Poltavabloggen

The Lower Dnieper Offensive took place in 1943 during the Second World War. It was one of the largest Second World War operations, involving almost 4,000,000 troops on both sides and stretching on a 1400 kilometer long front. During this four-month operation, the eastern bank of the Dnieper was recovered from German forces by five of the Red Army's Fronts, which conducted several river assault crossings to establish several bridgeheads on the western bank. Subsequently, Kiev was liberated in a separate offensive. To secure such a large-scale crossing a few dummy springboards for attack have been created by the Red Army on the eastern bank of the Dniper River. They had to distract the German forces from main springboards. One of such dummy springboard has been located close to the village of Keliberda located 100 km. away from Poltava. Four Red Army divisions deployed there incurred extremely heavy losses. About 30000 soldiers and officers have been killed there. Not long ago a new monument in commemoration of those who payed with their lives for the liberation of Kiev has been unveiled on the bank of the Dniper River.