 The "Kampfwaffe" (bomber force) was the hardest hit, having only 232 out of an original force of 480 left.The "VVS" remained qualitatively inferior, but by the time of the Soviet counter-offensive, the "VVS" had reached numerical superiority.In mid-October, after receiving reinforcements from the Caucasus theatre, the "Luftwaffe" intensified its efforts against remaining Red Army positions holding the west bank.