Kiev, Battle of

In World War II, German victory August 1941 over Soviet forces. Kiev, the third-largest Soviet city at the time, remained in German hands until liberated by the 1st Ukrainian Front November 1943.

In July 1941 Hitler changed his mind about the strategy of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the USSR, and directed General Heinz Guderian to swing south and help Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt to clear the Ukraine, instead of going straight for Moscow. Following this order, Guderian's force swung around the east of Kiev and, meeting von Rundstedt's force, effectively cut off the Soviet Southwest Front which had been detailed to protect Kiev. The Soviet forces were quickly surrounded and the Germans proceeded to destroy the contents of the pocket, taking 665,000 prisoners, 900 tanks, and 3,719 guns. Although this was a considerable victory, Guderian's diversion from Moscow meant that the winter descended before Moscow could be invested.