Capture of Putyvl
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changes Temporary occupation of Putyvl until 28 May
| Capture of Putyvl | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Eastern Front of World War II and German anti-partisan operations | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Ukrainian partisans |
 Germany Hungary | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Sidor Kovpak Semyon Rudnev | Unknown | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 750[1] | Unknown, more than partisans[2] | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown |
Unknown, many deserted 300–370 killed[2][3] | ||||||||
The Capture of Putyvl took place during operations of the Soviet partisans against German-Hungarian forces, on 26 May 1942.
After intense fighting in April between the German forces and Soviet partisans, Germans were weakened and the 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 a 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.[1]
Partisans were stationed in the forest and observed Putyvl, which was surrounded by other settlements, guarded by the German-Hungarian garrisons.[1] Partisan units were outnumbered and outgunned, but Kovpak relied on the element of surprise and speed for his planned attack.[4]
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.[3] Hungarians lost 300–370 troops in these battles.[4][3]
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.[4][3]