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The Crimean offensive, aimed at liberating the German-held Crimean Peninsula, took place between April 8 and May 12, 1944.
Answer: True
Explanation: The offensive commenced on April 8, 1944, and concluded with the fall of Sevastopol on May 9, 1944, with final evacuations concluding by May 12, 1944, successfully liberating the peninsula from German control.
In German military history, the 1944 liberation of Crimea is referred to as the Battle of the Crimea.
Answer: True
Explanation: German sources commonly refer to the conflict involving the liberation of Crimea in 1944 as the Battle of the Crimea.
The city of Kerch was captured by Soviet forces on April 11, 1944, shortly after the main offensive began.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Separate Coastal Army successfully captured the city of Kerch on April 11, 1944, a few days after the main offensive commenced.
Soviet forces reached Simferopol on April 13, 1944, while the 17th Army was preparing a counter-offensive towards Sevastopol.
Answer: False
Explanation: Soviet forces reached Simferopol on April 13, 1944. However, by April 16, the 17th Army was already in the process of retreating towards Sevastopol, not preparing a counter-offensive.
Sevastopol fell to Soviet forces on May 9, 1944, marking the end of the entire Crimean campaign.
Answer: True
Explanation: The fall of Sevastopol to Soviet forces on May 9, 1944, signified the conclusion of the main Crimean campaign.
What was the primary objective of the Crimean offensive launched by the Red Army?
Answer: To liberate the German-held Crimean Peninsula.
Explanation: The primary strategic aim of the Crimean offensive was the liberation of the Crimean Peninsula, which was under German occupation.
When did the Red Army launch its main assault across the Perekop Isthmus?
Answer: April 8, 1944
Explanation: The main Soviet assault across the Perekop Isthmus commenced on April 8, 1944, initiating the final phase of the Crimean offensive.
What was the German designation for the conflict involving the liberation of Crimea in 1944?
Answer: The Battle of the Crimea
Explanation: German military sources referred to the 1944 campaign for Crimea as the Battle of the Crimea.
The primary German formation defending Crimea during the offensive was the 11th Army, composed exclusively of Wehrmacht soldiers.
Answer: False
Explanation: The primary German formation was the 17th Army, which included both Wehrmacht units and allied Romanian formations, notably the Romanian Mountain Corps.
German forces first gained control of the Crimean Peninsula in 1941 following a swift and decisive campaign.
Answer: False
Explanation: German forces initially gained control of the Crimean Peninsula during the Crimean Campaign of 1942, not 1941.
The Germans considered holding Crimea strategically unimportant, viewing it primarily as a defensive position with little offensive value.
Answer: False
Explanation: Holding Crimea was strategically important for the Germans, primarily due to its potential impact on Turkey's stance in the war and the risk it posed to Romanian oilfields from Soviet attacks.
Ferdinand Schörner succeeded Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist as commander of Army Group A, which was then renamed Army Group South Ukraine.
Answer: True
Explanation: Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist was removed from command of Army Group A on March 30, 1944, and was succeeded by Ferdinand Schörner. The army group was subsequently renamed Army Group South Ukraine.
The German High Command intended to hold Sevastopol as a fortress, despite the city's fortifications not having been restored.
Answer: True
Explanation: The German High Command (OKH) planned to defend Sevastopol as a fortress. This strategy was complicated by the fact that the city's fortifications had not been fully restored since earlier campaigns.
The German 17th Army successfully defended Crimea and was never forced to withdraw.
Answer: False
Explanation: The German 17th Army was ultimately forced to withdraw from Crimea and was largely evacuated during Operation 60,000.
During the Crimean offensive, which German military formation was primarily engaged by the Red Army?
Answer: The 17th Army
Explanation: The 17th Army, a component of Army Group South Ukraine, bore the brunt of the Red Army's offensive operations in Crimea.
What was the strategic importance for the Germans in holding the Crimean Peninsula?
Answer: Its loss could negatively impact Turkey's attitude and risk Romanian oilfields.
Explanation: The strategic value of Crimea for the Germans lay in its potential to influence Turkey's alignment and its role in protecting the vital Romanian oilfields from Soviet threats.
Who succeeded Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist as commander of the army group that was subsequently renamed Army Group South Ukraine?
Answer: Ferdinand Schörner
Explanation: Ferdinand Schörner assumed command of the army group following Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist's removal, leading to the renaming of the formation to Army Group South Ukraine.
