28.12.1942
Colonel General Fyodorov at the device.
Vasiliev and
Konstantinov at the device: we have some questions for you.
1) If Romanenko works poorly, could we replace him with lieutenant general Popov, your deputy. He could
command the 5th tank army and also remain your deputy.
2) Tomorrow or at worst the day after tomorrow Mikhailov wants to send one mech. corps and one or two
divisions to the Verhne-Kurmoyarskaya ferry, for them to be used to strike Tormosin. Caould you give some force
in the direction of Tormosin to meet up with that mech. corps?
3) Romanenko reports that the 2nd and 23rd tank corps are without fuel. Is that true? I checked with GABTU
and they said that it is impossible, because both of those corps took two fuel issues each before they were sent
to you. By the way, Mikhailov said that there is all the fuel you want in the region of Kachalinskaya.
4) What’s the situation with Badanov? Over.
Reporting:
1) Romanenko during the both operations was frequently misunderstanding the overall situation and acted
counter to the general idea [of the operation], trying
to achieve some minor goals sacrificing the main goals. Also Romanenko does a poor job in organizing the battle
and on top of that is not disciplined. He reports obviously exaggerated data about the enemy thus confusing
others as it seems to get one or another reinforcement. I consider that it is dangerous to have such a commander
and ask to replace him. It is possible of course to assign command of the 5th tank Army to Popov.
2) To support Mikhailov at Tormosin I decided to move the 8th cavalry corps reinforced with artillery,
tanks and RS. This group is a bit weak, but I wanted to throw the 5th mech. corps to Morozovsky from the rear,
from South that is, after it takes Chernishevsky so its operation direction is to the West. This way only the
8th. cav. corps with reinforcement units is available to be sent to Tormosin. Cvetaev has the 3rd cav. corps
which is intended to flank the Nizhny Chir group from the East and to cross the Don near Suvorovskoe. This will
reinforce Mikhailov’s flanking group. I decided to use this corps to strike on the front between Tormosin and
Verhne Aksenovsky to meet with the 8th cavalry corps. Together with the 3rd cav. Corps, the 4th guards rifle
division will ferried. As soon as they fully cross the river, Cvetaev and Romanenko’s left flank will also start
their operations from the front.
3) I received two reports from Romanenko and his staff. The first one states that the 2nd T.C. is supplied with fuel while the 23rd is not.
The second report I received after I have ordered to immediately move the 2nd T.C. to the region of Milyutinsky.
Romanenko reported that it does not have fuel. I sent him a telegram with a warning that he will be brought to
trial immediately if he doesn’t fulfill the order. I ordered Popov to precisely enforce the order. Romanenko has
fuel at his base and I told both him and Popov how much fuel he has there. I think that the 2nd T.C. has fuel,
but the 23rd T.C. has none, but can be quickly supplied with it. I have already ordered to supply it with fuel.
I expect it to be finished in the morning of 28th of December when I will move it to the region South of
Milyutinskaya to make a deeper strike against the enemy.
4) Badanov has sent 8 telegrams for me today. I responded with 10. Right now he is in a fight at
Tatsinskaya. He is in an all-round defense and his Control Post is on the North West outskirts of Tatsinskaya.
The corps has 39 T-34 tanks and 15 T-70 tanks. He is opposed by the enemy's 98th infantry division supported by
tanks, operating from Marinovskaya direction. Another group is operating from the Bobovnya, Kovylkin. Those are
retreating units which try to break through.
To the North of Tacinskaya, the enemy is at region between Skosyrskaya, Kryukov, Novo-Maryevka,
Verkhne-Oblivskiy. I regard them as retreating enemy forces who broke out of the danger of being surrounded and
have retreated to this area. Badanov reports that enemy is around 10-15km to the North of Tatsinskaya, however
he says that there are separate groups around Tatsinskaya itself.
Today Badanov’s communication officer arrived [by car] at the 1st guards army Staff. He departed
[from Badanov] on 26.12. He reported that there is not
enough ammo, gasoil and oils while there are 300 tons
of first and second grade petrol (captured). He has confirmed that the captured planes have been destroyed, I
also have like 2 reports about this from Badanov. In his last report Badanov asked for permission to leave
Tacinskaya. For the entire day he, according to his report, was under strong bombing.
