The Baltic states occupied a special place in the plans of the military-political leadership of the Third Reich. Control over the Baltic states made it possible to “keep an eye on” most of the Baltic Sea, especially taking into account the coast of the allied Finland. The Baltic states allowed the German fleet to operate actively in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea and maintain contact with the countries of Scandinavia, from where strategic materials and resources were supplied to Germany. The Baltic region not only covered East Prussia from the east, but was itself a supply base for the German Empire. Thus, in Estonia there were enterprises for processing oil shale, which provided the Third Reich with about 500 thousand tons of petroleum products annually. The Baltic states were Germany's agricultural base, supplying large quantities of agricultural raw materials and food.
In addition, we must not forget that the Baltic nationalists supplied the Germans with “cannon fodder.” They were especially active in police and punitive units, freeing up the divisions the Germans needed on the front line. It is worth recalling the fact that the Baltic states were considered the “living space” of the Third Reich. They planned to populate the region with Germans; they planned to deport the “inferior population” (including Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians) deep into Russia, leaving some as service personnel and slaves.
Therefore, it was very important for Berlin to retain the Baltic states. The loss of this region was a significant blow to the German Empire. East Prussia was under attack. The Baltic Fleet received freedom of action. Germany was losing an important economic base. The German command did not want to withdraw Army Group North from the Baltic states, and it was already difficult to carry out such an evacuation at this time.
Offensive operations in the Baltic states became the so-called. "Stalin's eighth blow." The Baltic strategic offensive operation was carried out from September 14 to November 24, 1944. Its main goal was the defeat of German troops in the Baltic states and the liberation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The Battle of the Baltics included four front-line and inter-front operations: Riga, Tallinn, Moonsund and Memel. The battle lasted 71 days, the width of the front reached 1000 km, and the depth - 400 km. The Baltic operation ended with the defeat of the German Army Group North, the formation of the Courland Pocket and the liberation of the three Baltic republics from German occupation.
Column of Soviet 152-mm howitzers ML-20 in liberated Tallinn
Background
They began to prepare a major offensive in the Baltic states at the height of the Belarusian operation (). Until the summer of 1944, there was no major offensive operation in the Baltic states. favorable conditions. In the summer of 1944, in the Baltic direction, Soviet troops carried out a series of operations that led to the liberation of important territories and a deterioration in the position of the German army. Participating in the Belorussian operation, the 3rd Belorussian Front crossed the border of the Lithuanian SSR in early July 1944 and liberated Vilnius on July 13. Subsequently, Soviet troops reached the Lithuanian border with East Prussia.
On July 5-31, 1944, troops of the 1st Baltic Front under the command of Ivan Bagramyan conducted the Siauliai operation (it was part of the strategic Belarusian operation). As a result, Soviet troops defeated the enemy's Siauliai group and liberated large territories of Latvia and Lithuania. On July 30-31, Soviet troops liberated Tukums and Jelgava and reached the Gulf of Riga. German Army Group North was temporarily cut off from East Prussia. In August, during heavy fighting, the Germans were able to restore the land connection between the Baltic states and East Prussia.
On July 10-27, 1944, troops of the 2nd Baltic Front under the leadership of Andrei Eremenko conducted the Rezhitsa-Dvina operation. As a result, Soviet troops broke through five strong enemy defensive lines, advanced 190-200 km, liberated 7 large and 16 small cities, a total of 5261 settlements. Among them are such important centers as Idritsa, Drissa, Opochka, Sebezh, Rezekne (Rezhitsa) and Daugavpils (Dvinsk). The liberation of the Kalinin region was completed and the liberation of Latvia began. In addition, the northern flank of the Soviet offensive in Belarus was secured. Significant German formations were pinned down by the battle, and they could not be transferred to Belarus. The German command had to transfer troops from front to front (first to Belarus, then to the Baltic states), as a result they did not have enough of them anywhere. Exhausted by marches and battles, the German divisions could not hold even strong and pre-equipped defensive lines.
On July 11-31, 1944, troops of the 3rd Baltic Front under the command of Ivan Maslennikov conducted the Pskov-Ostrov operation. The well-prepared enemy defenses (Panther Line), which were defended by troops of the 18th Army, were broken through. Soviet troops occupied the powerful Pskov-Ostrovsky fortified area, liberated Ostrov and the ancient Russian city of Pskov. The operation led to the final liberation of the Leningrad region, and contributed to the offensive of the neighboring Leningrad Front.
On July 24-30, 1944, troops of the Leningrad Front under the command of Leonid Govorov, with the support of the Baltic Fleet, carried out the Narva operation. As a result, the Narva Wehrmacht group was defeated. Soviet soldiers liberated the city and fortress of Narva. The Narva bridgehead was significantly expanded, which improved the operational position of the Soviet troops before the strategic Baltic operation. The liberation of Narva contributed to the successful offensive of the 3rd Baltic Front in the Tartu direction.
On August 1 - 28, 1944, troops of the 2nd Baltic Front under the command of Andrei Eremenko conducted the Luban-Madon operation. With heavy fighting, Soviet troops overcame the difficult, wooded and swampy Luban lowland, repelling strong enemy counterattacks. The cities of Livani, Varaklyany, Barkavy, Ligatne, Krustpils and other settlements were liberated. The city of Madona, a powerful hub of resistance, was stormed. The Germans were unable to stop the Soviet offensive, but were able to significantly slow down its pace and, as a result, wear down the advancing Soviet troops. However, Eremenko’s troops were able to reach the starting line to strike Riga, albeit very late.
August 10 - September 6 troops of the 3rd Baltic Front conducted the Tartu operation. As a result, Soviet troops advanced 100 - 130 km, liberated the city of Tartu and defeated the enemy Tartu group. Conditions were created for entering the shores of the Gulf of Riga and attacking the flank and rear of the Narva enemy group.
Thus, in the summer of 1944, most of the Wehrmacht’s defensive lines in the Baltic states collapsed, and Soviet troops advanced more than 200 km in some directions. Almost half of the Baltic territory was liberated from the Nazis. Soviet operations made it possible to pin down significant forces in the Baltic direction, which contributed to the troops of the Belarusian fronts to complete the defeat of Army Group Center in Belarus and break through into Eastern Poland. Soviet troops reached the approaches to Riga, creating all the conditions for completing the liberation of the Baltic states.
