At Kiev on September 21st. Vatutin opened the battle with a ten-hour bombardment that saw an unprecedented concentration of firepower, over 1,000,000 shells were fired. The bombardment was paused at midday, as a ruse to prompt German survivors to reveal themselves and Soviet artillery-observation aircraft were able to fly over the battlefield unmolested by German aircraft. The Russian advance was preceded by a double creeping barrage, with shrapnel-fire from field artillery 70 yds in front of the infantry and a high-explosive barrage 150 yds ahead, which moved towards a standing shrapnel bombardment along the German second line, laid to cut off the German retreat and block the advance of reinforcements and although the Germans were forced back they did not break. The advance then slowed despite inflicting many German casualties. Raus ordered no retreat and that Soviet attacks were to be counter-attacked, despite this exposing the German infantry to Russian artillery-fire. By October 29th, German guns on the west bank of the Dnieper had begun a constant bombardment of the Russian troops on the east bank, causing many infantry casualties. The Soviet offensive was extended to the left to the south of Kiev to gain observation and eliminate the Nazi artillery firing over the river but the attacks failed to reach their objectives.
Throughout November partisans operating in the occupied area behind the German lines destroyed 387 trains, 988 goods wagons and 44 railway bridges in a total of 1,092 attacks. This affected not only the ground forces, but also Luftwaffe's ability to build up essential stockpiles of petrol, oil, lubricants, engines, munitions.
On November 4th the 3rd Guards Armored Army and I Guard Cavalry Corps, consisting of 500 T-34s, 230 British made Valentines, 78 Matildas and 96 Churchills and 156 American M3’s were added to the assault, compelling VII Army Corps to retreat and evacuate Kiev. The Soviets eventually captured Kiev on November 6th after a 47 day slugging match.
In the following 10 days the Soviets had advanced 90 miles on a 80 mile wide front when the 40th Panzer Corps and 48th Panzer Corps with a total of 259 Panther tanks and 211 Tigers, counterattacked. A huge tank battle ensued, which continued until mud halted all operations. The majority of the German force executed a successful fighting withdrawal and escaped the battle area, although the fuel situation had become so dire that most of the German armor had to be abandoned.
The Soviets suffered 163,000 killed and 216,000 wounded. The Germans lost 143,000 killed and 193,000 wounded.
To the south the Russians crossed the Prut, meeting little resistance from what was left of the German 17th Army and Romanian troops. By the end of November they had reached Galati on the Danube.
Manstein’s Army Group South was now in danger of being surrounded. During the following 3 weeks considerable fighting went on the Germans carried out a fairly drastic retreat.
