The Baltic operation of 1944 is a strategic offensive operation of the Soviet troops. Ferdinand Schörner. Ivan Bagramyan

The Baltic operation - a military battle, held in the fall of 1944 in the Baltic States. The result of the operation, which is also called the Eighth Impact of Stalin, was the liberation of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia from German troops. Today we will get acquainted with the history of this operation, its participants, causes and consequences.

general characteristics

In the plans of the military-political leaders of the Third Reich, the Baltic States played a special role. Controlling it, the fascists got the opportunity to control the main part of the Baltic Sea and keep in touch with the Scandinavian countries. In addition, the Baltic region was a major supply base for Germany. Estonian enterprises annually gave the Third Reich about 500 thousand tons of oil products. In addition, Germany received from the Baltic countries a huge amount of food and agricultural raw materials. Also, one should not overlook the fact that the Germans planned to evict the indigenous population from the Baltic and populate it with their fellow citizens. Thus, the loss of this region became a serious blow for the Third Reich.

The Baltic operation began on September 14, 1944 and lasted until November 22 of the same year. Its goal was the defeat of the Nazi troops, as well as the liberation of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. In addition to the Germans, the Red Army was opposed by local collaborators. Their main number (87 thousand) was part of the Latvian Legion. Of course, they could not give proper resistance to the Soviet troops. Another 28 thousand people acted as part of the Latvian battalions of the Shutsmanschaft.

The battle consisted of four major operations: the Riga, the Tallinn, the Memel and the Moonsund. In total, it lasted 71 days. The width of the front reached about 1000 km, and the depth - about 400 km. As a result of the battle, Army Group North was defeated, and the three Baltic republics were completely liberated from the invaders.

Prehistory

The Red Army prepared a large-scale offensive on the territory of the Baltic during the Fifth Stalinist attack - the Byelorussian operation. In the summer of 1944, Soviet troops managed to liberate the most important areas of the Baltic direction and prepare a foundation for a major offensive. By the end of the summer the bulk of the defensive lines of the Nazis in the Baltic States had collapsed. In some areas the Soviet troops advanced 200 kilometers. The operations carried out in the summer hampered the considerable strength of the Germans, which enabled the Byelorussian Front to finally defeat the Army Group Center and break through to Eastern Poland. Coming to the approaches to Riga, the Soviet troops had all the conditions for the successful liberation of the Baltic states.

The offensive plan

In the directive of the Supreme Command to the Soviet troops (three Baltic front lines, the Leningrad front and the Red Banner Baltic Fleet), the task was to dismember and disrupt the Army Group North, while liberating the territory of the Baltic states. The Baltic fronts attacked the Germans in the direction of Riga, and the Leningrad Front went to Tallinn. The most important attack was a blow to the Riga direction, as it was supposed to lead to the liberation of Riga - a major industrial and political center, a hub of sea and land communications throughout the Baltic states.

In addition, the Leningrad Front and the Baltic Fleet were tasked with the destruction of the Narva operational group. Having won Tartu, the troops of the Leningrad Front were to go to Tallinn and open access to the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Front received a mission to support the coastal flank of the Leningrad army, as well as to prevent the arrival of German reinforcements and their evacuation.

The troops of the Baltic front were to begin their offensive on September 5-7, and Leningrad on September 15. However, due to the difficulties during the preparation for a strategic offensive operation, it had to be postponed for a week. During this time, the Soviet troops conducted reconnaissance work, brought up arms and food, and the sappers completed the construction of the planned roads.

The forces of the parties

In total, the Soviet army participating in the Baltic operation had about 1.5 million soldiers, more than 3,000 armored vehicles, about 17,000 cannons and mortars, and more than 2,500 aircraft. 12 armies took part in the battle, that is, almost a full complement of the four Red Army fronts. In addition, the offensive was supported by the Baltic ships.

As for the German army, by early September 1944 the Army Group North, led by Ferdinand Schörner, consisted of 3 tank companies and the Narva operational group. In total, it had 730 thousand soldiers, 1.2 thousand units of armored vehicles, 7 thousand guns and mortars and about 400 aircraft. It is interesting to note that as part of Army Group North there were two divisions of Latvians representing the interests of the so-called "Latvian Legion."