Offensive plan
According to the directives of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, it was envisaged that with strikes by troops of the three Baltic fronts and the Leningrad Front, with the support of the Baltic Fleet, they would dismember and destroy Army Group North and finally liberate the Baltic states. The troops of the Baltic fronts launched converging attacks in the Riga direction. The Leningrad Front was advancing in the Tallinn direction. The main attack was considered to be in the Riga direction, where the defense was held by the main forces of the German 16th and 18th armies. Five Wehrmacht tank divisions were located here. This blow was supposed to lead to the defeat of the main forces of the North group and the liberation of Riga, the most important political and industrial center, a hub of land and sea communications in the Baltic states.
The destruction of the German task force "Narva" in Estonia was assigned to the troops of the Leningrad Front and the Baltic Fleet. Govorov's troops were supposed to strike from the Tartu area in the direction of Rakvere. Thus, the troops of the Leningrad Front had to go to the rear of the enemy’s Narva group, encircle and destroy it. At the second stage, front troops were to liberate the capital of Estonia, Tallinn, and reach the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Fleet under the command of Admiral Vladimir Tributs received the task of supporting the coastal flank of the Leningrad Front, preventing the landing of reinforcements and the evacuation of enemy forces by sea. Naval aviation received the task of bombing the enemy's coastal rear areas.
The 3rd Baltic Front delivered the main blow on its right flank (67th and 1st shock armies) and in cooperation with the 2nd Baltic Front, which advanced along the Madona - Riga line, with the aim of defeating the enemy group in Riga and liberating the capital Latvia.
The 1st Baltic Front received the task of attacking with its main forces along the left bank of the Western Dvina in the Riga direction. Soviet troops were supposed to reach the coast of the Gulf of Riga in the Riga area, preventing the withdrawal of the main forces of Army Group North in the direction of East Prussia. Part of the forces of the 3rd Belorussian Front under the command of Ivan Chernyakhovsky also took part in the operation. Chernyakhovsky’s troops advanced in a western direction, with the goal of pinning down enemy forces in East Prussia in battle and preventing them from maintaining a corridor to the Baltic states. The general management of the operation and coordination of the actions of the fronts was carried out by the Marshal Soviet Union Alexander Vasilevsky.
The Baltic fronts were supposed to launch an offensive on September 5-7, the Leningrad Front - on September 15. However, the preparation of the strategic operation encountered a number of difficulties. There was not enough time, so the Headquarters postponed the start of the offensive in the Riga direction for a week. The Leningrad Front was supposed to go on the offensive on September 17. Thanks to this time, it was possible to better prepare for the offensive, reconnoiter enemy positions, supply ammunition, fuel, and food. Sappers completed the construction of the planned roads and prepared to cross water barriers.
Strengths of the parties
THE USSR. The troops of the left wing of the Leningrad, three Baltic, and parts of the forces of the 3rd Belorussian front numbered about 900 thousand people, more than 3 thousand tanks and self-propelled guns, about 17.5 thousand guns and mortars, over 2.6 thousand aircraft. 12 armies took part in the operation, that is, almost three-quarters of the strength of the four Soviet fronts. The offensive was also supported by ships and aircraft of the Baltic Fleet.
Germany. By early September, Army Group North, under the command of Ferdinand Schörner, included the 16th and 18th Armies, the 3rd Panzer Army (transferred from Army Group Center on September 20) and Task Force Narva. In total, they included about 730 thousand people, over 1.2 thousand tanks and self-propelled guns, about 7 thousand guns and mortars, about 400 aircraft.
Soviet landing on the island of Saaremaa (Ezel) in the Moonsund archipelago
Transfer of Soviet heavy artillery to the island of Saaremaa
Activities of the German command and the defense system
The success of Operation Bagration sharply worsened the position of Army Group North. German troops found themselves deeply enveloped from the south and pressed against the sea. The threat of falling into a huge “cauldron” loomed over the German group in the Baltics. On the other hand, the Baltic bridgehead allowed the Wehrmacht to launch a flank attack on the Soviet troops. Therefore, it was considered inappropriate to leave the Baltic states. To stabilize the front in the Baltic direction, the German command intensified engineering work here, erecting additional defensive lines and structures, and also transferred reinforcements.
The strongest group was located in the Riga direction, which included 5 tank divisions. The Riga fortified area was considered insurmountable for the Russians. On the approaches to the capital of Latvia from the northeast and east, four defensive lines were equipped.
There was also a very powerful defense in the Narva direction. The relatively narrow isthmus between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Peipsi made it possible to create a well-equipped defense line here. Soviet troops unsuccessfully stormed these positions during the Leningrad-Novgorod operation. Now they have been strengthened even more. In the Narva direction, the Germans had three defensive lines with a total depth of 25-30 kilometers.
Typically, the main strip of the main defensive lines included two or three positions. In front of the positions, wire barriers were set up and minefields with anti-personnel and anti-tank mines were laid. The positions themselves had two or three trenches connected by communication passages. The positions were located several kilometers apart from each other. Intermediate ones were created between the main defensive lines. In order to hamper the actions of the ships of the Baltic Fleet, the Germans installed various barriers in the Gulf of Finland. Both fairways along the southern and northern shores of the Gulf of Finland were covered with mines. Narva Bay and Tallinn Bay were especially heavily mined.
In August, several infantry and tank divisions, reinforcements, and a large amount of equipment were transferred from Germany and from sectors of the front that were considered “quiet”. Infantry divisions, drained of blood in previous battles, were replenished with an average of 8 thousand people. For this purpose, they used personnel from the air and naval fleet, as well as various rear units and institutions. Young men and older men were mobilized. To restore the combat effectiveness of Army Group North, Germany spent a significant part of the human and material resources sent to the armed forces.
At the same time, Army Group North maintained a fairly high morale. The most severe discipline was maintained among the troops. To “support” the advanced units, barrier detachments from SS troops were formed. The propaganda machine continued to convince the soldiers that a turning point in the war would soon come. It was reported that total mobilization in Germany would allow the formation of new formations, and the Wehrmacht would launch a decisive offensive. Rumors spread about a “miracle weapon.”
