Forgotten Battle 16

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Kiev

Intro

The battle of Kiev occurred from July 7 to September 26, 1941. It was fought between the German Wehrmacht and the Soviet Red Army east and south of the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. This battle would culminate in the largest encirclement in the history of warfare and be considered by historians as one of the greatest military triumphs of the Wehrmacht during World War II. It would also come to symbolize the combat ineffectiveness of Joseph Stalin.

Part I

Before the beginning of World War II, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union had signed a treaty of nonaggression. Although the governments of both nations seemed to be mortal enemies, recent events and common goals had led both to the negotiating table. On August 24, 1939, Joachim von Ribbentrop and Vyacheslav Molotov signed the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (aka: the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact).

A few years prior to World War II, several conflicts had broken out in Europe that involved both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. The most impactful of them was the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). This two and a half year conflict, was fought between Spanish Nationalists led by Francisco Franco and the Spanish Republican Government led by President Manuel Azaña. During the war, the Nazis supported Franco while the Soviets backed Azaña. After nearly three years of brutal conflict, Franco's Nationalist Army emerged victorious.

On September 1, 1939, the German Army launched a blitzkrieg (lightning war) invasion of Poland. Sixteen days later, the Soviet Red Army invaded from the east. The Polish Army was both outnumbered and severely outgunned. After just 35 days of fighting, the Polish Army surrendered. Inspired by his "victory" in Poland, Josef Stalin decided to launch an invasion of Finland (this conflict would be known as the Winter War). 

Instead of winning a quick and easy victory, the Red Army suffered multiple defeats. This was directly due to Stalin's purge of the officers of the Red Army. Although they eventually emerged victorious in the Winter War, the Red Army's high number of casualties (more than three times the number of Finnish) had encouraged Adolf Hitler. Further encouraged by the Wehrmacht's victories in France and Poland, Hitler decided to ignore his non-aggression pact with Stalin and turned the blitzkrieg on the Soviet Union.

Part II

On June 22, 1941, the Wehrmacht launched Operation Barbarossa. Millions of German, Romanian, and Finnish soldiers (along with thousands of collaborators from Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland) crossed into Soviet territory after thousands of Luftwaffe planes began bombing Soviet military positions. The Red Army was caught completely off guard and suffered staggering losses. 

In spite of receiving several warnings of the Wehrmacht's movements from his intelligence officers, Stalin had ignored all of them (he even had some executed). When he learned of the Invasion of the Soviet Union, he initially blamed his generals and suffered a nervous breakdown. In his maddened state he began to make highly irrational decisions that hampered the Red Army's generals ability to command. This in turn caused the Red Army to suffer catastrophic defeats in Ukraine and Belarus (even when they had superior numbers). Within weeks of the German invasion, entire Soviet divisions ceased to exist.

On July 9, Adolf Hitler issued his Führerweisung Nr 33 (Führer instruction). This ordered the Wehrmacht to cancel their advance on Moscow and begin driving south. In early August two Wehrmacht Army groups (numbering more than 500,000 soldiers) began converging on the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. In command of these army groups, was Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt. Facing the Wehrmacht was the Soviet Southern and Southwestern Fronts under the overall commands of Marshals Semyon Timoshenko and Semyon Budyonny. Combined, their army numbered more than 600,000 soldiers. Although they had superior numbers, the Soviets found themselves severely outgunned. On August 22, elements of the Wehrmacht crossed the Dnieper River and began laying siege to the city of Kiev.

Part III

In command of the Soviet garrison at Kiev was, General Mikhail Kirponos. In preparation for the Axis advance, he had arrayed his army in the salient in and around the city. After seeing how precarious his position was becoming, he requested that he be allowed to retreat from Kiev. Stalin denied Kirponos's request and ordered the latter to hold the city at all costs.

Two panzer divisions had advanced around and attacked the flanks of the Red Army. Although they were suffering heavy casualties, the German Army was able to break through and rapidly advance across to the rear of the Soviet army. Their main targets were the Ukrainian towns of Lokhvista in the north and Lubny in the south. With the situation in Kiev rapidly deteriorating and encirclement becoming inevitable, Stalin found himself under increasing scrutiny. He decided to unceremoniously relieve General Semyon Budyonny of command and replace him with General Timoshenko. This decision effectively sealed the fate of Soviet Army at Kiev.

