When did the Battle of the Dnieper begin?
The Battle of the Dnieper began on the 26th of August 1943. This event marked a critical turning point in World War II.
Questions about Battle of the Dnieper
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who ordered the construction of fortifications along the Dnieper river line?
Adolf Hitler ordered the construction of fortifications along the river line by mid-August 1943 after realizing that Soviet forces could not be contained on the open steppe. Joseph Stalin was determined to launch a major offensive in Ukraine with the main thrust moving in a southwesterly direction.
Where were the most likely locations for a Soviet assault crossing during the Battle of the Dnieper?
Fortifications were concentrated in areas where a Soviet assault crossing were most likely to be attempted including Kremenchuk, Zaporizhia, and Nikopol. The western shore of the Dnieper was much higher and steeper than the eastern bank complicating the offensive further.
How many troops participated in the Battle of the Dnieper operation?
The operation involved almost four million troops and stretched across a front extending from Smolensk to the Sea of Azov. Stavka paid high attention to possible scorched earth activities of German forces with a view to preventing them by rapid advance.
What date did SS forces receive orders to implement a scorched earth policy during the Battle of the Dnieper?
On the 7th of September 1943, SS forces and Wehrmacht received orders to implement a scorched earth policy. They stripped the areas they had to abandon of anything that could be used by the Soviet war effort.