Nikopol–Krivoi Rog Offensive

Nikopol-Krivoy Rog offensive was an offensive of the Red Army against the German forces during World War II.

Held from January 30 to February 29, 1944 troops of the 3rd and 4th Ukrainian Fronts to defeat Nikopol-Krivoy Rog enemy forces, the elimination of its Nikopol bridgehead on the Dnieper and the liberation of Nikopol and Krivoy Rog. Part of the Dnieper-Carpathian strategic offensive operation. On the occasion of the release of Nikopol and Krivoy Rog in Moscow was given a salute to the 20th artillery salvoes from 224's guns.

Situation
The area of Nikopol has rich deposits of manganese, used in Germany for the production high-strength steel. Hitler has repeatedly stressed the crucial importance of this area "As Nikopol manganese, its importance to us all can not be expressed in words. Loss of Nikopol (on the Dnieper, the south-west of Zaporozhye) would mean the end of war. "In addition, the bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnieper left the German command a strike in order to restore the land connection with the group of forces locked in the Crimea.

During the first half of January, Soviet troops made repeated attempts to eliminate the Nikopol-Krivoy Rog enemy group, but because of the stubborn resistance of German troops did not achieve success.

Red
3rd Ukrainian Front
 * 37th Army
 * 46th Army
 * 8th Guards Army
 * 6th Army
 * 5th Shock Army
 * 4th Guards Mechanized Corps
 * 17th Air Army
 * 3rd Guards Army

Part forces of the 4th Ukrainian Front
 * 3rd Guards Army
 * 5th Shock Army
 * 28th Army
 * 2nd Guards Mechanized Corps
 * 8th Air Force

Total 705 000, 7796 guns and mortars, 238 tanks and self-propelled guns, 1333 aircraft

Germany
Part of the forces of the Army Group South (commanded by Field Marshal Gunther von Kluge).
 * 6th Army (Wehrmacht) (Colonel-General Karl-Adolf Hollidt) consisting of:
 * 57 Panzer Corps
 * Cabinet group "Schwerin"
 * 17th Army Corps
 * 4th Army Corps
 * 40 Panzer Corps
 * 29th Army Corps
 * Part of the forces of the Luftflotte 4 (Colonel-General Otto Dessloh)

Total 540 000, 2416 guns and mortars, 327 tanks and assault guns, and 700 aircraft