Kharkov, or Charkow, had only 200.000 inhabitants in 1910, but was transformed into a weapon production centre by the Russians. People that were required were forced to leave their farms and move to the city. There was a great need for houses, and great misery in this city, which counted almost a million inhabitants at the beginning of the eastern campaign. Sowjet-Russian experiments resulted in building skyscrapers, and busses of Intourist delivered people straight from the station.

View from a hill on the middle and southern parts of Kharkov.

Many times people fought for this city -four months after the onset of the eastern campaign German troops occupied Kharkov. Six months later the city and surrounding areas were cleared systematically. The Russians walked into the trap, which closed after three weeks. The pictures here show episodes of the five-day battle to re-occupy Kharkov.

Tanks during street fighting. The tanks destroy a fortified position located in a house. In this way they clear the road for storm troopers, who have to fight for every house and street. Stuka’s support the storm troopers from the air.

Storm troopers advance. Russian snipers are located in houses, and fire at advancing grenadiere from roof tops, windows and cellars.While the storm troopers clear the houses, the tanks slowly follow. Soon thereafter armored infantry vehicles drive through the cleared streets to bring reserve troops to the front.

At Red Square in Kharkov. This storm trooper was one of the first German soldiers who cleared the centre of Kharkov from the enemy. He is one of the countless soldiers who prevented a Russian breakthrough towards Europe during their winter offensive.