East Prussian operation (1945). Strategic offensive operation of the Great Patriotic War

Throughout the whole of the winter of 1945, the Soviet Union launched a large-scale offensive. The troops inflicted powerful blows in all directions. The command was carried out by Konstantin Rokossovsky, Ivan Chernyakhovsky, Alexander Vasilevsky, as well as Ivan Bagramyan and Vladimir Tributs. Before their armies stood the most important tactical and strategic task.

On January 13, the famous East Prussian operation of 1945 began. The goal was simple - to suppress and destroy the remaining German groups in East Prussia and northern Poland, in order to open the way to Berlin. In general, the task was extremely important not only in the light of the elimination of the remnants of resistance. Today it is considered that the Germans had already virtually won by that time. This is not true.

Important prerequisites for the operation

Firstly, East Prussia was the most powerful defensive line, which quite successfully could fend for months, giving the Germans time to lick their wounds. Secondly, high-ranking German officers could use any breathing space to physically liquidate Hitler and begin negotiations on a separate peace with our "allies" (there is much evidence of such plans). It was impossible to admit any of these scenarios. With the enemy should quickly and decisively end.

Features of the region

The very eastern extremity of Prussia was a very dangerous region, with a developed network of highways and a lot of airfields, which made it possible to transfer a huge number of troops and heavy weapons through it in the shortest possible time. This area as if by nature itself was created for a long defense. There are many lakes, rivers and marshes, which greatly impede offensive operations and force the enemy to walk along the targeted and fortified "corridors".

Perhaps, the offensive operations of the Red Army outside the borders of the Soviet Union have not been so complex. Since the time of the Teutonic Order in this territory was full of defensive structures, many of which were very powerful. Immediately after 1943, when the course of the war of 1941-1945 was broken at Kursk, the Germans first felt the possibility of their defeat. All the able-bodied population and a large number of prisoners were thrown off to work to strengthen these lines. In short, the Nazis prepared for glory.

Failure is a harbinger of victory

In general, the winter offensive was not the first, as was not the first and the East Prussian operation itself. 1945 only continued what was begun by the troops in October 1944, when Soviet soldiers were able to advance into the fortified areas for about a hundred kilometers. Because of the strongest resistance, the Germans could not go further.

However, failure is difficult to consider. Firstly, a reliable springboard was created. Secondly, the armies and commanders gained invaluable experience and managed to feel some weaknesses of the enemy. In addition, the very fact of the seizure of German lands that began began to act on the fascists is extremely oppressive (although not always).

Forces of the Wehrmacht

Defense was held by Army Group Center, which was commanded by Georg Reinhardt. Arms were available: the entire third tank army of Erhard Raus, the union of Friedrich Hossbach, as well as Walter Weiss.

At once 41 divisions stood against our troops, as well as a large number of detachments recruited from the most defensible members of the local Volkssturm. In total, the Germans had at least 580,000 regular military personnel, as well as about 200,000 Volkssturmen. To the defensive lines the fascists brought up 700 tanks and self-propelled installations, more than 500 combat aircraft and approximately 8,500 artillery pieces and large-caliber mortars.

Of course, the history of the Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Knew more and more combat-capable German units, but the area was extremely convenient for defense, and therefore such forces were quite sufficient.

The German command decided that the region should be held, regardless of the number of losses. This was fully justified, since Prussia was the ideal springboard for the further offensive of the Soviet troops. On the contrary, if the Germans managed to repulse previously captured areas, it would allow them to undertake an offensive attempt. In any case, the resources of this area would allow prolonging the agony of Germany.

What forces had the Soviet command, which planned the East Prussian operation in 1945?

Forces of the USSR

However, the military historians of all countries believe that the fascist fighters battered in fights had no chance. Soviet commanders fully took into account the failures of the first assault, in which the forces of the Third Byelorussian Front alone participated. In this case, it was decided to use the forces of the entire tank army, five tank corps, two air armies, which, in addition, strengthened the 2 Byelorussian Front.

In addition, the offensive was to support the aviation of the First Baltic front. In total, the operation involved more than 1.5 million people, more than 20,000 guns and large-caliber mortars, about four thousand tanks and self-propelled plants, as well as at least three thousand aircraft. If we recall the events of the Great Patriotic War, the storming of East Prussia will be among the most significant.