A 40-mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun abandoned by the Germans in the area of the Tallinn trade port
Progress of the operation
The greatest successes were achieved by the troops of the 1st Baltic Front under the command of Bagramyan. Good reconnaissance made it possible to identify the enemy's defense fire system, and it was almost completely suppressed by artillery and air preparation. The front's shock group - the 4th shock army and the 43rd army, advancing from the Bauska area, penetrated the enemy's defenses and in three days advanced to a depth of more than 50 km. The 35th Tank Brigade of the 3rd Guards Mechanized Corps and the advanced detachments of the 43rd Army of General Afanasy Beloborodov made their way to Baldona and Jelgava. There are only about 20 km left to Riga.
Thus, Soviet troops broke through to the southwestern approaches to Riga and created the threat of encirclement and dissection of the entire Army Group North. For the German command, the first priority was to organize strong counterattacks against the troops of the 4th Shock and 43rd Armies in order to stop them on the approaches to the capital of Latvia. At this time, other troops had to slip out of the emerging encirclement ring.
Meanwhile, troops of the 3rd and 2nd Baltic Fronts tried to break through the powerful enemy defenses. They made little progress, but were able to inflict heavy losses on the 18th German Army and pin down its reserves.
The commander of Army Group North, Ferdinand Schörner, fearing that the Narva task force in the Tallinn direction (6 divisions) would be cut off from the main forces, asked the high command for permission to withdraw it. Typically, Hitler's reaction to such proposals was sharply negative. However, this time such permission was given. The Narva group was ordered to be withdrawn to pre-prepared lines east of Riga. The German command began to withdraw troops from Estonia, which shortened the front by 300 km.
The planned withdrawal of German troops was hampered by the offensive of the Leningrad Front (Tallinn operation). Govorov's troops struck from the Tartu area. At the same time, part of the front forces, in cooperation with the Baltic Fleet, advanced along the coast. The troops of the 2nd shock and 8th armies under the command of generals Ivan Fedyuninsky and Philip Starikov successfully advanced. The 8th Estonian Rifle Corps also took part in the liberation of their homeland. On September 20, the city of Rakvere was liberated, and on September 22, Tallinn was liberated. On September 23, Soviet troops occupied Pärnu. By September 26, all of mainland Estonia was liberated from the Nazis. A significant part of the German troops were unable to break through to the main forces and died or were captured. The Germans lost more than 45 thousand people killed and captured. Having united with the troops of the 3rd Baltic Front, Govorov's troops joined the battles for the liberation of Latvia. Subsequently, the Leningrad Front carried out the Moonsund operation (September 27 - November 24, 1944) to liberate the Moonsund archipelago. Most of the islands were liberated quickly. Only on the Sõrve peninsula on the island of Saaremaa did the offensive stall for a month and a half. Here the Germans organized resistance on the narrow isthmus of the peninsula. Due to poor organization and lack of ammunition, Soviet troops were unable to break enemy resistance for a long time.
A soldier of the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps met his wife on the street of liberated Tallinn. Source: http://waralbum.ru/
Meanwhile, the troops of the Baltic fronts continued to fight in the Riga direction (Riga operation). German 16th, 18th, part of the 3rd forces tank army were replenished by the retreating troops of the Narva group and fought back fiercely at the Sigulda line. The fighting became particularly stubborn. Soviet troops had to literally chew through enemy defenses. The Germans launched fierce counterattacks and even pushed back Soviet troops in some places. In particular, in the Dobele region, German troops managed, at the cost of huge losses, to push our troops back 5 km. However, near Riga, the Germans were slowly but surely being pushed back. On September 22, Baldone was captured. The next day, the German command sent two divisions arriving from Estonia into battle. However, the counterattack was repulsed.
Intense fighting in the Riga direction forced the German command to concentrate its main forces and reserves (33 divisions, including 4 tank divisions) on this narrow strip. This made it possible to temporarily hold Riga and a narrow strip of land along the Gulf of Riga, the last land communication that connected Army Group North with East Prussia.
In this situation, the Soviet Headquarters decided to shift the direction of the main attack of the 1st Baltic Front from Riga to the Klaipeda direction, where 7-8 German divisions held the defense. The front command received the task of regrouping the troops of four armies with reinforcements from the right flank to the center, in the Siauliai region. Bagramyan's troops were supposed to deliver a powerful blow in the western direction, defeat the troops of the 3rd Tank Army and break through to the Baltic coast from Liepaja to the Neman River. The implementation of this operation cut off the troops of Army Group North from Prussia. The 39th Army of the 3rd Belorussian Front also took part in this operation. The troops of the 3rd and 2nd Baltic Fronts were supposed to continue to put pressure on the enemy in the Riga direction, pinning down the main forces of Army Group North in battle, not giving Schörner the opportunity to regroup his forces.
On October 5, 1944, the Memel operation began. Troops of the 1st Baltic Front began an attack on Memel (Klaipeda). The front's strike group included the forces of the 6th Guards, 43rd and 5th Guards Tank Armies. They were advancing from the Siauliai region. The 2nd Guards Army struck southwest of Siauliai.
Soviet troops successfully broke through the enemy's defenses and moved west. The 4th shock and 51st armies also joined the offensive. The German command did not foresee the possibility of an attack in the Klaipeda direction. The attack of the 1st Baltic Front on Klaipeda was an unpleasant surprise for the Germans; Schörner expected new attacks in the Riga direction. By the fourth day of the offensive, the depth of the breakthrough reached 60-90 km and the width 200-260 km. Fierce counterattacks of the German 3rd Panzer Army in such conditions did not lead to success.
On October 10, units of the 5th Guards Tank and 51st armies of generals Vasily Volsky and Yakov Kreiser reached the sea. Following them, on a wide front north and south of Memel, other front formations reached the coast of the Baltic Sea. The movement of large forces of Army Group North in the Saldus-Priekule region, which tried to break into East Prussia, was stopped as a result of stubborn fighting. Thus, Schörner's troops lost the last land communication that connected them with Germany.
The siege of Klaipeda-Memel dragged on, and the city was taken only in January 1945. The Soviet 43rd Army was unable to take the fortress city on the move. Memel was protected by powerful defensive structures, fortresses with reinforced concrete fortifications such as pillboxes. They were connected by underground communication passages. In addition, coastal and naval artillery were involved in the defense of the city. Additional troops were deployed by sea to defend Memel. In the Tilsit direction, the troops of the left wing of the front and the 39th Army of the 3rd Belorussian Front liberated the northern bank of the Neman from the enemy and reached the border with East Prussia. Lithuania was liberated from the Germans.
