Battle of Dubovychi

Battle of Dubovychi
Part of the Eastern Front of World War II and German anti-partisan operations
Date 23 February 1942 Location Dubovychi, Konotop Raion, Sumy Oblast, German-occupied Europe Result Soviet victory
Belligerents
Ukrainian partisans	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Sidor Kovpak Semyon Rudnev	Gen. Blauman
Strength
500	1,500
Casualties and losses
3 killed	100 killed

The Battle of Dubovychi took place as a result of the attack launched by the German forces on the partisan-held settlement as part of the punitive operation against the Soviet partisans, on 23 February 1942.

Prelude

On 22 February, 1942, German forces detected Soviet partisans who held a ceremonial parade in Dubovychi. The parade was held to celebrate partisan capture of the village, where they put to trial local police collaborators, with around 500 local residents taking part in celebration. This was part of Rudnev's plan to attract German forces. However, German forces didn't dare to attack Dubovychi until 23 February, despite having three times more troops than the partisans.

Battle

On 23 February, at 12pm, German infantry begun to approach Dubovychi from the direction of Zhukov settlement. As the punitive forces were 50 metres away from the village, partisans ambushed the forces. Two hours later, German cavalry approached from direction of another settlement, Yaroslavets. Partisans set up another ambush and withdrew to Dubovychi.

At 15pm, German infantry attacked Dubovychi from the eastern direction. The outcome of the battle was determined by the environment, as the thick leaden rain put German forces into unfavorable position and forced them to retreat.

Aftermath

As a result of unsuccessful German punitive expedition attack on Dubovychi, Germans lost around 100 troops. Partisans only suffered 3 dead. Partisans later dug out ammunition and firearms buried under snow in the Sloat Forest. This was a significant victory for partisans that allowed them to tie up German forces for 2 days. Partisan commanders Kovpak and Rudnev later organised a defensive position in another settlement where a larger battle took place on 28 February.

Bibliography

• Гладков; Кизя, Т. К.; Л. Е. (1973). Ковпак. Серия: Жизнь замечательных людей (in Russian). Moscow: Молодая гвардия.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Брайко, П.Е. (1983). Партизанский комиссар (in Russian). Moscow: Издательство ДОСААФ.