Week 53 - 21 June 1941
Blau II - Voroshilovgrad Operational Area
Over the Donets
Weather dry and clear
The Germans committed their remaining mobile divisions and surrounded nine rifle divisions of 9th and 44th Armies of Southern Front. Over 93,000 men were trapped. This had the effect of opening the way to Stalingrad.
Southern and North Caucasus Fronts initiated a complete pullback in the area in order to allow the Soviet response to begin unhindered.
With no significant German tank reserves remaining, Stavka ordered the beginning of the Sumy-Desna Offensive Operation. This counterstroke was conducted by cavalry-tank forces under Eremenko's Bryansk Front and reinforced by Grechko's 3rd Shock and Batov's 31st Armies. The city of Sumy was liberated.
In the meantime, Vatutin's 3rd Reserve Army now led by I. Chernyakhovsky succeeded in reaching the eastern bank of the Donets.
Weekly losses