While bloody battles raged along the river Mius front, the Soviets used the breathing space caused by the departure of the waffen SS panzer divisions in the northwest Ukraine to prepare for the decisive offensive to break the German hold on the eastern front once for all.
In the swirling tank battles west of Karkov, two Soviet tank armies had been all but destroyed, losing a combined total of more than 800 tanks in a two weeks period.
The German counter attacks after the first part of operation Rumyanstev carried on by the III Pz. Corps had succeded beyond the wildest dreams of his commanders.
The price for the victory was heavy tought.
German panzer Divisions now averaged less than 30 operational Tanks and Assault guns each.
