Battle of Kalach
| Battle of Kalach | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Battle of Stalingrad during the Eastern Front of World War II | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Germany | Soviet Union | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Fp. Paulus |
V. N. Gordov | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
At least 270 thousand military personnel |
150–160 thousand military personnel | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
c. 270,000 men 500 tanks 3000 guns and mortars |
c. 160,000 men 400 tanks 2,200 guns and mortars | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 5,000–6,000 killed |
35,000 captured 270 tanks destroyed or captured 560 guns destroyed or captured | ||||||
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The Battle of Kalach took place between the German Sixth Army and elements of the Soviet Stalingrad Front between July 25 and August 11, 1942. The Soviets deployed the 62nd and 64th Armies in a Don River bridgehead west of Kalach with the intent of impeding the German advance on Stalingrad. In the initial period of the battle, the Germans attacked and managed to surround part of the 62nd Army. In reaction, the Soviets counter-attacked and temporarily forced the Germans onto the defense. Following resupply of German forces, the roles again reversed and the Germans attacked into the flanks of the Soviet bridgehead, successfully collapsing it. The German victory positioned the Sixth Army to cross the Don River and advance on Stalingrad, which became the site of the Battle of Stalingrad.