Capture of Putyvl
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Capture of Putyvl
| partof = the Eastern Front of World War II and German anti-partisan operations
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| place = Putyvl, Konotop Raion, Sumy Oblast, German-occupied Europe
| date = 26 May 1942
| result = Soviet victory
| territory = Temporary occupation of Putyvl until 28 May
| combatant1 = {{flagdeco|Ukrainian SSR|1937}} Ukrainian partisans
| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}
{{flagdeco|Kingdom of Hungary}} Hungary
| commander1 = {{flagdeco|Ukrainian SSR|1937}} Sidor Kovpak
{{flagdeco|Ukrainian SSR|1937}} Semyon Rudnev
| commander2 = Unknown
| strength1 = 750{{Sfn|Kovpak|1945|page=91}}
| strength2 = Unknown, more than partisans{{Sfn|Гладков; Кизя|1973|page=105}}
| casualties1 = Unknown
| casualties2 = {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} Unknown, many deserted
{{flagdeco|Kingdom of Hungary}} 300–370 killed{{Sfn|Гладков; Кизя|1973|page=105}}{{Sfn|Kovpak|1945|page=92}}
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Axis–Soviet partisan conflict}}
}}
The Capture of Putyvl took place during operations of the Soviet partisans against German-Hungarian forces, on 26 May 1942.
Prelude
After intense fighting in April between the German forces and Soviet partisans, Germans were weakened and partisan path out of the Bryansk forest into Sumy Oblast was now open. On May 10, partisans tricked Hungarian and German forces into fighting one another, as a result mistaking each other for partisans. Partisans passed through Kamenka settlement and engaged in battle with German police, who lost 50 men during battle with partisans. On May 21, partisans blew up railway bridge on the Yamiol-Makov section and the horse-drawn bridge on the Glukhov-Makov road, as ordered to them by the Soviet command.{{Sfn|Kovpak|1945|page=91}}
Partisans were stationed in the forest and observed Putyvl, which was surrounded by other settlements, guarded by the German-Hungarian garrisons.{{Sfn|Kovpak|1945|page=91}} Partisan units were outnumbered and outgunned, but Kovpak relied on element on surprise and speed for his planned attack.{{Sfn|Гладков; Кизя|1973|page=104}}
Capture
On May 26, partisans launched an offensive towards Putyvl, during a rainy night. Hungarian unit approached Kleven village, where they were taken by surprise in a partisan attack. Hungarian units in the Vyazenki and Yatsyno settlements were also taken by surprise and forced to retreat. Hungarians withdrew to Staraya Sharpovka settlement, where another partisan attack took place. By the morning, partisans cleared all settlements where the fighting took place.{{Sfn|Kovpak|1945|page=92}} Hungarians lost 300–370 troops in these battles.{{Sfn|Гладков; Кизя|1973|page=104}}{{Sfn|Kovpak|1945|page=92}}
All the roads to Putyvl were cleared as a result of partisan actions. German police and soldiers were taken by complete surprise, believing a much bigger force was heading for them, which made the Germans desert their outposts.{{Sfn|Гладков; Кизя|1973|page=104}}{{Sfn|Kovpak|1945|page=92}}
Aftermath
The capture of Putyvl was like a birthday gift for Sidor Kovpak. Komsomol member Alexander Turaev was temporarily appointed as commandant of the city.{{Sfn|Гладков; Кизя|1973|page=105}} On 27 May, Luftwaffe bombed partisan-occupied Putyvl.{{Sfn|Kovpak|1945|page=92}} On May 28, German forces attacked the city with armoured support in order to retake it, but the partisans already withdrew into Spadshchansky forest by the time German troops arrived.{{Sfn|Гладков; Кизя|1973|page=106}}
Kovpak unified partisan units during temporary occupation of the city, planning to conduct railway sabotage operations.{{Cite web |first=А. Р. |last=Анисимова |title=«Дума о Ковпаке» |language=ru |url= https://school5.yaguo.ru/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Doklad-YAkovleva-S.-po-istorii.pdf |year=2014| location=Якутск}} The temporary occupation of Putyvl by partisans was humiliating for the German command, so they ordered to launch attacks into Spadshchansky forest. German forces launched three unsuccessful attacks into the forest, which led to heavy losses in attempts to get rid of partisans.{{Sfn|Гладков; Кизя|1973|page=107}}
References
Bibliography
- {{Cite book |first=Т. К.; Л. Е. |last=Гладков; Кизя |title=Ковпак. Серия: Жизнь замечательных людей |language=ru |url=https://meshok.net/en/item/205336148_%D0%93%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2_%D0%A2_%D0%9A%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%8F_%D0%9B_%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BA_%D0%A1%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%8B%D1%85_%D0%BB%D1%8E%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%B9|year=1973|location=Moscow|publisher=Молодая гвардия}}
- {{Cite book |first=Sidor|last=Kovpak |title=От Путивля до Карпат |language=ru |year=1945 |publisher=Детская літаратура}}
{{coord missing|Ukraine}}
Category:Anti-partisan operations of World War II
Category:Military operations of World War II involving Germany
Category:Battles and operations of World War II involving Germany
Category:Battles and operations of World War II involving Hungary
Category:Battles and operations of the Eastern Front of World War II
Category:Eastern Front (World War II)
Category:Ukraine in World War II