Salute to the Red Army soldiers who reached the Baltic Sea coast. Autumn 1944
Taking into account the unfavorable development of the situation in the Klaipeda direction, the German command decided to begin the withdrawal of troops from the Riga area to the territory of the Kurland Peninsula. On the night of October 6, the Germans began evacuating troops from the area northeast of Riga. However, there was no planned withdrawal. Soviet troops relentlessly pursued the enemy. Having broken through the enemy’s defenses, the troops of the 3rd and 2nd Baltic Fronts began fighting for the capital of Latvia on October 12. The next day Riga was liberated (the western part of the city was liberated only on October 15). By October 22, Soviet troops reached the enemy’s Tukum defensive line and blocked the Germans on the Kurland Peninsula. This is how the so-called Courland cauldron. This concluded the Riga operation. Most of Latvia was liberated.
It is impossible not to note the large role that Soviet aviation and the Baltic Fleet played in the operation. Only the 14th, 15th and 3rd Air Armies, which supported the Baltic fronts from the air, made 55 thousand sorties during the operation. The Baltic Fleet supported the coastal flanks of the ground forces, landed troops, assisted in the liberation of islands, disrupted enemy sea communications and carried out important transportation.
Soviet soldiers on the square of liberated Riga
Results
Army Group North suffered a heavy defeat. However, despite heavy losses (out of 59 formations, 26 were defeated, 3 divisions were completely destroyed), 33 infantry, tank and motorized divisions remained in its composition. About 500 thousand enemy soldiers and officers, a huge amount of equipment and ammunition fell into the Courland Pocket. The German Kurland group was blocked and pressed to the sea, between Tukums and Liepaja. The German troops were doomed. There was no strength to break through to East Prussia. There was no point in waiting for outside help. Soviet troops quickly developed an offensive against Central Europe. Having abandoned most of the equipment, supplies and suffered serious losses in personnel and ships, the group could be transferred to Germany by sea. However, this decision was abandoned.
The Soviet command also did not intend to destroy the German group, isolated from the rest of the Wehrmacht troops and not having the opportunity to influence the battles in the main directions of the final stage of the war, at any cost. The 3rd Baltic Front was disbanded. The 1st and 2nd Baltic Fronts were given the task of destroying the German group. Taking into account the difficult terrain conditions of the Courland Peninsula (forests and swamps) and the onset of winter, which complicated the advance, the destruction of the German group dragged on until the end of the war. In addition, the Baltic fronts transferred significant forces to the main directions. Several fierce assaults on the Courland Peninsula did not lead to success. The Germans fought to the death, and the Soviet troops lacked strength and ammunition. As a result, the fighting in the Courland Pocket ended only on May 15, 1945.
As a result of the Baltic operation, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were liberated from the Germans. Everywhere has been restored Soviet authority. Only in a small part of Latvia did the German troops hold out. The Wehrmacht lost an important strategic bridgehead and raw material base, which it had owned for three years. The Baltic Fleet was able to conduct operations on German communications, cover coastal communications and the flanks of ground forces from the Gulf of Finland and Riga. Soviet troops with access to the Baltic Sea coast had the opportunity to launch flank attacks on German troops in East Prussia.
It should be noted that the Baltic states suffered greatly from the German occupation. During the three years of Hitler's occupation, the population of the Baltic republics suffered enormous disasters. During this time, the Nazis exterminated about 1.4 million local residents and prisoners of war. The economy of the region, city and village was severely destroyed. There was a lot of work to be done to restore the Baltic states.
An Il-2 attack aircraft of the Baltic Fleet Air Force attacks a German ship off the coast of East Prussia
A column of German prisoners of war passes by the Riga railway station
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Having exemplarily carried out the Vyborg offensive operation, which resulted in the defeat of the main armed forces of Finland and its subsequent exit from the war, Marshal of the Soviet Union L.A. Govorov developed and implemented a number of unique military point view of operations: Narva, Tallinn offensive and Moonsund landing operations. In these operations, Govorov skillfully combined the actions of ground forces, aviation and ships of the Baltic Fleet.
During stubborn battles, the German task force “Narva” was defeated, as a result, in just 10 days, the territory of Estonia was liberated. Interesting fact: the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps successfully fought as part of the Leningrad Front, which was entrusted with the honor of being the first to enter the liberated capital of Estonia, Tallinn, on September 22, 1944. Thousands of local residents then took to the streets of the city with bouquets of flowers to greet the Soviet troops.
An important fact: despite the fierce resistance of the fascist troops, Marshal Govorov prohibited the use of heavy artillery and heavy aerial bombs in the capture of the Baltic cities in order to preserve cultural monuments and the lives of the townspeople.
Starting from October 1, 1944, by order of the Supreme High Command Headquarters, simultaneously with the command of his front, L.A. Govorov coordinated the actions of the 2nd and 3rd Baltic fronts in the Riga operation, the purpose of which was the liberation of the capital of Latvia - Riga. After the capture of Riga by Soviet troops on October 16, 1944, Army Group North found itself cut off from Army Group Center and began retreating to the Courland Peninsula. The remnants of the troops of Army Group North, badly battered by Soviet troops, the same ones that besieged besieged Leningrad for almost 900 days and nights, were transformed into Army Group Courland.
For the successes achieved during the offensive, on January 27, 1945, on the first anniversary of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad, Marshal L. A. Govorov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Until the end of the war, Marshal L.A. Govorov continued to command the Leningrad Front, and from February to March 1945 also the 2nd Baltic Front. At the same time, the Headquarters entrusted Govorov with coordinating the combat operations of the 1st and 2nd Baltic fronts. On April 1, the 2nd Baltic Front was disbanded, and all its units became part of the Leningrad Front.
Developing the offensive, the troops of the Leningrad Front broke into the deeply echeloned defenses of the enemy, pressing the Courland group of fascist German troops closer to the sea. The Nazis resisted desperately, not giving up hope of breaking through to East Prussia. Moreover, they still represent an impressive military force- 32 divisions, numbering over 300 thousand battle-hardened soldiers and officers who had nothing to lose, a large amount of weapons and equipment, including aircraft. How Hitler missed these troops near Berlin!