What was the German High Command's (OKH) intention regarding Sevastopol during the offensive?
Answer: To hold Sevastopol as a fortress, despite incomplete fortifications.
Explanation: The OKH intended to maintain Sevastopol as a fortified position, even though its defenses had not been fully restored, presenting a significant tactical challenge.
Prior to the main offensive in April 1944, Soviet forces conducted significant amphibious landings across Crimea in late 1943 but maintained a strong presence for the next five months.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Soviet forces did conduct landings in late 1943, they did not maintain a strong presence for the subsequent five months, focusing their efforts elsewhere before the main offensive in April 1944.
The Red Army launched its main assault across the Sivash rather than the Perekop Isthmus on April 8, 1944.
Answer: False
Explanation: The main assault on April 8, 1944, was launched across the Perekop Isthmus, not the Sivash.
The initial assault on the Perekop Isthmus was carried out by the 4th Air Army and the Separate Coastal Army.
Answer: False
Explanation: The initial assault on the Perekop Isthmus was primarily conducted by elements of the 2nd Guards Army and the 51st Army, supported by the 4th Air Army.
The 4th Ukrainian Front primarily consisted of the 51st Army and the Separate Coastal Army, supported by the Black Sea Fleet.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 4th Ukrainian Front primarily comprised the 2nd Guards Army and the 51st Army, supported by the 4th Air Army. The Black Sea Fleet provided naval support.
Which Soviet unit captured the city of Kerch on April 11, 1944?
Answer: The Separate Coastal Army
Explanation: The Separate Coastal Army was responsible for the capture of Kerch on April 11, 1944, shortly after the commencement of the main offensive.
Which Soviet Front was primarily responsible for the ground operations during the Crimean offensive?
Answer: 4th Ukrainian Front
Explanation: The 4th Ukrainian Front executed the primary ground operations of the Crimean offensive, supported by air and naval assets.
Which Soviet armies were responsible for the initial assault on the Perekop Isthmus?
Answer: 2nd Guards Army and 51st Army
Explanation: The initial assault on the Perekop Isthmus was conducted by elements of the 2nd Guards Army and the 51st Army, both part of the 4th Ukrainian Front.
What does the image of pack donkeys on the Kerch peninsula in April 1944 signify, according to the source?
Answer: Soviet logistical efforts in delivering ammunition to the front line.
Explanation: The presence of pack donkeys belonging to the Soviet 3rd Mountain Rifle Corps on the Kerch peninsula illustrates the logistical challenges and methods employed for delivering essential supplies, such as ammunition, to the front lines.
Axis sea evacuations from Crimea were unhindered by Soviet actions, allowing for the safe passage of most troops.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Axis sea evacuations were significantly hindered by Soviet actions, particularly attacks from land-based bombers, which posed a considerable threat to the departing vessels and personnel.
Operation 60,000 was the code name for the Soviet operation to capture Sevastopol.
Answer: False
Explanation: Operation 60,000 was the code name for the evacuation of German and Romanian forces from Crimea, not a Soviet operation to capture Sevastopol.
Over 150,000 Axis troops were evacuated from Crimea by Romanian and German convoys.
Answer: False
Explanation: Romanian and German convoys evacuated over 113,000 Axis troops from Crimea, not exceeding 150,000.
A total of 120,853 men were evacuated by sea from Crimea between April 14 and May 13, 1944.
Answer: True
Explanation: The sea evacuation from Crimea between April 14 and May 13, 1944, successfully transported a total of 120,853 men.
Operation 60,000 was named based on the estimated number of German soldiers present in Crimea at the time of the evacuation.
Answer: False
Explanation: Operation 60,000 was named based on the estimated number of Romanian soldiers present in Crimea, which was approximately 60,000 to 65,000.
A total of 7,115 civilians were evacuated by sea from Crimea during the operation.
Answer: True
Explanation: Between April 14 and May 13, 1944, a total of 7,115 civilians were evacuated by sea from Crimea.
The evacuation operation from Crimea included the sea transport of 2,581 prisoners of war.
Answer: True
Explanation: The sea evacuation operation from Crimea facilitated the transport of 2,581 prisoners of war.
Over 22,000 tons of cargo were evacuated by sea from Crimea between April 14 and May 13, 1944.
Answer: True
Explanation: In addition to personnel, 22,548 tons of cargo were evacuated by sea from Crimea during the period of April 14 to May 13, 1944.
