Christophe Posted February 4, 2008 Author Posted February 4, 2008 Hi Marc,Let's try this... I propose the following answers :1. Leningrad or Sankt Petersburg2. It was the North-West Front3. 900 km of Front.4. From 8 September 1941 to 18 January 19445. XLIIe et LIIe Armies ?6. Saint-PetersburgCheers.Ch.
Christian Zulus Posted February 5, 2008 Posted February 5, 2008 RZHEV ?Dear Marc,maybe the series of the battles of Rzhev http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Rzhev during January 8, 1942?March 22, 1943 ?But it was known as the "Rzhev meat grinder" ("Ржевская мясорубка") .... Best regards ChristianOK guys, let's try this once more This time, we are looking for a place.It is refered to as the "Soviet Verdun" in the former USSR. There took place one of the bloodiest battle of WW2; more than 300,000 Soviet troops were killed there, to which should be added the German deads (I don't have any figures about them, but I've been told it was awfully high too).1. What is the Russian name of the place?2. Where is it located? What front was it part of?3. What was the maximum size (approximate) of the battlefield?4. How long did the battle last (beginning/ending dates)?5. What was the first unit engaged in the opening battle?6. What is there today?Let's have fun
Christian Zulus Posted February 5, 2008 Posted February 5, 2008 SMOLENSK 1941 ?Dear Marc,the Battle of Smolensk 1941 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Smolensk_(1941) had been called the "Soviet Verdun" ?But far less than 300,000 Soviet troops had been killed ... Best regards ChristianBTW: I guess, that both of my proposals don't match ...
Lapa Posted February 6, 2008 Posted February 6, 2008 Hi Marc,Let's try this... I propose the following answers :1. Leningrad or Sankt Petersburg2. It was the North-West Front3. 900 km of Front.4. From 8 September 1941 to 18 January 19445. XLIIe et LIIe Armies ?6. Saint-PetersburgCheers.Ch. Christophe,It would have been too easy, sorry Marc
Lapa Posted February 6, 2008 Posted February 6, 2008 RZHEV ?Dear Marc,maybe the series of the battles of Rzhev http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Rzhev during January 8, 1942?March 22, 1943 ?But it was known as the "Rzhev meat grinder" ("Ржевская мясорубка") .... Best regards ChristianChristian,Nice try, but see previous post addressed to Christophe Marc
Lapa Posted February 6, 2008 Posted February 6, 2008 SMOLENSK 1941 ?Dear Marc,the Battle of Smolensk 1941 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Smolensk_(1941) had been called the "Soviet Verdun" ?But far less than 300,000 Soviet troops had been killed ... Best regards ChristianBTW: I guess, that both of my proposals don't match ... Christian,Same again Pay attention to the fact that I did not simply write 'It is refered to as the "Soviet Verdun"'.Marc
Christian Zulus Posted February 6, 2008 Posted February 6, 2008 KURSK 1943 ?Pay attention to the fact that I did not simply write 'It is refered to as the "Soviet Verdun"'.Dear Marc,it might be Kursk, July 4 ? August 23, 1943 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kursk ?Kursk had a nearly perfect defense system (better than Verdun ) and the Soviet casualities might match.That's the memorial on Prokhorovka Field, where the biggest tank battle in the history of mankind took place:Best regards Christian
Lapa Posted February 6, 2008 Posted February 6, 2008 ...it might be Kursk, July 4 ? August 23, 1943 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kursk ?... Christian,It might have been, but it is not Marc
Ed_Haynes Posted February 6, 2008 Posted February 6, 2008 This is starting to feel more like a guessing game than a quiz.
Lapa Posted February 6, 2008 Posted February 6, 2008 (edited) This is starting to feel more like a guessing game than a quiz. Ed,As much as I thought that Admiral Postnikov would be a tough question, I believe that this one should be easier. As to being a guessing game, I don't think that it needs to be. Let's simply put things this way: we may not know too well the history and events of the Eastern Front, beyond the obvious ones.So, one more hint: Christophe was, globally speaking, looking in the right direction... Marc Edited February 6, 2008 by Lapa
Ed_Haynes Posted February 6, 2008 Posted February 6, 2008 Thank you Marc, maybe we just need a nudge in the right direction . . . ??
Christophe Posted February 6, 2008 Author Posted February 6, 2008 Ok, Marc. Back to work... But, for me, only as soon as Friday, as I will travel tomorrow...Cheers.Ch.
Christophe Posted February 9, 2008 Author Posted February 9, 2008 Hi Marc,Not an easy one... I'm thinking about Operation uranus and Stalingrad...1. What is the Russian name of the place?Volgograd2. Where is it located? What front was it part of?Close to the former Stalingrad. Southern Front.3. What was the maximum size (approximate) of the battlefield?250 km.4. How long did the battle last (beginning/ending dates)?Operation Uranus took place from 19 November 1942 to 2 February 19435. What was the first unit engaged in the opening battle?3 complete armies, the 1st Guards Army, 5th Tank Army, and 21st Army.6. What is there today?A memorial complex commemorating the battle, dominated by an immense allegorical sculpture of Mother Russia, was erected on the Mamayev Kurgan, a hill that saw some of the most intense fighting during the battle.Cheers.Ch.