Thus, our troops (not counting the militia) outnumbered the Germans by three times in manpower, by artillery by 2.5 times, by tanks and aircraft by almost 4.5 times. In the breakout areas, the advantage was even more overwhelming. In addition, Soviet soldiers were shelled, powerful IS-2 tanks appeared in the troops, ISU-152/122/100, so there was no doubt in the victory. However, as in high losses, as in the ranks of the Wehrmacht on this site specially sent to the natives of Prussia, who fought desperately and to the last.

The main course of the operation

Since the East Prussian operation of 1945 began? On January 13, an offensive was launched, which was supported by tank and air strikes. Other troops supported the attack. It should be noted that the beginning was not the most inspiring, rapid success did not happen.

Firstly, the day "D" was not kept secret. The Germans managed to take proactive measures, pulling the maximum possible number of troops to the alleged breakout site. Secondly, the weather failed, which did not contribute to the use of aviation and artillery. Rokossovsky later recalled that the weather resembled a solid piece of raw fog, interspersed with thick snow. Aircraft departures were only point-like: the full support of the advancing troops did not work. Even bombers sat around all day, because it was simply impossible to discern the enemy's position.

Such events of the Great Patriotic War were not uncommon. They often broke carefully thought out staff directives and promised additional losses.

"General Mist"

The artillerymen, too, had a sad feeling: the visibility was so bad that the adjustment of the fire was impossible, and therefore it was necessary to shoot only by direct fire at 150-200 meters. The fog was so thick that even the sounds of explosions were lost in this "porridge," and there were no striking goals at all.

Of course, all this had a negative effect on the pace of the offensive. German infantry on the second and third lines of defense did not incur serious losses and continued to bitterly fire at the fire. In many places fierce hand-to-hand fights were engaged, and in some cases the enemy switched to counter-offensive. Many settlements for a day for ten times passed from hand to hand. Extremely bad weather lasted for several days, during which the Soviet infantrymen continued to methodically break down the German defenses.

In general, Soviet offensive operations during this period were already characterized by thorough artillery preparation and extensive use of aviation and armored vehicles. The events of those days on heat were in no way inferior to the battles of 1942-1943, when the main burden of fighting was borne by simple infantry.

The Soviet Army acted successfully: on January 18, Chernyakhovsky's troops were able to break through the defenses and create a corridor 65 kilometers wide, penetrating into enemy positions at once for 40 kilometers. By that time, the weather had stabilized, and therefore heavy armored vehicles poured into the formed breakthrough, supported by ground-attack aircraft and fighters from the air. Thus began a large-scale offensive of troops (Soviet).

Fixing success

On January 19, Tilsit was taken. For this, I had to force Neman under the dagger fire. Until January 22, the Instersburg grouping was completely blocked. Despite this, the Germans fiercely resisted, the fighting had a protracted character. Only at one approaches to the Gumbinnen our fighters repelled ten massed counterattacks of the enemy. Our people survived and the city fell. On January 22, we managed to take Insterburg.

The next two days brought new successes: it was possible to break through the defenses of the Heilsberg district. By January 26, our troops approached the northern tip of Koenigsberg. But the assault on Koenigsberg then failed, because the city was occupied by a strong garrison of the Germans and five of their relatively fresh divisions.

The first stage of the most serious offensive was successfully completed. However, the success was partial, because how to take in the ring and destroy two tank corps our troops failed: the enemy's armored vehicles retreated to pre-prepared defensive lines.

Civilians

At first, our soldiers did not meet civilians at all. The Germans hastily fled, since the remaining were declared traitors and often shot their own. Evacuation was organized so badly that almost all the property remained in abandoned houses. Our veterans remember that East Prussia in 1945 was more like an extinct desert: they had to rest in fully furnished houses, where there were still dishes and food on the tables, but the Germans themselves were no more.

Eventually, fairy tales of "savage and bloodthirsty barbarians from the East" played a serious joke with Goebbels: the peaceful population in such panic left their homes, which completely loaded all the railway and road links, as a result of which the German troops were constrained and could not quickly Change their positions.

