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Platoon Commander: Demyansk

The Demyansk Pocket was the name given to the pocket of German troops encircled by the Red Army around Demyansk, south of Leningrad, during the Eastern Front Campaign. The pocket existed mainly from 8 February to 21 April 1942.

The encirclement began as the Demyansk Offensive Operation, the first phase being carried out from January 7 to 20th of may1942 on the initiative of General Lieutenant Pavel Kurochkin, who commanded the Northwestern Front. The intention was to sever the link between the German Demyansk positions and the Staraya Russa railway that formed the lines of communication of the German 16th Army. However, the very difficult wooded and swampy terrain and the heavy snow cover made the initial advance by the front very modest against stubborn opposition.

The Northwestern Front's offensive was intended to encircle the entire northern flank of the 16th Army's forces, of which the 2nd Army Corps was only a small part, and the Soviet command was desperate to keep the front moving even after that success. The first thrust was made by the 11th Army, 1st Shock Army and the 1st and 2nd Guards Rifle Corps released for the operation from the Stavka reserve. A second thrust was executed on 12 February by the 3rd and 4th Shock Armies of the Kalinin Front, with the additional plan of directly attacking the encircled German forces by inserting two airborne brigades to support the advance of the 34th Army. The front soon settled, as the Soviet offensive petered out by the difficult terrain and the bad weather.

After being assured that the pocket could be supplied with its daily requirement of 270 tons of supplies by Luftflotte 1, Hitler ordered the surrounded divisions to hold their positions until their relief. The pocket contained two viable airfields at Demyansk and Peski that were capable of receiving transport aircraft. From mid-February, the weather improved significantly. There was still considerable snow on the ground, but resupply operations were generally very successful because of the inactivity of the Soviet Air Force in the area. However, the operation used up all of Luftflotte 1's transport capability and elements of its bomber force.

Over the winter and the spring, the Northwestern Front launched a number of attacks on the "Ramushevo Corridor", which formed the tenuous link between Demyansk and Staraya Russa, but could not reduce the pocket.


CREDITS TO...
*MKlinger & NilsTheRed for the map itself...
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1222521594

*Mandigo for the HD weapon's skins...
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1325591281

*Enfield for miscelaneous items...
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2147811231

*Assault Contact Mod which is included in this mod
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1879672201

I also recomend you play this mission on Normal or Harder, with fog of war activated (your choice)
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