The Dnestr bridgeheads of the 3rd Ukrainian Front
The river Dnestr is a pretty big stream on the last 60 kilometers
between Grigoriopol and its mouth into the Black Sea west of Odessa. It presented a major natural obstacle and was well
usable as a defensive line for the Wehrmacht. Nevertheless, during its
fast advance in March and April 1944, the Red Armies 3rd Ukrainian Front
was able to establish several bridgeheads over the river, here listed
from North to South:
a) The Butor bridgehead
Also called Tashlyk or Pugaceny/Pugatscheny. This bridgehead was
established in late March by the 2nd Ukrainian Front's 5th
Guards Army and up
to 15km wide and deep. Later, this Front concentrated on
breaking through the german defenses at Iasi and Targul Frumos, and so
the bridgehead was handed over to the 3rd Ukrainian Front's 8th Guards
Army in late April. That lead to a clear division of tasks: One Front's
objective was to advance over the Dnestr while the other targeted
through Iasi & Targul Frumos. It is important that the german 6.
Armee always held a bridgehead on the East bank of the Dnestr directly North
of Butor which was well-suited for artillery emplacements shelling
Pugaceny.
b) The Krasnaya Gorka bridgehead
In March, units of the 57th Army crossed the Dnestr near Krasnaya Gorka. This
bridgehead was relatively small. Additionally, its
elevation was below the adjacent german-held area. That meant it could
easily be monitored and shelled by the Wehrmacht.
c) The Tiraspol bridgehead
Two important bridges cross the Dnestr between Tiraspol and Bendery, with
no other opportunity downstream or upstream the next 50 kilometers.
Logically, they were a major target for the Red Army, but it did not succeed in conquering
them intact.
Nevertheless, in the swamps South of Bendery, a rather big area was occupied by the
soviet 37th Army in the North and the 46th Army in the South. It was ca.
20km long and up to 10km deep. Later, between 19 and 25 April, also
elements of the 5th Shock and 6th Army moved into
this bridgehead.
d) A bridgehead over the Dnestr Liman
Alread while the main part of the front was still cleaning Odessa from
axis forces, the 8th Guards Army crossed the stream directly
North of the Dnestr Liman on 25 April. But during the next two days, bad weather
like heavy rains and an onshore wind lead to a flood in the area and
finally on 27 April, this bridgehead had to be abandoned.
Frontline in late April 1944, after first consolidation of bridgeheads and the first battle of Targul-Frumos.
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Last update
04.01.10
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