Development of the offensive

By January 20, the troops commanded by Marshal Rokossovsky were preparing to leave for the Vistula. At the same time, an order was issued from the Stavka to change the vector of the attack and transferring the main efforts to the speedy endeavor of the East Prussian grouping of the enemy. The troops had to turn north. But even without support, the remaining groups of troops successfully cleared enemy cities.

Thus, Oslikovsky's cavalrymen managed to break through into Allenstein and completely defeated the enemy garrison. The city fell on 22 January, and all fortified areas in its suburbs were destroyed. Immediately after this, the large German groups were threatened with encirclement, and so they began to hurry away. At the same time, their retreat was at a snail's pace, as all roads were blocked by refugees. Because of this, the Germans suffered heavy losses and were massively captured. By January 26, Soviet armored vehicles completely blocked Elbing.

At this time, Fedyuninsky's troops broke through to Elbing, and also went to the approaches to Marienburg, for the subsequent decisive shot capturing a large bridgehead on the right bank of the Vistula. On January 26, after a powerful artillery strike, Marienburg fell.

The flank troops were also coping successfully with the tasks assigned to them. The area of the Masurian marshes was quickly overcome, it was possible to speedily cross the Vistula, after which the 70th Army broke into Bydgoszcz on 23 January, blocking Torun at the same time.

German throwing

As a result of all this, the Army Group Center was completely cut off from supply and lost contact with the territory of Germany. Hitler was furious, and then replaced the commander of the group. Lothar Rendulic was appointed to this post. Soon the same fate befell the commander of the fourth army Hossbach, who was changed to Mueller.

In an effort to break through the blockade and restore land supply, the Germans organized a counteroffensive in the Heilsberg area, trying to get to Marienburg. In total, eight divisions participated in this operation at once, one of them being a tank division. On the night of January 27, they succeeded in significantly squeezing the strength of our 48th Army. Strong battle ensued, lasting for four days. As a result, the enemy managed to break through 50 kilometers into our positions. But then Marshal Rokossovsky came: after a massive blow, the Germans flinched and rolled back to their former positions.

Finally, the Baltic front by January 28 completely took Klaipeda, finally liberating Lithuania from the fascist troops.

Main results of the offensive

By the end of January, the greater part of the Zemland peninsula was completely occupied, as a result of which the future Kaliningrad was in a semi-circle. The disparate parts of the third and fourth armies were completely surrounded, which were doomed. They had to fight at the same time on several fronts, with all their strength to defend the last strong points on the coast, through which the German command still somehow brought supplies and carried out evacuation.

The situation of the remaining forces was greatly complicated by the fact that all the armies of the Wehrmacht armies were cut into three parts at once. On the Zemland peninsula were the remains of four divisions, in Koenigsberg sat a powerful garrison and an additional five divisions. At least five almost defeated divisions were on the Brownsberg-Heilsberg line, and they were pressed to the sea and had no chance to attack. However, they had nothing to lose and they did not intend to surrender.

Long-term enemy plans

It is not necessary to consider them as loyal Hitler's fanatics: they had a plan for the defense of Koenigsberg with subsequent pulling to the city of all the surviving units. If successful, they would be able to restore land communications along the line of Koenigsberg-Brandenburg. In general, the battle was far from over, the tired Soviet armies needed a breather and restocking. The degree of their exhaustion in cruel battles is evidenced even by the fact that the final assault on Koenigsberg began only on April 8-9.

The main task of our soldiers was accomplished: they were able to smash a powerful central grouping of the enemy. All the powerful German defensive lines were broken and captured, Koenigsberg was in a deadly siege without bringing ammunition and food, and all the remaining Hitler troops in this area were completely isolated from each other and badly harassed in combat. Most of East Prussia with its most powerful defensive lines was captured. Along the way, the soldiers of the Soviet Army liberated the regions of Northern Poland.

Other operations to eliminate the remnants of the Nazis laid on the armies of the Third Byelorussian and First Baltic fronts. Note that the 2 Belarusian Front was focused on the Pomeranian direction. The fact is that during the offensive between the troops of Zhukov and Rokossovsky a wide gap was formed, which could be hit from Eastern Pomerania. Therefore, all subsequent efforts were aimed at coordinating their joint strikes.