First Battle of Târgu Frumos
Encyclopedia
The First Battle of Târgu Frumos
was part of the First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive
of World War II
fought between Axis powers of World War II commanded by Otto Wöhler
and Soviet
forces led by Ivan Konev
.
By early April 1944, Stavka
(Main Command of the Soviet Armed Forces) ordered its two major units involved in operations in south-western Ukraine
to mount a strategic offensive in north-eastern Romania
. Konev's 2nd Ukrainian Front approached Târgu Frumos and Botoşani
regions by 5 April and commenced its offensive towards Târgu Frumos on 8 April. The Romanian 4th Army, charged with the defense of the region, was being reinforced by German panzer
elements of the 24th Panzer Division
and was preparing to hold an initial Soviet advance. However, these defenses proved to be no match for the Soviet assault on the town and by the next day Târgu Frumos had been secured by two 27th Army rifle divisions. Meanwhile, the German Eighth Army command responded rapidly by ordering Hasso von Manteuffel
's Grossdeutschland Panzergrenadier division to move towards Târgu Frumos and recapture the town. By the evening of 10 April, 48 hours after receiving the initial order, Grossdeutschland succeeded in retaking the town and establishing new defensive positions there. Sporadic battles with Soviet elements remaining in the region continued until 12 April, as they were facing the danger of encirclement.
Following the end of the battle, the Germans formed a new defensive line northwest and northeast of the town and maintained a tank regiment as reserve near Târgu Frumos proper. Meanwhile, irked by the defeat suffered at Târgu Frumos, Konev ordered the 2nd Tank Army
to commence on 12 April an offensive towards
the village of Podu Iloaiei
.
Ivan Konev
, commander of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, commenced the Uman–Botoşani Offensive
operation in the Ukraine
. This operation succeeded in separating Army Group North
's First Panzer Army from Army Group South
8th Army by 17 March; by early April Soviet units approached the Romanian border.
Starting with early April 1944, Stavka ordered the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Front
s to mount a major offensive with strategic implications in western Romania. Stavkas strategic intentions were to break German and Romanian strategic defenses in northern Romania, capture the key cities of Iaşi
and Chişinău
, and afterwards project forces deep into Romanian territory, if possible as deep as Ploieşti
and Bucharest
. By 5 April, Konev's front had crossed the upper reaches of Dniester and Prut Rivers, captured Khotyn
and Dorohoi
, and approached Târgu Frumos and Botoşani regions — 30 miles (48.3 km)—60 miles (96.6 km) northwest of Iaşi — facing only light Romanian resistance. On 8 April 1944, Konev ordered the 27th and 40th
Armies to conduct a coordinated offensive southward along the Târgu Frumos
axis, in close cooperation with Semyon Bogdanov's 2nd Tank Army
. While Konev's shock group was advancing towards Târgu Frumos, Konstantin Koroteev
's 52nd Army and elements of Andrei Gravchenko's 6th Tank Army
, which were operating north of Iaşi, were conducting operations alongside the Iaşi axis in order to support Konev's main effort.
As Konev's armies prepared to launch their offensive toward Târgu Frumos, Otto Wöhler
's German Eighth Army was involved in the heavy fighting taking place in and around the village of Popricani
, 9 miles (14.5 km) north of Iaşi, where two Soviet corps were fighting with armored kampfgruppen
, distracting the Germans' attentions and forces away from the critical Târgu Frumos sector. Exploiting the 52nd Army diversionary operations in the Iaşi region, the three armies of Konev's shock group began advancing southwards early in the morning of 8 April. The advance was quite slow due to mud-clogged roads during the rasputitsa
, as well as crossing to the west bank of the Prut River northwest of Iaşi.
