panzer Army was now encircled in a pocket centred around the city of Kamenets-Podolsky. Just before the 1st Ukrainian Front had completed the encirclement, Hube had requested from OKH the authority to use mobile defence tactics during the breakout, a request which was quickly turned down

The entire 1st Panzer Army was now encircled in a pocket centred around the city of Kamenets-Podolsky

The northern column quickly captured three bridges over the Zbruch River, while the southern column was battered by a Red Armys 4th Tank Army counterattack which penetrated deep into the pocket, capturing Kamenets-Podolsky. The advance guard of Hubes Army moved west towards the Zbruch river, while the rearguard began a fighting withdrawal, with the rest of the 200,000 troops between them

Manstein was informed by OKH that he had been relieved of command

Hubes southern advanced guard turned and halted the Red Army assault, severing its supply lines and rendering the T-34s of the 4th Tank Army immobile

The Red Armys massive concentration in troops and material forced Hube to withdraw his northern flank to south-west until it reached the Dniester river

During the two week escape, Hubes men had destroyed 357 tanks, 42 assault guns and 280 artillery pieces, as well as causing severe casualties to the enemys attacking forces

In over two weeks of heavy combat, during horrid weather and with few supplies, the 1st Panzer Army had managed to escape encirclement while suffering only moderate casualties.

The advanced guards of both the northern and southern columns had reached the Strypa River, and on the 6th, near the town of Buczacz, they linked up with the probing reconnaissance elements of Haussers SS Divisions.

The quick thinking of Manstein, and the operational planning and skill of Hube had resulted in the 200,000 troops of the Army escaping the fate of Stalingrad.

The quick thinking of Manstein, and the operational planning and skill of Hube had resulted in the 200,000 troops of the Army escaping the fate of Stalingrad