Christian Zulus Posted February 9, 2008 Posted February 9, 2008 Dear Christophe,I guess, that Stalingrad is a bit too south, as Marc told to us that the direction (Leningrad) is correct ... Maybe something west of Leningrad around Oranienbaum or Peterhof - two locations, which were hold by the Red Army during the whole GPW ?Best regards ChristianHi Marc,Not an easy one... I'm thinking about Operation uranus and Stalingrad...1. What is the Russian name of the place?Volgograd2. Where is it located? What front was it part of?Close to the former Stalingrad. Southern Front.3. What was the maximum size (approximate) of the battlefield?250 km.4. How long did the battle last (beginning/ending dates)?Operation Uranus took place from 19 November 1942 to 2 February 19435. What was the first unit engaged in the opening battle?3 complete armies, the 1st Guards Army, 5th Tank Army, and 21st Army.6. What is there today?A memorial complex commemorating the battle, dominated by an immense allegorical sculpture of Mother Russia, was erected on the Mamayev Kurgan, a hill that saw some of the most intense fighting during the battle.Cheers.Ch.
Christophe Posted February 9, 2008 Author Posted February 9, 2008 Hi Christian,I certainly agree about the location that Marc seemed to show us... But, as he also referred to "Verdun", with heavy casualties... Cheers.Ch.
Christian Zulus Posted February 9, 2008 Posted February 9, 2008 (edited) I certainly agree about the location that Marc seemed to show us... But, as he also referred to "Verdun", with heavy casualties... Dear Christophe,well, I had been also wrong with Kursk, Smolensk or Rzhev ... In the south we also have Sevastopol, as a true fortress like Verdun ...Close to Leningrad we also have the famous Volkhov Front, with losses of the Red Army around the asked 300.000 .Best regards Christian Edited February 11, 2008 by Christian Zulus
Lapa Posted February 10, 2008 Posted February 10, 2008 Dear Christophe,well, I had been also wrong with Kursk, Smolensk or Rzhev ... In the south we also have Sevastopol, as a true fortress like Verdun ...Close to Leningrad we also have the famous Volokhova Front, with losses of the Red Army around the asked 300.000 .Best regards Christian Guys,OK, let's clarify things here. The Verdun designation does not come from the existance of forts or fortresses; it comes from the fact that this place has been most certainly the utmost "meat-grinder" of the whole eastern front in term of casualties per square km (or m, or cm), and from the incredible amount of iron/lead/steel/whatever other metal that has been thrown there.Both Christophe (at least earlier...) and Christian are on the right track Marc
Christian Zulus Posted February 11, 2008 Posted February 11, 2008 Volkhov FrontBoth Christophe (at least earlier...) and Christian are on the right track Dear Marc,taking the losses into account (more than 300.000 casualities) I might opt for the Volkhov Front (Волховский фронт): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkhov_FrontThere had been a saying among Red Army soldiers: "Better 3 times Stalingrad, than 1 time Volkhov Front!".The spearhead had been Vlasov's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrey_Vlasov 2nd Shock Army: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Shock_ArmyBest regards Christian
Lapa Posted February 11, 2008 Posted February 11, 2008 Volkhov FrontDear Marc,taking the losses into account (more than 300.000 casualities) I might opt for the Volkhov Front (Волховский фронт): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkhov_FrontThere had been a saying among Red Army soldiers: "Better 3 times Stalingrad, than 1 time Volkhov Front!".The spearhead had been Vlasov's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrey_Vlasov 2nd Shock Army: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Shock_ArmyBest regards ChristianChristian,You definitely are on the right track. Now, you need to be much, much more specific than that Marc
Christian Zulus Posted February 11, 2008 Posted February 11, 2008 You definitely are on the right track. Now, you need to be much, much more specific than that Dear Marc,many thanks ."Soviet Verdun" & hughe losses indicate to the period after the Vlasov-debacle .One of the meat grinding Volkhov battles of 1942/43 .When to start and when to end ?At the Novgorod Kremlin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novgorod_Kremlin there is a big monument commemorating the battles against the Nazis at the river Volkhov:Best regards Christian
Lapa Posted February 11, 2008 Posted February 11, 2008 Dear Marc,many thanks ."Soviet Verdun" & hughe losses indicate to the period after the Vlasov-debacle .One of the meat grinding Volkhov battles of 1942/43 .When to start and when to end ?At the Novgorod Kremlin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novgorod_Kremlin there is a big monument commemorating the battles against the Nazis at the river Volkhov:http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2008/post-922-1202755885.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2008/post-922-1202755901.jpgBest regards ChristianChristian,The question refers to one very specific location.Marc
Christian Zulus Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 Staraya RussaThe question refers to one very specific location.Dear Marc,then I would opt for one of the numerous battles for Staraya Russa (Ста́рая Ру́сса) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staraya_Russa , 100 km south of Novgorod and part of the Soviet North-Western Front. The fortified town was occupied by the Germans between August 9, 1941 and February 18, 1944. Totally destroyed by them .... .Best regards Christian
Lapa Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 (edited) Christian,That's not it, you went too far away.So, how about one more hint: there also the town/village (although not a fortified one) was totally destroyed, and has never been rebuilt.Marc Edited February 12, 2008 by Lapa
Christian Zulus Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 Tikhvin 1941That's not it, you went too far away.Dear Marc,Demyansk http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demyansk_Pocket is even more far away ... My last try:The battle of Tikhvin in 1941.The German Heeresgruppe Nord initially succeeded in occupying Tikhvin on November 8. However the newly-appointed commander of the Soviet 4th Army, Kirill Meretskov, bogged down the Germans by applying active defense and constant counterattacks. He then went on the offensive and on December 10 recaptured Tikhvin.In the midst of the battle Stavka ordered Meretskov to organize a new Volkhov Front. By December 30 Meretzkov had forced von Leeb's troops back to positions from which they began their Tikhvin offense. According to one of the leading historians of the Eastern Front, David Glantz: "the concept of blitzkrieg failed for the first time in the Second World War... anticipating [the Soviet victory at Moscow]".But Tikhvin has been rebuilt after the GPW ... O.K., if my guessing is wrong again, I will give w.o.Best regards Christian
Recommended Posts