The offensive began on August 20. On that first day the two Corps broke through the German XXIX Corps' defense along the boundary with XXX Corps, helped inflict a heavy defeat on the 4th Romanian Mountain Division and forced 21st Romanian Infantry Division out of its defenses while the German 306th Infantry suffered heavy casualties. 37th Corps also captured the town of Cioburciu and penetrated up to 12km into a gap as much as 40km wide jointly with 31st Guards Corps. During the next day all three divisions of 37th Corps reached a line south of Khadzhailar and Slobozia. By the end of August 22 advance elements of 37th Corps advanced as far as Zabar, and 3rd Ukrainian Front had torn a gap in the enemy front 130km wide and as much as 70km deep. On the next day 46th Army continued the operations that encircled the Akkerman group of Romanian Third Army, and 37th Corps forced a crossing of the Cogâlnic River.Soviet General Staff, The Iasi-Kishinev Operation, pp. 101, 107, 115, 122, 258