, and Târgu Neamţ
regions — 30 miles (48.3 km)–60 miles (96.6 km) west of Iaşi — and capture the three towns from their Romanian defenders by surprise. While three divisions of 51st Rifle Corps were ordered to press southward toward Paşcani, another two rifle divisions were protecting their advance in the region north and northwest of Târgu Neamţ. Further to the east, seven rifle divisions assigned to 35th Guards and 33rd Rifle Corps of 27th Army would advance southeastward along the Prut starting on 7 April, forcing the Romanian 8th Infantry Division to retreat towards Hârlau
, 17 miles (27.4 km) north of Târgu Frumos. Meanwhile, another two divisions of 33rd Rifle Corps joined by two corps of the 2nd Tank Army would press the Romanian 7th Infantry Division back toward Târgu Frumos.
The Romanian 4th Army's IV Army Corps, which was responsible for defending the Târgu Frumos sector, was preparing to assemble sufficient forces to man the forward defensive positions in the Ruginoasa
–Strunga
–Oţeleni
defense line, which extended from Târgu Neamţ eastward south of Paşcani and through Târgu Frumos and Podu Iloaiei just south of Iaşi. As a result, the 6th and 8th Infantry Divisions would be manning defenses stretching from Târgu Neamţ eastward to Paşcani, while the 1st Guards and 7th Infantry Divisions would defend the sector from Paşcani eastward past Târgu Frumos to Podu Iloaiei. The latter units would be reinforced by the end of 8 April 9 miles (14.5 km) northeast of Podu Iloaiei by a Maximilian von Edelsheim
's 24th Panzer Division
's small kampfgruppe.
's Grossdeutschland Panzer Grenadier Division
towards Târgu Frumos. Elements of the division were ordered to launch a counterattack from the south of the town as soon as possible. Attacking during the rest of the day, that small German force managed to seize and hold only a foothold in the southern part of the town. However, by this time two divisions of Goriachev's 35th Guards Rifle Corps reached the region and added their weight to Trofimenko's southward thrust. By nightfall, three divisions leading 35th Corps advance passed Târgu Frumos and established a salient 3 miles (4.8 km) to 7 miles (11.3 km) deep within the Romanian defense line south and southeast of the town.
Early on 10 April, the Grossdeutschland division, consisting of approximately 70 tanks and assault guns, including 12 Panthers
and 10 Tigers
, attacked westward along the road from Podu Iloaiei to Târgu Frumos in two columns deployed north and south of the road. Following a heavy bombardment, the Germans broke into the town and engaged the Soviet troops which had taken cover in houses and other buildings. The German thrust cut off a number of Soviet units from their main force and reached the high ground west of the town by launching a concerted counterattack just as the 206th Rifle, 3rd Guards Airborne and 93rd Guards Rifle Divisions were preparing to resume their assault southwards, at a time when only their rear guards and logistical subunits remained behind to defend the Târgu Frumos region. Meanwhile, the Romanian 1st Guard and 7th Infantry Division advanced from the south, pressing the Soviets back to the north. Trapped between the German armour racing into Târgu Frumos from the east and the Romanian infantry counterattacking from the south, the three divisions of 35th Guards Rifle Corps had no choice but to retreat. At about 2200 hours, 48 hours after getting their original order, the German grenadiers had secured Târgu Frumos and the regions west and north of the town.
After a desperate two-day struggle by three divisions of 35th Corps to avoid encirclement, the fighting in the Târgu Frumos region quieted down by midday on 12 April.
, 7 miles (11.3 km) west of Târgu Frumos, where the Grossdeutschland defenses connected with those of the Romanian 1st Guards Division to form a continuous defensive front west of the town. Furthermore, on Grossdeutschlands right flank, a battlegroup from the 24th Panzer Division continued defending the sector located from north of Podu Iloaiei to the village of Leţcani
, 10 miles (16.1 km) west of Iaşi, where its right flank linked up with the defenses of the 7th Romanian Infantry Division, which was defending the northwestern flank of Iaşi.
After successfully withdrawing the three partially encircled divisions of 35th Corps, Trofimenko reorganized his 27th Army's defenses along a line extending from north of Târgu Frumos eastward to north of Podu Iloaiei. By the end of 12 April, Goriachev deployed the 206th, 3rd Guards and 93rd Divisions from left to right in defensive positions stretching from the eastern bank of Siret River near Paşcani, 15 miles (24.1 km) west of Târgu Frumos, eastward to the village of Munteni, 10 miles (16.1 km) northeast of Târgu Frumos, while further to the east, three rifle divisions from 33rd Rifle Corps were placed 9 miles (14.5 km) northwest of Iaşi.
