15 February (early):147 1 Pz IV
The division did not suffer unduly during the relief attempt of Gruppe Stemmerman. Its casualties 1–20 February 1944 amounted to 77 killed in action, 225 wounded and 25 missing.148
Initial reports showed that during the operation the division lost one Pz IV and one StuG III. It also lost two Hummel and one SP AT gun.149 Both were blown up by the Germans.150 On 22 January it had one Pz IV operational,151 but it also had 23 Pz IV in workshops.152
However, the subsequent retreat forced the division to blow up a number of tanks, which could not be towed away in time, thus raising the total number of tanks lost to 16.153
Since this division was expected to take the brunt of the Soviet offensive, it was reinforced by Rgts.Gr. 677 from Korps-Abt. B.154 Unfortunately the available reports do not give any information on the condition of the Rgts.Gr. 677. The Korps-Abt. B had also dispatched one 10.5 cm howitzer battery, one 15 cm howitzer battery and four heavy antitank guns to the VIIth Corps, probably these were deployed in the area of 34th Infantry Division.155
The division possessed three organic infantry regiments with two battalions each. Three were rated as durchschnittlich and three as schwach. Also one battalion (schwach) was subordinated from 75th Infantry Division.156
The 34th Division had an artillery regiment with ten 10.5 cm howitzer batteries and one battery with 15 cm howitzers.157 The antitank defences relied on fourteen heavy AT guns, five heavy self-propelled, five towed by motor vehicles and four horse-drawn. The division had a Füsilier battalion (schwach) and an engineer battalion (durchschnittlich).158
The division had three infantry regiments, numbered 199, 217 and 676.159 Of these, the 676. Gren.Rgt. was on its way to reinforce the 389. Inf.Div. on the morning of 25 January.160 The rest of the division was deployed between Smela and Buda Orlovetskaja.161 The division lacked a Panzerjäger battalion, but had a Panzerjäger company instead, with towed guns.162 The other components, artillery regiment, Füsilier battalion and engineer battalion, seems to have been organized according to the normal lines.163 The condition of the units is however unclear. It is known that on 1 February, the division possessed 29 10.5 howitzers, 3 15 cm howitzers, 15 captured Russian 7.62 cm guns, 6 7.5 cm AT guns and 2 captured Russian 7.62 cm AT guns.164
It seems that 2,697 officers and men from the 57th Infantry Division, plus 253 HiWi, managed to break out from the pocket.165 Also 1,851 soliders who had returned from leave had assembled in Novo Ukrainka and Novo Archangelsk.166 Furthermore, considerable parts of the rear services of the division were outside the pocket when the pincers of 1st and 2nd Ukrainian Front met on 28 January. Mainly these rear services were located in the Novo Archangelsk area.167
The division seems to have had a normal organization, with three infantry regiments (numbered 105, 124 and 266), a Füsilier battalion, a Panzerjäger battalion, an engineer battalion and an artillery regiment. The Artillery regiment had number 172, the non-regimental battalions had all number 72.168 On 1 February, the division possessed 29 10.5 howitzers, 4 15 cm howitzers, 12 7.5 cm AT guns and 2 captured French 7.5 cm AT guns.169
It seems that 3,615 officers and men from the 72nd Infantry Division, plus 200 HiWi, managed to break out from the pocket.170 Also 984 soliders who had returned from leave had assembled in Novo Ukrainka.171 Furthermore, considerable parts of the rear services of the division were outside the pocket when the pincers of 1st and 2nd Ukrainian Front met on 28 January. Mainly these rear services were located in the Lipnyashka area.172
Since the Red Army was comparatively inactive on the sector defended by this division, it did not see much action during the battle. Rather it mainly guarded the flank of the German forces. Indeed, it can be called in question if the division actually participated in the Korsun battle. It is a matter of how the battle is defined. As it only suffered 93 casualties in the period 1–20 February,173 it clearly saw very little action during the German offensive, and when Vatutin’s forces conducted their offensive in January, they advanced north of the 75th Infantry Division. Nevertheless, it is included here in order to provide some information on the unit. On 22 January it had only three infantry battalions available, all rated durchschnittlich. As mentioned above, it also had one battalion detached to 34th division. In addition, it had a battalion detached to XIIIth corps (part of 4th Panzer Army).174
The Füsilier battalion was rated abgekämpft, while the engineer battalion was durchschnittlich. The division possessed 9 light field howitzer batteries and two heavy batteries. It only had seven antitank guns, all heavy, towed by motor vehicles.175
In autumn 1943 the division was reorganized and absorbed elements of the 323. Inf.Div.176 At the time of the Korsun battle, it also had elements of 213. Sich.Div. and 168. Inf.Div.177 Its original infantry regiments had been restructured and its organization was somewhat confused. The 245. Gren.Rgt was the only infantry unit the division possessed that had a regular organization,178 but it had been sent away to 68. Inf.Div. and did not take part in the operation.179 The 246. Inf.Rgt. had been dissolved and its remains formed one of the battalions in 248. Inf.Rgt., whose II. Btl. was made the divisional Füs.Btl.180 The absorbed 323. Inf.Div. was available as the Divisions-gruppe 323, with two infantry battalions (Rgts.Gr. 591 and Rgts.Gr. 593). Thus, at the beginning of the Soviet offensive the division had only four infantry battalions, plus the Füsilier battalion. Of the infantry battalions, one was rated as mittelstark and the rest as durchschnittlich. Attached to the division was the Rgt.Gr. 417, a battalion sized unit from 168. Inf.Div, which was rated as durchschnittlich.181 Also attached were two battalions from 318. Sich.Rgt, one rated as durchschnittlich and one as abgekämpft (these battalions also included remnants of the I./Sich.Rgt. 177).182
The artillery regiment comprised three of the divisions original battalions, plus one battalion from the 323. Inf.Div. Altogether, the division had seven batteries with 10.5 cm howitzers and one battery with 15 cm howitzers.183
The antitank weapons included eleven horse-drawn medium AT guns (probably 5 cm) and eight (six towed by motor vehicles and two by horse) heavy AT guns.184
It seems that 3,163 officers and men from the 88th Division, plus 200 HiWi, managed to break out from the pocket.185 In addition 442 men from the attached elements of 318th and 177th Security regiments broke out.186 Also 984 soldiers who had returned from leave had assembled in Novo Ukrainka.187 Furthermore, considerable parts of the rear services of the division were outside the pocket when the pincers of 1st and 2nd Ukrainian Front met on 28 January. Mainly these rear services were located in the Lipnyashka area.188