History - War at a Glance

Byelorussia and the Baltic By April 1944, the Soviets have been on the offensive for four months. On the southern portion of the front, the German armies are destroyed. In the far north, the Red Army drives relentlessly from Leningrad. The Soviets have thrown more than 4 million men, 45,000 guns and mortars, and more than 4,000 tanks into the offensive. Hitler expects the Russians to overextend their resources; other commanders expect the spring “season of mud” to slow the Soviet advance. Neither occurs - the Red Army slows to gather itself for the next strike west. This Soviet assault, code-named Bagration, is aimed at destroying Army Group Center. Again the scale of the assault is massive: The Russians throw 1,200,000 men, 31,000 guns and mortars, 5,200 tanks, and 5,000 aircraft into the attack. The German defenses are 27 kilometers deep. The defenders number 1,200,000, with 9,500 guns and mortars, almost 1,000 tanks and motorized guns, and 1,350 aircraft. On June 10, the Germans intercept Russian messages to the partisans behind the lines to begin blowing up rail lines to disrupt German troop movements. On June 19-20, rail lines west of Minsk are attacked; two days later, long-range Soviet bombers hit airfields, rail lines, artillery positions, and finally German troop concentrations. On the morning of June 23, the Red Army begins the attack. By July 4, most of the German forces are surrounded or retreating; by July 20 the surrounded forces have been destroyed. Throughout the battle, German commanders request permission to withdraw to save their units; Hitler orders positions held to the last round and the last man. His order ensures the destruction of 17 divisions, and another 50 divisions lose half their strength. By the end of August the Red Army has pushed into Poland and East Prussia. The Soviet campaigns of 1943-44 have proved decisive. Russia regains most of the territory lost in 1941 and 1942; more importantly, the Soviets have destroyed entire German armies. Hitler contributes significantly to these losses, refusing to allow withdrawals that could have saved hundreds of thousands of soldiers for a final defense of Germany. Instead, the Red Army is now rolling inexorably toward Berlin. See Also The Soviets Capture Berlin