At the same time as Hube’s "mobile pocket” was painfully fighting its way west, Zhukov had crossed the Dniestr and reached the foothills of the Carpathians, first having captured Chernovtsy, Kolo-myya, and Nadvornaya. It was at this time that the II S. S. Panzer Corps, comprising the 9th and 10th "Hohenstaufen” and "Frundsberg” Panzer Divisions, arrived in the L’vov region, under the command of Colonel-General P. Hausser. In addition Hitler had made available to Army Group "South” the 367th Division and the 100th Jdger Division, which had taken part in the occupation of Hungary. to these reinforcements. Generals Model and Raus succeeded on April 9 in re-establishing contact at Buchach on the River Strypa (one of the Dniestr’s left bank tributaries) with the 1st Pan-zerarmee which, despite a retreat of some 120 miles through enemy territory, and having to cross four rivers, had managed to save most of its equipment. A few days later Hube was killed in an air accident en route to receive promotion from Hitler.
V Weary and dispirited German infantry reveal the strain of the fighting for the Dniepr bend. Only the man on the left has managed to crack a smile for the camera.
Leningrad /
World History