Marshal L.A. Govorov interrogates captured fascist generals
from Army Group Courland. May 1945
Leading the military operations against the Courland group of German troops, Govorov, in order to minimize his losses at the final stage of the war, convinces Stalin to abandon active offensive combat operations in favor of blockading the enemy trapped on the Courland Peninsula. Taking into account Govorov’s unquestioned authority as a commander during this period, Headquarters gives him the go-ahead.
It seems that the mothers and wives of tens of thousands of our soldiers and officers should have been grateful to Marshal Govorov for this.
At this time, the blocked German divisions were increasingly experiencing food shortages. Their connection by sea with the “mainland” no longer saves them. Fewer and fewer German transport ships manage to make their way to the peninsula. In the end, the Germans themselves had to switch to rations slightly higher than those during the siege of Leningrad. According to intelligence data from the Leningrad Front, more than 47 thousand combat horses were eaten by the encircled Nazis from March 1 to May 1, 1945.
The roles have changed this time. Leningrad was liberated from the blockade, but the occupiers themselves were caught in the blockade. But the Nazis could not stand the Soviet blockade.
Marshal of the Soviet Union L.A. Govorov,
Knight of the Order of Victory.
In his workroom in a wooden house in the town of Mazeikiai, L.A. Govorov drew up his last combat document - an ultimatum to the command of all Wehrmacht units and formations blocked on the Courland Peninsula. On the morning of May 7, 1945, Marshal Govorov’s ultimatum was read to the Germans over the radio. Infantry General Gilpert, commander of Army Group Kurland, was given 24 hours to think; in case of refusal, the Soviet troops were to go on the offensive.
The Nazis played for time until the last minute. They knew that they were surrendering to Marshal Govorov, but they did not know which front he commanded at that time. A radiogram with an ultimatum was transmitted from the radio station of the 2nd Baltic Front. Therefore, the Nazis were sure that they were surrendering not to the Leningraders, but to the Baltic soldiers. They really didn’t want to fall into the hands of those whom they starved and shelled in besieged Leningrad.
Finally, on May 8, 1945, at 22.00, the command of Army Group Kurland accepted the terms of the Soviet ultimatum and capitulated. Only after the surrender the “deception” was revealed, but it was too late. The main forces of the group have already begun to surrender. Marshal Govorov, knowing perfectly well German, himself interrogated the surrendered fascist generals.
Several senior officers, having learned that they were finally surrendering to the Leningraders, committed suicide. A small part of the Germans fled into the forests.
In this regard, Marshal Govorov decided to comb (as they now say “clean up”) the entire Courland Peninsula. Small groups of escaped fascists were caught, and those who resisted were destroyed on the spot. Only by the end of May 16, 1945, the entire peninsula was cleared of the enemy. In total, 189 thousand soldiers and officers and 42 generals were captured. A large number of guns, tanks, aircraft and other equipment and weapons were captured.
The Motherland highly appreciated the merits of L.A. Govorov in the Great Patriotic War. For the defeat of the Nazis near Leningrad and in the Baltic states on May 31, 1945 L.A. Govorov was awarded the highest military order "Victory". During the war, Govorov went from major general of artillery to Marshal of the Soviet Union, and this was in just 4 years and 12 days!
RIGA, Oct 13 – Sputnik, Sergey Melkonov. Riga - beautiful city, and liberated Riga on October 13, 1944 as a result of a beautiful swift operation by Soviet troops.
One of the main elements of this swiftness was the crossing of Kish Lake by soldiers of the 119th Rifle Corps of Major General Nikishin. The crossing began from Jaunsiems on October 12. The paratroopers on amphibians and boats crossed the two-kilometer expanse of Lake Kish and rushed to Mezaparks. Amphibians - American Ford JP - were received from the USA under Lend-Lease.
More than 3 thousand people were transported here overnight. The enemy, fearing the threat of complete encirclement, was forced to urgently withdraw his troops. By the evening of October 13, Riga was free, and Moscow saluted the troops of the 2nd and 3rd Baltic fronts.
As Meir Deitch, a veteran of the 130th Latvian Rifle Corps, recalled in those days the commander of a mortar company who participated in the liberation of Riga: “The advancing units moved in such a way as to cut off the Germans’ path to retreat. The Germans by that time were also experienced warriors and knew well that "If the Russians encircle, they will first offer to surrender, but if they refuse, they will destroy everyone. Therefore, as soon as the Germans felt the threat of encirclement, they immediately retreated."
Deutsch's mortar company entered Riga on October 16. The enemy was no longer there. The city was basically intact, not destroyed, only there were a lot of broken houses on the embankments, because the advancing units were firing across the Daugava. The center of Riga was practically intact, with clean streets, but there were many mines, and sappers were constantly working.
The Riga operation became part of the Baltic strategic operation to liberate the Soviet Baltic states.
The Baltic operation of 1944 is a strategic offensive operation of the troops of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Baltic, Leningrad fronts and the forces of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet in September-October 1944 to defeat the Nazi troops in the territory of the Soviet Baltic states. The Baltic operation includes four front-line and inter-front operations: Riga, Tallinn, Moonsund and Memel.
© Sputnik / Sergey Melkonov
The general management of the operations of the Baltic fronts was carried out by the representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, Marshal of the Soviet Union A. M. Vasilevsky.
On September 14, the troops of the Baltic fronts: the 3rd (commander of the army general I.I. Maslennikov), the 2nd (commander of the army general A.I. Eremenko) and the 1st (commander of the army general I.Kh. Bagramyan) began the Riga offensive operation.
When you look today at the map of the 1944 military operations in the Baltic states, you see the plan of the Soviet General Staff - with the forces of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Baltic Fronts and the forces of the Leningrad Front, together with the Baltic Fleet, to dismember the enemy’s defenses, encircle and destroy his groups along units and, most importantly, cut off Army Group North's retreat routes to East Prussia.
The 8th Estonian and 130th Latvian Rifle Corps and the 16th Lithuanian Rifle Division took part in the liberation of the Baltic states.