Irritated by the defeat his troops faced at Târgu Frumos, on 12 April Konev ordered Bogdanov, whose 2nd Tank Army
concentrated its two corps south of Focuri
, 10 miles (16.1 km) north of Podu Iloaiei, to assault the German defenders at Podu Iloaiei..
Târgu Frumos
Târgu Frumos is a town in Iaşi County, Moldavia, Romania. it has a population of 13,619...
was part of the First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive
First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive
The First Jassy–Kishinev Offensive, named after the two major cities in the area, was fought between 8 April and 6 June 1944 by the Soviets and Axis powers of World War II...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
fought between Axis powers of World War II commanded by Otto Wöhler
Otto Wöhler
Otto Wöhler was a German general of infantry, serving during World War I and World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves...
and Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
forces led by Ivan Konev
Ivan Konev
Ivan Stepanovich Konev , was a Soviet military commander, who led Red Army forces on the Eastern Front during World War II, retook much of Eastern Europe from occupation by the Axis Powers, and helped in the capture of Germany's capital, Berlin....
.
By early April 1944, Stavka
Stavka
Stavka was the term used to refer to a command element of the armed forces from the time of the Kievan Rus′, more formally during the history of Imperial Russia as administrative staff and General Headquarters during late 19th Century Imperial Russian armed forces and those of the Soviet Union...
(Main Command of the Soviet Armed Forces) ordered its two major units involved in operations in south-western Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
to mount a strategic offensive in north-eastern Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. Konev's 2nd Ukrainian Front approached Târgu Frumos and Botoşani
Botosani
Botoșani is the capital city of Botoșani County, in northern Moldavia, Romania. Today, it is best known as the birthplace of many celebrated Romanians, including Mihai Eminescu and Nicolae Iorga.- Origin of the name :...
regions by 5 April and commenced its offensive towards Târgu Frumos on 8 April. The Romanian 4th Army, charged with the defense of the region, was being reinforced by German panzer
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
elements of the 24th Panzer Division
24th Panzer Division (Germany)
The 24th Panzer Division was formed in 1942 from the 1st Cavalry Division based at Königsberg.-Service:It served under the Fourth Panzer Army in Army Group South of the Eastern Front. In late December 1942 it was encircled in the Battle of Stalingrad and destroyed...
and was preparing to hold an initial Soviet advance. However, these defenses proved to be no match for the Soviet assault on the town and by the next day Târgu Frumos had been secured by two 27th Army rifle divisions. Meanwhile, the German Eighth Army command responded rapidly by ordering Hasso von Manteuffel
Hasso von Manteuffel
Hasso-Eccard Freiherr von Manteuffel was a German soldier and liberal politician of the 20th century.He served in both world wars, and during World War II was a distinguished general...
's Grossdeutschland Panzergrenadier division to move towards Târgu Frumos and recapture the town. By the evening of 10 April, 48 hours after receiving the initial order, Grossdeutschland succeeded in retaking the town and establishing new defensive positions there. Sporadic battles with Soviet elements remaining in the region continued until 12 April, as they were facing the danger of encirclement.
Following the end of the battle, the Germans formed a new defensive line northwest and northeast of the town and maintained a tank regiment as reserve near Târgu Frumos proper. Meanwhile, irked by the defeat suffered at Târgu Frumos, Konev ordered the 2nd Tank Army
2nd Guards Tank Army (Soviet Union)
The Second Tank Army of the Red Army was formed in January - February, 1943 on the basis of the 3rd Reserve Army of the Bryansk Front.Originally the Army comprised 11th and 16th Tank Corps, 60th, 112th and 194th Rifle Divisions, the 11th Guards Separate tank brigade, 115th Rifle Brigade, the 28th...
to commence on 12 April an offensive towards
Battle of Podu Iloaiei
The Battle of Podu Iloaiei was part of the First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive of World War II fought between the Germans and the Soviets. The battle was a reaction to the Soviet defeat at the First Battle of Târgu Frumos. It consisted mainly of a tank battle near Scobalteni where the First Romanian...
the village of Podu Iloaiei
Podu Iloaiei
Podu Iloaiei is a town in Iaşi County, Romania. It has 9,739 inhabitants as of 2002 and was declared a town in 2005. Four villages are administered by the town: Budăi, Cosiţeni, Holm and Scobâlţeni.-External links:...