On September 13, the German 1st Panzer Group attacked the town of Lubny. To their surprise, they were met with stiff resistance from the a ragtag defense of Red Army soldiers and local civilians. Although the latter managed to hold the town for three days, the Germans eventually broke through and successfully linked up with the 2nd Panzer Group in Lokhvista. The encirclement was now complete. With four entire Soviet armies now trapped within Kiev, Stalin finally gave them permission to withdraw from the city. General Kirponos and his soldiers made several attempts to breakout of the encirclement. All of them failed. Kiev finally fell to the Wehrmacht on September 26, 1941.

Epilogue

The casualties for the battle of Kiev had been costly for both sides. The Germans suffered more than 26,000 KIA, 96,000 wounded, 5,000 missing or captured. By contrast, the Red Army lost more than 700,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or captured (among the dead was General Kirponos). In addition, they also lost more than 300 aircraft and 400 tanks. The number of civilians killed during the battle is unknown, but believed to be even higher. Just over 15,000 Red Army soldiers (including Nikita Krushchev) were able to escape the encirclement before Kiev fell. 

Three days after the fall of the city, a death squad called, the Einzatzgruppen moved in. They then rounded up more than 33,000 of Kiev's Jewish population and massacred them at the Babi Yar ravine (this was the worst two-day massacre of World War II). The city would remain under a brutal occupation for the next two years.

Today, the Battle of Kiev remains the largest encirclement in military history. Many historians have called it the Wehrmacht's greatest triumph of World War II and the Red Army's greatest single disaster. The Red Army's defeat also reflected very badly on Joseph Stalin and would come to represent his incompetence as military leader. One Red Army veteran is quoted as saying, "The people did not win the war thanks to Stalin, but in spite of Stalin". It was only when Stalin ceased his interference that the Red Army was able to recover and turn the tide of World War II.

https://www.hoover.org/research/great-battle-kiev-september-1941

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/timeline-event/holocaust/1939-1941/occupation-of-kiev

https://codenames.info/operation/1st-battle-of-kiev/

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/the-largest-encirclement-warfare.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/from-the-archive-blog/2019/jul/24/molotov-ribbentrop-pact-germany-russia-1939

Forgotten Battle 15

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Arracourt

Intro

The battle of Arracourt was occurred from September 19 to September 29 in 1944. It was fought between the American 4th Armored Division and the German 5th Panzer Army near the commune of Arracourt, in Northern France. This eleven-day clash of tanks would become one of the greatest in Western Europe during World War II.

Part I

After the Liberation of Paris, the Western Allies began pushing towards the border between France and Germany. Their target was a strongly defended line called, the Siegfried Line. Unfortunately the American advance temporarily stopped after running low on gasoline and ammunition. After a three-day resupply, thousands of American soldiers resumed their advance into northern France. 

The Americans were unaware that the Germans had bolstered their defenses on the Siegfried Line and were preparing to launch a counter-attack. Emboldened by the American's three-day pause, they were hoping to cut through the Allied line, and push them back into the sea. Unfortunately, many of their tanks were destroyed in Allied aerial strikes before they could even begin their counter-attack.

By the time the Germans got underway, the Americans had resumed their advance and crossed the Moselle River on September 13. After learning this, Hitler ordered his Panzer brigades to attack and push the Americans back across the river. The converging point of the two armies was the French commune of Arracourt. On the night of September 18, a heavy fog rolled in and grounded American planes. At dawn the next morning, the Germans began their attack.

Part II

The Wehrmacht forces included two Panzer Brigades of the 5th Panzer Army. Under the command of General Hasso von Manteuffel, their force mostly consisted of Panzer (panther) IV and Panzer V tanks. Armed with a 7.5 cm KwK 42 gun and protected by 100 mm armor on the front, these tanks were more than a match for anything that the Americans had at their disposal. They were nearly invulnerable to head-on attack and had much better range. However, their heavy armor and armaments limited their speed to less than 30 miles per hour. Their armor was also much weaker on the sides. Also included were a few Panzer Mark VI Tigers. Protected by more than 120 mm of armor and armed with an 88 mm cannon, these were the most feared tanks in the Wehrmacht army.

