The defense of Kyiv in 1941 is a large-scale battle between the Red Army and the Wehrmacht during the Great Patriotic War. It is worth saying that long before this sad event, the inhabitants of the city realized that the occupation of Kyiv could no longer be avoided. Then, a month after the outbreak of hostilities, the people of Kiev began to leave the city and leave for the villages, which were supposed to save the inhabitants from death. However, it is worth saying that most people remained in Kyiv and were ready for an imminent battle. The brave people of Kiev continued to work, build fortifications and prepare for the attack.
Reasons for the battle near Kyiv
After the German troops seized the territory near Smolensk, Hitler decided to attack Kyiv in order to soon conquer all Ukrainian lands. He wanted to capture Ukraine because there were coal deposits on its territory. Hitler believed that this would help provide the German troops with warmth and food so that they could continue military operations on the territory of the Soviet Union.
After the seizure of Ukrainian lands, it was planned to encircle Moscow, and then achieve surrender from the USSR.
Defense of Kyiv 1941. Briefly about military operations
The Great Patriotic War claimed a huge number of lives of heroes. No one can forget how the Red Army troops defended their homeland from the enemy.
The defense of Kyiv in 1941 was a very difficult period for the Red Army and the townspeople. Despite the unequal forces, the Red Army stood to the last and committed desperate acts in order to prevent the German troops from advancing further. Most of the Red Army units lost contact with the high command, as well as with neighboring units. Many of them were surrounded and could no longer escape from it. It is worth saying that most of the soldiers died or were captured by the enemy.
Lack of ammunition, number of troops and help from citizens of the Soviet Army
Already in the first battles, the shortage of weapons and ammunition was clearly felt. Hitler planned a lightning capture of the capital, however, despite the superiority of the German troops in numbers, as well as the lack of military equipment, the soldiers of the Red Army heroically fought the enemy. The heroic defense of Kyiv in 1941 will never be forgotten, because the soldiers of the Red Army and the inhabitants of the city united and courageously fought for the capital.
In addition to the military units that defended the capital, citizens also took part in the defense of Kyiv. More than 200,000 residents of Kyiv went to fight at the front voluntarily. More than 160,000 citizens worked daily on the construction of defensive lines, whounited in the people's militia.
Defense of Kyiv 1941. Summary of the attack on the capital
Hitler's main task was the occupation of the territory of the Donbass, as well as the Crimea. First, these developed agricultural industrial areas would provide the army and rear with resources. Secondly, the capture of Ukrainian lands would ensure the unhindered advance of the German army towards its main goal - Moscow.
After the capture of Smolensk, the German command decided to seize the USSR. Hitler planned to capture Kyiv at lightning speed, but the courageous and freedom-loving troops of the Red Army did not allow his dreams to come true.
Already on July 11, German troops tried to break into Kyiv and capture the capital, but the steadfast defense and counterattacks of the Red Army did not allow the city to be captured with lightning speed. After that, the enemy decided to bypass Kyiv from two sides and already on July 30 resumed hostilities and an attack on the city.
August 7 by the airborne brigade of A. I. Rodimtsev, a counterattack was carried out. This helped to stabilize the situation, but only for a short time. It is worth noting that the paratroopers had no experience, and they also did not have heavy weapons. They could oppose strong German infantry only with fighting spirit, courage and courage.
The Soviet command decided to form new divisions and to put them into battle. Only this helped to avoid a catastrophic situation.
By August 10, the enemy managed to break through to the southwestern suburbs, but here they also failed:the heroic resistance of the 37th Army forced the German troops to stop again.
Despite the heroic resistance, the offensive of the German troops continued, as well as the defense of Kyiv. July-September 1941 became a very difficult period for the city, because all three months the enemy continued to advance and defeat the Red Army.
