Voronezh–Kastornoye offensive

The 1943 Battle of Voronezh or Voronezh–Kastornoye offensive operation (often credited in Russian as the liberation of Voronezh (освобождение Воронежа)) was a Soviet counter-offensive on the Eastern Front of World War II on recapturing the city of Voronezh during January 1943.

Voronezh–Kastornoye offensive
Part of the Eastern Front of World War II
Soviet soldiers in the liberated city of Voronezh, on 25 January 1943
Date 24 January – 17 February 1943 Location Voronezh, Kastornoye, Soviet Union Result Soviet victory
Belligerents
Germany  Hungary	Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Maximilian von Weichs Hans von Salmuth Gusztáv Jány	Aleksandr Vasilevsky Filipp Golikov Max Reyter
Units involved
2nd Army 2nd Army	Voronezh Front Bryansk Front
Strength
327,900 men, 960 tanks	987,000 men, 2,100 tanks
Casualties and losses
58,000 dead, wounded, missing, about 20,000 taken prisoner	75,000 overall

It took place between 24 January and 17 February 1943, as 4th phase of the general Soviet winter offensive of 1942–1943, immediately following the Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh offensive.

The Axis had captured Voronezh in a 1942 battle, and the 2nd German Army occupied this important bridgehead over the Don, together with Hungarian troops that had escaped the destruction of the Hungarian 2nd Army during the Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh offensive.

The Red Army executed a new pincer movement in difficult winter conditions. From the south, the troops of the Voronezh Front under command of General Golikov attacked, in collaboration with the left flank of the Bryansk Front under General Max Reyter, which attacked from the north.^[1]

The Germans, attacked on both flanks, were forced into a retreat in the middle of the Russian winter. Their losses were considerable and the 2nd German Army only narrowly escaped destruction, leaving a big gap in the Axis frontline. It opened for the Soviets the way to Kursk, which would be liberated during Operation Star, and also threatened the important bastion of Orel.