Petsamo-Kirkenes operation: date, results, photo

The Petsamo-Kirkenes operation of 1944 was of strategic importance to the Soviet command during the Second World War. The purpose of the military operations was the liberation of the Polar region from the German invaders.

Petsamo-Kirkenes operation: photo, general information

The fighting actions of the Soviet troops allowed not only to complete the expulsion of the invaders from the territory of the country. The battles had a significant impact on the alignment of forces in northern Europe. The Soviet troops had to enter Petsamo and Luostari, where there were 19 mountaineer corps of the Wehrmacht, and then attack Kirkenes.

The alignment of forces

On the territory there were 20 mountain army led by Colonel-General Lothar Rendulic and 19 mountain-hunters corps headed by General Ferdinand Jodl. German forces were represented by 3 divisions and 4 brigades, 53 thousand men, more than 750 guns and mortars. In the composition of the fascist troops there were also planes (160 units). 19 Corps was in a deeply echeloned defense in difficult terrain areas. The forces were located in rocky hills, near lakes and fjords. Soviet troops were represented by the forces of the Karelian Front. The command of the units was carried out by General Meretskov. The Soviet forces were represented by the 14th Army, led by Lieutenant-General Shcherbakov. It included:

1. Shooting divisions (8).
2. Self-propelled artillery regiments (2).
3. Brigades: 2 engineering, 1 tank, 5 rifle.
4. Mortar and artillery regiments (21).
5. A brigade of rocket launchers.

The number of the Russian army was 97 thousand people. At the disposal of the troops were 2112 mortars and guns, 107 self-propelled guns and tanks. From the air, the army was supported by 689 aircraft. The Petsamo-Kirkenes offensive operation took place with the participation of the Northern Fleet, under the command of Admiral Golovko. It included 2 brigades of marines, detachments of ships and naval aviation (276 aircraft). The advance of the troops was complicated by the use of heavy artillery, in this connection, General Meretskov requested the tanks of the KV.

Petsamo-Kirkenes operation (briefly)

In accordance with the plan, it was supposed during the first week, using a deep roundabout maneuver, to squeeze from the north and south the troops of the Germans, who defended themselves in the district of B. Western Face. In other words, the Soviet forces were to form a classic "cauldron". According to historians, the Petsamo-Kirkenes operation (the date of beginning - October 7) was planned under the influence of the Leningrad and Stalingrad battles. During the movement of Soviet troops, the Wehrmacht forces evacuated parts from Finland and Norway. This operation was called Nordlicht. Her, like the previous one (Birke), was conducted by Rendulic. Subsequently, for success in them, he received the Knight's Cross with oak leaves (the highest award of the Reich). The Petsamo-Kirkenes operation of 1944 took place in three stages. At the first stage, the Soviet troops faced the task of breaking through the defense of the Germans. Then the army was to pursue the retreating invaders to Kirkenes and hold the final battle in it. During the movement of the Soviet units, several sea discharges were carried out by infantry forces and army units. One of the landing was undertaken in Malaya Volokova Bay.

Breakthrough of the defense of the Germans

On October 7 at 8 am the artillery preparation began. After 2.5 hours Soviet troops launched an offensive. On the first day 131 the corps reached p. Titovki, and the forces of the 99th could not fulfill the task at once. The Germans managed to break through the defense only by the morning of October 8. The next day - on the 9th day - the offensive began the group's forces under the command of Lieutenant-General Pigarevich. They were located east of the river. Zap. Persons on the territory of the most active advance of the fascists towards Murmansk. The same night, landing was made in the Malaya Volkovaya Gulf (on the Mattvuono fjord). The sailors crossed the Musta-Tunturi Ridge and headed towards Petsamo, cutting off some of the German army's forces.

Environment

126 light-light corps commanded by Colonel Solovyov, successfully carried out a roundabout maneuver along the left flank. On the fourth day he went out on the road of Petsamo-Salmijärvi and cut it west of Luostari. While repelling the counterattacks of the Germans, the corps continued to advance, reaching the road Petsamo-Tarnet. At night the units, led by Major-General Zhukov, seized the airfield in Luostari. It was a strategically important capture. Entering Luostari, Soviet troops deprived the Germans of one of the largest airfields in the North. Several enemy aircraft were captured as trophies. On the same day, a landing was sent to Liinakhamari. Together with the 114th division of the 99th Corps, the Marine Corps cleared the settlement from the Nazis. As a result, Petsamo was surrounded on all sides by Soviet troops. From the east to the village marines and parts of the Pigarevich group advanced, from the west the situation was controlled by 72 naval brigades, from the south - 131 corps walked, and from the north approached the troops that seized the port of Liinakhamari on 13 October.

