Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket
1944 CE.
Shown on the map at 49.000°, 26.500°.
The Kamenets-Podolsky pocket (German: Kessel von Kamenez-Podolsk) was a key part of a major Soviet Proskurov-Chernovtsy Operation (Russian: Проскуровско-Черновицкая Операция), known on the German side by several names. It was conducted by the Soviet 1st Ukrainian Front against the German 1st and 4th Panzer Armies, and Hungarian forces of Army Group South in March-April 1944. The plan was to launch the main strike south, at the junction of the two German armies, thus cutting off the Lvov-Odessa railway line, vital for supplying Army Group South. The subsequent southerly advance to the Dniester aimed to cut off westward retreat routes for Army Group South, forcing it to use the long roundabout route through Romania for supply. The offensive began on 4 March and the German front soon collapsed. By 10 March, the Lvov-Odessa railway was cut and the Soviets advanced 60–100 kilometers. At that point, the drive halted due to the arrival of German reserves and the logistical difficulties of advancing in rasputitsa. After regrouping and introducing the 1st Tank Army, the offensive resumed on 21 March, completely shattering the German front on the same day.
Text from the Wikipedia article Kamenets–Podolsky pocket, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.