Battle of Korsun-Shevchenko

On February 17th, it was 80 years since the end of one of the largest battles on the territory of Ukraine during World War II - the Battle of Korsun-Shevchenko. Aviation played a significant role in it.

From the Soviet side, the battle involved the 2nd and 5th Air Armies, commanded by Lieutenant Generals Stepan Krasovsky and Sergei Goryunov respectively. They were opposed by the 4th Luftwaffe Air Fleet under the command of Colonel General Otto Deßloch, as well as the I and VIII Aviation Corps of Generals Paul Deichmann and Hans Seidemann.

Weather significantly influenced aviation operations: low clouds, fogs, and snowfalls constantly changing to heavy rains.

At the beginning of the battle, the German command attempted preemptive strikes on the concentration areas of the enemy forces preparing for the offensive. For example, on January 24th, 18 Ju 87 and up to 30 Ju 88 attacked the combat formations of Soviet tankers, but the pilots of the 4th Fighter Aviation Corps, together with anti-aircraft gunners, repelled these raids. In response, airstrikes were launched on Luftwaffe airfields in Vinnytsia, Uman, Kalynivka, and Khrystynivka. Overall, the Germans failed to prevent the start of the offensive, and by the evening of January 24th, the advanced units of the 2nd Ukrainian Front broke through their first line of defense.

Despite the poor weather conditions, Soviet aviation attempted to assist ground troops in breaking through and repelling enemy counterattacks. For instance, on January 29th, crews of the 1st Assault Aviation Corps reported destroying 22 tanks, 50 vehicles, 5 artillery batteries, and 5 aircraft.

In late January, German bombers became more active. They attacked in groups ranging from 8 to 20 aircraft, and in some cases up to 70. Sorties were carried out both with and without fighter escort. If Soviet fighters remained grounded due to bad weather, the Germans could target the area multiple times.

However, this did not prevent Soviet forces from completing the encirclement of the enemy grouping in the Korsun-Shevchenko area and forming inner and outer circles of encirclement in the last days of January and early February. According to various estimates, between 40,000 and 80,000 personnel were trapped in the "cauldron". The Germans called it the "Cherkasy Pocket," named after the nearest regional center. Since then, this term has been widespread in Western historiography.

Traditionally, the Germans used transport aviation to supply the surrounded forces. For example, on February 9th, a group of Ju 52, escorted by up to 12 Bf 109, attempted to reach a makeshift airfield near the village of Koshmak. They were intercepted by a group of "Yaks" from the 148th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (GVAR). During the ensuing battle, two more pairs of Yak-1 from the 586th Fighter Aviation Regiment (FAR) joined in. Soviet pilots claimed to have shot down 7 Ju 52 and 5 Bf 109.

Overall, Soviet fighters were unable to paralyze the operation of the airlift. Utilizing the low clouds and flying close to the ground, Luftwaffe transport aircraft broke through to the "cauldron" near Korsun. They provided the surrounded troops with the necessary minimum of ammunition for two weeks of defense and evacuated up to 3000 wounded and sick.

The Wehrmacht command conducted an operation to break the "Cherkasy Pocket". Several unsuccessful attempts to break out of the encirclement were made, but the breakthrough during the night of February 17th was successful. Despite low clouds and heavy snowstorms, 18 crews of U-2 aircraft from the 392nd Night Bomber Aviation Regiment volunteered to assist their ground units in holding off the enemy. Although they completed their mission, they had little impact on the situation - the breakthrough occurred.

According to Soviet data, only a small number of enemy troops managed to break out, and their total losses amounted to up to 55,000 killed and up to 18,000 captured. According to German data, almost 30,000 personnel left the "pocket" - the vast majority of those who entered it. Western researchers also estimate a similar number. However, the question remains open due to insufficiently studied sources.

Meanwhile, the 1st Ukrainian Front conducted an operation resulting in the capture of Rivne and Lutsk. Only two aviation regiments from the 2nd Air Army operated there, facing individual units of the 4th and 6th Luftwaffe Air Fleets.

Overall, in the battle of Korsun-Shevchenko, on the Vinnytsia and Rivne-Lutsk directions, the crews of the 2nd Air Army performed 9513 combat sorties (including 912 at night) and engaged in 88 aerial battles. The 5th Air Army operated less intensively: it conducted 2819 sorties and 81 aerial battles. Luftwaffe on these fronts was outnumbered by more than 2 to 1, so it is not surprising that the Soviet side recorded only 5906 flyovers by enemy aircraft.