The American forces were under the overall command of General George S. Patton. Facing the German attack at Arracourt, was Combat Command A (CCA) of the 4th Armored Division. The man who was commanding this group was Colonel Bruce C. Clarke. Most of the American force consisted of M4 Sherman medium tanks. Unlike the Germans, the Shermans were armed with a 75 mm gun and protected by only 8 mm of armor. But what they lacked in armor, they more than made up for in speed and maneuverability. The Shermans could drive at speeds of 40 miles per hour and could handle almost any rugged terrain. Their small size made them especially useful in France's forested areas.

Also included were elements of the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion. This group consisted of M18 Hellcat tank destroyers (TDs). Armed a 76 mm cannon and with a speed of over 60 miles per hour, these machines had the firepower to penetrate the armor of Panzer. Unfortunately, like the Sherman's, their speed came at the cost of heavy armor (only 13 mm). 

Part III

At first on of September 19, the German panzers only encountered light resistance. The first major engagement took place just after 8 AM. Approximately 40 tanks 113th Panzer Brigade encountered a small platoon of M18 Hellcats. The first four hellcats ambushed the first line of panzer tanks. The panzers then quickly returned fire and destroyed three of them. But then four more hellcats flanked the panzers and hit them in their vulnerable side armor. By afternoon, the hellcats had successfully knocked out 19 of the attacking panzers while only losing three of their own.

A day after this engagement, more panzers converged on the CCA's headquarters. After noticing this, Colonel Clarke ordered a column of tanks to head them off. When a brigade of panzers entered a valley, they were confronted by A Company who engaged them in a firefight. Although they lost a few of their own, the M4s of A Company fired smoke rounds at the panzers. Although these rounds could not penetrate the latter's armor, they succeeded in blinding their vision. This in turn, allowed a second company of M4s to drive around and flank the panzers from their left. By the end of the day, 43 panzers were destroyed. Later that night, Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton ambushed another column of panzers at the village of Montcourt and wiped out nearly all of them.

After suffering heavy casualties, the Germans decided to divert their attention away from Arracourt. On September 24, the launched an attack on the French village of, Château-Salins. Defending Château-Salins, was the American 8th Tank Battalion of the 4th Armored Division. Amid a heavy downpour, the fighting began in the afternoon. Using the high ground to their advantage, the M4s and M18s successfully held off repeated attacks by the panzers. Then, American airplanes descended on the battlefield and annihilated the Germans. The few who survived, were forced to retreat.

Epilogue

The battle of Arracourt continued for another five days. By September 29, the Germans had had enough. They retreated back towards the Siegfried Line, and battle was over. The casualties for the battle had been massive for the Germans. Of the 5th Panzer Army's 262 tanks and assault guns, more than 200 of them had been destroyed. Their number of human losses is unknown, but it is believed to be in the thousands. By contrast, the 4th Armored Division had lost 41 M4 Sherman tanks, 7 Hellcat tank destroyers, 225 men killed, and 648 wounded. Until the Battle of the Bulge in December, this was the largest tank battle between Americans and Germans.

Although the Lorraine Campaign was far from over, the Americans had won a major victory at Arracourt. For the rest of the war, the 4th Armored Division was known as, "Patton's Vanguard". Today, the battle of Arracourt is remembered as one of the greatest and most tactical triumphs of American tanks during World War II.

https://www.warlordgames.com/tank-war-battle-of-arracourt-19-to-30-september-1944/

battle-of-arracourt

https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/the-battle-of-arracourt-pattons-third-army-vs-manteuffels-panzers/

https://www.ncolcoe.army.mil/About-Us/Hall-of-Honor/GEN-Bruce-Cooper-Clarke/

Forgotten Battle 14

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Monocacy 

Intro

The battle of Monocacy occured on July 9, 1864, in Frederick County, Maryland. It was fought between the Confederate Army led by General Jubal Early and the Union Army commanded by General Lewis Wallace. This battle would go down in history as the "battle that saved Washington".