© Sputnik / Sergey Melkonov
As a result of the Baltic operation, the liberation of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia from fascist occupation was completed, 26 divisions of Army Group North were defeated, three divisions were completely destroyed. The main forces of this group - 27 divisions and 1 brigade - were pressed to the sea on the Kurland Peninsula and lost their strategic importance. The surrounded Courland group capitulated on May 8, 1945.
For the capture of Riga, by order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of October 13, 1944, many soldiers and officers were thanked for their participation in the liberation of the capital of Latvia, Riga, from the Nazi invaders. The most distinguished military units and formations were given the name "Rizhskaya".
Row offensive operations Soviet troops in the summer and autumn of 1944, during which Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were liberated from the German occupiers.
Il-2M3 attack aircraft from the 2nd squadron of the 566th attack air regiment at the airfield.
Women aviation technicians of the 188th Bomber Riga Aviation Division. 2nd Baltic Front.
A 40-mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun abandoned by the Germans in the area of the Tallinn trade port.
Soviet signalmen lay a communication line during street fighting in Tartu (Estonia).
Two Soviet partisans on the street of Vilnius.
Soviet sappers are building a wooden bridge across the river. In the background, a SU-152 self-propelled gun is fording the river.
Commander of the Panzergrenadier Division " Greater Germany» Wehrmacht Lieutenant General Hasso von Manteuffel on an Sd.Kfz armored personnel carrier. 251/3 in the Baltics.
Officers of the 683rd Assault Aviation Regiment N.I. Alabugin, A.N. Eremin, L.P. Rychkov and S.Ya. Astakhov with Il-2 attack aircraft at the airfield.
Soviet soldiers on the square of liberated Riga.
SS soldiers in a trench near Narva.
SS soldiers roll out a 75 mm 7.5 cm PaK 97/38 anti-tank gun to a position in Lithuania.
Loading of Soviet soldiers onto a sailing schooner involved in the landing on the island of Muhu (Moon) in the Moonsund archipelago. End of September 1944.
Sailing schooner with Soviet the landing party is coming to the island of Muhu (Moon) in the Moonsund archipelago. End of September 1944.
Grenadiers of the SS Narva battalion on the armor of a captured T-34 tank.
A Soviet soldier holds a submachine gun with a flag attached to it on the tower of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR building in Tallinn.
The Soviet amphibious vehicle Ford GPA "Seep" drives along the Muhu (Moon) - Saaremaa (Ezel) dam in the Moonsund archipelago. October 1944.
The flight technical personnel of the 3rd squadron of the 118th Guards Attack Aviation Regiment of the 2nd Baltic Front listens to political information at an airfield in Latvia.
Deputy commander of the 3rd squadron of the 118th Guards Attack Aviation Regiment, future Hero of the Soviet Union, Guard, senior lieutenant Pyotr Maksimovich Odnobokov (in the foreground, fifth from the right) surrounded by colleagues at the Il-2 aircraft. In the rear cockpit near the machine gun is air gunner P. Poshekhonov. The photo was taken after the return of the P.M. crew. Odnobokova from the hundredth combat mission. On board the attack aircraft is the inscription “For Lyosha Poyushchev.” It is painted in memory of Odnobokov’s friend - the commander of the 2nd squadron of the guard, Captain Alexei Poyushchev, who died on September 22, 1944. 2nd Baltic Front.
Pilots of the 1st squadron of the 118th Guards Attack Aviation Regiment at the airfield near the Il-2 aircraft.
Commander of the 297th Regiment of the 184th Rifle Division, Major Georgy Gubkin.
Funeral of a Soviet front-line poet.
A dead German soldier near a Steyr PCO tracked tractor. Dubysa River area in Lithuania.
Soviet IS-2 tanks with a tank landing force during an attack.
Commander of the 10th guards army M.I. Kazakov attaches the Order of Suvorov to the banner of the 8th Guards Division.
Soldiers of the 20th Estonian SS Division Obersturmbannführer Alfons Rebane, Unterscharführer Harald Nugisex and Obersturmbannführer Harald Riipalu in the forest.
Guard machine gunner Private Yefim Kostin, awarded the Order of the Red Star. Leningrad Front.
A column of Soviet 152-mm howitzers ML-20 in liberated Tallinn at the intersection of Kaarli Boulevard and Pärnu Highway.
Soviet intelligence officers of Lieutenant Zanosienko during the assault on Narva.
A crew of an MG-34 machine gun from the SS troops at a position in the Narva area.
Lieutenant General V.T. Obukhov gives an order to the commander of the 35th Guards Tank Brigade A.A. Aslanov to attack the enemy on the approaches to Vilnius.
Soldiers of the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps walk along the street of liberated Orissaare on the island of Saaremaa.
Soviet partisan patrol in Vilnius.
The transfer of Soviet heavy artillery to the island of Saaremaa (Ezel) in the Moonsund archipelago in October 1944 on the Virtsu-Kuivastu ferry crossing.
Parade of Soviet troops on the streets of Riga.
A Soviet soldier helps his comrade wounded in battle to walk.
Commander of the 2nd Baltic Front A.I. Eremenko with officers at the front command post.
A group of headquarters officers of the 143rd separate tank brigade near the T-34-85 tank.
Soldiers of the 249th “Estonian” division next to a destroyed German self-propelled gun based on the Soviet T-26 tank.
A soldier of the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps met his wife on the street of liberated Tallinn.
A rally in Tallinn dedicated to the liberation of Estonia from German troops.
Soviet soldiers on the tower of the building of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR in Tallinn.
Soviet infantrymen are fighting on the southern outskirts of the city of Tartu.
Tiger tank of the German 502nd battalion during the battles near the city of Daugavpils.
Repair of the German tank Pz.Kpfw VI "Tiger" in the Courland forest. End of 1944.
Soviet artillerymen climb Mount Toompea in Tallinn. The photograph shows ZiS-5 trucks and a 76-mm ZiS-3 divisional gun.
Territory
Combat operations by the parties during the operation were carried out throughout Latvia, Lithuania, the southern part of Estonia, the Pskov region of the RSFSR, and the Baltic Sea. The demarcation line of the advance of Army Group North in the south ran along the Goldap-Kaišiadorys line; to the south, units of the Army Group advanced as part of this operation Center, even further south, Soviet troops carried out the Belarusian strategic defensive operation. To the north, the line of operation was limited to the shore of the Gulf of Finland; to the north of the gulf, Soviet troops carried out the Vyborg-Kexholm defensive operation and carried out the Defense of the Hanko Peninsula.