.
Background
On 5 March 1944, Colonel GeneralColonel General
Colonel General is a senior rank of General. North Korea and Russia are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories...
Ivan Konev
Ivan Konev
Ivan Stepanovich Konev , was a Soviet military commander, who led Red Army forces on the Eastern Front during World War II, retook much of Eastern Europe from occupation by the Axis Powers, and helped in the capture of Germany's capital, Berlin....
, commander of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, commenced the Uman–Botoşani Offensive
Uman–Botosani Offensive
The Uman–Botoşani Offensive or Uman-Botoshany Offensive was a part of the Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive, carried out by the Red Army in western Ukrainian SSR against the German Army Group South...
operation in the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. This operation succeeded in separating Army Group North
Army Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
's First Panzer Army from Army Group South
Army Group South
Army Group South was the name of a number of German Army Groups during World War II.- Poland campaign :Germany used two army groups to invade Poland in 1939: Army Group North and Army Group South...
8th Army by 17 March; by early April Soviet units approached the Romanian border.
Starting with early April 1944, Stavka ordered the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Front
3rd Ukrainian Front
3rd Ukrainian Front was a Front of the Red Army during World War II.It was founded on 20 October 1943, on the basis of a Stavka order of October 16, 1943, by renaming the Southwestern Front. It included 1st Guards Army, 8th Guards Army, 6th, 12th, and 46th Armies and 17th Air Army...
s to mount a major offensive with strategic implications in western Romania. Stavkas strategic intentions were to break German and Romanian strategic defenses in northern Romania, capture the key cities of Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
and Chişinău
Chisinau
Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc...
, and afterwards project forces deep into Romanian territory, if possible as deep as Ploieşti
Ploiesti
Ploiești is the county seat of Prahova County and lies in the historical region of Wallachia in Romania. The city is located north of Bucharest....
and Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. By 5 April, Konev's front had crossed the upper reaches of Dniester and Prut Rivers, captured Khotyn
Khotyn
Khotyn is a city in Chernivtsi Oblast of western Ukraine, and is the administrative center of Khotyn Raion within the oblast, and is located south-west of Kamianets-Podilskyi. According to the 2001 Ukrainian census, it has a population of 11,124...
and Dorohoi
Dorohoi
Dorohoi is a city in the Botoşani County, Romania, on the right bank of the Jijia River, which broadens into a lake on the north.Dorohoi used to be a market for the timber and farm produce of the north Moldavian highlands; merchants from the neighboring states flocked to its great fair, held on...
, and approached Târgu Frumos and Botoşani regions — 30 miles (48.3 km)—60 miles (96.6 km) northwest of Iaşi — facing only light Romanian resistance. On 8 April 1944, Konev ordered the 27th and 40th
40th Army (Soviet Union)
The 40th Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army was an army-level command active from 1941 to 1945 and then again from 1979 to circa 1990.It was first formed, after Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, had commenced, from elements of the 26th and 37th Armies under the command...
Armies to conduct a coordinated offensive southward along the Târgu Frumos
Târgu Frumos
Târgu Frumos is a town in Iaşi County, Moldavia, Romania. it has a population of 13,619...
axis, in close cooperation with Semyon Bogdanov's 2nd Tank Army
2nd Guards Tank Army (Soviet Union)
The Second Tank Army of the Red Army was formed in January - February, 1943 on the basis of the 3rd Reserve Army of the Bryansk Front.Originally the Army comprised 11th and 16th Tank Corps, 60th, 112th and 194th Rifle Divisions, the 11th Guards Separate tank brigade, 115th Rifle Brigade, the 28th...