Taking the Port

The Petsamo-Kirkenes operation differed in that it involved not only land forces, but also the fleet. At the final stage of the battles 181 a special reconnaissance squad advanced to the settlement of Liinakhamari. The port was fortified by fascist invaders and covered the capes Romanov and Krestovy. In the granite basis of the last, the Germans built various fortifications, equipped firing points, dugouts, trenches, etc. At Cape Romanov, until now, bunkers have been preserved in which the torpedo installations of the Germans were located. From these fortifications a good overview of the port entrance opened. This allowed torpedoing any submarines or ships. On October 12, the subversive detachment, commanded by Major Barchenko-Emelyanov and Leonov, attacked German batteries located on the Krestov m. The battle was short-lived. With minimal losses, Soviet troops captured batteries. Thanks to this, a successful transfer of the landing to Liinakhamari, the seizure of the area and the subsequent capture of Petsamo were carried out.

Capture of Nickel

His defense was provided by a group of troops under the command of General Vogel. It included the units and units that retreated from Luostari and were transferred from Finland. The Petsamo-Kirkenes operation continued fighting for Nickel on October 18. The German army was stubbornly resisting. Despite this, the forces of the Soviet troops reached the Yarfjord and captured Nikel (Kolosjoki). The active actions of the Russian army forced the German command to accelerate at first, and after the air raid on Kirkenes on October 21 - to complete the evacuation. The city has run out of fresh water, which was used primarily for steam boilers. On October 22, 131 the corps began the battle of Ha Tarnet. Together with this, the marine infantry, supported by artillery, carried out a sweep of the coast.

Completion of the battles

On October 23-25, the Petsamo-Kirkenes operation went into the last phase. The Germans, retreating, mined the roads and exploded them. It was noted that the speed of their advance was about 40 km / day. Meanwhile, Soviet units overcame about 8.5 km during the day. October 25 at noon on the main square of Kirkenes held a rally of the local population. After him, under the gun volleys, the singing of the anthem by the mayor of the city was raised the Norwegian flag. From the Northern Fleet were landed 3 tactical assaults near the southern coast of the Varanger Fjord:

1. In the bays of Aresvuono and Suolavuono on October 18.
2. In the Cobholm Fjord - Oct 23.
3. In Holmengrofjord - on October, 25th.

All three transfers were successful and had a positive impact on the course of the battle. On October 27 Soviet troops entered Nautsi: 31 corps led by Major-General Absalyamov entered from the east, and 127 light-armed formations - from the north. The enemy, going to Kirkenes, was building all the big obstacles, destroying the roads. The road to the city was completely mined, the suspension bridge was blown up. Nevertheless, on October 25 at 9 am the Soviet troops entered the city. Thus ended the Petsamo-Kirkenes operation.

Help of local patriots

With the release of many settlements outside the USSR, the support of the Soviet army was provided by their residents. Was not an exception and Petsamo-Kirkenes operation. The results of the battle of moths would be less successful, if not for the help of local patriots. Thus, the crossing of the Yarfjord was carried out on fishing boats and amphibians. Norwegian patriots entered the sea on two motorbikes, which rendered immense assistance to Soviet soldiers. Local residents rescued the crews of boats, fired soldiers to the other side under fire. In the area of the Elvenesfjord during the crossing of the territory, the Soviet troops had to start the offensive anew. Division 14 was engaged in the assault on the raft. This again helped the Norwegian patriots. The locals also entered Bek-fjord. As a result of the Petsamo-Kirkenes operation, large settlements were liberated:

1. Svanvik.
2. Sannes.
3. Munkelwen.
4. Fosstord.
5. Trangsund.
6. Sturbukt.
7. Neiden.
8. Tarnet.
9. Langfjordbotn.
10. Vokterbolig.
11. Bjernevann.
12. Crofteferbukt.
13. Vierlunn.
14. Buchholmen.

Memory

Scouts of the Northern Fleet, who died during the capture of Liinhamari, are buried at Cape Cross, at its highest point. The remains of 20 people rest in a common grave . The foot of the monument can be seen from afar. There is a sign on it, where all the victims are listed by name. In Kirkenes, a monument of a Soviet soldier with a submachine gun was installed. This monument was created by the Norwegian sculptor Fredriksen. The Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces established a medal "For the Defense of the Arctic Circle." It depicts a Soviet soldier wearing a hat with a fur hat, a fur coat and a submachine gun against the background of tanks, aircraft and ships of the navy.