Soviet Operation STAR: Attack in Sinelnikovo & Slavgorod

Background

According to German and Soviet accounts, Sinelnikovo was attacked at about 0900 on 19 February by elements of the 25th Tank Corps (162nd and 175th brigades). The town was lightly defended by elements of the German 15th Infantry Division that had an attached armor complement. Reinforcements in the form of three light Flak units (293rd, 878th and 162nd Abteilungs) arrived by train shortly before the attack. The Luftwaffe responded to the Soviet attack immediately.

The Soviet tanks --along with elements of four infantry units-- continued attacking from the east, SE and NW through the early morning hours of 20 February. Later that morning, three trains delivered additional elements of the 15th Infantry Division. The tank brigades broke off the attack, continuing south to Slavgorod and Zaporozhia.

An armored light Flak train was also reported in Sinelnikovo on the 20th. The train operated defensively between the town’s two rail stations before being sent south to Slavgorod in the evening. It departed for Zaporizhia early on 21 February, but was intercepted and destroyed by Soviet tanks south of Slavgorod.

The Scene ay Sinelnikovo on 20 & 21 February

On the morning of 20 February, evidence of heavy Luftwaffe bombing could be along the rail tracks from Sinelnikovo to a point at least eight kilometers east of the town. Tracks in the snow traced the movement of Soviet tanks (Graphic). It appears most of the tanks attacked in a line about 500 meters from the east edge of town, but one group of armored vehicles appears to have made it to the first line of houses where several destroyed vehicles could be seen. Five kilometers east of town, smoke was rising from an area that had been under heavy bombardment; several vehicles were parked in the vicinity. Inside Sinelnikovo, German vehicles were concentrated in the vicinity of the south rail station and a few others were scattered throughout the town. Tracks in the snow indicated the presence of German armored vehicles in the town.

On 20 February, four German trains --probably including the ones bringing infantry reinforcements--were active in an around Sinelnikovo (Graphic). Two were at stations and the others were west of town. The Flak train could not be identified.

Coverage of the town from the late morning on 21 February showed evidence of continued Soviet attacks and Luftwaffe bombing east, northeast and southeast of the town; at least two of the trains had been moved (Graphic). A comparison of imagery of the German defensive area along the east side of town on the 20th and 21st shows evidence of increased activity after later attacks. Two probable armored vehicles could be seen (Graphic).

A comparison of imagery of German defenses along the east side of town on the 20th and 21st shows a considerably more more fighting took place there. Two probable armored vehicles could also be seen (Graphic). On 20 and 21 February German vehicles could be seen inside the town at various locations, but most were concentrated near the south rail station. Some vehicle tracks left near the station on the 21st indicated armored had been deployed there.

Attack on Flak Train

More coverage from 21 February confirmed the destruction of the Flak train five kilometers south-southeast of Slavgorod (Graphics). The train had already been attacked. Heavy track activity could be seen in the vicinity and fighting was still in progress. At least two Luftwaffe Ju 88’s (one shown) provided ground support.

Pavlograd

On the way to Sinelnikovo and Slavgorod, the Red Army passed through Pavlograd, where evidence of bombing could clearly be seen on 20 February (Graphic), probably before the German counterattack.