. While Konev's shock group was advancing towards Târgu Frumos, Konstantin Koroteev
Konstantin Koroteev
Konstantin Apollonovich Koroteev , a Soviet military officer, colonel-general , recipient of the Hero of the Soviet Union...
's 52nd Army and elements of Andrei Gravchenko's 6th Tank Army
6th Guards Tank Army
The 6th Guards Order of Red Banner Tank Army was a tank army of the Soviet Union's Red Army, first formed during World War II and disbanded in Ukraine in the 1990s after the dissolution of the Soviet Union....
, which were operating north of Iaşi, were conducting operations alongside the Iaşi axis in order to support Konev's main effort.
Otto Wöhler
Otto Wöhler was a German general of infantry, serving during World War I and World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves...
's German Eighth Army was involved in the heavy fighting taking place in and around the village of Popricani
Popricani
Popricani is a commune in Iaşi County, Romania, part of the Iaşi metropolitan area. It is composed of nine villages: Cârlig, Cotu Morii, Cuza Vodă, Moimeşti, Popricani, Rediu Mitropoliei, Ţipileşti, Vânători and Vulturi.-Mass grave:...
, 9 miles (14.5 km) north of Iaşi, where two Soviet corps were fighting with armored kampfgruppen
Kampfgruppe
In military history and military slang, the German term Kampfgruppe can refer to a combat formation of any kind, but most usually to that employed by the German Wehrmacht and its allies during World War II and, to a lesser extent, in World War I...
, distracting the Germans' attentions and forces away from the critical Târgu Frumos sector. Exploiting the 52nd Army diversionary operations in the Iaşi region, the three armies of Konev's shock group began advancing southwards early in the morning of 8 April. The advance was quite slow due to mud-clogged roads during the rasputitsa
Rasputitsa
The rasputitsa refers to the biannual seasons when unpaved roads become difficult to traverse in parts of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. The word may be translated as the "quagmire season" because during this period the large flatlands become extremely muddy and marshy, as do most unpaved roads...
, as well as crossing to the west bank of the Prut River northwest of Iaşi.
Planning
Konev's armies' initial mission was to reach Târgu Frumos, PaşcaniPascani
Paşcani is a city in Iaşi County in the Moldavia region of Romania on the Siret river. , it has a population of 42,172. Five villages are administered by the city: Blăgeşti, Boşteni, Gâsteşti, Lunca and Sodomeni....
, and Târgu Neamţ
Târgu Neamt
Târgu Neamţ is a town in Neamţ County, Romania, on the Neamţ River. It had, , a population of 20,496. Three villages are administered by the town: Blebea, Humuleşti and Humuleştii Noi.- History :...
regions — 30 miles (48.3 km)–60 miles (96.6 km) west of Iaşi — and capture the three towns from their Romanian defenders by surprise. While three divisions of 51st Rifle Corps were ordered to press southward toward Paşcani, another two rifle divisions were protecting their advance in the region north and northwest of Târgu Neamţ. Further to the east, seven rifle divisions assigned to 35th Guards and 33rd Rifle Corps of 27th Army would advance southeastward along the Prut starting on 7 April, forcing the Romanian 8th Infantry Division to retreat towards Hârlau
Hârlau
Hârlău is a town in Iaşi County, Moldavia, Romania. the estimated population is 11,271. It was the capital city of Moldova in the 15th century. One village, Pârcovaci, is administered by the town.-Population:...
, 17 miles (27.4 km) north of Târgu Frumos. Meanwhile, another two divisions of 33rd Rifle Corps joined by two corps of the 2nd Tank Army would press the Romanian 7th Infantry Division back toward Târgu Frumos.
The Romanian 4th Army's IV Army Corps, which was responsible for defending the Târgu Frumos sector, was preparing to assemble sufficient forces to man the forward defensive positions in the Ruginoasa
Ruginoasa, Iasi
Ruginoasa is a commune in Iaşi County, Romania. It is composed of four villages: Dumbrăviţa, Rediu, Ruginoasa and Vascani.-References:...
