By the end of December 1943, with Kiev retaken by the Soviets, Hitler Ordered the
German forces in the Dnepr bend to hold at all costs. Among those so ordered were
the German 11th and 42nd Corps whose position formed a large bulge in the front line.
Attacking on Januari 24, 1944 on both sides of this bulge, Soviet forces encircled
over 60.000 Germans in the Kosrun Pocket, the little Stalingrad on the Dnepr.