Ivan Konev

Soviet advances had in fact ceased entirely, notwithstanding daily attacks that achieved nothing but fresh casualties.

By September the 5th, Konev recommended pausing the Cheb operation altogether, citing mounting infantry losses and dwindling artillery ammunition.

The six armies involved in both the Cheb and Jatsk operations had dwindled from more than 486,000 men and about 1,715 tanks down to 334,808 men and about 412 tanks.

Despite a constant flow of replacements filling in the ranks.

Konev also proposed a new plan.

Rather than storming Sev outright, the town could be fully encircled.

A shift in approach that would necessitate halting the parallel Jatsk operation.

Meanwhile, renewed attacks by the 31st, 33rd, and 21st Armies produced only marginal local gains for the enormous cost.

On the 27th, Zhukov was recalled from the sector altogether, with Konev assuming command of the Western Front and Purkev taking over the Kalinin Front in his place.

For the Soviets, Sev was becoming a matter of raw prestige and stubborn pride, much as Stalingrad was becoming an obsession for the Wehrmacht on the other side.

By August 30, the 30th Army alone reported having suffered more than 80,000 casualties in a single month of fighting.

Obviously, the more time in command means more impact.

That's one of the reasons that I don't know if we want to skip to this part, but Marshal Konev, Ivan Konev, comes out as the top Soviet commander.

Well, I was going to say, because Zhukov would be the one that most people think of, but actually you prefer Konev.

Zhukov had no command positions in 1943.

That's a big year to miss the war.