Preparing the Germans

By the beginning of the Baltic operation, German troops were captured from the south side and pressed to the sea. Nevertheless, thanks to the Baltic bridgehead, the Nazis could strike a flank blow at Soviet troops. Therefore, instead of leaving the Baltics, the Germans decided to stabilize the fronts there, to erect additional defensive lines and to call for reinforcements.

For the Riga direction the grouping consisting of five armored divisions answered . It was believed that the Riga fortification area would be insurmountable for the Soviet troops. On the Narva axis, the defense was also very serious - three defensive bands with a depth of about 30 km. To complicate the approach of the Baltic vessels, the Germans installed a number of obstacles in the Gulf of Finland and mined both fairways along its shores.

In August, several divisions and a large number of equipment were transferred to the Baltic area from the "quiet" sections of the front and Germany. To restore the fighting ability of the army group "North" the Germans had to spend a huge amount of resources. The fighting spirit of the "defenders" of the Baltic region was quite high. The troops were very disciplined and convinced that soon the turning point of the war would come. They were waiting for reinforcements in the face of young soldiers and believed in rumors of miracle weapons.

The Riga operation

The Riga operation began on September 14, and ended on October 22, 1944. The main purpose of the operation was the release of the occupants of Riga, and then of the whole of Latvia. On the part of the USSR, about 1.3 million soldiers were involved in the battle (119 rifle divisions, 1 mechanized and 6 tank corps, 11 tank brigades and 3 fortified areas). They were opposed by the 16th and 18th and part 3-1 of the army of the group "North". The greatest success in this battle was achieved by the 1st Baltic Front under the leadership of Ivan Bagramyan. From September 14 to 27, the Red Army launched an offensive. Having reached the Sigulda border, which the Germans strengthened and enlarged with the troops retreating during the Tallinn operation, the Soviet troops stopped. After careful preparation on October 15, the Red Army launched a rapid offensive. As a result, on October 22, Soviet troops took Riga and most of Latvia.

The Tallinn operation

The Tallinn operation was held from September 17 to 26, 1944. The task of this campaign was the liberation of Estonia and, in particular, its capital, the city of Tallinn. By the beginning of the battle, the second and eighth armies had a considerable advantage in the forces relative to the German group Narva. According to the original plan, the forces of the 2nd Shock Army were to attack the Narva grouping from the rear, after which the assault of Tallinn would follow. The 8th Army was to advance in case the German troops retreat.

On September 17, the 2nd Shock Army set out to carry out its mission. She managed to break through an 18-kilometer breach near the Emajõgi River in the enemy's defense. Realizing the seriousness of the intentions of the Soviet troops, Narva decided to retreat. Literally the next day in Tallinn proclaimed independence. The power fell into the hands of the underground Estonian government headed by Otto Tief. On the central city tower was raised two banners - Estonian and German. For several days the new government even tried to resist the advancing Soviet and retreating German troops.

On September 19, the 8th Army began its attack. The next day the Rakvere city was liberated from the fascist invaders, in which the troops of the 8th Army joined forces with the forces of the Second Army. On September 21, the Red Army liberated Tallinn, and five days later - all of Estonia (with the exception of a number of islands).

During the Tallinn operation, the Baltic Fleet landed several of its units on the coast of Estonia and the surrounding islands. Thanks to the common forces, the troops of the Third Reich were defeated in mainland Estonia in just 10 days. At the same time over 30 thousand German soldiers tried, but they could not break through to Riga. Some of them were taken prisoner, and some were destroyed. In the course of the Tallinn operation, according to Soviet data, about 30,000 German soldiers were killed and about 15,000 were taken prisoner. In addition, the Nazis lost 175 units of heavy equipment.