To eliminate the enemy at Tetsinskaya, Skosyrskaya region and to cut off their retreat routes, I have
adopted the following measures:
a) Pavlov and Russiyanov must move to Tatsinskaya via the shortest way as fast as they can. I have issued
the instructions to do so by various communication channels. I consider those instructions to be received but I
don’t have reports on them beginning the movement;
b) at 12:00AM 27.12.1942 the 266 rifle division of
the 3rd guards army was passing by Kachalin and had orders to destroy the enemy at Skosyrskaya, occupy it and
move on to Kryukov, Mikhailov. 203 R.D. is following the 266th R.D. I have a report that the 266 R.D. has begun
to fulfill its task. The 14th rifle corps was moved by me to the front that was occupied by Rossiyanov and
Pavlov. It has a task to reach the railroad and to cut off the enemies path to retreat. However this part of the
front appears to be weak and the enemy can try to break out here. However I expect success from Romanenko’s
right flank as well as taking Skosyrskaya and holding the Tatsynskaya region. If my assigned forces will
successfully reach Tatsynskaya and destroy the enemy there, I plan to reach the river Seversky Donets and
establish a front between Usty-Belokalitvenskaya, Konstantinovskaya;
c) I ordered to urgently replace the 18th tank corps in Millerovo with infantry. From 8:00AM 28.12 it will
be moving through Bolshanku to Skosyrskaya, where it may reach at the end of 28th of december and take part in
the battle. According to the situation I will use it between river Kalitva and river Bistraya along the flank
and rear of the enemy, while of course covering myself from the West. For two days Lelyshenko’s 197th and 278th
divisions were operating along river Kalitva between Nikolskaya and Ilyinka. They organized a defence here,
perform reconnaissance missions to the west and south west and eliminate or capture separate enemy groups which
they encounter along roads or in villages. Sometimes those groups have up to 4000 men, artillery and tanks and
those have to be dealt with;
d) around Tatsinskaya our night aviation is operating. But starting in the morning of 28.12 all the
aviation of the front will attack the enemy in the region of Tatsinskaya, Skosyrskaya.
e) 14 “Douglas” aircraft are now dropping the following supplies to Tatsinskaya: gasoil 3.2 tons, oil - 1.2 tons, 76mm shells - 535, 45mm
shells - 750, rifle cartridges - 18 000, hand grenades - 560. I consider these measures sufficient to defeat the
enemy at Tatsinskaya, Skosyrskaya and to hold that region. The task is to quickly and consistently perform all
these tasks. Me, the staff of the front as well staff of armies are working on that task right now. I requested
Badanov to hold Tatsinskaya, but just in case said that in an extreme condition he may make another decision. I
may be wrong about this, but I believe Badanov and will support him constantly.
Allow me to say some words about the adversary which is against our front.
Everything that was there earlier in front of us, that is around 17 divisions could be counted as totally
destroyed with all the weapons and supplies captured by us. We captured more than 60 000 people and killed no
less than that. This way the pitiful remnants of these former troops with rare exceptions do not form any
meaningful resistance. In front of our forces, the enemy stubbornly resists on the front between Oblivskaya,
Verkhne-Chirinsky. In the region of Morozovsky today some prisoners have already been captured from the 11th
tank division and the 8th field aviation division who were in front of Romanenko earlier. Which means that
forces against him now are weaker. Our mobile units and Lelyushenko’s forces experience the most resistance from
the enemy that has crossed the Don from the Kotelnikovo region and through Tormosin moved to the Chernishkovsky,
Morozovsky, Skosyrskaya front and were retreating to Tatsinskaya. These adversary forces aim to occupy the
region and dig in there to stop future rapid advance of our mobile forces and thus allow their own forces to
retreat. Perhaps the enemy in favorable conditions could even try to hold the entire bulge in his hands to try
to support his surrounded group through it.
However if they fail, then all [our] forces will
be routed to form a powerful mobile group and cut off the entire bulge while building up forces for the “Big
Saturn”.
Along the remaining front, the biggest and relatively fresh group of forces is located in front of
Haritonov, especially in the region of Staraya Kalitva, Motrofanovka, Rossosh. As much as 5 infantry divisions
and one tank division are here. One of them is Italian infantry division.
Up to a division is in the region of Millerovo. Air reconnaissance every day reports forces, unloading at
regions of: Rossosh, Starobelysk, Voroshilovgrad, Chebotovka, Kamensk, Lihaya, Zverevo. On 27th of December
large numbers of trains were discovered in the following regions: Valuyki, Kupyansk and especially Bataysk. From
Bataisk the trains seem to mostly move to Novocherkassk.