Part I

By June of 1864, the tide of the Civil War had taken a drastic turn. On the Eastern Front, General Ulysses S Grant had launched his Overland Campaign against General Robert E Lee. They had fought a series of battles before finally stopping at the city of Petersburg in southern Virginia. This began the longest siege in American history. 

For the next nine months, both armies fought a series of battles around the state of Virginia trying gain the upper hand. Although, the Federals were unable to break the stalemate at Petersburg, they were able to launch a devastating attack targeting the Confederate supply lines. Beginning in May, thousands of Federal soldiers moved into the Shenandoah Valley. Led by Generals David Hunter and Philip Sheridan, they began laying waste to the countryside using a scorched-earth policy. 

To counter this, Lee ordered Major-General Jubal Early to drive the Federals out of the Shenandoah and if possible, launch a counter-attack against Washington DC. From May to June, Early's army fought three battles against David Hunter's army. On June 17, Early forced Hunter to retreat at the battle of Lynchburg.  

Part II

With the Shenandoah Valley seemingly safe, Early decided follow up by launching raid on Washington DC. He hoped that this would compel General Grant to divert his attention away from Lee at Petersburg. Within two weeks of his victory at Lynchburg, Early and his army successfully crossed the Potomac River into Maryland and began rapidly sweeping north towards Washington.

Alarmed by Early's advance, Grant ordered all available Union armies to move to defend the city. The only force that could be mustered to confront the advancing Confederates was a ragtag force of inexperienced soldiers under the command of Major General Lewis Wallace. Numbering only 5,800, they gathered at Monocacy Junction in Frederick County, Maryland, on July 8. 

Knowing that his force was severely outnumbered, Wallace was hoping to delay the Confederates long enough for reinforcements to arrive and defend Washington. Early on the morning of July 9, he (and Brigadier General James Ricketts) occupied the bridges and fords on the northern side of the Monocacy River. It wasn't long before Early arrived with more than 14,000. The fighting began just after 9 AM that morning.

Part III

General Early first ordered a cavalry division (led by Brigadier General John McCausland) to ride around and outflank the Union left. Unfortunately, while advancing dismounted through a cornfield, they ran into a line of union infantry led by General Ricketts. After a few minutes of fighting, McClausland and his cavalry were forced to pull back after taking heavy casualties.

In spite of this setback, Early then ordered three of his own infantry brigades (led by Brigadier General John Gordon) to launch an attack on Wallace's left flank. After advancing in echelon formation, the Louisiana brigade began to pour heavy fire into the union lines. However, they too were driven back by return fire. 

For the next four hours, both sides continued to trade fire and inflict heavy casualties on the other. But at 3:30 in the afternoon, Gordon's soldiers began to break through the union left. Eventually, the union left crumbled and broke. After taking the flank, the Confederates turned and began to roll up the union center. With disaster brewing for the federals (and ammunition running low), General Wallace realized that the situation was hopeless. He ordered his troops to begin a withdrawl from Monocacy. By 5 PM, the battle was over.

Epilogue

The casualties for the engagement at Monocacy were heavy for both sides. The Confederates had suffered just over 1,000 men killed, wounded, or missing. By contrast, the Federals suffered 1,200 casualties. Tactically, this battle had ended in a Confederate victory. However, General Early's victory was short-lived. The battle had severely weakened his army and cost them precious time. Early decided to rest his army for a full day to recover. By the time he had resumed is march on Washington, thousands more federal soldiers arrived to block his path. On July 11, the Confederates arrived and attacked Fort Stevens on the outskirts of Washington. They were repulsed and forced to retreat. General Early then took his army back into the Shenandoah Valley. There he suffered three more defeats by General Philip Sheridan. With their last defeat at Cedar Creek, Early and what remained of his army pulled out of the Valley.

Although he had lost the battle of Monocacy, General Wallace had accomplished his goal of delaying Early's advance long enough for reinforcements to arrive to defend Washington. Unfortunately, in the initial aftermath of the battle, he was chastised by his superiors for losing to Early. Wallace was removed from command and replaced with Major General Edward Ord. After the war, he served as Governor of New Mexico Territory. In 1880, he published the bestseller, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. 