–Strunga
Strunga
Strunga is a commune in Iaşi County, Romania. It is situated 55 km from Iaşi city. It is composed of eight villages: Brătuleşti, Criveşti, Cucova, Fărcăşeni, Fedeleşeni, Gura Văii, Hăbăşeşti and Strunga....
–Oţeleni
Oteleni
Oţeleni is a commune in Iaşi County, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Hândreşti and Oţeleni.At the 2002 census, 99.9% of inhabitants were ethnic Romanians. 58.4% were Roman Catholic, 41.2% Romanian Orthodox and 0.3% Pentecostal.-References:...
defense line, which extended from Târgu Neamţ eastward south of Paşcani and through Târgu Frumos and Podu Iloaiei just south of Iaşi. As a result, the 6th and 8th Infantry Divisions would be manning defenses stretching from Târgu Neamţ eastward to Paşcani, while the 1st Guards and 7th Infantry Divisions would defend the sector from Paşcani eastward past Târgu Frumos to Podu Iloaiei. The latter units would be reinforced by the end of 8 April 9 miles (14.5 km) northeast of Podu Iloaiei by a Maximilian von Edelsheim
Maximilian von Edelsheim
Konstanz Johann Georg Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Edelsheim was a German general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords....
's 24th Panzer Division
24th Panzer Division (Germany)
The 24th Panzer Division was formed in 1942 from the 1st Cavalry Division based at Königsberg.-Service:It served under the Fourth Panzer Army in Army Group South of the Eastern Front. In late December 1942 it was encircled in the Battle of Stalingrad and destroyed...
's small kampfgruppe.
Battle
In the vanguard of Trofimenko's 27th Army, Lieutenant-General S. G. Goriachev's 35th Guards Rifle Corps resumed its advance southward from the Hârlǎu region towards Târgu Frumos during the morning on 9 April, with two rifle divisions deployed from left to right in his first echelon. Soviet riflemen quickly defeated the Romanian troops defending the town and most of the surrounding region, being reinforced by the Corps' second echelon consisting of one airborne and one rifle divisions before any enemy reaction. Meanwhile, the 42nd Guards Rifle Division captured the town of Paşcani, situated 14 miles (22.5 km) west of Târgu Frumos and defended by the Romanian 6th Infantry Division. At the same time, forward detachments of Bogdanov's 2nd Tank Army advancing east of the town attempted to reinforce Trofimenko's infantry fighting in the Târgu Frumos region, but were unable to do so due to German defenders. The German Eighth Army reacted promptly realizing the danger to its main defenses west of Iaşi, by moving Hasso von ManteuffelHasso von Manteuffel
Hasso-Eccard Freiherr von Manteuffel was a German soldier and liberal politician of the 20th century.He served in both world wars, and during World War II was a distinguished general...
's Grossdeutschland Panzer Grenadier Division
Großdeutschland Division
The Großdeutschland Division was an elite Heer combat unit of the Wehrmacht. The Großdeutschland was considered to be the premier unit of the German Army and as such it was one of best-equipped unit of the German Armed Forces, receiving equipment before all other units.- Early history -...
towards Târgu Frumos. Elements of the division were ordered to launch a counterattack from the south of the town as soon as possible. Attacking during the rest of the day, that small German force managed to seize and hold only a foothold in the southern part of the town. However, by this time two divisions of Goriachev's 35th Guards Rifle Corps reached the region and added their weight to Trofimenko's southward thrust. By nightfall, three divisions leading 35th Corps advance passed Târgu Frumos and established a salient 3 miles (4.8 km) to 7 miles (11.3 km) deep within the Romanian defense line south and southeast of the town.
