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Soviet Winter and Spring Offensives (1944)

Explore the key Soviet offensives in 1944, including the liberation of Leningrad, Crimea, and Odessa, as well as the decisive Operation "Bagration" in Byelorussia. Learn about Stalin's strategic decisions and the shifting dynamics of the Eastern Front.

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Soviet Winter and Spring Offensives (1944)

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  1. Soviet Winter and Spring Offensives (1944) • The Soviet Plans. • The Soviet winter offensive – attacks on every portion of front. • End of siege of Leningrad – German strongholds nearby the city taken by the Soviets and roads to the city relieved after blockade which lasted for 900 days. • Soviets reaching Narva river– March 1944. • Soviet attacks in Ukraine – Soviets reaching Dniester – March-April 1944. • Odessa liberated by marshal Malinovski’s troops. • Hitler’s decision to defend Crimea.

  2. Soviet Winter and Spring Offensives (1944) • Soviet operation in Crimea. • Germans leaving Crimea in chaos. • Sevastopol taken by the Soviet troops in 3 days (it took Germans several months in 1942 to capture city, which was defended by smaller forces). • Change of German strategy – Total defence, no offensives. • Problems with satellites. • Romanians in danger. • Partisan warfare reaches its peak. • Hitler decided to transfer all the ex-Soviet soldiers to West. • Gen. Vlasov and reasons of his betrayal.

  3. Soviet Summer Offensive - Finland (1944) • Stalin’s promise to launch high-scale offensives in order to prevent transfer of German forces From East to West after D-Day. • Soviet offensive in Karelia – began on June 10, 1944. Finns decided to negotiate with Stalin. • Stalin’s decision to finish war with Finland and sign the separate agreement: Finns were returned to the post-Winter War border and government had to be organized by the pro-Soviet diplomat Paasikivi. • Soviets continuing their advance to the Baltic States.

  4. Operation “Bagration” • Planning the decisive offensive in Byelorussia in order to reach the Soviet pre-war borders. • Dispute in Stavka (the Soviet high Command). Rokossovski did not agree on the proposed plan and shows his own ideas about the possible operation. • Stalin adopts Rokossovski’s plan. Operation is called “Bagration”, in honour of famous general of Russian army of the beginning of 19-th century, who was a descendant of Georgian Royal dynasty of Bagrationis (The Bagrationi dynasty ruled in Georgia in 8-18-th centuries). • Great superiority of the Soviet forces in every component of warfare. • Beginning of the Soviet offensive – June 23, 1944. • Soviets marched with fighting for 450 miles during 1 month and reached the pre-war Soviet-Polish border.

  5. The Polish Affair • Soviet forces crossed the Soviet-Polish border and took Lublin – July 26. • Soviet forces reached the Warsaw suburb Praga, on the right bank of river Vistula – August 1, 1944. • Beginning of Warsaw uprising – nearly 200,000 poles rebel against Germans. Uprising was organised by London Émigré Government. • Soviets stop their offensive and allow Germans to stifle rebellion, which lasted 2 months. • Reasons of Stalin’s decision to stop advance to Warsaw and his refusal to help rebels.

  6. Desatellisation of Germany • Soviet offensive against Romania. Romanian surrender. • Soviet advances in Bulgaria. Bulgaria surrenders and declares war on Germany. • Yugoslavian affair. Yugoslav Partisans liberating the most part of their country. Opposition between Tito and pro-London forces in Yugoslavia. • Soviet troops in Yugoslavia. • Battle for Hungary.

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