THE DOGS OF WAR: Belgorod-Kharkov 1943

Operation Polkovodets Rumyantsev (literally: Commander Rumyantsev, after 18th century Field Marshal Peter Rumyantsev), was a military operation conducted by the Red Army in its fight against the German Wehrmacht during World War II. The operation was conducted in the Belgorod sector in the aftermath of the decisive armored clash at Kursk in July of 1943. The operation began in early August 1943 and was aimed at following up the defensive success against Field Marshal Von Manstein's Army Group South. It was immediately successful, pushing back the German defenders and liberating the cities of Belgorod and Kharkov. By the early afternoon of August 23, 1943 the Soviet divisions of General Vatutin's Voronezh Front and General Malinovsky's South West Front had successfully liberated Kharkov from German forces, annihilating most of the defenders. It was the last time that the city of Kharkov changed hands during what the Soviets called "The Great Patriotic War". The operation led to the retreat of the German forces in the Ukraine behind the Dnepr river, and it set the stage for the liberation of the city of Kiev in the autumn of 1943.

At this stage of the war the VVS were being equipped with more advanced types like the LA-5FN and the later models of the lend-lease US built P-39 Airacobra. This event recreates the air action that took place between the opposing forces of the strengthening Soviet Fighter Regiments and the Luftwaffe's veteran Jagdgruppen on the Eastern Front. 

Country Percentages:

Axis 50%
Allied 50%

Field Assignments:

Axis Bishop
Allied Knight
CM Rook
 
OOB: 
 
Axis (Luftwaffe):

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