Poll - What's The Least Known, Most Destructive Battle On The Eastern Front?

[KG_Panzerschreck]

What was the least known and most destructive Battle/Operation in terms of Men, Resources & Terrain {Cities, Landscape ect...} battle on the Eastern Front in WWII?

Most of us here are considerably well read on WWII, i realize that, but what im getting at is what you think is the most destructive and the least known in the west in general. Everyone has heard of the battles for Stalingrad, Kursk, Moscow & Leningrad because of the History Channel. Im curious to see what you guys think is the winner in the destruction catagory for the unknown class of battles.

[KG_ThorsHammer]

I chose Mars because it is a battle that was overshadowed and forgotten during a pivitol period.

Mars was launched in conjunction with operation Uranus which was the encirclement of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad. Mars was supposed to smash Army Group centre but was beaten back with horrible losses by dug in and determined defenders. It was a dismal failure for the Russians and a Great victory for the Germans, but with events at Stalingrad ending in defeat for the 6th Army and German hopes in the South, it is rarely mentioned.

[KG_Soldier]

Probably Kiev in '41--600,000 Russians surrendered--no telling how many died.

Battle of Kiev (from http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Ca.../wwII.htm#Kiev)
(Aug. 22 - Sep. 26, 1941)

Germans began the offensive on August 22, with purpose to route Soviet forces defending the Kiev area. To this time the group of armies "South" by forces of 1st Panzer group adjoined with 11th Army and Romanian armies. At the Dnieper river the 6th German Army settled down. It occupied a covering place in relation to large Russian bridgehead in Kiev area and after successful fights under Gomel by the left flank adjoined with 2nd Army. Last settled down by front on the southeast up to Novozybkov and owed, coming in the south direction encircled Russian forces. The large Russian forces were on bridgehead on the right bank of Dnieper river.


August 25, the 2nd German Army and 2nd Panzer group took the offensive in the south direction. The Panzer group took possession of Konotop city, located far in rear of the Soviet front line.


By the end of August on open right flank of "Southwest" front, on the Desna river (in area to the north and northwest of Konotop), the new 40th Soviet Army was created. On 125-kilometer front from Shostka up to Volovine there were only two rifle divisions (135th, withdrawed from the border and 239th). To aid of 40th Army forces, II Air-Landing Corps and 10th Tank Division were thrown in the counterattack. German troops were stopped for several days, but since August 27, the 40th Soviet Army was involved in wearisome defense fights. Offensive operation of "Bryansk" front on Roslavle and Novozybsk directions whith purpose to liquidate break between 13th and 21st Soviet Armies, was finished unsuccessfully. In result of German counter-attack in Novgorod - Seversk area the break between armies has increased till 60-75 km. The front of a defense of 21st Army was broken and army forces has passed to a mobile defense. The 5th Soviet Army couldn't stabilize a defense line. August 30, 21st Army located on the north of "Bryansk" front has unexpectedly departed, having opened flank of "Southwest" front. The German formations immediately have directed in break on approaches to Chernigov, and on their ways remained only weak forces of 15th Soviet rifle corps.


In the evening of September 7, the Military Council of "Southwest" front has informed the Soviet High Command, that conditions at the front line has become complicated. The Germans has concentrated superior forces, develop success offensive on Konotop, Chernigov and Kremenchug directions. The threat of an encirclement of the main forces of 5th Soviet Army was clearly designated. The front applied the basic efforts on the Kremenchug direction to liquidate enemy bridgehead. The Military Council of front asked permit to allocate 5th Army and right flank of 37th Army behind the Desna river line. Down to September 17, Stalin didn't consided the question of removal Soviet forces from Kiev. It is explained that in this time undertaken offensive of "West", "Reserve" and "Bryansk" fronts go on. The purpose of this Soviet offensive was defeat German 2nd Panzer group comming from the north to Kiev.


Heavy defense fights were conducted with 38th army, since September 12, it began a withdrawal on the east.


In fights, which proceeded more than two weeks, 2nd German Army advanced up to Desna and forced it. September 10, 3rd Panzer Division in interaction with parachute descent, landed in Romny city, cut of position of 40th Soviet Army. Using this success, Germans were promptly move in rear of the Soviet front near Kiev. Simultaneously 2nd Panzer group, continuously beating off counterattack against stretched east flank, September 14 by advanced parts has reached Romny area.


From bridgehead, created by 17th German Army in area of Kremenchug, 1st Panzer group together with 17th Army on September 10, began offensive and September 16, in Lohvitsa area has incorporated with 2nd Panzer group. As a result of this offensive, simultaneous impact of 6th German Army through Dniepers till both sides of Kiev, which September 19 was encircled and taken, and further progress of 2nd Army from north, Russian forces which are taking place in a triangle of Kiev, Cherkassy, Lohvitsa, were compressed from different directions. At this time Panzer groups in fierce fights beat off attempts Russian to deblock the forces from the east. The 4th and 2nd German air fleet, working consecutive waves, continuously supported overland armies. September 26 the battle was finished. The battle of Kiev would go down in history as a great victory for the Germans. The greatest surrender in the history of all warfare took place at Kiev, some 665,000 Russian soldiers surrendering, 50 Soviet divisions, or 5 Soviet Armies ceased to exist after the battle ended. Germans also captured 3,718 guns and 884 tanks.

[KG_Jag]

The Soviet success at Bagration pushed the Germans back from Vitebsk to the Vistula. If there was any doubt before, it was clear after Bagration that it was only a matter of time, measured in months, before Germans would be completely defeated in East.

"The Wehrmacht's Army Group Centre was routed, a total of 17 Wehrmacht divisions were utterly destroyed, and 50 other German divisions were shattered. It was the most calamitous defeat of the German armed forces in World War II, costing the Wehrmacht more men and material than the cataclysm at Stalingrad 16 months earlier."

Osprey's Operation Bagration by Steven Zaloga at page 7.