Vyazma airborne operation

This article is about the 1942 operation. For the 1812 engagement around Vyazma, see Battle of Vyazma.
Vyazma Airborne Operation
Part of Battles of Rzhev
Date18 January – 28 February 1942
Location
Smolensk Oblast, RSFSR
Result German victory
Belligerents
 Germany  Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Nazi Germany Fedor von Bock Soviet Union Ivan Zatevakhin
Units involved
4th Panzer Army
  • 4th Airborne Corps
  • other airborne forces units
  • 7,373 parachutists
  • 1,524 bales with ammunition and equipment

The Vyazma Airborne Operation was a Red Army airborne landing in the rear of German lines during the Battles of Rzhev. It took place from 18 January to 28 February 1942.[1] The objective of the airborne landing was to help troops of the Kalinin Front and Western Front to encircle and destroy Army Group Centre. The airborne operation was unsuccessful and resulted in the loss of most of the troops landed.[2]

  1. ^ "История Ржевской битвы 1941–1943 гг". rshew-42.narod.ru. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  2. ^ Glantz, David M. (1 January 1994). The History of Soviet Airborne Forces. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780714641201.