Lake Ilmen
Meanwhile on the southern wing the Soviets were planning their own offensive in what became known as the "Staraya Russa offensive operation". The plan was for the newly formed Soviet 48th Army to attack from the Novgorod region along the northwest side of Lake Ilmen, while the newly formed 34th Army, supported by 11th and 27th Armies, would attack south of Lake Ilmen. The Soviets engaged 8 rifle divisions, a cavalry corps and a tank division for the offensive, with the objective of recapturing Staraya Russa and Dno, and destroying the 16th Army’s X Infantry Corps. The offensive started on 12th August and immediately threatened to overwhelm and trap the X Infantry Corps against Lake Ilmen.