Period
There were no hostilities before the operation. The immediate continuation of the operation, without interruption, was the Leningrad strategic defensive operation.
The parties' plans for the operation
More detailed plans of the parties can be found in the article Baltic strategic defensive operation (Plans of the parties)German plans
German offensive operation armed forces, carried out in the Baltic states, was an integral part of the Barbarossa Plan.
In accordance with this plan, the northern group of troops in general view prescribed:
...destroy enemy forces operating in the Baltic states. Only after completing this urgent task, which should be followed by the capture of Leningrad and Kronstadt, should operations to capture Moscow, an important center of communications and military industry, begin.
In accordance with the directive on the concentration of troops, Army Group North:
... "has the task of destroying the enemy forces operating in the Baltic States and seizing ports on the Baltic Sea, including Leningrad and Kronstadt, depriving the Russian fleet of its bases... Breaks through the enemy front and, delivering the main blow in the direction of Dvinsk, advances as quickly as possible with its reinforced right flank, Having thrown mobile troops forward to cross the Western Dvina River, he enters the area northeast of Opochka with the goal of preventing the retreat of combat-ready Russian forces from the Baltic states to the east and creating the preconditions for further successful advance to Leningrad."
In addition, Army Group Center took part in the operation with its left wing.
As for the troops of Army Group Center, they were not faced with the task of destroying Soviet troops in the north-west of the USSR, however, their attack fell on the left flank of the North-Western Front, which, along with the development of their own offensive, contributed to the development of the German offensive in the Baltic states , and which gives grounds to attribute the actions of the left flank of the troops of the “Center” group to the Baltic operation - at least at its initial stage.
In other words, the operation of German forces in the Baltic states was planned according to the following scenario:
Motorized formations strike from the Tilsit area in the general direction of Daugavpils, break through Soviet defenses and seize crossings across the Western Dvina. Following the motorized formations and to the south of them, units of the 16th Army advance, while covering the right flank of the motorized units from an attack from the southeast. The left flank of the group - the 18th Army - advances from the area south of Memel in the direction of Riga, cutting through Soviet units in the Baltic states. One division advances along the Baltic Sea coast to the north. The first stage of the operation was to ensure the encirclement of Soviet troops in the area limited by the Baltic Sea and the border of East Prussia from the west, then along the Western Dvina River to its upper reaches and in the south, units of the Center group were to form an encirclement line. Then the offensive with the main forces was to be continued in the direction for the 18th Army Riga-Pskov, for the 4th Tank Group and the 16th Army - Daugavpils - Opochka region, so that later, turning part of the troops to the north, along the eastern the shores of Lake Peipus to the Gulf of Finland to completely cut off Soviet troops on the territory of Estonia, while at the same time part of the forces advancing through the territory of Estonia from the line of the Western Dvina.
- The 18th Field Army (from north to south the 26th Army Corps, the 207th Security Division, the 1st Army Corps) occupied the offensive zone from Memel to the area slightly north of Tilsit, approximately coinciding with the zone of the 10th Rifle Corps, 4 1st Panzer Group (from north to south 41st Motorized Corps, 56th Motorized Corps) in the Tilsit area and slightly southwest, approximately coinciding with the strip of the 11th Rifle Corps, 16th Field Army (from north to south 27th Army Corps, 2nd Army Corps) south to Goldap, approximately coinciding with the strip of the 16th Rifle Corps, the 9th Field Army and the 3rd Tank Group (6th Army Corps, 39th Motorized corps, 5th army corps, 8th army corps)
Fighting during the operation
The chronicle of the operation can be found in the article Baltic Strategic Defense Operation (Chronicle)On June 24, 1941, the command of the Northwestern Front decided to withdraw front troops to the line of the Venta, Shushve, Viliya rivers, but on June 25, 1941, they changed their decision and, with the forces of the 16th Rifle Corps, launched a counterattack on Kaunas, which had partial success, but then Soviet units were forced to retreat to their previous positions.
Separately, the 291st Infantry Division fought for Libau and advanced towards Ventspils. The main forces of the 18th Field Army advanced through Jelgava towards Riga. The 41st Motorized Corps advanced through Panevezys to Jekabpils, the 56th Motorized Corps, which, covering on the right, caught up with units of the 16th Field Army, towards Daugavpils. South of Kaunas there was no longer a strike as such: there scattered units of the 11th retreated to the east Soviet army. Units of the 8th Army, by order, retreated beyond the Western Dvina to the north, with the organization of intermediate defense lines Auce - Vashkai and Bilaste - Krumins, in order to occupy a defense line from Riga to Lebanon along the Western Dvina.
Meanwhile, on June 25, 1941, the General Headquarters demanded to organize a new defense front along the line of the Western Dvina River, for which the 27th Army was advanced to the line to the left of the retreating units of the 8th Army, which was supposed to take up defense from the line along the Gulbene - Livany line . In addition, the 21st Mechanized Corps and the 5th Airborne Corps were transferred to the line of defense. However, the mobile German motorized corps did not allow the organization of a full-fledged defense front along the river: on June 26, 1941, the 56th motorized corps crossed the Western Dvina at Daugavpils on the move, on June 29, 1941, the 41st motorized corps - at Krustpils (26 more reached the river June 1941), and on June 30, 1941 - near Riga.
With the arrival of German troops at the line of the Western Dvina, the border battle in the Baltic States ended, and the operation entered its second phase. The German command took an operational pause, which was due to the fact that the motorized formations that had rushed far ahead needed to wait for infantry units for a further offensive, organize a more or less continuous front along the Western Dvina, and finally, clear the area south and west of the Western Dvina, where they were conducting fighting and separate groups of Soviet troops tried to escape across the river.
The main events took place in the zone of the 27th Army. Army units continued to retreat - on July 3, 1941, the motorized units of the Wehrmacht resumed the offensive, now along the entire front. German troops took Gulbene, cutting off the retreat routes of the 8th Army across the Velikaya River and parts of the 8th Army were forced to retreat north to Estonia. Now the Northwestern Front was finally cut into two halves.
For more information about the defense of Pskov, see the article Defense of Pskov (1941)The 56th Motorized Corps, having crossed the Velikaya, began an offensive in the direction of Shimsk.
