Battle of the Dnieper
The Battle of the Dnieper is a complex of interconnected military operations conducted by Soviet troops on the banks of the Dnieper during the Great Patriotic War.
The battle for the Dnieper took place in the second half of 1943 and lasted almost four months. During the operation, the front line stretched for 750 kilometers, and the number of people who took part in it from both sides reached 4 million. As a result of the operation, Left-Bank Ukraine was almost completely liberated from the German invaders - several strategic bridgeheads were created along the river bank, Kiev was liberated. The battle for the Dnieper became one of the largest operations in the second half of the Great Patriotic War, and one of the most notable achievements of the Red Army.
The battle for the Dnieper took place in the second half of 1943 and lasted almost four months. During the operation, the front line stretched for 750 kilometers, and the number of people who took part in it from both sides reached 4 million. As a result of the operation, Left-Bank Ukraine was almost completely liberated from the German invaders - several strategic bridgeheads were created along the river bank, Kiev was liberated. The battle for the Dnieper became one of the largest operations in the second half of the Great Patriotic War, and one of the most notable achievements of the Red Army.
Stages of the Battle of the Dnieper
The Battle of the Dnieper lasted from August 26 to December 23, 1943 and included several stages and battles:
First stage. Chernihiv-Poltava operation. (August 26 - September 30, 1943); Second phase. Lower Dnieper operation (September 26 - December 20, 1943). The battle for the Dnieper can also include several separate operations, which historians do not attribute to one of the stages, but consider an important component of this period of the war: Dnieper airborne operation (September 1943); The Kiev offensive operation (1943) (November 3-13, 1943); Kiev defensive operation (November 13 - December 23, 1943). Results and significance of the battle for the Dnieper The battle for the Dnieper became one of the rare examples of such a large-scale and rapid crossing of such a huge territory, captured and well-guarded by the enemy. Even the German command was forced to admit that the hundred Soviet army in this operation showed its best qualities and great courage. The liberation of the Dnieper, Kiev and Ukraine as a whole had enormous political and moral significance for the Soviet Union. Firstly, it was possible to return the previously seized territories with all their resources; secondly, Ukraine gave the Soviet Union access to the borders of Romania and Poland, and later on to Germany itself.
The Battle of the Dnieper lasted from August 26 to December 23, 1943 and included several stages and battles:
First stage. Chernihiv-Poltava operation. (August 26 - September 30, 1943); Second phase. Lower Dnieper operation (September 26 - December 20, 1943). The battle for the Dnieper can also include several separate operations, which historians do not attribute to one of the stages, but consider an important component of this period of the war: Dnieper airborne operation (September 1943); The Kiev offensive operation (1943) (November 3-13, 1943); Kiev defensive operation (November 13 - December 23, 1943). Results and significance of the battle for the Dnieper The battle for the Dnieper became one of the rare examples of such a large-scale and rapid crossing of such a huge territory, captured and well-guarded by the enemy. Even the German command was forced to admit that the hundred Soviet army in this operation showed its best qualities and great courage. The liberation of the Dnieper, Kiev and Ukraine as a whole had enormous political and moral significance for the Soviet Union. Firstly, it was possible to return the previously seized territories with all their resources; secondly, Ukraine gave the Soviet Union access to the borders of Romania and Poland, and later on to Germany itself.
Yugra for the front
In the battle for the Dnieper, a native of the village of Tundrino (now the Surgut region of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug) distinguished himself by Ivan Vasilyevich Korolkov (1919-1984).
Ivan Vasilievich was born on October 4, 1919 into a peasant family. In the 1930s, together with his family, he was exiled to Obdorsk (now - Salekhard), where he graduated from high school and entered the history department at the Ural University.
In December 1942, he was called up to serve in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army and was sent to courses for junior lieutenants in Novosibirsk. In the summer of 1943, not having time to finish the courses, he was sent to the front in the Kursk Bulge area. Participated in the liberation of Orel, Orsha, Glukhov, Chernigov. By September 1943, the guard corporal Ivan Korolkov was the gunner of the heavy machine gun of the 221st Guards Rifle Regiment of the 77th Guards Rifle Division of the 61st Army of the Central Front. Together with a group of fighters, Korolkov was one of the first in his unit to cross to the western bank of the river. The unit where Korolkov served had an order to take the enemy's blow and distract him until the rest of the units crossed the Dnieper. In the battle, Korolkov was wounded, but did not leave the battlefield, and, firing machine-gun fire, destroyed about 100 enemy soldiers and officers. After the end of the battle, he was sent to the hospital. As a result of a serious injury, Korolkov's right arm practically stopped moving, so he was discharged from the army in April 1944.
By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 15, 1944, for "exemplary performance of command assignments and displayed courage and heroism in battles against the German invaders," corporal Ivan Korolkov was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal for the number 7244.
Ivan Vasilievich was born on October 4, 1919 into a peasant family. In the 1930s, together with his family, he was exiled to Obdorsk (now - Salekhard), where he graduated from high school and entered the history department at the Ural University.
In December 1942, he was called up to serve in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army and was sent to courses for junior lieutenants in Novosibirsk. In the summer of 1943, not having time to finish the courses, he was sent to the front in the Kursk Bulge area. Participated in the liberation of Orel, Orsha, Glukhov, Chernigov. By September 1943, the guard corporal Ivan Korolkov was the gunner of the heavy machine gun of the 221st Guards Rifle Regiment of the 77th Guards Rifle Division of the 61st Army of the Central Front. Together with a group of fighters, Korolkov was one of the first in his unit to cross to the western bank of the river. The unit where Korolkov served had an order to take the enemy's blow and distract him until the rest of the units crossed the Dnieper. In the battle, Korolkov was wounded, but did not leave the battlefield, and, firing machine-gun fire, destroyed about 100 enemy soldiers and officers. After the end of the battle, he was sent to the hospital. As a result of a serious injury, Korolkov's right arm practically stopped moving, so he was discharged from the army in April 1944.
By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 15, 1944, for "exemplary performance of command assignments and displayed courage and heroism in battles against the German invaders," corporal Ivan Korolkov was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal for the number 7244.
