February 28, GA "South" Command issued an order direct attack on Kharkov. Kharkov assault began on March 4.

For the exhausted Soviet troops fell avalanche of fire and steel. In spite of the supply difficulties, the Germans managed to bring their troops to a certain level for two weeks, while the Soviet divisions were often the size of a regiment. On the entire front of Kharkov, the Red Army had only 70 tanks in service.

The plan of attack is as follows:
1) - SS "Das Reich" will strike directly towards Kharkov by Novaya Wodosha
2) - SS "LAH" by Lubotyn will bypass the Kharkov from the west.
3) - PzGrD "Grossdeutschland" will secure the left flank of the attack and hit Bogodukov. If necessary, they will divest troops to support units attacking Kharkov
4) - The SS "Totenkopf" will attack with the SS "LAH", but it has fuel problems and its entry into the fight may be delayed.
5) - Right flank in the direction: Taranovka-Zmijev-Kharkov, secured 17th Panzer Div.
