The forcing of the Dnieper by Soviet troops in 1943

The battle for the Dnieper was one of the most bloody wars in history. According to various sources, losses from both sides, counting the killed and wounded, ranged from 1.7 to 2.7 million people. This battle was a whole series of strategic operations carried out by Soviet troops in 1943. Among them was the crossing of the Dnieper.

The Great River

The Dnieper is the third largest river in Europe after the Danube and the Volga. Its width in the lower reaches is about 3 km. I must say that the right bank is much higher and steeper than the left. This feature greatly complicated the transfer of troops. In addition, in accordance with the directives of the Wehrmacht, German soldiers reinforced the opposite shore with a large number of obstacles and fortifications.

Options forcing

Faced with this situation, the command of the Soviet Army thought about how to transfer troops and equipment across the river. Two plans were developed, according to which the Dnipro crossing could occur. The first option included stopping troops on the river bank and drawing additional units to the places of alleged crossings. Such a plan made it possible to detect shortcomings in the enemy defense line, and also to correctly identify the places where subsequent attacks will occur.

Further, a massive breakthrough was planned, which was supposed to result in the encirclement of the German defense lines and the displacement of their troops to positions that were unprofitable for them. In this situation, the Wehrmacht soldiers will be completely incapable of providing any resistance to overcome their defensive lines. In fact, this tactic was very similar to the one used by the Germans themselves to pass through the Maginot Line at the beginning of the war.

But this variant had a number of significant drawbacks. He gave time to the German command to pull additional forces into the region of the Dnieper, as well as regroup troops and strengthen defense to more effectively reflect the growing onslaught of the Soviet Army in the appropriate places. In addition, such a plan subjected our troops to a great danger of being attacked by mechanized units of German formations, which, it should be noted, was almost the most effective weapon of the Wehrmacht since the beginning of the war on the territory of the USSR.

The second option is the crossing of the Dnieper by Soviet troops by inflicting a powerful blow without any preparation right along the entire front line. Such a plan did not give the Germans time to equip the so-called Eastern Wall, as well as to prepare the defense of their bridgeheads on the Dnieper. But this option could lead to huge losses in the ranks of the Soviet Army.

Preparation

As you know, the German positions were located on the right bank of the Dnieper. On the opposite side, the Soviet troops occupied a section, the length of which was about 300 km. Huge forces were dragged into this place, so there was a catastrophic lack of staff for such a large number of soldiers. The main parts were forced to force the Dnieper to literally improvised means. They swam across the river on randomly found fishing boats, self-made rafts, made of logs, boards, tree trunks and even on barrels.

No less problem was the question of how to transfer to the opposite shore heavy equipment. The fact is that on many bridgeheads it did not have time to deliver in the right quantities, which is why the main burden of forcing the Dnieper fell on the shoulders of the infantry units. This situation led to protracted battles and a significant increase in losses on the part of the Soviet troops.

Forcing

Finally, the day came when military power moved on the offensive. The crossing of the Dnieper began. The date of the first crossing of the river was September 22, 1943. Then the bridgehead, located on the right bank, was taken. This was the area of the confluence of two rivers - Pripyat and Dnieper, which was on the northern side of the front. Fortieth, which was part of the Voronezh Front, and the third tank army almost simultaneously managed to achieve the same success on the section south of Kiev.

After 2 days, the next position, which was on the west bank, was captured. This time it happened not far from Dneprodzerzhinsk. Four days later, Soviet troops successfully crossed the river in the region of Kremenchug. Thus, by the end of the month on the opposite bank of the Dnieper River 23 bridgeheads were formed. Some were so small that their width reached 10 km, and the depth is only 1-2 km.

The very crossing of the Dnieper was conducted by the 12th Soviet armies. In order to somehow disperse the powerful fire produced by German artillery, many false bridgeheads were created. Their goal was to simulate the mass transit.

The crossing of the Dnieper by the Soviet troops is the brightest example of heroism. I must say that the soldiers used even the slightest opportunity to cross to the other side. They swam across the river on any available watercraft, which could at least somehow hold onto the water. The troops suffered heavy losses, constantly being under the heavy fire of the enemy. They managed to firmly establish a foothold on the bridgeheads already conquered, literally buried in the ground from shelling German artillery. In addition, the Soviet units covered their fire with new forces that came to them to help.

Protection of footholds

German troops vehemently defended their positions, using powerful counterattacks on each of the crossings. Their primary goal was the destruction of enemy troops until the moment when heavy armored vehicles reach the right bank of the river.

The ferries were subjected to a massive attack from the air. German bombers fired on the water, as well as military units located on the shore. At the beginning of the action, Soviet aviation was unorganized. But when its synchronization with the rest of the ground troops was made, the defense of the crossings improved.

The actions of the Soviet Army were crowned with success. The crossing of the Dnieper in 1943 led to the seizure of bridgeheads on the enemy shore. The fierce battles continued throughout October, but all the territories that had been repulsed from the Germans were withheld, and some even expanded. Soviet troops saved their strength for the next offensive.

Mass heroism

So ended the crossing of the Dnieper. Heroes of the Soviet Union - this is the most honorable title was awarded immediately to 2,438 soldiers who participated in those battles. The battle for the Dnieper is an example of the extraordinary courage and self-sacrifice shown by Soviet soldiers and officers. Such a truly massive award was the only one during the whole of the Great Patriotic War.