Years after the war, Wallace's stand at Monocacy began to receive major praise from the public. General John Gordon (who had broken the union line) later remarked that Wallace had, "snatched Washington out of our hands". Historians would later nickname the battle, "the battle that saved Washington". In late July, Wallace had the bodies of the fallen buried on the battlefield. He remarked, "These men died to save the National Capital, and they did save it".

https://www.nps.gov/mono/index.htm

https://armyhistory.org/the-battle-of-monocacy-9-july-1864/

https://thestrategybridge.org/the-bridge/2018/7/9/the-battle-of-monocacy-reflections-on-battle-contingency-and-strategy

http://www.mountolivethistory.com/stories-in-stone-blog/eyewitnesses-to-the-battle-of-monocacy

Forgotten Battle 13

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Lake George

Intro

The battle of Lake George took place on September 8, 1755, in the north province of what is now New York. It was fought between armies from France and Great Britain. Also involved, were hundreds of Native Americans and colonial militiamen. This battle would be one of the first major victories for the British Army during the French and Indian War.

Part I

The Seven Years' War (or the French and Indian War) began on May 28, 1754, when a detachment of British soldiers and Native warriors ambushed a small group of French soldiers near what is now Farmington, Pennsylvania. Led by George Washington, they quickly defeated the Frenchmen and prepared to question their captives. But before Washington could even begin the interrogation, the war-chief of his Native allies (the Half King) approached the captives and proceeded to tomahawk their leader (Joseph Coulon de Jumonville). His warriors then immediately killed and scalped the remaining captives.

Fearing retribution, Washington pulled his soldiers back from the massacre and began constructing a fort. He called it, Fort Necessity. Unfortunately, the Half King and his warriors abandoned Washington as they were not accustomed to fighting within a fortification. Without his Native allies, Washington and his small army were no match the 600 French soldiers and Indian warriors that attacked Fort Necessity. The British found themselves both outnumbered and outgunned. The final straw came when it began to rain. The rain wet their gunpowder and left them no longer able to fire. With no options left, Washington surrendered. 

In exchange for permission to leave the area with his surviving soldiers, Louis Coulon (Jumonville's older brother) had Washington sign a document written in French. After signing, Washington and his soldiers were permitted to leave. What he didn't know was that the document contained a confession to a deliberate assassination of Joseph Jumonville on the orders of King George II. This document made its way all the way back to France and was presented King Louis XV himself. Angered by this "assassination" of a French diplomat, King Louis declared war on the British Empire. 

Part II

To win the French and Indian War, the British knew that they needed to drive the French out of the Ohio country. To do this, they needed to capture the French fortification, Fort Duquesne. A force of 1,400 British regulars and Colonial provincials was formed under the command of General Edward Braddock. Braddock's army marched into the wilderness and began four week long trek to Fort Duquesne. Unfortunately, on June 9, they were ambushed by a large French and Indian army while crossing the Monongahela River. When it was over, Braddock and half of his army were either dead or wounded.

Two months after this debacle, a new British general from Ireland arrived to lead another expedition. His name was, Sir William Johnson. Unlike Braddock, Johnson knew that the key to victory against the French lied with securing the support of the Native people living in the Ohio country. He had already struck up an alliance and a close friendship with a Mohawk chief called, Chief Hendrick. With Chief Hendrick's help, Johnson hoped to recruit hundreds of Indian warriors from the Iroquois Six Nations to join his expedition. 

A few days before General Johnson began his trek into the wilderness, more than 1,100 warriors and representatives from the Iroquois Six Nations arrived to meet with him and Chief Hendrick. For a full night, Johnson exchanged goods with them and took part in their ceremonies. While they appreciated the gifts and his respect for their culture, most of the warriors refused to break their neutrality. In the end, less than 300 Mohawk warriors (mostly belonging to Hendrick) volunteered to accompany Johnson.

Part III

On September 7, General Johnson and Chief Hendrick set off for Fort Duquesne with just over 1,900 British regulars, colonial provincials (militiamen), and Mohawk warriors. After a full day of marching without incident, they finally arrived at the south end of Lake George and set up camp. Early the next morning, the  Johnson and Chief Hendrik resumed their march on Fort Duquesne. They had no idea that they were walking into a trap.

