The main Soviet attack had blown a hole in the line that was now 16 kilometers wide, and there was no hope that it could be closed. The SS Nordland, with the rest of 3rd Panzergrenadier Division, had been forced into a cauldron that was trying to protect the approaches to Chuguyev through Malinovka, but there was nothing to guard the line of the Donets as it wound its way down to Zimyev.
Further east, von Etterlin’s wise decision not to commit his 17th Panzer Division had allowed him to organize a new defensive front along that minor river flowing through Volkov Yar, which he now held. The 173rd Reserve Infantry Division had come up from Balakleya to make contact with his southernmost flank, and so now the Germans had some semblance of a line all the way from the Donets at Balakleya, in a wide arc through Volkov Yar and then east to the Oskol river south of Kupyansk.
Vatutin was now in a most enviable position. He had strong mobile forces at his command, moving rapidly through a clean breakthrough, and a host of choices before him. He could turn south to Volkov Yar, reclaiming that town and smashing the 17th Panzer Division in the process. He could bend north and attempt to force the Donets at Chuguyev, taking the most direct route to Kharkov. Or he could make a wider envelopment as Kuznetsov had done with Operation Red Star, and push for a crossing at Zimyev. Lastly, he could forsake all of that and simply drive for Andreyevka on the Donets, where Popov had achieved his bridgehead the previous month.
That choice would be determined as much by what the Germans did, and both Rokossovsky and Vatutin knew who they were up against as they spoke on the phone that afternoon.
“They have put their foot in the bear trap with this offensive,” said Rokossovsky. “I did not think they would accommodate us, but they did. Nothing could be better. What is your situation?”
“Operation Comet has broken through,” said Vatutin. “We must now select an objective that we can take, and keep.”
“Reconnaissance reports there is little defense in Kharkov,” said Rokossovsky, “but they are now concentrating a lot of Steiner’s troops near Belgorod. They could move by rail south very quickly.”
Vatutin thought for a moment. “If we go for Kharkov, by any route, what will Manstein do?”
“That is clear enough,” said Rokossovsky. “He will send enough troops to the city to make it difficult for us, while trying to find a way to cut off your forces and compel a withdrawal.”
“He would have to get very far south to do that,” said Vatutin. “Our spoiling attacks at Volchansk and Stary Saltov were meant to prevent him from crossing the Donets there.”
“Yes, but he may still try.” Rokossovsky was hedging his bets. “I still think it is premature to attempt a major crossing of the Donets. We could not sustain it. No, if we do cross, I think we must go for Kharkov, and leave off any idea of reaching the Dnieper. Choose the route that serves you best, but be ready for a street fight if you get there.”
Chapter 14
The situation reports from the front came as one shock wave after another, and Hitler’s mood went from elation, to guarded optimism, to frustrated anger.
“Seven panzer divisions!” he exclaimed. “Steiner’s entire Korps! How could they fail to break through?”
“My Führer, they did break through, as the map clearly shows, but swallowing two Soviet armies was bound to slow the advance. Then two more Armies appear to replace those that were pocketed, and the enemy was able to restore the front. But that is not the issue this hour. There is grave danger in the south.” Zeitzler was remaining calm, seeing that Hitler was a boiling kettle that could pop off in a rage at any moment.
“What about 57th Panzer Korps?”
“It was clearly unable to stop this enemy counterattack.”
“What is wrong with my divisions? We clear the Kuban, soundly defeat Volkov after that, but we cannot go to Baku or Astrakhan. The Soviets were all but beaten last November. Now they attack us with armies that we knew nothing about! Manstein drives them back, but here they come once again. When will we settle this matter so I can proceed with Operation Downfall?”
“General Manstein is marshalling forces for counteroperations at this hour,” said Zeitzler.
“Yes, I am quite sure of that. Now you will tell me that Operation Zitadelle must be canceled. Yes? That is the only place such forces exist. Steiner, Steiner, Steiner!” Hitler slapped the table with the palm of his hand. Is he the only General I have who can get the job done? I should remove this General Manstein. All he does is issue grave warnings and talk of yielding more and more ground to the enemy. You will not hear such talk on the lips of a man like Steiner.”
He stopped, his hand quivering, blinking at the latest situation reports. Then he seemed to master his anger and pointed at the map. “Where? Where is that attack going?”
“We believe it is a second attempt to take Kharkov, said Zeitzler. “Thus far, they have not moved towards the lower Donets, but that could change.”
Hitler shook his head. “We went to take Kursk from them, and now they come for Kharkov. Well, they will not have it! Order Steiner to stop this attack at once. Zitadelle is a complete failure! Not one of you had the good sense to provide adequate reserves to prevent this enemy attack. This is sheer incompetence!”
Zeitzler stiffened at the remark, his upper lip taut. “I must remind you that General Manstein argued strongly that Operation Habicht should have been conducted first to dissipate the enemy’s offensive potential in the south, but he was overruled. He predicted this move by the enemy, but it was not his order that decided the matter.”
“Is that so…. Now you wish to blame your Führer for this debacle? Nonsense! It is clear that no provision was made to adequately guard the southern portion of the front. Do not argue with me, General Zeitzler. There is no time for that now. How will this new enemy offensive be stopped?”
“Steiner has suspended operations and is marshaling his Korps to move south. General Manstein has also ordered Grossdeutschland Division to move directly to Kharkov. If they want that city, they will not get their hands on it easily. He vows to fight there to the last man, but they will not take Kharkov. Dietrich is moving a Kampfgruppe to forestall their advance on the city should they cross the Donets and move in that direction.”
“What is this division?” Hitler pointed to a spot on the southwest edge of the Tomarovka pocket.
“That is 11th Panzer Division.”
“Order it to attack the pocket, and annihilate it.”
“Are you certain we should use that division? It is one of our very best in the regular army.”
“Do not ask me if I am certain when I give an order, General Zeitzler. Simply see that it is carried out. I want those armies destroyed. That will at least offer some consolation for the failure to reach Kursk!”
As the hours passed, Manstein began to realize that there would be no miraculous counterblow this time. There were simply too many places along the line where the enemy was pressing and expanding bridgeheads over the Donets. Even though these attacks did not have secondary forces available to exploit their successes, he knew that he could not ignore them.
Grossdeutschland Division arrived at Kharkov before sunrise on the 29th of May. It had been only four days since it formed up to make the grand attack north towards Kursk. Now here it was in Kharkov, the Führer’s Fire Brigade, and with orders to protect the city at all costs. To the east, the two Reichsführer Brigades had tried to stop 3rd Guards Army, but there were now undefended penetrations both north and south of its positions. The 196th Infantry Division was now retreating over the bridges at Chuguyev, with the SS Nordland Division and 3rd Panzergrenadiers, though elements of both those last two divisions were still trying to disengage.