Battle of Smolensk (1941)
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The first Battle of Smolensk was a battle during the second phase of Operation Barbarossa, the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union, in World War II. It was fought around the city of Smolensk between 10 July and 10 September 1941, about 400 km (250 mi) west of Moscow. The Ostheer had advanced 500 km (310 mi) into the USSR in the 18 days after the invasion on 22 June 1941.
German and Soviet movements near Smolensk, 10 July – 4 August
German vehicle column near Vitebsk in July 1941
German soldiers on horseback in a burning village near Mogilev at the Dnieper. The Red Army has been driven out by German artillery fire.
Encirclement
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Encirclement is a military term for the situation when a force or target is isolated and surrounded by enemy forces. The situation is highly dangerous for the encircled force. At the strategic level, it cannot receive supplies or reinforcements, and on the tactical level, the units in the force can be subject to an attack from several sides. Lastly, since the force cannot retreat, unless it is relieved or can break out, it must fight to the death or surrender.
Diagram of the encirclement of ISIS forces in the Second Battle of Tikrit (2015). The blue arrows indicate allied attacks, while the red line is the line of encirclement as of 9 March 2015.
Encirclement of Stalingrad
An encirclement during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598)