On July 9, 1941, with the breakthrough of the Soviet defense along the line of the Velikaya River, the Baltic defensive operation ended, which without a pause turned into the Leningrad defensive operation.
Losses of the Red Army ground forces
Personnel losses
Northwestern Front
| Irreversible | Sanitary | Total | Average daily |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73924 | 13284 | 87208 | 4845 |
Losses of tank and mechanized formations
- 1st Mechanized Corps
| Compound (division) | Armament at the end of the operation | |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Panzer Division | 374 tanks and armored vehicles | 4 tanks T-28, 2 KV and 16 BT (as of 07/15/1941) |
| 163rd Motorized Division, | 254 tanks and armored vehicles |
- 3rd Mechanized Corps
| Compound (division) | Armament at the start of the operation | Armament at the end of the operation |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Panzer Division | 315 tanks and armored vehicles | 0 |
| 5th Panzer Division | 344 tanks and armored vehicles | 0 |
| 84th Motorized Division, | 197 tanks and armored vehicles | ? |
- 12th Mechanized Corps
| Compound (division) | Armament at the start of the operation | Armament at the end of the operation |
|---|---|---|
| 23rd Panzer Division | 398 tanks and armored vehicles | 201 tanks lost excluding armored vehicles |
| 28th Panzer Division | 354 tanks and armored vehicles | 144 tanks were lost, excluding armored vehicles; as of 07/07/1941, 58 tanks were available, 2 of which were serviceable |
| 202nd Motorized Division, | 122 tanks and armored vehicles | on 08/14/1941 2 KV and 5 BT-7 |
- 21st Mechanized Corps
Losses of Wehrmacht and SS ground forces
The figure for the loss of personnel of Army Group North on August 2, 1941 is known reliably: 42 thousand people, but it seems that the group’s losses were mainly losses after July 10, 1941.
Air Force actions during the operation
With the loss of Libau and Riga, the Baltic Fleet moved increasingly northward, eventually concentrating in Tallinn, and thus its participation in the Baltic operation was limited due to the fact that the southern part of the Baltic Sea was under the control of the German Navy. However, certain private operations were carried out by the fleet, in particular, mines were laid in the Gulf of Riga; on July 6, 1941, a battle took place between two German minesweepers and a detachment consisting of the destroyers “Angry”, “Silny”, “Engels”, patrol boats “Sneg” and “Cloud” at the entrance to the Gulf of Riga, which ended, in general, in nothing.
In general, taking into account the plans of both sides, the tasks were completed by both sides: the German fleet did not enter the Gulf of Finland (which it did not strive for at this stage of the war), on the other hand, it ensured control of the southern part of the Baltic, which in turn ensured the reliability of sea communications. The Baltic Fleet's not entirely complete fulfillment of its tasks was due to the current situation on land and the loss of the Riga and Libau bases. Later, already in the second half of July 1941, the Baltic Fleet became more active.
Naval losses
Losses on both sides during the operation were relatively small.
Losses of ships of the Baltic Fleet:
| Ship | Place | date | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Destroyer "Lenin" | Libau | 24.06.1941 | scuttled by crew for repairs |
| Destroyer "Gnevny" | west of Tahkuna, | 24.06.1941 | damaged by a mine, sunk by the destroyer Gordy |
| Submarine M-78 | at the Uzhava lighthouse | 23.06.1941 | U-144 torpedo |
| Submarine M-71 | Libau | 23.06.1941 | blown up |
| Submarine M-80 | Libau | 23.06.1941 | blown up |
| Submarine M-83 | Libau | 25.06.1941 | 23.06. damaged by aircraft, 25.06. blown up |
| Submarine M-99 | south of Uts Island | 27.06.1941 | U-149 torpedo |
| Submarine M-81 | Muhu-Vain Strait | 01.07.1941 | mine |
| Submarine S-1 | Libau | 23.06.1941 | blown up |
| Submarine S-3 | Uzhava | 24.06.1941 | torpedoes from boats S35 and S60 |
| Submarine S-10 | Memel | 29.06.1941 | 26.06. damaged by torpedoes from boats S59 and S60, 29.06. sunk |
| Submarine "Ronis" | Libau | 23.06.1941 | blown up |
| Submarine "Spidola" | Libau | 23.06.1941 | blown up |
| Minesweeper BTShch-208 | Muhu-Vain Strait | 23.06.1941 | mine |
| Minesweeper T-298 "Imanta" | Taga-Lakht Bay | 01.07.1941 | mine |
| Auxiliary minesweeper T-47 | Bjerke | 21.06.1941 | mine |
| Auxiliary minesweeper TSCH-101 | lighthouse Tolbukhin | 07.07.1941 | aircraft mine |
| Torpedo boat No. 27 (G-5 type) | Libau | 23.06.1941 | aviation |
| Torpedo boat No. 47 (G-5 type) | Uzhava | 27.06.1941 | boat torpedoes |
| Sea Hunter MO-143 | Mokhni | 30.06.1941 | mine |
Losses of personnel of the Baltic Fleet (including the Red Banner Baltic Fleet Air Force):
| Irreversible | Sanitary | Total | Average daily |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1278 | - | 1278 | 71 |
Kriegsmarine losses: on July 2, 1941, the enemy minesweeper M-3134 was blown up by mines; on July 10, 1941, the submarine hunter UJ-113 was blown up by mines.
Actions of naval aviation during the operation
The naval aviation of the Baltic Fleet included one bomber, fighter and mixed aviation brigade, three separate regiments, 13 separate squadrons, which included 707 combat aircraft.
German naval aviation was represented by the Ostsee aviation group as part of the 806th Bomber Group and the 125th Naval Reconnaissance Group, and included 36 bombers and three naval reconnaissance squadrons.
More detailed data on naval aviation forces, their numbers and deployment can be found in the article Baltic Strategic Defense Operation (Forces of the Parties)Since the beginning of the operation, the naval aviation of the Baltic Fleet mainly supported the actions of the ground forces, although it made a number of sorties against enemy shipping, but without achieving any significant results. At the same time, a considerable number of fighters were used for patrolling over sea space, where absolutely nothing happened.
So, on June 24, 1941, the 1st Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment and the 57th Bomber Aviation Regiment were supposed to attack the German troops landing to the north