The battle for the Dnieper was one of the bloodiest in the history of wars. According to various sources, losses on both sides, including those killed and wounded, ranged from 1.7 to 2.7 million people. This battle was a series of strategic operations carried out by the Soviet troops in 1943. They included the crossing of the Dnieper.
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 complicates the crossing of troops. In addition, in accordance with the directives of the Wehrmacht, the German soldiers reinforced the opposite bank with a large number of barriers and fortifications.
Forcing options
Faced with this situation, the command of the Soviet Army thought about how to transport troops and equipment across the river. Two plans were developed, according to which the crossing of the Dnieper could take place. The first option includedincludes stopping troops on the river bank and pulling additional units to the places of the proposed crossings. Such a plan made it possible to detect shortcomings in the enemy’s defensive line, as well as correctly determine the places where subsequent attacks would take place.
Further on, a massive breakthrough was supposed, which was supposed to end with the encirclement of the German defense lines and pushing their troops to unfavorable positions for them. In this position, the Wehrmacht soldiers will be completely incapable of providing any resistance to overcome their defensive lines. In reality, this tactic was very similar to that used by the Germans themselves to cross the Maginot Line at the beginning of the war.
But this option had a number of significant drawbacks. He gave the German command time to gather additional forces in the Dnieper region, as well as to regroup troops and strengthen defenses in order to more effectively repel the growing onslaught of the Soviet Army in the appropriate places. In addition, such a plan exposed our troops to a great danger of being attacked by mechanized units of German formations, and this, 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 forcing of the Dnieper by Soviet troops by delivering a powerful blow without any preparation at once 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. And on the opposite side, Soviet troops occupied a section, the length of which was about 300 km. Huge forces were pulled here, so regular watercraft for such a large number of soldiers were sorely lacking. The main units were forced to force the Dnieper with literally improvised means. They crossed the river on randomly found fishing boats, makeshift rafts knocked together from logs, planks, tree trunks and even barrels.
No less problem was the question of how to transport heavy equipment to the opposite shore. The fact is that on many bridgeheads they did not have time to deliver it in the right quantities, which is why the main burden of forcing the Dnieper fell on the shoulders of the soldiers of rifle units. This state of affairs led to protracted battles and a significant increase in losses from the Soviet troops.
Forcing
Finally, the day came when the military might went on the offensive. The crossing of the Dnieper began. The date of the first crossing of the river is September 22, 1943. Then the bridgehead, located on the right bank, was taken. It was the confluence of two rivers - the Pripyat and the Dnieper, which was located 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 onsection south of Kyiv.
2 days later another position on the west bank was captured. This time it happened not far from Dneprodzerzhinsk. After another 4 days, Soviet troops successfully crossed the river in the Kremenchug area. Thus, by the end of the month, 23 bridgeheads were formed on the opposite bank of the Dnieper River. Some were so small that they were up to 10 km wide and only 1-2 km deep.
The crossing of the Dnieper itself was carried out by 12 Soviet armies. In order to somehow disperse the powerful fire produced by German artillery, many false bridgeheads were created. Their goal was to imitate the massive crossing.
Forcing the Dnieper by Soviet troops is the clearest 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 craft that could somehow float on the water. The troops suffered heavy losses, constantly being under heavy enemy fire. They managed to firmly gain a foothold on the already conquered bridgeheads, literally burrowing into the ground from the shelling of German artillery. In addition, the Soviet units covered their fire with new forces that came to their aid.
Protection of bridgeheads
German troops fiercely defended their positions, using powerful counterattacks at each of the crossings. Their primary goal was to destroy the enemy troops until the moment when heavy armored vehiclesreaches the right bank of the river.
The crossings were subjected to a massive attack from the air. German bombers fired at people on the water, as well as military units located on the shore. At the beginning, the actions of Soviet aviation were unorganized. But when it was synchronized with the rest of the ground forces, 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 capture of bridgeheads on the enemy bank. Fierce fighting continued throughout October, but all the territories recaptured from the Germans were retained, and some were even expanded. Soviet troops were building up strength for the next offensive.
Mass heroism
Thus ended the crossing of the Dnieper. Heroes of the Soviet Union - this most honorary title was immediately awarded to 2438 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 in the entire period of the Great Patriotic War.