Kyiv environment
Due to the fact that the troops of the Red Army stubbornly and courageously resisted, Hitler decided to turn south the 2nd field army, as well as the 1st tank group, which were moving in the Moscow direction. It must be said that at this time the German troops broke through to the south of the Dnieper. However, at the end of August, enemy troops crossed the river north of Kyiv, and already in the Chernigov region they joined up with their units, which were advancing from the north.
Despite the fact that there was a threat of encirclement, Stalin still decided to continue the defense of the capital. This was reflected in the tragedy of further events, because if the Soviet troops retreated after the first warning of the encirclement, there would not have been so many human casu alties.
The defense of Kyiv in 1941 was remembered by everyone for a long time. The heroism and courage of the soldiers of the Red Army cannot but admire. Despite the fact that the number of German troops was almost three times greater than the Red Army, they did not retreat and continued to defend the capital.
The defeat of the Soviet troops
On September 9, German troops approached Kyiv and surrounded it. In spite ofthe fact that the Red Army soldiers were practically defeated, they still made desperate attempts to break through.
Already on September 19, German troops managed to enter the city, and the Kyiv group of Soviet troops was forced to retreat. The Soviet command made an attempt to release the encircled group of Red Army troops, but it was unsuccessful. A lot of soldiers and commanders were killed, and also captured by the enemy. The defense of Kyiv in 1941 took an incredible number of lives of brave and courageous Red Army soldiers who were ready to do anything for the liberation of their homeland. They gave their lives in order to stay on their land and not give it into the hands of the enemy.
It is worth saying that before the start of the defense of Kyiv, G. K. Zhukov informed Stalin that Soviet troops needed to be transferred from the bend of the Dnieper.
The human losses and the courage of the Red Army
Every schoolchild and adult knows how long the defense of Kyiv lasted in 1941. No one can forget the bloody battles, courage, and heroism of the Red Army. Everyone will remember how the soldiers fought for the capital and defended it as best they could. Not a single soldier had any thoughts of leaving the battlefield and giving the capital into the hands of the enemy. These events will forever remain in memory, because it is simply impossible to forget them.
It must be said that the defeat of the Red Army was a huge blow to the whole country and greatly influenced the further development of the Great Patriotic War. The military action tooklives of over 700,000 people. In addition to huge human losses, the USSR lost almost the entire Left-Bank Ukraine. Because of this, the road to the Donbass, to the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov, as well as to Eastern Ukraine, became open for German troops.
Foil Hitler's plans
It is important that the defense of Kyiv in 1941 came as a surprise to the German troops. The fighting in the city thwarted Hitler's plans for a blitzkrieg and the immediate capture of the capital. It is also worth saying that this prevented their advance to the capital, thereby helping to prepare the Soviet troops for the defense of Moscow. For 3 months, the Soviet troops managed to strengthen their positions in order to courageously and heroically repel the blow of the German troops.
Consequences of the defeat of Soviet troops in the defense of Kyiv
The defeat of the Red Army led to the fact that the road to Eastern Ukraine, the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov and Donbass became open for German troops. It is worth saying what the retreat of the Red Army led to:
- On October 17, German troops occupied Donbass.
- On October 25, enemy troops captured Kharkov.
- On November 2, German troops managed to capture the Crimea and blockade Sevastopol.
Everyone will remember the defense of Kyiv in 1941 for a long time. 1942 became a bloody year for Ukraine: the defense of Sevastopol, the Kharkov operation, etc. It is hard to imagine what the Soviet army and the inhabitants of the country experienced at that time.
During the defense of Kyiv, all possible measures were taken to strengthen the combat capability of the Soviettroops. They heroically defended their territory and repelled enemy attacks. It must be said that the human losses were enormous. Many Soviet soldiers were captured by the enemy, but despite this, their courage knew no bounds.
The defense of Kyiv in 1941 is an event that absolutely everyone will remember for a long time. The courage and heroism of the Soviet soldiers left absolutely no one indifferent. They did their best to repel the blows of the enemy and proudly recaptured Kyiv. The defeat affected the further development of hostilities and plans of the German command in relation to the cities of Ukraine, as well as to Moscow.
