Odessa 1941
By Maciej Jonasz
Background
As Operation Barbarossa steamrolled east during the summer of 1941, Hitler told Romanian dictator Marshal Ion Antonescu to have his nation’s forces seize Odessa on the Black Sea coast. The city lay south of German Eleventh Army’s area of operations, but was key terrain because its capture would improve the ability to sustain Axis operations in the southern Ukraine.
Holding the port would enable the movement of supplies by sea into the region, thus cutting the distance over which they otherwise had to move on the sparse road and rail net. Even so, with the Germans concentrating their own forces to defeat massive Red Army formations assembled farther north, they did not have the assets on hand to capture the city themselves.
Odessa was also important for the Soviets. Its port facilities supported their Black Sea Fleet’s operations, and its airbase would potentially allow for a bombing campaign against Romania’s oil‑ eld at Ploesti. e latter was a critical asset the Germans needed in order to sustain their economy. The Soviets understood that, and sent Odessa-based bombers to attack Ploesti starting soon after the outset of the war.
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