The Moonsund operation

On September 27, 1994, the Soviet troops launched the Moonsund operation, the task of which was to capture the Moondzun archipelago and its liberation from the invaders. The operation lasted until November 24 of the same year. The specified area from the Germans was defended by the 23rd Infantry Division and 4 battalions of guards. On the part of the USSR, parts of the Leningrad and Baltic fronts were involved in the campaign. The main part of the islands of the archipelago was liberated quickly. Due to the fact that the Red Army chose unexpected points for the landing of its landing forces, the enemy did not have time to prepare for the defense. Immediately after the liberation of one island the landing party landed on the other, which further disorientated the troops of the Third Reich. The only place where the fascists could stop the advance of Soviet troops was the Sõrve peninsula of the island of Saaremaa, on the isthmus of which the Germans could hold out for a month and a half, locking down the Soviet rifle corps.

Memel operation

This operation was carried out by the 1st Baltic and part of the 3rd Byelorussian Front from 5 to 22 October 1944. The goal of the campaign was to cut off the armies of the "North" group from the Eastern part of Prussia. When the first Baltic front under the leadership of the magnificent military commander Ivan Bagramyan reached the approaches of Riga, he encountered a serious resistance of the enemy. As a result, it was decided to move the resistance to the Memel direction. In the area of the city of Siauliai the forces of the Baltic front have regrouped. According to the new plan of the Soviet command, the Red Army troops had to break through the defense from the western and south-western part of Siauliai and reach the line of the Palanga-Memel River, Naman. The main blow fell on the Memel direction, and the auxiliary impact on the Kelme-Tilsit.

The decision of the Soviet commanders was an absolute surprise for the Third Reich, which counted on the resumption of attacks in the Riga direction. On the first day of the battle the Soviet troops broke through the defense and deepened in different places for a distance of 7 to 17 kilometers. By October 6, all the troops that had been prepared in advance arrived on the battlefield, and on October 10 the Soviet army cut off the Germans from East Prussia. As a result, between the troops of the Third Reich, based in Courland and East Prussia, a tunnel of the Soviet army was formed, the width of which reached 50 kilometers. Of course, he could not overcome this streak.

By October 22, the Soviet Army had liberated practically the entire northern bank of the Neman River from the Germans . In Latvia, the enemy was forced out to the Kurland peninsula and reliably blocked. Based on the results of the Memel operation, the Red Army advanced 150 kilometers, liberated more than 26,000 square kilometers ^of territory and more than 30 settlements.

Further events

The defeat of Army Group North, led by Ferdinand Schörner, was quite heavy, but it still had 33 divisions. In the Courland boiler, the Third Reich lost half a million soldiers and officers, as well as a huge amount of equipment and weapons. The German Kurland group was blocked and pressed to the sea, between Liepaja and Tukums. It was doomed, because to break through to East Prussia there was neither strength nor opportunity. There was nowhere to wait for help. The offensive of Soviet troops on Central Europe was very rapid. Leaving some of the equipment and supplies, the Kurland group could be evacuated across the sea, but the Germans refused such a decision.

The Soviet command did not set itself the task at any cost to destroy the helpless German grouping, which could not in any way affect the battles of the final stage of the war. The Third Baltic Front was disbanded, and the first and the second were sent to Courland to complete what had been started. Due to the onset of winter and the geographic features of the Kurland Peninsula (the predominance of swamps and forests), the destruction of the fascist grouping, which included the Lithuanian collaborators, was protracted for a long time. The situation was complicated by the fact that the main forces of the Baltic fronts (including the troops of General Baghramyan) were transferred to the main directions. Several tough assaults on the peninsula were unsuccessful. The fascists stood to death, and the Soviet units experienced a severe shortage of forces. Eventually, the battles in the Kurland boiler ended only on May 15, 1945.

Results

As a result of the Baltic operation, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia were liberated from the fascist invaders. In all the conquered territories the power of the Soviet Union was established. Wehrmacht lost the raw material base and strategic bridgehead, which he had for three years. The Baltic Fleet has the opportunity to conduct operations on German communications, as well as cover ground forces from the Riga and the Gulf of Finland. Having won the coast of the Baltic Sea in the course of the Baltic operation in 1944, the Soviet Army was able to attack the forces of the Third Reich from the flanks, settling in East Prussia.

It is worth noting that the German occupation caused serious damage to the Baltic states. During the three years of the fascist domination, about 1.4 million civilians and prisoners of war were exterminated. The economy of the region, cities and towns suffered greatly. To complete the restoration of the Baltic States, I had to do a lot of work.