The evacuation included 15,391 Soviet volunteers who were transported by sea from Crimea.
Answer: True
Explanation: A total of 15,391 Soviet volunteers were among those transported by sea from Crimea during the evacuation operation.
What was the code name for the evacuation of German and Romanian forces from Crimea in April-May 1944?
Answer: Operation 60,000
Explanation: The evacuation operation conducted in April-May 1944 was designated Operation 60,000, a name derived from the estimated number of Romanian soldiers present.
How many Axis troops were evacuated from Crimea in total by Romanian and German convoys?
Answer: Over 113,000
Explanation: Combined Romanian and German convoys successfully evacuated over 113,000 Axis troops from the Crimean Peninsula.
How many German soldiers were evacuated from Crimea, and how many of them were wounded?
Answer: 58,486 evacuated, 12,027 wounded
Explanation: A total of 58,486 German soldiers were evacuated from Crimea, with 12,027 reported as wounded.
The evacuation operation was code-named 'Operation 60,000'. What was the basis for this name?
Answer: The estimated number of Romanian soldiers present.
Explanation: The code name 'Operation 60,000' was derived from the estimated number of Romanian soldiers present in Crimea at the time of the evacuation.
How many Romanian soldiers were evacuated from Crimea, and how many were wounded?
Answer: 36,557 evacuated, 4,262 wounded
Explanation: During the evacuation, 36,557 Romanian soldiers were evacuated, with 4,262 reported as wounded.
What was the total number of men evacuated by sea from Crimea between April 14 and May 13, 1944?
Answer: Approximately 120,853
Explanation: The sea evacuation operation conducted between April 14 and May 13, 1944, successfully removed a total of 120,853 men from Crimea.
The Crimean offensive resulted in the complete destruction of all German and Romanian forces on the peninsula, with no possibility of evacuation.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Axis forces suffered significant losses, a substantial evacuation operation (Operation 60,000) was conducted, managing to extract over 113,000 personnel, albeit under duress and with considerable losses.
Erwin Jaenecke, commander of the 17th Army, was executed by firing squad after being court-martialed for the loss of Crimea.
Answer: False
Explanation: Erwin Jaenecke was court-martialed for the loss of Crimea and arrested, but his life was spared due to intervention, and he was subsequently dismissed from the army.
Soviet forces suffered approximately 96,700 casualties during the Crimean offensive.
Answer: False
Explanation: Soviet forces sustained approximately 84,819 casualties (killed/missing and wounded) during the Crimean offensive.
German forces sustained total casualties of approximately 65,100 during the Crimean offensive.
Answer: True
Explanation: German forces incurred total casualties of approximately 65,100, comprising 31,700 killed or missing and 33,400 wounded.
Romanian forces incurred casualties of 25,800 killed or missing and 5,800 wounded, totaling 31,600.
Answer: True
Explanation: Romanian forces suffered 25,800 killed or missing and 5,800 wounded, resulting in a total of 31,600 casualties during the Crimean offensive.
The Soviet Union lost 171 tanks and assault guns, 521 artillery pieces, and 179 aircraft during the offensive.
Answer: True
Explanation: Soviet losses during the Crimean offensive included 171 tanks and assault guns, 521 artillery pieces, and 179 aircraft.
What was the fate of Erwin Jaenecke, the commander of the 17th Army, after the loss of Crimea?
Answer: He was court-martialed but his life was saved, and he was dismissed.
Explanation: Following the loss of Crimea, Erwin Jaenecke faced a court-martial, but his life was spared, and he was subsequently dismissed from military service.
What was the total number of Soviet casualties (killed/missing and wounded) during the Crimean offensive?
Answer: Approximately 84,819
Explanation: The total Soviet casualties during the Crimean offensive amounted to 84,819, comprising 17,754 killed or missing and 67,065 wounded.
What was the total number of Axis casualties (killed/missing and wounded) in the Crimean offensive?
Answer: Approximately 96,700
Explanation: The combined Axis casualties for the Crimean offensive reached approximately 96,700, encompassing both killed/missing and wounded personnel.
What Soviet armored vehicles and aircraft were lost during the Crimean offensive?
Answer: 171 tanks, 521 artillery pieces, 179 aircraft
Explanation: Soviet losses during the offensive included 171 tanks and assault guns, 521 artillery pieces, and 179 aircraft.