Panther tank
Panther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
and 10 Tigers
Tiger I
Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
, attacked westward along the road from Podu Iloaiei to Târgu Frumos in two columns deployed north and south of the road. Following a heavy bombardment, the Germans broke into the town and engaged the Soviet troops which had taken cover in houses and other buildings. The German thrust cut off a number of Soviet units from their main force and reached the high ground west of the town by launching a concerted counterattack just as the 206th Rifle, 3rd Guards Airborne and 93rd Guards Rifle Divisions were preparing to resume their assault southwards, at a time when only their rear guards and logistical subunits remained behind to defend the Târgu Frumos region. Meanwhile, the Romanian 1st Guard and 7th Infantry Division advanced from the south, pressing the Soviets back to the north. Trapped between the German armour racing into Târgu Frumos from the east and the Romanian infantry counterattacking from the south, the three divisions of 35th Guards Rifle Corps had no choice but to retreat. At about 2200 hours, 48 hours after getting their original order, the German grenadiers had secured Târgu Frumos and the regions west and north of the town.
After a desperate two-day struggle by three divisions of 35th Corps to avoid encirclement, the fighting in the Târgu Frumos region quieted down by midday on 12 April.
Aftermath
After the end of the battle, the Grossdeutschland Division erected a new defensive line to protect Târgu Frumos, which extended in a wide arc from 5 miles (8 km) northwest, 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast, and 9 miles (14.5 km) east of the town. Manteuffel ultimately placed Grossdeutschlands Panzergrenadier Regiment on the division's left wing northwest of the town and the Fusilier Regiment on its right wing northeast and east of the town, but he retained his Panzer Regiment in reserve assembly areas close to Târgu Frumos proper. Meanwhile, throughout the day on 12 April, units from the Panzer Grenadier Regiment cleared Soviet remnants from the 206th Rifle and 3rd Guards Airborne Divisions from a small pocket west of the town and extended the regiment's defensive positions several miles forward southwestward of HeleşteniHelesteni
Heleşteni is a commune in Iaşi County, Romania. It is composed of four villages: Hărmăneasa, Heleşteni, Movileni and Oboroceni.-References:...
, 7 miles (11.3 km) west of Târgu Frumos, where the Grossdeutschland defenses connected with those of the Romanian 1st Guards Division to form a continuous defensive front west of the town. Furthermore, on Grossdeutschlands right flank, a battlegroup from the 24th Panzer Division continued defending the sector located from north of Podu Iloaiei to the village of Leţcani
Letcani
Leţcani is a commune in Iaşi County, Romania, part of the Iaşi metropolitan area. It is composed of four villages: Bogonos, Cogeasca, Cucuteni and Leţcani....
, 10 miles (16.1 km) west of Iaşi, where its right flank linked up with the defenses of the 7th Romanian Infantry Division, which was defending the northwestern flank of Iaşi.
After successfully withdrawing the three partially encircled divisions of 35th Corps, Trofimenko reorganized his 27th Army's defenses along a line extending from north of Târgu Frumos eastward to north of Podu Iloaiei. By the end of 12 April, Goriachev deployed the 206th, 3rd Guards and 93rd Divisions from left to right in defensive positions stretching from the eastern bank of Siret River near Paşcani, 15 miles (24.1 km) west of Târgu Frumos, eastward to the village of Munteni, 10 miles (16.1 km) northeast of Târgu Frumos, while further to the east, three rifle divisions from 33rd Rifle Corps were placed 9 miles (14.5 km) northwest of Iaşi.
Irritated by the defeat his troops faced at Târgu Frumos, on 12 April Konev ordered Bogdanov, whose 2nd Tank Army
2nd Guards Tank Army (Soviet Union)
The Second Tank Army of the Red Army was formed in January - February, 1943 on the basis of the 3rd Reserve Army of the Bryansk Front.Originally the Army comprised 11th and 16th Tank Corps, 60th, 112th and 194th Rifle Divisions, the 11th Guards Separate tank brigade, 115th Rifle Brigade, the 28th...
concentrated its two corps south of Focuri
Focuri
Focuri is a commune in Iaşi County, Romania. It is composed of a single village, Focuri.-References:...
, 10 miles (16.1 km) north of Podu Iloaiei, to assault the German defenders at Podu Iloaiei..