It is hard to judge the final intentions of the adversary. However it seems that the main operation region
is prepared to be along the river Seversky Donec, river Dyorkul. The enemy of course has to close the huge 350
km wide gap created by our breakthrough. But without a doubt he will concentrate forces and organize
counterattacks. It would be very good if we could continue our actions and without pausing keep hitting our
adversary while he is not ready, but to do that we urgently need reinforcements here because all existing forces
are occupied in finishing the “Small Saturn” while “Large Saturn” needs additional forces. I have reported that
before.
Speaking about the enemy aviation, then it is severely weakened, because during the November operation we
have destroyed at least 250 planes. During the preparations for the “Small Saturn” as a result of actions
against the enemy airfields, around 150 planes were destroyed. During the execution of “Small Saturn”, more than
400 enemy planes were destroyed. Now, the enemy aviation is based in Rostov, Novocherkassk, Voroshilovgrad,
Valuyki, Urazovo, Rossoshi, Stary Oskol.
Aviation of the front with part of its forces performs daily and nightly attacks on the enemy airfields. I
ask for Golovanov’s aviation to destroy distant railway centers and aviation [of the enemy] on distant airfields. Over.
1) your primary
task is not to prevent Badanov’s defeat and send him Pavlov and Russiyanov for help as fast as possible. You
were right when allowing Badanov to retreat from Tatsinskaya in the worst case scenario.
2) Your counter strike on Tormosin with the forces of only the 8th cavalry corps, needs reinforcing with
some infantry units. Regarding the 3rd cavalry corps and guards infantry division which are being sent to
Tormosin, we think it is a very good idea.
3) We have already sent you 2nd and 23rd tank corps to turn the “Small Saturn”into “Large Saturn”. In a
week you will get another two tank corps and three or four rifle divisions for your right flank. We will help
with aviation.
4) Please accept an order from Stavka.
To the commander of South West Front Vatutin, deputy commander of South West Front Popov, lieutenant general Romanenko.
Supreme Commander Stavka order number 00495
28 december 1942
1 - Relieve lieutenant general Romanenko P.L. from his duty of commander of the 5th tank army and send him to the People's Commissariat of Defence.
2 - Assign Popov M.M. as the commander of the 5th tank army with him retaining his position as the deputy commander of the forces of the South West Front.
Supreme Commander Stavka I.Stalin, G.Zhukov.
We have doubts about the 18th tank corps that you want to send to the Skosyrskaya region. We think that it would be better to leave that in Millerovo, Verkhne-Tarasovka together with the 17th tank corps. Altogether you must keep in mind that it is better to send tank corps to run long distances in pairs not alone, to avoid getting into Badanovs situation. Mechanized corps is another story. Those have both tanks and infantry allowing them to operate alone without significant risk. What do you say about this?
Reporting. When deciding about sending the 18th tank corps I intended to reliably fulfill a mission of destroying the enemy in the region of Skosyrskaya, Tatsinskaya and to relieve Badanov. Wherein the 18th tank corps is moving out to Skosyrskaya within our controlled area and there it interacts with two rifle divisions and then with Pavlov, Russiyanov and Badanov.
Where is the 18th tank corps now?
Reporting. 18th tank corps is to the east of Millerovo near Loktev, Novo Spasovka, Olenevka, Shtakor-Orekhovka.
We advise to leave the 18th tank corps near Millerovo to operate together with the 17th tank corps. Otherways you will weaken the Millerovo, Tarasovka region thus making the “Large Saturn'' impossible. Over.
Acknowledged. Will do that. The 18th tank corps will be left in the Millerovo region and I will find something else for the Skosyrskaya region. Over.
Good, so additionally to 2nd tank corps and 23rd tank corps you have already received, you will get two more: 3rd and 10th tank corps. You have something more to say?
I have no further questions. Will begin fulfilling your orders immediately. Wish you good.
Remember about Badanov, do not forget about him and help him out by all means.
Vasiliev, Konstantinov. Good luck.I comply. Will take any possible measures and help Badanov. Good luck. Fyodorov, Ivanov.
ЦАМО. Ф. 96а. Оп. 2011. Д. 26. Л. 206—216.
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