Late on the night of September 7, a force of 1,500 French soldiers, Canadian militia, and Indian warriors arrived at the north end of Lake George. Under the command of Major General Baron Dieskau, then moved to a ravine that blocked the portage road that Johnson's army was using. With the warriors and militiamen positioned on both sides of the road, the French grenadiers aligned themselves directly in-front of the oncoming British and Indian force. The fighting began at 9:00 the morning of September 8. This part of the battle would later be referred to as the, "Bloody Morning Scout".

Chief Hendrick and many of his warriors and colonial militiamen were ambushed by Canadian Mohawk and Abenaki warriors while scouting ahead of the main British force. Before long, Hendrick and most of his men were dead. Those who survived quickly retreated four miles back to Johnson's camp. After being informed of the ambush, Johnson quickly organized an improvised defensive barricade around his camp. Using wagons, overturned boats, and felled tree branches, they prepared to meet the oncoming attack. 

Against the advice of his Indian allies, Baron Dieskau had decided to follow up on his successful ambush by attacking the British camp. An hour and a half after the Bloody Morning Scout ambush, Dieskau arrived at Johnson's position and ordered a direct attack. As the French grenadiers approached the camp in column formation, Johnson had his soldiers hold fire until the last possible moment, then they unleashed a deadly volley. Johnson's three cannons were loaded with grapeshot and proceeded to decimate the French and Canadian ranks. When Baron Dieskau fell severely wounded, the French and Canadians retreated in disorder. 

Epilogue

Later in the day, the British and colonials successfully ambushed and annihilated a French baggage train resting by small pond (later called, Bloody Pond). After this, the outcome of the battle had been cemented. The casualties were heavy for both armies. The British are believed to have suffered over 300 total casualties (among the wounded was General Johnson). The French and Indian casualties are believed to be around 350 casualties. Among those to be captured was Baron Dieskau, he would remain a POW for the next eight years. 

After their defeat, the French retreated back across the lake, appointed a new commander (the Marquis Louis-Joseph de Montcalm) constructed a new fortification called, Fort Carillon. Although he had not reached his target (Fort Duquesne) Johnson's expedition had been able to gain a successful foothold in the Ohio country. He consolidated his victory by building a British fort at the south end of Lake George which he called, Fort William Henry. Although fierce fighting would continue until 1763, the British victory at Lake George was considered their first major success in the French and Indian War. One that help to secure a hard-fought victory in the future.

http://nyindependencetrail.org/stories-Battle-of-Lake-George.html

https://www.lakegeorge.com/history/battle-of-lakegeorge/

https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/battle-of-lake-george-1755/

https://www.nps.gov/people/tanaghrisson-the-half-king.htm

https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/fort-necessity/

Forgotten Battle 12

Welcome back viewers

This month's Forgotten Battle is...

The Battle of Longewala 

Intro

The battle of Longewala occurred on December 4 to December 7, 1971. It was fought between the Indian 12th Infantry Division and the Pakistani 18th Infantry Division as part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Also involved, was the 122nd Squadron of the Indian Air Force. It was a climactic battle that would come to signify the evolving value of air power in warfare.

Part I

In the 20th Century, there were multiple conflicts between the nations of India and Pakistan. The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was the third (and most devastating) of these clashes. Beginning on December 2, the war itself would only last thirteen days. However, it would take thousands of lives from both countries.

Most of the fighting of this conflict would take place on two fronts. The Eastern front took place along the Indian border with what is now, Bangladesh. At the time, it was called, East Pakistan. The Western Front took place directly on India's border with Pakistan. On the Eastern Front, the Indian and Bangladeshi armies emerged victorious and forced the surrender of the Pakistani Army. But on the Western Front, the Indian Army suffered two defeats and the Pakistanis seized the cities of Chumb and Hussainiwala.

Part II

In spite of their early defeats on the Western Front, the Indian Army quickly rallied and faced the Pakistani Army at the village of Turtuk. This savage battle lasted six days and took the lives of thousands on both sides. 

While most of the Indian Army's attention was on Turtuk, the Pakistani 18th Infantry Division launched an attack targeting the Indian border town of, Longewala. Standing in their way was a small outpost on the outskirts of the town. It was defended by A Company, 23rd Battalion, Punjab Regiment (numbering 120 soldiers). In command of this single company was, Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri. Their position was located on a high sand dune that was almost intractable to vehicles. They were armed with two machine-guns, two L16 81mm mortars, and one Jonga-mounted (type of jeep) M40 recoilless rifle (RCL). In addition, they had surrounded their position with barbed wire.

