Overview[]
The Urals War was a series of intense battles and skirmishes engaged between the German and Soviet armies. The Red Army concentrated on fighting an effective guerrilla war against the Nazis in order to inflict mass casualties then push them back from the region. Germany could concentrate on fighting in the USSR after the Allied offensive had stalled in the 1944-45 Battle of the Hürtgen Forest.
The initial conflict was opened in Yekaterinburg, Uralsk and the industrial city of Magnitogorsk by several Junkers Ju 388 bombers, Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers and Henkel He 162 Fighters. The Soviet [|Rogožarski IK-3] fighters and [|Yakovlev Yak-1] put up a brave fight.
It was then that German and Romania spent most of September in heavy tank battles between Yekaterinburg and the industrial city of Magnitogorsk and Omsk. A particularly fierce clash occurred in between German [|Panzerkampfwagen E-100], and Soviet TP7 , IS-2 Heavy, [|NI-tractor] and KV-1 Heavy tanks with heavy losses on both sides.
Aktobe, Ufa, Kazan and Orenburg would also see some heavy fighting to as the Soviets and local militias dug in at various pints along the way.
The during September the second 'Magda' 1kt A-bomb made its contribution felt in Yekaterinburg on September 24, 1945 (the final one was used on China in 1952).
Causes of the conflict[]
A detachment from the SS Division Das Reich, armed with the 300mm siege mortar Thor, 20 [Panzerkampfwagen | E-100 Panzerkampfwagen] and 40 Tiger I tanks planned to advance through the Eastern Uralsk Front in to Chelyabinsk Oblast and the Omsk Oblast in order to stop Soviet raids emanating from the city of Omsk.
Tactics[]
The Germans had manipulated the fear of Communism in Europe to call upon extra forces from Vichy France (which was not invaded as in OTL) and troops from Norway and parts of Greece. Mustering a massive German-allied force of French, Greek, Norwegian, and Romanian divisions. Both sides were beginning to consider the heavy loss of man-power and dwindling supplies. The never ending conflict was proving hard for both sides.
Result[]
A decisive German defensive victory. Soviet forces prepared to make a heavily armed last stand at Omskand Kurgan.
Political outcome[]
With its immediate goals achieved Germany, Romania, Vichy France and Hungary could finally push on and finish the job by taking the major fortifications at Omsk.