In spite of their strong defensive position, A Company was severely outnumbered by the encroaching 18th Infantry Division. It included at least 45 tanks, 1 field regiment, two artillery batteries, and 2 mobile infantry brigades. In total, there were between 2,000 to 3,000 Pakistani soldiers converging on the Indian position at Longewala. Their objective was to capture and establish a military base in the town. From there, they were to launch further operations aimed toward capturing the Indian city of, Jaisalmer. The fighting would begin very late on the night of December 4.

Part III

At 11 PM, one of the Indian platoons detected movement near the border. Aerial reconnaissance by the Indian Air Force confirmed that it was 12 mile long column of Pakistani tanks that were advancing on the Longewala outpost. Knowing that he was severely outnumbered, Major Chandpuri sent an urgent request for artillery and tanks to support his battalion. After receiving a reply that no tanks nor reinforcements were available, he decided to hold his position at all costs.

The Pakistanis began their attack on the outpost at 12:30 in the morning of December 5. After a quick artillery barrage, 45 Pakistani tanks began advancing on the Indian outpost. The Indians held their fire until the tanks were less than 30 meters away. Then they opened fire with their M40 recoilless rifle on the Jonga. Their shots hit and disabled the first two tanks, stopping the column in its tracks. Unable to locate the Indian position, the Pakistanis became bogged down in soft sand. This allowed the Indians to destroy at least 10 of them within the first few minutes of the battle. To make matters worse for the Pakistanis, a fuel truck exploded, illuminating the battlefield for the defenders entrenched on the high ground. In addition, it created an acrid smokescreen at the ground level that blinded the Pakistani infantry. This made them easy targets for the Indian defenders.

At the crack of dawn, the Indian Air Force (IAF) assembled its 122 Squadron. Comprised of three HAL HF-24 Maruts and 4 Hawker Hunters, they launched at 6:30 in the morning to aid the outpost at Longewala. By now, the Pakistani tanks and infantry had pulled back and were attempting to flank the Indians. Although, the Indians were continuing to inflict heavy casualties on the advancing Pakistanis, their ammunition was beginning to dwindle. To make matters worse, their Jonga mounted recoilless rifle was hit by a tank shell and put out of action. When 122 Squadron arrived, they immediately began to pound the Pakistanis with T-16 rockets and 30 mm ADEN cannons. With no air support of their own, the Pakistani tanks and infantry were sitting ducks as the IAF bombed and strafed them for the rest of the day. By December 6, they had had enough and retreated from the area.

Epilogue

The Pakistanis had suffered a devastating defeat at the battle of Longewala. They are believed to have lost 36 of the 45 tanks, more than 100 other vehicles, and more than 200 infantrymen KIA. By contrast, the Indian defenders had suffered only 3 killed and 3 wounded. 122 Squadron had taken no casualties. It was one of the most lopsided tank battles since World War II.

For his valor in commanding the outpost, Major Chandpuri was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (India's second highest military award for valor). The Indian victory at Longewala (coupled with their victory at the battle of Turtuk) would have a decisive impact on the course of the war. After suffering severe casualties on both fronts, the Pakistanis signed a unilateral ceasefire with the Indians on the Western Front. On the Eastern Front, the Pakistani Army surrendered to the Indian-Bangladeshi Armies on December 16. This ended the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 (and secured the independence of Bangladesh). 

Today, the Indian victory at the battle of Longewala is remembered as a brave stand against overwhelming odds. It has also been seen as a recognition of the power of the air force in modern combat. Many military historians believe that this battle is proof that whoever controls the skies, will be the true victor of battles in the future.

https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/assets/uploads/home_banner/UpdatedFinalBattleofLongewala_com-2024-04-04.pdf

https://theprint.in/opinion/the-1971-battle-of-longewala-a-night-of-confusion-sam-manekshaws-order-pakistans-folly/329321/

https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/south-asia

https://www.defstrat.com/magazine_articles/battles-that-made-history-15/